Change:

Change Requires Making Choices

1 The choices we make can alter our life forever and set us on a course that may last a life
time.
2 Being who we are in Christ means a radical new way of living. Paul called it in (Romans 6)
to walk in newness of life. It is leaving off the old and putting on the new.
Texts:
Eph 4:21-24
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness.
KJV
Commentary:
1 Paul tells us in (Eph.4) to put off your old sinful nature and your former way of life. (This
means who we were outside of Christ should have been left in the dust of our past). Laying aside
the old nature is the language of one taking off a coat and putting it to the side and wearing it no
more.
2 Paul gives us the reason of putting off the old nature in (Vs21); Because your old nature is
corrupted by lust and deception.
3 Paul tells us in (Vs23) to let the spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes.
4 In (Vs24) Paul tells us how to let the spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes, by putting on
the new nature, which is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Scriptural Foundation:
1 In (2 Corinthians 5:17) we find that, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has
passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 In (Isaiah 43:18-19) we are encouraged not to Remember the former things, nor consider
the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I
will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
3 In (Isaiah 40:31) we find that they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not
faint.
4 (Ezekiel 36:26) says; And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.
And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Growth and Change:
2 Cor 3:18

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into
the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
KJV
1 Once you become a believer, you have a new power in you that is greater than those old
tendencies. That power is the Holy Spirit.
2The secret to changing your life is not willpower. Its God giving you the will and the power
through the Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done.
Change Requires New Thinking:
Phil 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
KJV
1 (Ephesians 4:23) says, And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (Change requires new
thinking, Youre not going to change until your thoughts and attitude change).
2 In (Phil.4:8) Paul said; Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on
these things.
2 Do you know what the theological term for change of mind is? It is the word
repentance. To repent literally means to change your mind. (Have you had a change of mind?)
3 There will never be change without repentance.
4 Becoming the people God created us to be is an inside-out process. Because our thoughts
govern each area of our livesemotions, decisions, actions, attitudes, and wordsany lasting
transformation must begin with the mind.
5 This can be accomplished only by what the Bible calls renewing the mind.
Rom 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
KJV
6 Its not a sudden transformation but a lifelong process.
7 The good news is that whatever your thoughts have been in the past, God can teach you to
think differently. He gives His Spirit to lead you through a process that produces real healing and
lasting change.
8 How diligent have you been about guarding your mind? Have you permitted the world to
influence your thoughts? Or are you allowing Gods Word to shape your reasoning and values?
9 As believers, we can expect this process of transformation to continue until we reach
heaven; however, the important issue is that we begin today.