Q:
Where did you get your opinion in a previous article
that lifestyles must change when people are born
again? Can you share biblical passages to confirm
this?
A:
I believe you have asked a question that others
will be curious about. Before receiving Jesus
Christ, a person is guided by what the Bible calls
our old nature. It’s the power that guides our
patterns of living, and is very simply explained
in Ephesians 2:1‑3. Therein Paul describes
a person without Christ as meandering or wandering.
Their attitude is: if it feels good, do it. The
old nature is causing that person to naturally
indulge in cravings, even if those cravings don’t
necessarily please God. Paul describes this as
a former lifestyle.
Paul
was a man who ravaged the homes of believers,
dragging men and women to prison. After giving
Jesus Christ control of his life, people were
amazed by the transformation. He had become a
different man who now risked his life for believers.
(See Acts 9:20‑22.)
Peter
said, “I will lay down my life for you,” then
promptly denied knowing Jesus three times before
the sun rose. In his own strength, he couldn’t
confess Christ to a slave‑girl. With God’s
Holy Spirit upon him he proclaimed Jesus Christ
before thousands with three thousand becoming
Christians in one day. (See Acts 2:14‑42.)
A
runaway slave named Onesimus received Jesus and
returned to his owner Philemon as a brother more
than a slave. (See Philemon.) The man removed
from Christian fellowship for lying with his father’s
wife in 1 Corinthians 5 repented and was later
restored into fellowship in 2 Corinthians 2. In
fact the entire church was arrogant to allow this
sin, but rightly mourned over it and became humble
to address the unhealthy issue. That’s a healthy
congregation with a new lifestyle of love rather
than lust.
Those
who practiced magic in Ephesus burned their books
in the sight of everyone, and the word of God
began to grow mightily. So you see, God accepts
us just the way we are, but loves us enough to
change us. Nobody becomes a Christian and stays
the same.
Here’s
the key. Give God permission to take control of
your life. You can’t win spiritual battles against
gossip, lust or envy in your own strength. Express
your total reliance on God for the challenges
you may be struggling with in your own life. He
then brings forth the fruit of His Holy Spirit
in our lives (See Gal 5:22‑25.) Jesus said,
“a tree is known by its fruit,” but He produces
it upon our surrender. Hope that helps.
Come
join us on our fifth tour of the Holy Land in
February of 2007. Call (623) 374‑5655 for
details. Your Bible will go from black and white
to living color.
