A Change For the Better

FACTS ABOUT BEING A CHRISTIAN

• All Christians are called to morph/change for the better 2 Cor 5:17

• A Christian that does not change is an Oxymoron Ephesians 4:17-24

Remaining the same is inconceivable for Christians for two reasons:

a) It contradicts who we are! Ephesians 4:20

b) It contradicts who Christ is! Ephesians 4:21

Breaking a Destructive Lifestyle

Requires:

Putting off the old

“throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” Ephesians 4:22

Putting on the new

“Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”Eph 4:24

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

Metamorphosis- Three step process to make “A Change for the Better”:

1. Sacrificial Living = A Surrendered Life

“Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” Rom 6:13

2. Resist the worlds flow = A Refusal to Conform

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” 1 John 2:15

3. Change the way I think = A Renewed Mind

“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Ephesians 4:23

“he saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal.” Titus 3:5 GWT

“to make it belong to God. Christ used the word to make the church clean by washing it with water.” Ephesians 5:26 NCV

Real Change Is Possible

Introduction: Is Lasting Change Possible?

• What is “Morphing”?

"A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function."

What does Spiritual Metamorphosis look like in real life?

1. Spiritual Birth = Jesus becomes my Savior.

2. Spiritual Maturity = Jesus becomes my Lord.

3. Spiritual Reproduction = Jesus uses me to love others.

Three Reasons We Fail to Morph:

1. Spiritual IGNORANCE. Ephesians 4: 1

A misunderstanding of our identity in Christ

• The Problem= Lack of knowledge.

• The Solution= Learn how to handle my Bible.

2. Spiritual ISOLATION Ephesians 4: 2-3

• The Problem= Insecurities.

• The Solution= Join a small group.

3. Spiritual INCOMPREHENSIVENESS Ephesians 4: 4-6

• The Problem= The attitude of me my.

• The Solution= Get a High View of God.