think that Christianity is simply changed behavior, morality, steps, and following formulas. I pray that this blog shatters the false notion of behavior modification and brings light to the freedom, supernatural work of God, and life transformation of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
"Jesus didn't come into the world to make bad men good. He came into the world to make dead men alive" -Leonard Ravenhill
The Problem
1 1. Sinful by nature
Because of the fall of mankind in Genesis 3, we are all born
into sin. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one
man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. It's not that there comes a moment in our life when we decide to welcome sin
into our heart. Sin is an uninvited inheritance from birth. {Psalm 51:5 Behold,
I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.} No one has to
teach a child to lie or be selfish; rather, sinful behavior comes naturally. Because
of our sin nature we are rebellious, hostile, at enmity with God, and by nature children of wrath.(Romans 8:7, Ephesians 2:3).
2. The root is our
heart
The problem is the human heart. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, And
desperately wicked; Who can know it? Our lifestyle is a reflection of what's in our heart. So no matter how much we try to change our behavior, our heart remains
the same. Can you imagine having
problems with your car and you take it to a mechanic? The mechanic only washes your car and never looks at the engine to see what's wrong. Sure, the car looks good on
the outside but the problem is on the inside. This is the same with us! If we want to deal with sin, we must
aim at the right target. That target is not merely bad behavior but the sinful
desires of the heart that produce the behavior. This is the very reason why
Jess rebuked the Pharisees. They focused on the outside but ignored the inside.
Matthew 23:25-26 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean
the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and
self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the
plate, that the outside also may be clean.
The solution to the immorality of our culture isn't better morality. The solution to the sin in our own lives isn't changed behavior. It is the life transforming truth of the gospel. For many of us, we know that our life isn't pleasing to God. Our natural instinct is to try to change our behavior. This type of living only leads to bondage, frustration and eventually returning back to our old life. It breaks my heart that there are many people who are caught up in churches and ministries that teach behavior modification, formulas, and legalism instead of the gospel. Many of these people are frustrated feeling like they can never "measure up" to the Christian standard because they're seeking to change their behavior without first being transformed by Christ. For my moral friend who may feel like this doesn't apply to you because you are already a "good" person. If we're trusting in our good behavior and good works rather than Christ, we fall in the same category. No matter how many good things we are doing in our strength, those who are in the flesh and are not born again cannot please God. Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot
please God.
The Solution
1.The gospel
God is holy, perfect, just and no sin can dwell in His presence(Psalm 5:4, Habakkuk 1:13). Because of our sin, we stand under God's wrath and deserve judgment. Out of God's grace, love, mercy and
kindness He had a plan to send the Lord Jesus Christ in the world to become the
sacrifice for our sin.(1 John 2:2, Matthew 1:21, Hebrews 9:12). For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so
that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21. We are saved by grace
through faith in Christ alone(Ephesians 2:8-9). Not by changing our behavior, trying to be a
good person, or by following rules. God has promised for those who repent and believe on Christ
alone, they will be justified, forgiven, reconciled,
adopted, and have eternal life. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.
2. New
birth
In our first birth we are born into sin, this is why Jesus says that we must be born again. Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”John 3:3. The new birth is a spiritual awakening that takes us out of a state of spiritual death into a state of spiritual life. In the new birth God gives us a new heart, new desires, new affections, and seals us with His Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. The new birth is literally the greatest miracle that can ever happen. God takes sinful, rebellious, hostile people who were once His enemies and makes us His children. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by death of his Son, much more new that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. There is no such thing as a boring testimony. If the Lord has saved you it is a miracle and we ought to praise God for it!!
3.
God doesn’t save a person and allows them to live the same
ol’ empty, sinful, and worldly life that they once did. He makes us a new
creation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has
passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17. If God's seed abides in us we WILL bear His fruit. (John 15, 1 John 3:9) If God has changed
our heart and made us a new creation, it will be evident. What happens on the
inside will manifest on the outside. I’m not talking about sinless perfection
but a new direction. Imagine you driving somewhere only to find out that you’re
going the wrong way. You would have to completely make a u-turn to get to your destination. This is the same
with the Christian life, God completely changes the direction of our life
because we now have a new destination.
Now, I don't want anyone to think I'm insinuating that we will become perfect once we become Christians. When God saves us, He doesn't completely eradicate our sinful nature(1 John 1:8). Christians can fail and give in to the flesh but they will be broken over sin and repent. We still have a flesh that we must die to and wage war with
daily(Luke 9:23, Romans 8:13). This is why we must continue to renew our mind in God's word so that we will be transformed(Romans 12:2). Praise God that we have the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. Titus 2:11-15 For the
grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us
to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,
upright and godly lives in this present age.
We don't need changed behavior, we need a changed heart. Only the God who created us has the power to change our sinful heart. My dear sisters and brothers, I plead with you to give up all hope in trying to clean up your life up and trying to be a better person. This is also for the moralist and self-righteous. Those who think that they are righteous based off of their own good behavior. Nothing that we do will ever justify us or make us acceptable to a holy God. Christ has already lived the life that we could never live and died the death that we deserved so that we can be acceptable to God. Christ came to seek and save the lost. He is mighty to save. Come to Him now and seek Him while he may be found. He is our only hope in this dark world! Acts 4:12 And there is salvation is no one else. for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
