God expects believers to change and live a new life.

Change Your Life

A very important aspect of the Christian faith is a changed life. That means living a new life that is contrary to the old way of life that we used to live. God expects this because this is the proof that our faith in Jesus Christ is genuine.

However, a changed life does not happen overnight. It takes both God and our obedience to make this happen over time. This process is called by many names such as sanctification, growing in maturity, growing up in salvation, working out our salvation, bearing fruits, being Christ-like and etc.

These are terms that describe God’s will to transform believers into a new person like his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the perfect model that God wants us to follow and imitate. This is because Christ is the exact representation of the invisible God. So whoever becomes more like Jesus Christ becomes more like God in his nature; good, patient, merciful, gracious, kind, gentle, humble, faithful, righteous, holy and etc. This is what God wants to do in us.

This process of change or sanctification begins from the day we believe Jesus Christ. Not only does God forgive our sins, he also sets us free from being a slave to sin. The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) also comes to dwell inside each believer to begin the work of God to change us. As a result, we are born-again with a new nature to prepare us to live a new life. This happens in the unseen realm.

With this new nature, we now see people and things differently. This is because we are now more aware of God and his ways. We become more sensitive to what is sinful and what is right. There is also a desire to do what pleases God. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. He comes along to teach and lead believers to live a new life in righteousness and holiness. Jesus calls this new life the narrow way that leads to eternal life.

However, change is not guaranteed or automatic for every believer. It still requires our obedience. God cannot and will not force a believer to change. He gives us a free will to choose. If we choose to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading and live according to God’s will, we will gradually change.

Transformation will also take perseverance because the old sinful nature still lives inside us. It desires to control us again. We have to fight every bit to put it away and stay on the side of righteousness over the course of our lives. Bible calls this process “taking off the old man and putting on the new man”. This is a process that must continue to the end.

When this happens, we will see more of God’s attributes in our attitude and behaviour. We will hate sin and love righteousness, we will love even our enemies, we become more humble, we do good to others and we help the poor and etc. These deeds are like the good fruits that a good tree bears. They are the proof of a changed life.

But things may not turn out this way. Bible reveals several reasons why this can happen:

  • A believer who does not spend time to know God and his Word. So he has no depth of knowledge or a growing relationship with God. When trial or persecution comes, he quickly falls away and no longer follows Jesus.
  • A believer who gets distracted by the things of this world. So over time these things begin to occupy his mind and heart rather that God’s Word. As a result, he lives a worldly or even sinful life.
  • A believer who falls into temptation and gets entangled in sins again. This is the result of not being prayerful and watchful against the sinful nature and Satan, the Tempter.
  • A believer who turns aside to follow false teachers and prophets. So he stops obeying the truth and turn to false doctrines and other strange teachings.
  • A believer who does not do what God says. He is like a wicked and lazy servant who does not do what his master clearly commands.
  • A false believer who attends church and looks Christian but not born-again. He is a child of Satan, the Bible says.

Let no one deceive you. How we live as a Christian matters. God will judge a believer by the fruits he bears. If he lives a new life that honours God, he will be rewarded. But if he lives according to the sinful nature, he will die, according to the Bible. This clearly refers to spiritual death, which leads to the second death (hell).

Hence, living a changed life is a MUST for a person who calls himself a Christian. So let us be careful not to confess Jesus Christ as Saviour ONLY but also to obey him as Lord. When we do this faithfully, it will produce godly changes in our lives that prove we truly are repentant and walking in genuine faith. Let us therefore submit ourselves to live according to God’s will. He will help us.

Prayer

Father God, help me to remember that you sent Jesus Christ not only to die for my sins but also to change me. So help me to obey you so that I may live a new life that brings glory and honour to your name. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen