But He doesn’t leave us that way. The God of the Bible wants to change us, our lives and our eternities. Some of the changes are instantaneous and some are gradual. The gradual changes are called growth.
Psalms 55:19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
Romans 12:1 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.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 4:22 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.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Many of the changes God wants to make in us happen faster the more we study the Bible. The more changes he makes in us the more joy and peace we have.
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Sanctify is not a word that is used commonly in our culture. It means simply that we are set apart for God.
Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
If God has not changed you and your life and you are not growing spiritually, it is possible that He has not even begun His work in you. If that is the case you need to surrender yourself and your life to Him. It is also possible that you are His but stunting your own growth. If that is the case you need to study your Bible and ask Him to grow you.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
If men don’t have a God who is powerful enough to change them and their lives here and now, how can they believe that He can make them perfect eternally?
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
