Changed By Christ

If we have repented, that is "changed our mind" about our sin, it will lead to the actions that reflect our inner heart.

When we have changed our mind, knowing sin is exceedingly sinful then it causes us to turn from it. If there is no turning then there has been no change of mind. Repentance is not something one says, it is a change in the heart that results in actions.

Those that say they have repented but nothing changed in their attitude or actions then the repentance was merely lip service having no power over their character.

Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

The power over our character is Christ if we have repented. If we have only lip service then it is the devil whose power is over our character and remains until the change of mind occurs.

Matthew 1:21
21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

It is Christ Who saves people from their sins, they do not save themselves.

2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"

What is the change of mind? That change in our mind is the desire to changed into a new creation by Christ. We begin to hate the sin we used to love and love the righteousness of God. However, in this change we realize we have no power of our own to change our own heart, we must ask Christ to do it.

When Christ makes someone into a new creation they stay that new creation. When Christ removes the desire to sin from our heart it is gone for good. If we do sin we hate it. We seek Christ for cleansing and go back to obedience.

The confusion today is that so many people claim to be Christians but have not changed after deciding to be a Christian they still love their sin and add greater pride to the mix of wrong attitudes. The pride that makes them believe everything they say and do is right even when it defies the Word of God simply because they think of themselves as special.

Anyone who comes to Christ in their own merit believing because they made this choice they are personally special cannot be born again. It is through the brokenness over sin that creates the humility necessary to approach Christ for salvation.

Psalm 51:16-17 "…16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. "

Those who fight against the truths of the Bible very likely were never repentant. Many people want to be seen as Christian and as good people but have no desire to honor and obey God.

When self is on the throne there is no faith in Christ. Everything depends on manipulating others to believe the false persona of perfection. Boasting is a big part of the nuances of pretenders. They are deeply invested in subtle insincerity of counterfeit Christianity.

Impressing people is the highest goal of the pretender, this is why they are so full of anger and rage when someone exposes their false doctrine.

When we know that we had to come in humility and brokenness to Christ to be cleansed by Him we have no delusions that we are good or special. Only Christ is good and He must be the One to change us.

Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

If we are attempting to walk through this life in our own power depending on our illusions about ourselves we cannot be born again. God will not change anyone who wants to depend upon themselves.

2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."

Remember, only Christ can make you into a new creation. He is the One Who works in us after we have changed our mind to be against the sin that dwells in us.