Transformed by Christ not by Changing Ourselves to Glorify Self

Anyone who still wants to live in sin without a desire to be changed by God was never born again. Christ transforms those who want to be changed by Him; they are no longer the same person and no longer think the way they used to think.

If you hear a Christian say to you, "I am the same person I've always been", you have reason to be concerned.

 
When we have trusted in Christ, expressing our sorrow over our own sinfulness, He then changes us into a new creation. We are no longer the same person, nor do we want to ever return to the old again.

 
Those who think they became saved by deciding to join a Christian church remain unsaved and still headed for hell. It is only brokenness over our sinfulness and crying out to God to change us that He will work in Us.

 
Ephesians 2:10 "…9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!"

Philippians 2:13
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose."

 
Titus 2:14
"He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

Colossians 1:10
"so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,"

James 2:17-18
"So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. / But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

It is Christ's work in our hearts that results in righteous actions. Any work of our own that results in actions is dead works, not evidence of salvation, but willful deeds to elevate the self.

 
Christ wants to guide us in every way; only when we want this is the evidence of a changed heart. Those who still want to take credit for their actions and changed behavior in their own efforts are not born again until they confess this sinful stance and pray to be transformed by Christ.

 
Psalm 100:3 "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."