All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
How are we changed?
Do you see yourself changed once, when you give yourself unto The Lord? Or, is our change a continuing process? Is our growth in The Lord a process of, surrendering to His Will and dying to our flesh? Do we change or are we changed by Him and His Spirit?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on
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17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:17-18
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! Luke 3:8
17 Because God wanted to show His unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the Promise, He guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the Hope set before us. 19 We have this Hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a Forerunner, because He has become a High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Heb 6:17-20
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Salvation is described in Scripture as being past, present and future. Thus, when we are looking at the who, what and when we have to understand which phase is being discussed.
To break this down a little we see the following:
Past: We are born again. In this we are regenerated and justified. Our sin debt has been paid, we receive a new spirit/heart and the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We are now a child of God, but still live in the old flesh.
Present (Following new birth): This is seen as the sanctification process. Spiritually we have been changed, but we still live in the fallen flesh in a fallen world with an enemy that wars against us. This is the growth phase and is lifelong.
Future: This is the time recognized as being glorified, in that it means that we are given the new body, raised with (as) Christ family and the process which has been guaranteed from the time of new birth through the blood of Christ and initial work of the Holy Spirit will be fully completed.
How does this break down to your specific question? The work leading up to repentance that leads to new birth (regeneration and justification) is all God's. He seeks us out, calls us, works on us. He uses His Word first and foremost in conjunction with the work of the Holy Spirit (among other things) to guide us to an awakening where we have our eyes and minds opened to the truth regarding God, us and the need for a Savior. We could get into the debatable aspect of do we surrender (receive) to Him or are we the recipients of God's work without choice on our part. I don't want to go there and I do not think it adds to this conversation. Thus, I will let it be. The sanctification process is God at work in us and us responding to His work in such a way that we are hungering after Him and have a desire to live for Him day-to-day. It is still His work to finish, but we are not mere bystanders. We have an active part in the growing process as we read His Word, die to self daily, etc ... The final phase is all Him, whether our bodies are being called from the grave or if we are still alive and changed in the twinkling of an eye we will be complete and fitted for eternity with Him.
I wrap up with this. The key is understanding the three phases, which make up a whole, and then recognizing which one comes into play when discussing these items. Are we talking what has happened (past), what is happening and will continue throughout this life, or are we talking what He will do as promised upon His return (future).
Hope this helps.
Lord Bless,
LT
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LT
I appreciate what you have shared. I agree, "We could get into the debatable aspect of do we surrender (receive) to Him or are we the recipients of God's work without choice on our part. I don't want to go there and I do not think it adds to this conversation." I am thankful that you added this train of thought, yet in His Wisdom shared not going there. I just wanted to see what others would share. How they saw what His Love has made possible for us. You have shared a Wonderful way of looking at the subject. I did not want to cause any confusion, I realized later I might have. You made a way so it would not be confusing. Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by journeyman on
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Amen, in Love and with great respect I add my simple words.
jm
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Permalink Reply by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on
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Greetings Brother Chris,
Good subject matter.
One of my favorite Bible verses came to mind while reading LT's most excellent post..........I Corinthians 1:30 (N.A.S.B.) -
"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,"
And, let's add Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
I would say the answer to your four questions above is 4Xyes.
Grace and Peace.
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Richard Blessings to You and Yours
Both you and LT have added the very things I was hoping for, no pun intended for Heb 6:17-20.
Grace and Blessings to All
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3 His Divine Power has given us everything required for life and Godliness through the Knowledge of Him who Called us by His own Glory and Goodness. 4 By these He has Given us very Great and Precious Promises, so that through them you may share in the Divine Nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with Love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your Calling and Election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you. 2 Peter 1:3-11
As I look over these verse and meditate on them as we are told. I begin to see more of why I posted this on change. From what has already been shared, I would like to add these verses. For in many ways we are shown, what God has made available for us. And, step by step instructions in how to be more effective in our walk, along with such Wonderful Knowledge of what He has given to us. Many things we need to keep in mind, again good verses to meditate upon.
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Permalink Reply by Colby on
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Great questions, well worth pondering, and some incredibly insightful and biblically-aligned responses, too. LT aptly described salvation both as an event (justification/rebirth) and as an unfolding lifelong process (sanctification) that culminates in our glorification (when Jesus returns and we will live with him forever in our resurrected, immortal bodies).
As I think about and prepare to celebrate Christmas in this festive and joyous season of Advent, I am reminded of the message of the prophet who paved the way for Christ's birth: John the Baptist. Repentance is at the heart of his message. If we want to follow Jesus and allow him into every area of our lives, to transform and sustain us with his amazing grace and abiding love, we need to prepare to welcome him. We need to hear and respond to the gospel message or good news.
John's simple call is to repent: that is, to acknowledge our sins, to ask God for forgiveness, and to let him enter into every facet of our lives. In short, to surrender; to start over; to begin a new life with God infused with his amazing grace and abundant love. Are we seeking God with all our hearts? Is God's grace enveloping us and through us, are we sharing his light, hope and love with the world? Does the fruit of our lives reflect life with Christ?
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With what has been shared, some of the things I have been studying fit with perfection. I believe many people know, the correct words to use, yet, may not always know the core definitions, of those words of phrases. In no fashion am I putting others down and elevating myself.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
II. New Testament Terms. 1. Repent-"to Care," "Be Concerned":
The term metamelomai, literally signifies to have a feeling or care, concern or regret; like nacham, it expresses the emotional aspect of repentance. The feeling indicated by the word may issue in genuine repentance, or it may degenerate into mere remorse (Matthew 21:29, 32; Matthew 27:3). Judas repented only in the sense of regret, remorse, and not in the sense of the abandonment of sin. The word is used with reference to Paul's feeling concerning a certain course of conduct, and with reference to God in His attitude toward His purposes of grace (2 Corinthians 7:8 the King James Version; Hebrews 7:21).
2. Repent-"to Change the Mind":
The word metanoeo, expresses the true New Testament idea of the spiritual change implied in a sinner's return to God. The term signifies "to have another mind," to change the opinion or purpose with regard to sin. It is equivalent to the Old Testament word "turn." Thus, it is employed by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostles (Matthew 3:2 Mark 1:15 Acts 2:38). The idea expressed by the word is intimately associated with different aspects of spiritual transformation and of Christian life, with the process in which the agency of man is prominent, as faith (Acts 20:21), and as conversion (Acts 3:19); also with those experiences and blessings of which God alone is the author, as remission and forgiveness of sin (Luke 24:47 Acts 5:31). It is sometimes conjoined with baptism, which as an overt public act proclaims a changed relation to sin and God (Mark 1:4 Luke 3:3 Acts 13:24; Acts 19:4). As a vital experience, repentance is to manifest its reality by producing good fruits appropriate to the new spiritual life (Matthew 3:8).
There is great difficulty in expressing the true idea of a change of thought with reference to sin when we translate the New Testament "repentance" into other languages. The Latin version renders it "exercise penitence" (poenitentiam agere). But "penitence" etymologically signifies pain, grief, distress, rather than a change of thought and purpose. Thus Latin Christianity has been corrupted by the pernicious error of presenting grief over sin rather than abandonment of sin as the primary idea of New Testament repentance. It was easy to make the transition from penitence to penance, consequently the Romanists represent Jesus and the apostles as urging people to do penance (poenitentiam agite). The English word "repent" is derived from the Latin repoenitere, and inherits the fault of the Latin, making grief the principal idea and keeping it in the background, if not altogether out of sight, the fundamental New Testament conception of a change of mind with reference to sin. But the exhortations of the ancient Prophets, of Jesus, and of the Apostles show that the change of mind is the dominant idea of the words employed, while the accompanying grief and consequent reformation enter into one's experience from the very nature of the case.
2. To Repent-"to Turn" or "Return":
The term shubh, is most generally employed to express the Scriptural idea of genuine repentance. It is used extensively by the Prophets, and makes prominent the idea of a radical change in one's attitude toward sin and God. It implies a conscious, moral separation, and a personal decision to forsake sin and to enter into fellowship with God. It is employed extensively with reference to man's turning away from sin to righteousness (Deuteronomy 4:30 Nehemiah 1:9Psalm 7:12 Jeremiah 3:14). It quite often refers to God in His relation to man (Exodus 32:12 Joshua 7:26). It is employed to indicate the thorough spiritual change which God alone can effect (Psalm 85:4). When the term is translated by "return" it has reference either to man, to God, or to God and man (1 Samuel 7:3 Psalm 90:13 (both terms, nacham and shubh; Isaiah 21:12; Isaiah 55:7). Both terms are also sometimes employed when the twofold idea of grief and altered relation is expressed, and are translated by "repent" and "return" (Ezekiel 14:6 Hosea 12:6 Jonah 3:8).
ATS Bible Dictionary Repentance
A change of mind, accompanied with regret and sorrow for something done, and an earnest wish that it was undone. Such was the repentance of Judas, Matthew 27:3; and so it is said that Esau found "no place of repentance" in his father Isaac, although he sought it with tears, Hebrews 12:17; that is, Isaac would not change what he had done, and revoke the blessing given to Jacob, Genesis 27:1-46. God is sometimes said to "repent" of something He had done, Genesis 6:6 Jonah 3:9,10; not that He could wish it undone, but that in His Providence such a change of course took place as among men would be ascribed to a change of mind. But the True Gospel repentance, or "repentance unto life," is sorrow for sin, grief for having committed it, and a turning away from it with abhorrence, accompanied with sincere endeavors, in reliance on God's Grace and the influences of The Holy Spirit, to live in humble and Holy obedience to the Commands and Will of God. This is that repentance which always accompanies True Faith, and to which is promised the free forgiveness of sin through the Merits of Jesus Christ, Matthew 4:17 Acts 3:19 11:18 20:12.
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So good to hear from you my Sister. May God grant you and yours a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year
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