Changing My Life

Changing My Life: The Process Lesson #1 Back to Basics Or (The mess we’re in; Why we can’t do anything about it; Is there any hope?) 1) One thing we have in common: A big problem with God a) We are all hopelessly separated from God. i) Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ii) Eph 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, Eph 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Eph 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. b) We are spiritually dead in sin. i) Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ii) Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— c) We’re blinded by Satan and held captive to his will. i) 2Cr 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 2Cr 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ii) 2Ti 2:24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 2Ti 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 2Ti 2:26 and they may come to their senses {and escape} from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. d) We are powerless to overcome sin’s hold on our lives. i) Ecc 7:20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who {continually} does good and who never sins. ii) Jhn 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. iii) Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, Gal 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. e) We are unable to understand the things of God. i) Pro 14:12 There is a way {which seems} right to a man, But its end is the way of death. ii) Isa 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. Isa 55:9 "For {as} the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. iii) 1Cr 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. f) We are unable to please God or walk in His way. i) Rom 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; Rom 3:10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; Rom 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; Rom 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." Rom 3:13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH

THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS"; Rom 3:14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS"; Rom 3:15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, Rom 3:16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, Rom 3:17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN." Rom 3:18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." ii) Rom 8:7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able {to do so,} Rom 8:8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 2) While we are helpless to do anything about this problem, there is hope. Thankfully God is willing to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. a) By His gracious and merciful love, God gave His one and only begotten Son, Jesus as the only answer to our helpless spiritual condition. i) Isa 53:1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Isa 53:2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no {stately} form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. Isa 53:3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isa 53:4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. Isa 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being {fell} upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. Isa 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Isa 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. Isa 53:8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke {was due?} Isa 53:9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. Isa 53:10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting {Him} to grief; If He would render Himself {as} a guilt offering, He will see {His} offspring, He will prolong {His} days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. Isa 53:11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see {it and} be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Isa 53:12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. ii) Jhn 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. iii) Jhn 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. iv) Act 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." v) Rom 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. vi) 1Jo 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son {to be} the propitiation for our sins. b) Jesus paid the full price for our redemption i) 2Cr 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin {to be} sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

ii) Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Eph 1:8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight iii) 1Pe 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 1Pe 1:19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, {the blood} of Christ. 3) Through Jesus, you can: a) Have your sins forgiven and be reconciled to God. i) Act 5:31 "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ii) Act 10:43 "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." iii) 2Cr 5:18 Now all {these} things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 2Cr 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. iv) Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace v) Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. vi) Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. vii) Col 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, Col 2:14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. b) Experience a spiritual new birth i) Jhn 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." ii) 1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, iii) 1Pe 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, {that is,} through the living and enduring word of God. iv) 1Jhn 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the {child} born of Him. c) Receive the gift of eternal life through God’s gracious gift of faith i) Jhn 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. ii) Jhn 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." iii) Jhn 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. iv) Jhn 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, Jhn 11:26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" v) Jhn 17:1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, Jhn 17:2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. Jhn 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. vi) Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; Eph 2:9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

vii) 1Ti 1:16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. viii) 1Jo 5:11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 1Jo 5:12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. d) Have access to God i) Jhn 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. ii) Eph 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. iii) Eph 3:11 {This was} in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, Eph 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. iv) Hbr 10:19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, Hbr 10:20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, Hbr 10:21 and since {we have} a great priest over the house of God, Hbr 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled {clean} from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. e) Be a member of God’s family i) Jhn 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name, ii) Rom 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Rom 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with {Him} so that we may also be glorified with {Him.} iii) Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. iv) Eph 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, v) Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, vi) 1Jo 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and {such} we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. f) Understand the things of God i) Jhn 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. ii) Jhn 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. Jhn 16:14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose {it} to you. Jhn 16:15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose {it} to you. iii) 1Cr 2:9 but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND {which} HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." 1Cr 2:10 For to us God revealed {them} through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 1Cr 2:11 For who among men knows the {thoughts} of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the {thoughts} of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 1Cr 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 1Cr 2:13 which things we also speak,

not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual {thoughts} with spiritual {words.} g) Become a new person with the capability for living in a totally new manner. i) Rom 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Rom 6:5 For if we have become united with {Him} in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be {in the likeness} of His resurrection, Rom 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with {Him,} in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; Rom 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Rom 6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, Rom 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. Rom 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Rom 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Rom 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, Rom 6:13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin {as} instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members {as} instruments of righteousness to God. Rom 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Rom 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Rom 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone {as} slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, Rom 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Rom 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in {further} lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Rom 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Rom 6:21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. Rom 6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. ii) 2Cr 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, {there} is liberty. iii) Phl 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. h) Be empowered to change, to mature into Christlikeness, and to have an increasingly intimate knowledge of God Himself. i) Jhn 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ii) Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. iii) Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; iv) 2Cr 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, {there} is liberty. v) Phl 1:6 {For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. vi) Col 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard {of it,} we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Col 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please {Him} in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge

of God; Col 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously vii) 1Th 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted {it} not {as} the word of men, but {for} what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. viii) 2Pe 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 2Pe 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of {the} divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.  Let me encourage you to study these passages in context. That is, read several verses before and after each Scripture reference. If you want to live a contented, joyful, peaceful and fruitful Christian life then it is very important that you understand the difference between living man’s way and living God’s way. 1) God’s way is: a) To regenerate and change you by: i) Putting off from you the old nature. Consider again the previous passages. ii) Putting on you the new nature. (1) Rom 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Rom 6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (2) Eph 4:24 and put on the new self, which in {the likeness of} God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. (3) Col 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— iii) Renewing the spirit of your mind (1) Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (2) Eph 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, b) To empower and strengthen you to mature as you: i) Deny self and follow Jesus. (1) Luk 9:23 And He was saying to {them} all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luk 9:24 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. ii) Lay aside (put off) the practices of the old self-nature, and walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. (1) Rom 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Rom 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, Rom 6:13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin {as} instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members {as} instruments of righteousness to God. Rom 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Rom 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Rom 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone {as} slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, Rom 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Rom 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in {further} lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Rom 6:20 For

when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Rom 6:21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. Rom 6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. (2) Eph 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, (3) Eph 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE {of you} WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. Eph 4:26 BE ANGRY, AND {yet} DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, Eph 4:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. Eph 4:28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have {something} to share with one who has need. Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such {a word} as is good for edification according to the need {of the moment,} so that it will give grace to those who hear. Eph 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (4) Col 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please {Him} in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Col 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Col 3:6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, Col 3:7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. Col 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, {and} abusive speech from your mouth. Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its {evil} practices, Col 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- Col 3:11 {a renewal} in which there is no {distinction between} Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Col 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Col 3:14 Beyond all these things {put on} love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms {and} hymns {and} spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, {do} all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (5) Rev 2:4 'But I have {this} against you, that you have left your first love. Rev 2:5 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. iii) Please God in all things (1) 2Cr 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.