The process or real change

Our God is in the business of changing lives. God took Abraham, an idolater, and made him into the father of faith. God took Moses, a murderer, and transformed him into the great lawgiver. God took John, the son of thunder, and changed him into the apostle of love. The apostle Paul persecuted the church. The Lord Jesus made him into the great defender of the gospel.

How does change take place? How does God transform a person’s life? The process of change is spelled out in Ephesians chapter 4. Verses 20 and 21 read, “But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus….”

Real change is found in Christ Jesus. Real change is not found in a bottle. It is not in a program. True change is not through pills. Real change is found in the Person of Christ.

Hearing Christ is salvation. Hearing Christ is understanding our sin and putting our faith and trust in Jesus as our Messiah. He died for our sins. Being taught in Christ is systematic instruction. It is learning the Bible. It is studying the Word of God.

Ephesians 4:22-24 spell out three steps in the process of real change. The first step is to put off the old clothing. The second step is to be renewed in our minds. The third step is to put on the new clothing.

The first step is found in verse 22. “…lay aside the old self which is being corrupted…” The old clothing must be laid aside. The old clothing is our sin. The word corrupted means “decaying.” The old clothing does not smell good! It must be put off.

The second step is found in verse 23. “…and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Being renewed is passive- not active- voice. Only God can do this. It is something God does. However, our responsibility is to meditate on God’s Word. As we study and obey the Bible, our thinking is changed. The Christian life begins in the mind. Our minds are transformed and our actions follow.

The third step is found in verse 24. “…and put on the new self…” We must then put on the new clothing. The new clothing is the right choice. The vice of the old clothing must be replaced with the virtue of the new clothing.

Real change involves laying aside the old clothing. Real change involves being renewed in our thinking through God’s truth. Real change involves putting on the new clothing.

Verse 25 illustrates this process. “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” Let’s imagine a person struggles with lying. How do we change? This verse tells us how to change! First, take off the old clothing of lying. Stop lying. Second, be renewed in the mind. “…we are members of one another….” Third, put on the new clothing of speaking the truth.

No one has truly changed until the vice of lying has been replaced with the virtue of speaking the truth. We are members of one another. We are part of a body. We are part of a family. How can we lie to each other if this is true?

Again, the Christian life begins in the mind. Abraham lied to the Egyptians about his wife Sarah. He said, “She is my sister- not my wife.” Why did Abraham lie? He lied because of fear. He thought the Egyptians were going to kill him to take his wife. Abraham needed to be renewed in his thinking. God is a God we can trust. He protects His people.

Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 lied about the property they sold. Why did they lie? They lied because of pride. They wanted to appear better before others. They needed to be renewed in their thinking! God’s opinion matters- not man’s opinion.

Another example is found in verse 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.”

The first step is to lay aside the sin of stealing. Stealing is not good. The next step is to be renewed in the mind. We are to work hard to provide for our families. We also work to give to others. God is generous with us. He sent His Son to die for our sins. We must be generous with others. The third step is to put on the new clothing of giving. A person has not overcome the sin of stealing until they are actively giving to others.

I’m glad that God is in the business of changing lives! He didn’t give up on Abraham or Moses or Peter or Paul. He has not given up on me either. Real change is not found in a government program. Real change is not found in a prescription. It is found in the Person of Jesus Christ. May we learn God’s process and persevere through it!

Ethan Hansen is the pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.