Before I became a Christian, I lived my life just like everyone else. I lived to please my flesh. I saw no reason to do anything else but please myself. I knew what was right and wrong, I just tried to stay out of trouble. No different than anyone else would do. But one day I found Jesus as my Savior, and my world turned around. Yes I still am a sinner just like everyone else, but the difference is that now I have Jesus in my life and forgiveness of sins. My goal is to serve Him and please Him by obeying His commandments. Now with His help in my life I do my best not to sin. God tells us that all things are possible with Him, but without Him we can do nothing.
We all know someone who we never thought would get saved, and then one day they give their life to Jesus and what a change takes place. I'm proof that Jesus can change lives, just like He says He will. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you also are proof of the change that takes place. The Scriptures tells us that people will wonder why we don't do the things we used to do.
1Peter;4:3-4
(For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles-when we walked in lewdness, lust, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.)
We are suppose to stand out as different, living our lives to please Jesus. If you haven't seen a change in your life, why not? We are told that the change will happen when we are saved. I have had people tell me they are saved, but there is no evidence of a new creation in Christ. When you become a Christian you should have a new outlook at sin and evil. They are still present in our life, but they don't have a hold on us like they did before Jesus came into our life. Sin shouldn't be a master of your life any longer, you are not a slave to it.
2Corinthians;5:17
(Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.) So if you have given your life to Jesus, your old self has gone, you are brand new. The life you lead now is for God.
Colossians;3:9-10
(Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,)
It is God's plan for us to become more Christ like in our life.
Romans;8:29
(For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.)
1Corinthians;15:49
(And as we have born the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man.)
1John;3:2-3
(Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.)
So when you are saved, you should start to see a change in your life. What used to be important, isn't any longer, because Jesus has taken first place in your life. God is continually working in our life molding us into the image of His Son. When you become one of God's children, He will begin a work in your life.
Philippians;1:6
(being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.) We are an ongoing work, being totally change from our old sinful self.
We should start to see change. You should see the fruit of the spirit, not the fruit of the flesh.
[WORKS OF THE FLESH BEFORE JESUS]
Galatians;5:19-21
(Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, self ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.)
[FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AFTER JESUS]
This is a list of Godly attitudes that characterize the lives of those who belong to God by faith in Jesus Christ, and possess the Holy Spirit.
Galatians;5:22-23
(But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol. Against such there is no law.)
As our pastor was telling us in church yesterday, these are traits that we should exhibit in our daily walk? If not, then the question is, WHY NOT?
Galatians;5:16-7
(I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lust against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.)
So our life before Jesus will serve the flesh, and do the deeds of the flesh. Once we have Jesus in our life, we will see a change. We will have the fruit of the Spirit. We will serve God and not our flesh.
God Bless You!
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