A New Creation

(2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in
a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same
image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

(Ephesians 2:10) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew
in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(Acts 9:1-6) Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every
breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high
priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus,
asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he
found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to
Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a
light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the
ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you
persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice
replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go
into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

1. The Gospel means change.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become
new.

(John 3:1-7) There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious
leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak
with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to
teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus
replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see
the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How
can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus
replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without
being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human
life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”

2. God loves us as we are but loves us too much to leave us that way.

(John 1:14) So the Word became human and made his home among
us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his
glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

Grace attracts. Truth unravels.

Grace invites us to be free. Truth sets us free.

3. If I’m not changing, I might not really know God.

(1 John 1:6-10) So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God
but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have
fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us
from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves
and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar
and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

(1 John 2:4-6) If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey
God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.
5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love
him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live
in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

(1 John 5:3) Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his
commandments are not burdensome.

Three Ways to Let God Transform You

1. Get past who we were and focus on who God wants us to become.

(Romans 1:1) This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen
by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.

(Colossians 3:7-8) You used to do these things when your life was still
part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage,
malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

2. Give God permission to change everything.

(Galatians 5:19-24) When you follow the desires of your sinful
nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful
pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild
parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before,
that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and
self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong
to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature
to his cross and crucified them there.

(Psalm 37:4-6) Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your
heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and
he will help you. 6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

(Philippians 2:13) For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the
power to do what pleases him.

3. Allow the change to begin today.