God Changes Who We Are

"I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, "By the grace of God I am what I am."  - John Newton

"Why would Christians choose to sin rather than choose what they know God wants them to do?" Four answers are commonly given today:

1. Some would point to Romans 8:16 and explain that Christians who willfully sin have forgotten their true identity as "children of God." While it is true that Christians can forget who they are and sin as a result, Christians can also be well aware of who they are and sin anyway.

2. Some say Christians choose to sin because they have lost sight of what God has done for them. 2 Peter 1:9 indicates that Christians can be "blind or short-sighted, having forgotten [their] purification from [their] former sins."

3. Some wisely state that Christians consciously choose to sin because they have forgotten that God will severely discipline disobedient believers.

4. Some have said that Christians who consciously sin have lost their focus on the future. These Christians have forgotten that God will reward in heaven only those who have lived faithfully for Him here on earth (1 Cor 9:24). Christians who fail to keep eternity in mind often sin in the here and now.   - J.Kirk Johnston, Why Christians Sin, Discovery House, 1992, p. 31.

It can be said that because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, as such, we're all set. Doubtless, part of that sentence is true. Jesus did go to his death on the cross for our sins. But, there's a little more to it that tends to get overlooked.

Yes, we are declared righteous, or sinless by Jesus when we place our faith in His death for us on the cross. That's called justification. Still, it doesn't end there. We continue showing our belief in Him by doing good works.

These good works are a portion of our "sanctification." It's during this time when God presses on, working in our hearts, to change us; making us more like Jesus. Additionally, He makes us more holy; helping us to progressively sin less and increasingly please Him more.

A word to the wise is in order here. The good works performed while God continues to sanctify us don't save us from our sins. This can only happen by our faith in Jesus. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean that sanctification isn't an important part of our lives. Nothing could be further from the truth!

In closing, sanctification is a very important part of our lives. It glorifies God and makes known to us, and others, that Jesus is definitely modifying who we are, and guiding us to ultimately become who He wants us to be.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:21;1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 17:17; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:6  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I place myself in Your hands; take this humble servant of Yours and gently and lovingly mold me into the person You'd like me to be; in your name. Amen

Have a blessed day,

Janyce