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Becoming New: Changing for the Better

Explore the reasons why people resist change and discover the two main areas in which Christians should grow - understanding and holiness. Learn about the five reasons why some Christians never change and the three-step program needed for change to take place. Gain insights on conviction, correction, and commitment to achieve lasting transformation.

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Becoming New: Changing for the Better

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  1. BECOMING NEW: CHANGING FOR THE BETTER II Corinthians 5:17

  2. WHY DO PEOPLE RESIST CHANGE? A. Change is sometimes uncomfortable B. Some are not convinced change is necessary C. Some are not sure of the priority/ importance of the issue D. Uncertainty of the unknown – related changes E. Some may be tired of continuous changes F. Some are reluctant to admit failure or error G. Fearful of losing some people or things

  3. TWO MAIN AREAS IN WHICH A CHRISTIAN SHOULD GROW UNDERSTANDING: (2 Peter 3:18, Phil. 3:10) - Understand who you are & understand whose you are! - Develop a knowledge & understanding of who you are now - Increase in knowledge & understanding of who God is - Increase in knowledge & understanding of God’s word HOLINESS: (1 Peter 1:15-16) - Conforming your character and behaviour to the Son of God - Development of our faith in God

  4. God says we CAN change…. we SHOULD change…. we MUST change! Why is it that some Christians won’t change?

  5. FIVE REASONS WHY SOME CHRISTIANS NEVER CHANGE  We are too pleased with ourselves (Gal 6:3-4, Rom 12:16)  We do not want to change (Matt 5:48)  We do not believe we can change (2 Peter 1:2-4)  We are afraid of confronting ourselves (Prov. 28:13)  We have not taken the necessary steps to change:

  6. THE 3-STEP PROGRAM STEP 1: Acknowledge your weaknesses, faults, sins STEP 2: Admit them (confess to God / person) STEP 3: Be accountable: to GOD/ SELF/ OTHERS

  7. WHAT IS NEEDED FOR CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE? COMMITMENT CORRECTION CONVICTION

  8. CONVICTION DEFINITIONS OF CONVICTION: 1. An uncomfortable sense of guilt before God & others 2. To show someone their sin and summon them to repentance 3. Bringing facts to bear upon a case so as to prove someone guilty of wrong (sin)

  9. CONVICTION Greek word ELEGCHOS means: CONVICTION, REPROOF, EVIDENCE (2 Tim 3:16, Heb 11:1) Elegchos is derived from the root word ELEGCHO meaning: TO ADMONISH, CONVINCE, REBUKE, TELL A FAULT

  10. CONVICTION SOME PASSAGES WHICH USE THE WORD ELEGCHO Matt 18:15 Luke 3:19 John 8:9 Eph 5:11 1 Tim 5:20 2 Tim 4:2 Titus 1:9, 13 Titus 2:15 Heb 12:15 Rev 3:19

  11. CONVICTION  Conviction is deeper than rebuke or reproof; it is convincing the person of wrong  Conviction is more than being convicted by others; it is also being convicted by self in your heart  Conviction is the first stage for change. If sincere acknowledgement is not achieved then true repentance cannot occur. Until one is convinced of wrongdoing, he cannot repent  It is possible to acknowledge guilt inwardly or outwardly without repenting of sin  Even if conviction is achieved one has not yet repented of sin & changed the wrong attitude or behaviour

  12. CONVINCING PEOPLE OF SIN 1. Use the Scriptures 2. Allow the Holy Spirit to work (John 14:26, 16:8) 3. Gather the facts & present them 4. Honestly evaluate yourself (self confrontation) 5. Confront others lovingly

  13. CONVICTION In convicting us of sin, God is calling on us to recognize that the change we must make is not simply good advice, it is an imperative. He is telling us that what we have done is not merely inconvenient or undesirable it is flat out wrong & must be changed!

  14. CORRECTION Correction (EPANORTHOSIS): Straightening up again, to rectify or reform (2 Tim 3:16) CORRECTION involves: 1. Repentance 2. Forsaking sin 3. Implementing corrective measures

  15. CORRECTION REPENTANCE Repent (METANOEO): To think differently, to reconsider; rethinking of ones behaviour, attitudes & beliefs (Rev. 2:15, 16, 21, 22; Rev3:3, 19)

  16. - Repentance does not necessarily depend on your emotions - Repentance is more than regret (Ex. Judas) - Repentance is a conscious decision to turn from something - True repentance involves inward confession & outward evidence of a desire to change - Seek forgiveness from God & others (Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9; Matt 5:23-24)

  17. FORSAKING SIN To forsake sin means “to let go of sin” (Proverbs 28:13) If you hold on to the sin you will not “break out” or “come out;” not grow

  18. Abandoning or quitting sinful habits involves: 1. An actual termination of past practices & situations associated with sin. “Radical amputation” (Jay Adams) – Eliminating any influence, situation or anything that may be a stumbling block to the Holy obedience of God’s word. 2. Setting up a structure that will make it difficult to fall into the same sin again

  19. IMPLEMENTING CORRECTIVE MEASURES You must deny yourself(Luke 9:23-24) - The biggest barrier to change is you - Be Christ-centred not self-centred You must do what God’s Word says (James 1:22-23) - Practice what you read - Look for specific verses & biblical principles You must demonstrate evidence of change (Eph 4:24) - Compare things you use to do with things you do now - Evaluate the person you were with the person you are now

  20. COMMITMENT • Identify the sinful habits that you are struggling to change (Rom 7:15-25) • - Occasionally examine yourself (habits, weaknesses) • Raise the bar. God has already set the standard (Matt 5:48; Rom 6:6, 11-18) • - Do not lower God’s standards for anybody; including yourself  Bring your body under subjection (1 Cor 9:26-27) - Discipline yourself to change & maintain control of the changing process

  21. PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR COMMITMENT Be accountable to someone Be consistent with change: Do not condemn & then condone / justify / defend Be willing to accept criticism Be positive towards change: Godly attitude / Focus on becoming better Be proactive about change: Pursue it / Make an effort / Take action / It’s not about feelings; its about duty

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