A non-Christian must begin making certain changes in his or her life, if he or she truly seeks to obtain immortality (Romans 2:5-10; Acts 2:36-38; 1 Peter 3:21). However, some of you have already obeyed the good news of Jesus Christ. As a child of God, are you changing into what God wants? Are you seeking to stand out from the world and become more and more like your Lord (Romans 12:1-2)? How are you progressing in eliminating your sinful habits? Is your daily language appropriate for a Christian (Ephesians 4:29-31; Colossians 3:8)? How devoted are you to the truth (Ephesians 4:25, 15)? Are you working on governing your emotions (James 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:26; Colossians 3:12-15)? There are several passages to study as we begin making needed changes and adjustments (Galatians 5:1-6:10; Ephesians 4:1-6:9; Romans 12; Colossians 3:1-4:6; etc.).
What Must Not Change?
While there are many things that must change to please God, there are also many things that must not ever change, unless we are seeking God’s wrath in the final Day (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). As the Lord’s people, we must stand steadfast against the changes that are sought by so many. These changes do come from outside the body, but they often assail from within the Lord’s own church (2 Peter 2:1-ff; Jude 4). The ultimate goal of such changes is to please self. The foundational change finds its center in the nature of God. God is no longer viewed as an unchanging, infinite, complete and perfect being (James 1:17; Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:18).
Now let us not think that this urge to mold God into what men want Him to be is revolutionary or new. God, in the Old Testament, brought the following charges and instruction: “You thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes. Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver: Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:21-23).
We see that some people have always tended to change God into whomever they desire. Often in our society God’s love and grace have been molded into unconditional acceptance and unrestricted tolerance. Many seek to eliminate God’s wrath and justice from their thinking (cf. Romans 1:18-28), and then completely change the meaning of God’s grace and mercy (cf. Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:4-8).
People often portray Jesus as tolerant of sin and willing to forgive in the absence of repentance. It must be understood that Jesus loves sinners (Luke 15), but hates sin (Revelation 2:6, 15; John 8:11). He came and died to provide the opportunity for forgiveness (John 3:16), but He demands obedience (Luke 5:31-32; 13:3, 5; Hebrews 5:8-9). He preached sermons that would certainly not be considered “gentle” or “positive” by the majority of our society (cf. Matthew 5-7; 10:34-39; 11:20-24; 23). Let us never forget who spoke these charging words: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
These misconceptions in our world should easily remind one of the words of Jude concerning those who “turn the grace of God into lewdness” (Jude 4). Let us be clear; God’s Word has not and will not change (1 Peter 1:22-2:1; cf. Isaiah 40:8; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). The times may be changing, but God does not change (cf. Malachi 3:6).
