The Bible tells us that God wants to sanctify us & transform us into the express image of His Son Jesus Christ. He wants to make us into a better & more holy people - both on the inside & the outside.
The first thing each Christian must know is exactly what it is that God wants to change about us. If you don’t know exactly what it is God wants to do with you in this sanctification-transformation process, then you will have a hard time cooperating with Him. There are a million self-help books on the market, but there is only one Book that will tell you exactly what it is that God wants to do with you on the inside to change you for the better - the Holy Bible. Your job is do qualitative, meditative study of God’s Word everyday.
The Bible tells us that we are to put on positive qualities, put away negative qualities operating in our personalities. Example - I have a problem with bad temper. The first step I should do is to find the specific verses from the Bible on this topic. After knowing that God wants me to have more self-control, then I will have to work at this problem. If someone cuts me in traffic, instead of getting angry, I will just bite my lips, start to have more self-control. I will not flip the other car off, I will just let go. Maybe at the beginning I may not always be successful but if I try again, I will, in time lessen the number of times I lose my temper.
This transformation process is completed "by the power of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit lives on the inside of each believer. It is His job to mold, shape & transform us into the kind of holy & righteous people that God would really like all of us to become in Him. Many Christians already know this. They then wonder why there has not been much change in their personalities after they have been saved. Where is the Holy Spirit? How come He is not removing some of my negative qualities? The reason is that they have not spent enough time doing their part. They have not spent enough quality time in the Word of God & they have not made any real effort to try & change for the better. Our spiritual growth is a partnership. God works in us to will and to act, & we, for our part, cultivate His presence, which makes His influence more powerful, and clear. We also make right choices which confirm into our character what God is doing in us. God, on His part, empowers & encourages us in these choices. Let God do His work on you and you will become a much better person, a much better Christian.
"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." (Romans 12:1)
2 comments:
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I would like clarification about the following statements:
"The Bible tells us that we are to put on positive qualities, put away negative qualities operating in our personalities. Example - I have a problem with bad temper. The first step I should do is to find the specific verses from the Bible on this topic. After knowing that God wants me to have more self-control, then I will have to work at this problem. If someone cuts me in traffic, instead of getting angry, I will just bite my lips, start to have more self-control. I will not flip the other car off, I will just let go. Maybe at the beginning I may not always be successful but if I try again, I will, in time lessen the number of times I lose my temper."
"This transformation process is completed "by the power of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit lives on the inside of each believer. It is His job to mold, shape & transform us into the kind of holy & righteous people that God would really like all of us to become in Him. Many Christians already know this. They then wonder why there has not been much change in their personalities after they have been saved. Where is the Holy Spirit? How come He is not removing some of my negative qualities? The reason is that they have not spent enough time doing their part. They have not spent enough quality time in the Word of God & they have not made any real effort to try & change for the better."
If it is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to complete the sanctifocation process in us, why do we have to make an effort to change for the better, try over and over again, and rely on self-control? Thanks!
May I quote from the blog of a fellow UECM blogger, Elliott: There was an extreme drought and 2 farmers prayed for rain. One farmer still plowed his field and planted his crops. The other farmer did nothing. The first one was able to produce harvest and the second one had none.
God will provide the rain. But we have to show faith by planting.
Thank you Mr McCluskey for visiting! We hope you pass by more often! May we also learn from each other!
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