Conversion: What Changes? Part Two
In our last blog we discovered the first two initial changes in any believer's life. The first is the new nature, and, secondly, the indwelling person of the Holy Spirit. These realities form the basis for how a true Christian's life changes beginning with the internal.
The third, and I think the most vital and enduring change for the believer, concerns our new guide, the Word of God in Scripture. From the moment we are born again in Christ we have an insatiable desire for the Word of God in our lives. Jesus said,
Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4)
The apostle Peter likened new believers to be like new-born babies saying,
As new born babes, desire the genuine milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby. (2 Peter 2:1)
Peter then commanded new followers of Christ,
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)
There is only one way to successfully grow in grace and in knowledge, and that's through the reading and application of Scripture to your life. Like everything else in our culture, we, as Americans, tend to want instant or almost immediate gratification. Unfortunately, life does not always deliver what we want or seek on time, especially when it comes to God's timetable. So when it comes to spiritual maturity, we must learn to depend on the sufficiency of Scripture. What is meant by that? It simply means that the Word of God is completely capable, as well as sufficient, to produce spiritual growth in Christ. There simply are no shortcuts to maturity. Paul clarifies this fact in his second letter to Timothy saying,
But as for you, continue in the truths that your were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:14-15)
This reminder to Timothy was meant to jar Timothy's memory about what God had already done in his life to that point. However, the key to understanding the sufficiency of the Word of God is the next part of the passage.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (2 Tim 3:16-17)
There are four clear tools the apostle mentions here, but the essential key is what he says last, "that the person who serves Go may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed."
This demonstrates the all sufficiency of Scripture. It give every one of us as believers everything we could possibly ever need to effectively, and we can add successfully, serve God! The only question that remains is this: Are you qualifying and equipping yourself with it daily? If so, you are growing in grace and knowledge! Don't stop.
The third, and I think the most vital and enduring change for the believer, concerns our new guide, the Word of God in Scripture. From the moment we are born again in Christ we have an insatiable desire for the Word of God in our lives. Jesus said,
Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4)
The apostle Peter likened new believers to be like new-born babies saying,
As new born babes, desire the genuine milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby. (2 Peter 2:1)
Peter then commanded new followers of Christ,
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)
There is only one way to successfully grow in grace and in knowledge, and that's through the reading and application of Scripture to your life. Like everything else in our culture, we, as Americans, tend to want instant or almost immediate gratification. Unfortunately, life does not always deliver what we want or seek on time, especially when it comes to God's timetable. So when it comes to spiritual maturity, we must learn to depend on the sufficiency of Scripture. What is meant by that? It simply means that the Word of God is completely capable, as well as sufficient, to produce spiritual growth in Christ. There simply are no shortcuts to maturity. Paul clarifies this fact in his second letter to Timothy saying,
But as for you, continue in the truths that your were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:14-15)
This reminder to Timothy was meant to jar Timothy's memory about what God had already done in his life to that point. However, the key to understanding the sufficiency of the Word of God is the next part of the passage.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (2 Tim 3:16-17)
There are four clear tools the apostle mentions here, but the essential key is what he says last, "that the person who serves Go may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed."
This demonstrates the all sufficiency of Scripture. It give every one of us as believers everything we could possibly ever need to effectively, and we can add successfully, serve God! The only question that remains is this: Are you qualifying and equipping yourself with it daily? If so, you are growing in grace and knowledge! Don't stop.
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