ABC's of Christianity...Have you had a Change of Heart?

Back in the late 90’s early 2000’s there was a popular dating game show entitled “Change of Heart.” The premise of the show involved dating couples who are matched up with other singles and then sent out on respective dates. During the taping, they discuss their relationship, then their new dating experience. At the end of show the couples have to decide if they want to "Stay Together", or if they've had a "Change of Heart". Well…today we’re going to see after all of God’s efforts to rescue us…do we truly have a Change of Heart?

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Transcript

“Manifold Truths”

Biblical essentials for our modern times.

ABC’s of Christianity…Have you had a Change of Heart? 

§  Back in the late 90’s early 2000’s there was a popular dating game show entitled “Change of Heart.” The premise of the show involved dating couples who are matched up with other singles and then sent out on respective dates. During the taping, they discuss their relationship, then their new dating experience. At the end of show the couples have to decide if they want to "Stay Together", or if they've had a "Change of Heart". Well…today we’re going to see after all of God’s efforts to rescue us…do we truly have a Change of Heart?

Ø  First Things First…

§  There are six teachings listed in Hebrews 6:1-2 that cover the basic applications of the doctrine of Christ to the believer's life. They represent the first principles of Bible teaching that the Apostle Paul considered the foundation of all Christian instruction. 

§  Everyone should know and be able to teach others these things. These teachings are not simply intellectual facts; they are universal applications of the doctrine of Christ in the believer's life and experience. They are how the believer becomes a “doer of the Word.” In other words, because of who Jesus is, these six teachings are a reality in the individual believer's life and in the world. Not surprisingly, but the first on the list of things that we are called to learn about walking with Jesus is repentance. As a result, Hebrews 6:1 reads like this…

§  Hebrews 6:1 

·       Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of “repentance” from dead works.

§  Here we see the word “principles,” which is the Greek meaning of something being first, beginning, or elementary. It refers to the starting place of our faith in Christ. Then it says, “Let us go on unto perfection. “Go on” is the Greek meaning for being carried along. This signifies God’s desire that we don’t get stuck in spiritual “first grade,” but that we fully grasp the fundamentals of the Christian faith and move on to deeper truths.

§  The first thing we’re to know and understand as believers is the foundation of re­pentance. We cannot be saved without the act of repentance of turning completely to Christ. Because of our association with Christ our lifestyle choices should reflect our change of heart. There should be a “change of mind” as well as a “change of practice.” In most theological circles the expressions are:

·       Orthodoxy: correct doctrine/teaching.  The content is right. 

·       Orthopraxy: correct living.  The lifestyle is right.

·       Orthopathy: right emotions and/or affections. The feeling is right.

§  Deuteronomy6:4-5NKJV

·       “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

§  “Repentance” is the Greek word “metanoia,” It is used 24 times in the New Testament which means a change of mind; a complete conversion; a turn, change of behavior, or new course; a completely altered way of life and behavior. 

§  Interestingly, there is absolutely no hint of emotion in the word “metanoia.” It can occur with emotion, but emotion is not required to repent. It im­plies a decision made from our will. This change of thinking and believing results in a change of behavior. In other words, the proof that genuine repentance has taken place is a marked change in one’s lifestyle.

§  Quote by Lao Tzu

·       “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” 

§  I Corinthians 6:19-20 

·       19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price.

§  This type of repentance is uniquely for the “Christian” or “Believer.” Only Christians have the grace from God to “turn from evil.” A “non-Christian” or “Unbeliever” may try and amend his ways, which some call “behavior modification,” but until the blood of Christ is applied to their hearts, their sin nature will keep them in a fallen state.

§  Quote 

·       “A man in pursuit of God is like a mouse in pursuit of a cat. It just don’t come naturally.” 

§  Jeremiah 17:9 

·       “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

§  Not everything that looks like repentance is actually true repentance. Judas Iscariot is an example of someone whose emotions may have indicated repentance. Judas’ actions after he betrayed the Lord was anything but true repentance. For Matthew 27:3 puts it like this…

§  Matthew 27:3, 

·       “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, “repented” himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and went out and hanged himself.”

§  The word “repented” in this verse is the Greek word “metamelomai,” and it indicates “profound sorrow” and pictures someone “engulfed in grief” or “swallowed in re­gret.” Unlike “metanoia,” “metamelomai” is a completely emotional word. It has nothing to do with making a decision for Christ or changing the way one thinks. It indicates regret, not a change of heart, attitude, and behavior.

§  Jesus began His ministry calling people to “repentance.” When the apostle Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he told the people they needed to “repent.” Repentance is the “birth ca­nal” through which people must pass to enter the Kingdom of God. God “commands” all men everywhere to “repent” This is His requirement it is a decision of the mind, and no emotions are necessar­ily involved or even required.

§  As a Christian, we are now empowered to overcome the sin nature in our lives by the grace (divine influence) provided to us when Jesus died on the cross. We are not only forgiven, but we are empowered by Jesus' death on the cross to overcome sin and live above it. 

§  This is not something we do in & of ourselves, but it is something that we surrender to by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is at work in us to accomplish God’s perfect will in our lives. Our place is to acknowledge Him and cooperate with Him as He makes us NEW!

§  I John 1:7 

·       But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

§  The blood of Jesus not only brings forgiveness of past, present, and future sin, but it diminishes (through grace) your vulnerability to sin. We want to be very clear on this point. A Christian is not as vulnerable to sinfulness as the “non-Christian” or “Unbeliever.” This is not something we do within ourselves; rather, it is a result of the indwelling Spirit. It is nothing to boast about as though it were an accomplishment of our own. It is a work of grace (divine influence)

§  I John 1:8 

·       If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

§  So left alone, we will inevitably fall. The fact-of-the-matter is that we who believe on the finished work of the cross are not left to ourselves. The empowering presence of God within us offers us victory over all of our shortcomings.

§  If you have accepted Jesus from the heart as your Lord & Savior, you are born of God. Being born of God, the seed of God is in you. The scriptures reveal this “seed” as the person of Jesus (himself) living in the heart of the believer.

§  I Peter 1:23 

·       having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

§  This is a great mystery. The seed of God is in usward who believes. This seed is a manifestation of God (himself) dwelling in our hearts, and the part of God that is in you cannot sin. If you are born of God, that part of you is made free from the obligation of the Adamic nature to sin.

§  Romans 5:19

·       For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

§  I John 3:6 

·       Anyone who abides in him will not sin.

§  The word “abide” means to “remain, continue, endure, not to depart, to wait for (Christ), to remain as one.” In short, if our hearts are fixed on Christ and not looking right or left at the temptations of the world, then we will become free from any and all evil and that seeks to plague us from time to time.

§  The Christian life is not just an endless cycle of sinning and being forgiven. The Word of God holds promises to deliver us from these self-made prisons we have built for ourselves. 

§  Romans 8:12 

·       Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

§  Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are no longer indebted or obligated to sin. It’s often been said, “I could not help myself . . .” or “the devil made me do it.” However, in the life of the “believer” we have choices, but in the life of the “unbeliever” sin is seen as “just another day at the office,” As a result, in our relationship & fellowship with Christ, God helps us and gives us power to obey and truly have a Change of Heart.

§  So “Like,” “Share”, & “Subscribe” and until we meet again. “Love”, “Joy” & “Peace”