Christian Growth Series, Part B
Lifestyle Change is Evidence of New Birth

Understanding the problem from God's point of view:
Eccl. 12:13-14 ; Jn. 3:3-8 ;10:10 -It is necessary to be born-again, a spiritual birth in order to recognize, to admit, and to solve your problems in a biblical manner. Only God's solutions, grace, empowering and wisdom are completely adequate for abundant living.

Hope:
Eph. 2:8-9 ; Rom. 3:27 ;4:2 ;5:1 -Salvation is received by faith, all man has to do is to stretch out his hand and receive God's free gift of salvation. Man must believe just what God says and accept His word, accept His free offer of salvation. All man can do is accept the fact that God says He will save him, and to accept as true the free offer of salvation.

Rom. 3:23 ;6:23 ;10:9-10-Realize there is no salvation in or within one's self or in the world but only by the word of God as we confess it and verbally state God's word and believe, then faith grows and increases effecting a reconciliation within one's self, with others, and with God. To 'reconcile' means to change, to change thoroughly, to exchange, to change from enmity to friendship, to bring together, to restore, to be related and united with God.

Jn. 1:12 ; Acts 17:30-31 ; 2 Cor. 5:17 -Satan no longer your stepfather. God the Father becomes Father of your spirit, and you move from darkness to light. By the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, you become a child of God, a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. You begin a new existence, and operate now from heaven whence you receive spiritual blessings, power, wisdom and knowledge in order to live a victorious life here on earth.

Change:
Rom. 12:1-2 ; l Jn. 5:4-5 ; Titus 3:3-7 -Christ now lives in your heart by faith. Your spirit has been regenerated, you are empowered to live the victorious life and it all begins by the renewing of your mind, thinking God's thoughts after Him, removing the garbage of your past life, and developing biblical attitudes and motives to please the Lord and not yourself anymore.

Eph. 5:3-6 -Habits, practices and associations are to be changed for we are led astray by immoral and seductive persons, by false teachings, and false systems of religion. God has taken our unloving nature and made new people out of us, but we must turn from living a selfish and worldly life and turn to Christ.

God will transform any person who trusts and follows Him.

1 Jn. 2:3-6 -The change process begins with the mind, and the mind changed, fashioned and molded by the word of God. As the mind changes so does the thoughts, attitudes and motives, daily being conformed to the image of Christ.


HOMEWORK
Memory/Meditation/Prayer :
Eph. 2:8-9 .
Devotions :
BSAF for Acts 17:30-31 ; Eph. 2:8-9 ; Jn. 1:12 ; Rom. 10:9-10 .
Put-off and put-on:
Read the book of 1 John, list all the verses that use the words "You know", "We know", "that you may know", etc. Next to each verse reference, ask yourself how you may know or can know that you are a child of God.

Forms and Worksheets
BSAF: Bible Study & Application Form
Think and Do
Love Is
VOSWS: Victory Over Sin Worksheet
Dying to Self
Problem Solving
PSW: Problem/Solution Worksheet
Freedom from Anxiety
Contingency Plan
Change Is a Two-Factored Process

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