How People Change

HOW PEOPLE CHANGE 1

2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled (state of agreement in deeds and goals) us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation

Reconciled - kat-al-las'-so to change mutually, to establish a close relationship, to settle or resolve, to make compatible and consistent Ministry- diakonia attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate): - (ad-) minister (-ing, - tration, -try), office, relief, service (-ing).

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Adam Clarke explained that the grand object of the Gospel is to make a complete change in men’s minds and manners;

We are given the ministry of change,

Changing peoples lives the change of the whole man. A new heart, and a new mind, the Lord saith, I will give you, and a right spirit I will put within you, Eze 36:26.

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.



HOW PEOPLE CHANGE 2

God created all of us for human connection, God is not enough!!!!

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Man is incomplete with God alone.

An important aspect of this relationship is that there was no “brokenness” in either Adam and Eve’s relationship w/ God or in their relationship w/ each other. They were naked and not ashamed. They were bare hiding nothing and no shame. There was no fighting and no bickering.

There was harmony and vulnerability in the garden. This is called a state of intimacy where people are known at deep levels and do not hide their vunerability from one another and are unashamed of who they are before each other.

(Tit 3:1) Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

(Tit 3:2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

(Tit 3:3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

(Tit 3:4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

HOW PEOPLE CHANGE 3

(Tit 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

regeneration – paliggenesia (spiritual) rebirth that is, spiritual renovation;

It is a restoration of a former state. That which was lost by sin is restored by regeneration

When we are not authentic/real we become like adam and eve try to be like god but move away from God. There is power in being who God intended you to be. Ex. Singers who cant sing

Paul said in Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Wicked - pon-ay-ros' hurtful, that is, evil figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, that is, derelict,

they were not fulfilled with God’s plan but they wanted something that they were not blessed with.

Their intimacy vulnerability innocence and ability to trust one another was lost. Now there is alienation now there is blame now there is death. Adam and eve became judgmental and lived by their own rules.

They tried to become their own source. They tried to control things that they were not supposed to . When we try to become



HOW PEOPLE CHANGE 4

God we lose our real self. And we lose the ability to become what He intended

A controlling spirit many times is birthed out of pride but is preserved by fear.

You and I are not supposed to be God. Adam and Eve listened to the wrong voice and decided that God’s design was not for them and reversed the entire creative order. Satan told them that they woud not die if they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

In fact they would have a better life if they rebelled against God. They would become like God, they could ascend higher on their own strength, mind, will, abilities, and talents apart from God.