A Heart Transplant
Wouldn't it be great if we could, through
some magical method, start all over again? Erase the past and all our mistakes,
and do things right this time?
We have all wanted to do so to some extent.
But the Bible brings us the good news of how God actually does give us a NEW
START! A clean sheet of paper, to start all over!
We have read the sad account of the origin
of sin and death in God's family. We have also learned of God's great love for
His wayward children and that He has provided a way in which all may escape the
power and consequences of sin. Remember, God approaches us first in this
re-uniting of ourselves with Him. Let's read together 2 Corinthians
Anyone who is joined to Christ
is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who
through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of
making others his friends also. Our message is that God was making all human
beings his friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins,
and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.
But how does God save us from sin? Man has
formulated a plethora of roads to salvation, yet Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto
the Father, but by Me. John 14:6
Yet even among Christians, there seems to
be an endless string of opinions of the meaning of conversion. Many have touted
that by simply saying a rote prayer, one can guarantee instant salvation. What
does the Bible say? We have all heard of the term born again Christian;
but what does it really mean?
THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE
1. What is the first step in our turning towards
God as He calls us to friendship?
And in his name the message
about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations,
beginning in
Repent, then, and turn to God,
so that he will forgive your sins. Acts
Note:
God helps us to change our attitude about wrongdoing. Unless we change our
minds about wrong, we cannot be led to right thoughts and actions.
2. What does
it mean to repent?
For I will declare mine
iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. Psalm 38:18 KJV
Note:
The Bible definition of "repentance" is true, heart-felt sorrow and a
turning away from sin.
3. How can
we truly repent?
And He, when He comes, will
convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. John 16:8 NAS
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him
God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance
to
Note:
The Bible is clear; we cannot repent. The basic nature of our hearts is
rebellious (see Jeremiah 17:9), and only God's Spirit can put repentance in our
hearts.
4. How does
He lead us to true repentance?
Do you despise the riches of
His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of
God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4
CONFESSION
5. Once we
repent, what are we to do?
Then the Lord spoke to Moses,
saying, "Speak to the children of Israel: 'When a man or woman commits any
sin that men commit in unfaithfulness against the Lord, and that person is
guilty, then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. He shall make
restitution for his trespass in full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to the
one he has wronged. Numbers 5:5-7 NKJV
6. To Whom are we to confess to?
If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. I John 1:9 KJV
Note:
We are to confess to God only, for He is the only one who can free us from the
burden of sin and guilt.
7. How specific are we to be in our confession to
God?
And it shall be, when he is
guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess
that he has sinned in that thing. Leviticus
5:5 NKJ
And all the people said to
Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God,
that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of
asking a king for ourselves." I
Samuel
Note:
True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular
sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may
be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury
through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as
publicly confessed. But all confessions should be definite and to the point,
acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty.
8. Is confessing our sin something we do in order
to get God to forgive us?
Jesus said, "Forgive them,
Father! They don't know what they are doing." Luke
Note:
The Bible clearly shows us through the life of Christ that God has loved us
even while we are still His enemies (Romans 5:8). God has already forgiven us.
No action on our part can make God love us; no change needs to be made in God;
we are the ones who need to be healed. (read Psalm
32:5) God does not change.
9. Then why do we need to repent?
He who covers his sins will not
prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will
have mercy. Proverbs 28:13 NKJ
If you do not do so, then take note,
you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin
will find you out. Numbers 32:23 NKJ
Note:
Deadlier than any poison, sin destroys the sinner. God wants us to protect us
from the horrible final consequences of sin. Unless we change our attitude
about the inherent evil of sin, we cannot be helped.
CONVERSION AND
JUSTIFICATION
10. What are the results of repentance and
confession?
If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. I John 1:9 KJV
Come now, and let us reason
together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah
Note:
God has promised to set us right from all our wrongdoing. (This
is sometimes called "Justification".)
11. Will this bring about any change in our
behavior?
Jesus answered, "I am
telling you the truth: no one can see the
Note:
Jesus taught that there will be such a dramatic change in that person, that it
will seem as though he has been born all over again and is a completely
different person! Being "born again" is not merely a title to be
touted after saying a few words; it describes the great change a person will
experience as they walk with God.
12. Is this change brought about by our own
efforts?
"How can a grown man be
born again?" Nicodemus asked. "He certainly cannot enter his mother's
womb and be born a second time!"
"I am telling you the
truth," replied Jesus, "that no one can enter the
Note:
We do not give birth to ourselves; our parents do that. So our Heavenly Father
is the One who gives us the second birth. Jesus said, just as you do not see
the wind, but feel it and its work, so you cannot see
My Spirit, but all shall see its work in your life.
13. Is the new birth necessary for salvation?
So Jesus called a child to come
and stand in front of them, and said, "I assure you that unless you change
and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-3
Note:
The new birth is salvation. God cannot take us to Heaven
as we are, or we would create the same sad conditions there as we have here on
earth. But once we have allowed Him to convert or change us, we will be safe
candidates for His Kingdom.
RESULTS OF TRUE
CONVERSION
14. What changes will make it evident that one has
been converted?
You know that Christ is
righteous; you should know, then, that everyone who does what is right is God's
child. I John
We know that we have left death
and come over into life; we know it because we love others. Those who do not
love are still under the power of death. I
John
Beloved, let us love one
another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows
God. I John 4:7 NKJ
Note:
This is often called "sanctification" being made holy, like God.
15. What, more specifically, are the fruits, or
results of God's Spirit within us?
But the Spirit produces love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and
self-control. There is no law against such things as these. Galatians
16. How completely will God sanctify us?
Now may the God of peace
Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be
preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is
faithful, who also will do it. I
Thessalonians 5:23-24 NKJ
For sin shall not have dominion
over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans
17. How does God accomplish this?
But we all, with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the
same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Note:
It is only by beholding Christ that we can become like Him.
18. Is this process instantaneous?
Jesus went on to say, "The
Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field. He sleeps at night,
is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and
growing. Yet he does not know how it happens. The soil itself makes the plants
grow and bear fruit; first the tender stalk appears,
then the head, and finally the head full of grain. When the grain is ripe, the
man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come. Mark 4:26-29 TEV
(Verses for additional study: John 3:8;
Malachi 3:2, 3; Matthew 10:22)
Note:
Sanctification is the work of a lifetime.
19. When a young man asked Jesus what was the first
and greatest commandment, what did Jesus reply?
Jesus answered him, "The
first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord
is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
This is the first commandment. Mark
12:29-30 NKJ
Note:
Can any one of us say that we love God with all our heart and with all our soul
and with all our mind and with all our strength? It is
easy to merely assert a creed and forget the command that is implied: to love
God wholeheartedly.
The Lord asks us to consider that it is as
impossible for a person to change his skin colour or a leopard to change its
spots as for us to do good, unless we are healed and
changed by the Holy Spirit. (Jeremiah 13:23)
20. How did David explain the needed change to
enable us to love God and one another?
Create in me a clean heart, O
God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 KJV
Note:
In order to love the way God loves us, we need a new heart and a right spirit
placed within us.
CONCLUSION
But this shall
be the covenant that I will make with the house of
Would you like to enter into this new
covenant (agreement) that the Lord offers you? God asks of you, My son, give me thy heart. (Proverbs 23:26). Would you
like to give your heart to Jesus?
My response to Christ is:______________________________