About this time in the new year, everyone wants to know, can you really change? One by one, your New Year’s resolutions are possibly falling off. You’ve been there or are there.
Sugar looks great again. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak! Sleep robs you of your “set aside” time to read your Bible and pray. You slip up and say what you were sure you wouldn’t say anymore this year. The snow keeps you from making it to the gym. Crazy cigarettes! Being impatient with my spouse or children.
Thus, the question we ask is, can you really change?
Can You Really Change?
With the space limitations to answer this question, let me provide you the short answer and the biblical reasons for it.
Can you really change? Absolutely. Have heart and hope because the Bible teaches that you can change and grow in your sanctification that is, your ability to become more like Christ and honor Him in your daily living.
The Power to Change
Here’s the really good news! The confidence you can change comes from the Bible. Let me suggest two fantastic and encouraging reasons why.
First, God can change you more than you can even imagine or dream.
The Apostle Paul explains the possibility of change in Christ. He writes,
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
Here, Paul refers to the power of the Gospel in both salvation and sanctification. The grace of God saves and sanctifies those who follow Jesus. Paul explains the hope of the call of God (2:1-10), the riches of the glories of His inheritance in the saints (2:11-22), and the exceeding greatness of God’s power that works in every follower of Christ (3:1-21).
In this particular section of the Book of Ephesians, Paul prays that the power of the Holy Spirit would strengthen each believer in the inner man or heart. With that strength from the Spirit, change is possible. In that strength, God can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think.
Second, the power that changes you is the power of the Spirit.
Paul also prays that each one of us would comprehend spiritually the power available to us through the Spirit (1:15-23). Notice his initial expression of what he wants us to know and then his explanation of its power.
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. Ephesians 1:15-19
Paul prays since we now have spiritual eyes that are opened, he desires us to truly understand what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to His mighty power. In this short phrase, he uses three different Greek words for power (note: Greek is the original language of the New Testament). Clearly, Paul wants us to grasp the incredible power available to us through Jesus Christ.
How powerful is it?
This is where your spiritual mind will be blown! Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul explains the incredible power that works in us with four spectacular illustrations from Jesus’ life.
…and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:19-23
Resurrection Power
The power that raised Jesus from the dead works inside you. It is part of the exceeding greatness of the Spirit’s power that works in you. But that’s not all…
The power that raised Jesus from the dead works inside you.
Ascension Power
The power that made Jesus ascend from the Mount of Olives in Acts 1 to heaven works in you. In other words, as the disciples and others watched Jesus ascend into heaven, the power that made that possible empowers each follower of His.
Reigning / Ruling Power
The power that put everything under the feet of Jesus also works in you as His follower. Jesus reigns over everything. The power that enables that reign works in you, too.
Lordship Power
The power that makes Jesus the head over all things to the church works in you as well.
Friends, do you catch this? The power that works in you to help you change is Resurrection Power, Ascension Power, Reigning/Ruling Power, and Lordship Power. Again, try to get this understanding down deeply in your heart. This incredible power is the power that works in you.
The power that works in you to help you change is Resurrection Power, Ascension Power, Reigning/Ruling Power, and Lordship Power.
What are the implications then for change?
If you believe change is not possible, then take a few moments to remember the implications of this great passage.
- There is hope. You can depend upon the incredible power of God to help you change.
- When Resurrection Power, Ascension Power, Reigning/Ruling Power, and Lordship Power rests in you, then Christ can do exceedingly abundantly, above all we ask or think.
- When you believe that change is impossible, fight back with the truth of God’s Word. When you think it is impossible, remind yourself that the Bible says otherwise.
Friends, when you believe there is no hope, be thankful that, in fact, there is hope beyond hope.
The power that works in you is supernatural power.
Can you change? Absolutely
Thank you. I suggest looking at the Greek text of 2 Corinthians 3:18. “We. . .are being changed into the same image. . .” The tense of the verb is explicit.