Forever Changed

"I preached…that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do."
Acts 26:20 (NLT)

In one sentence, Paul outlines the gospel.  The bottom line is that a saved life is a changed life.

Notice the natural progression of Paul’s statement regarding the Good News: repent, turn, and prove.  The first step to a changed life is repentance.  Repentance means to change one’s mind regarding sin.  It means that we see it as God sees it – wickedness and disobedience leading to death.  Repentance is the point where we realize and acknowledge our desperate need for God.

This brings us to the second part of the of the Gospel – “turn to God”.  True repentance leads us to the cross of Christ where our sin is forgiven and where we are restored in our relationship with God.  A changed life turns to God.  Not only for the purpose of forgiveness and restoration, but to find one’s purpose for life!  2 Peter 1:3 says that we, by God’s divine power, have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness.  Turning to God changes our focus.  It changes where and how we get our instructions for daily living.  Like life support, our complete dependence becomes upon God alone.

And lastly, a changed life will be proven by the way we live.  Ephesians 2:10 says that God has given believers good deeds to walk in.  It will be evident that a person has been changed by what they do.  Jesus said that you will know a person by the fruit they bear (Matthew 7:16).

What does a changed life look like?  He/she will look more and more like Jesus every day because that is the mold the Holy Spirit is forming them into (Romans 8:29).  The question is, have you been changed?  Perhaps it is time for us to look at our lives and ask ourselves, “Is my life a changed life?  Does it look like Jesus?” 
Dear reader, if you find yourself in desperate need of a changed life today, look no further than this passage of scripture and follow the instructions – “repent of your sin…turn to God…and prove” you’ve changed by doing the good things God has created for you to do.

Anchored in Christ,
Aaron R. Force