Nearly everyone who claims faith in Jesus Christ knows they need to change.

Most of you who agree there is something that needs to change are frustrated, disappointed, or discouraged that you have failed at it or that it does not happen faster.

Colossians 3:9–10 (ESV) - 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Colossians 2:13 (ESV) - And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

Salvation forgiveness – past, present and future. Your life, redeemed, justified, adopted – hidden with Christ in God

Fellowship/Friendship forgiveness – the ongoing relational side of forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Colossians 3:12–14 (ESV) - Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Chosen – totally undeserving of God’s grace.

Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV) - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Ephesians 1:3–6 (ESV) - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Holy – set apart for God – His child - to pursue a holy life / pure in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 (ESV) - Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Beloved – loved dearly by God.

We don’t start with what we must do for God – that leads to moralism.

Change in your life begins with understanding and applying the gospel.

Come as you are – receive the grace of God found in Jesus Christ

Expect to change – yes, we are to respond to this gift of salvation and we follow these commands out of thankfulness and gratitude.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV) - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:13 (ESV) - …for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Colossians 3:5, 8-9 (ESV) - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Compassionate hearts - Think and feel compassion toward others.

Kindness – “niceness in action”; generosity, consideration, concern for others.

Humility – a right perspective of oneself in light of who God is. Everything I am and everything I have comes from Him.

Meekness – gentleness – power restrained – not easily provoked. “The meek do not resent adversity because they accept everything as being the effect of God’s wise and loving purpose for them.” (New Bible Dictionary)

Matthew 5:5 (ESV) - “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Patience – the ability to wait / not hurried / patience with the spiritual growth of others

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (ESV) - And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Galatians 6:1 (ESV) - Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Colossians 3:14 (ESV) - And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

1 Corinthians 13:4 – love is patient and kind

1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV) - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 John 4:7–8, 19-21 (ESV) - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love…19 We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

How to change in Christ:

1. Treasure the Word of God. (Psalm 145:18)

2. Meditate on the gospel all the time.

3. Hear the commands and resolve to obey.

4. Pray and ask God to do His work in you.

5. Trust him with the process of change.

Discussion Questions (Read Colossians 3:12-14 and pray before beginning)
1. What has been your experience with change in your life? Can you give an example of a particular focus of change you have had?

2. What, do you believe, are some of the faulty ways the world pursues change?

3. Discuss why Paul reminds his audience that they are “chosen ones, holy and beloved” before he gives the list of qualities to put on.

4. What questions might you have about the imagery of “put off and put on” described in this text? How would you describe it in your own words?

5. Review the qualities the apostle Paul references here briefly discuss a definition for each. As you discuss, think about which of these qualities seems to be your greatest struggle and why? Share that with the group.

6. Discuss why Paul writes verse 14. What is God teaching us?

7. Review the five steps of “How to change in Christ” and discuss how to make these steps a routine part of your thinking.