New Creation in Christ
What is Repentance
True saving faith contains repentance and obedience as its elements! Repentance is defined by Webster’s New World College Dictionary as “repenting or being penitent; feeling of sorrow, especially for wrongdoing; compunction; contrition; remorse.” but biblical repentance that saves requires three Elements: 1} Turning to God; 2} Turning from evil; 3} intent to serve God. No changing of mind can be called true repentance without all three. (MacAuthur Bible Studies Colossians and Philemon page 10 heading Truth for Today)
What is the evidence of true repentance that leads to salvation
Obedience is the hallmark of the true believer! Manifestation of Christ divine nature escaping the corruption of this world. 2 Peter 1: 3-7 vs 5-8 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.John 4:7-10 talks about the manifestation of love as an action. Vs 7 Let us love one another; vs 8 He who does not love does not know God for God is love; vs 11 If God so loved us, we also out to love one another; vs 12… God abides in us and His love has been perfected in us; vs 13 .. we know that we abide in Him and He in us because he has given us of His Spirit. Next is bearing fruit
How does our nature change
The quick and simple answer is study Gods Word the Bible and rightly understanding Gods word. It is the process of 1) denying ourselves 2) taking up our cross 3) following Christ. The rate of our growth in Christ directly correlates to the amount of time and effort we put into learning his word. Unlike religions of the world based on the works or an individual to somehow earn their gods favor by their actions Christians have a helper namely the Holy Spirit of God. The part of the trinity provides the means by which we come to belief in God and Christ in the first place. The holy spirit Romans (26-27)
26 Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Action Plan
Study Gods word! 1 Peter 2:1-3 vs 2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. There will be a hunger for Gods word if you are a christian not simply for knowledge but for guidance in life and in pleasing our Lord Christ.
How I study the bible
I am not the smartest sheep in the flock although I tell myself in am, part of my sinful pride of life. It is very very important understand Gods word. My approach is to understand what was meant by the words used in the culture and time they were said. I always have a dictionary and a bible dictionary like Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. If i am looking for an answer on a individual subject or scripture to memorize on a struggle i am having i use a Topical Bible. The bible should be your 1 one source and the only authority on any commentaries, sermons books you use to better understand Gods word. Do not be deceived if your not growing in Christ, despite the fact that is is impossible for us to reach perfection even thought we strive to be more like Christ. I cannot express the personal frustration of failing continuously in Heart Mind and deed. Be assured you are not the first or last Romans 7:24 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? When I fail i sometimes give up for a time not fully understanding that we are to strive on in our failures to repent and move forward and on those occasions that we succeed we should never get puffed up or proud but thankful to God that He is doing His good work In us. Philippians 1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and 3:12 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. and 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Striving