A Change of Heart

Joshua Harris, the pastor wrote the controversial I Kissed Dating Goodbye, dropped the bombshell in an Instagram post several weeks ago that he is no longer a Christian.

Marty Sampson, writing for Hillsong (producer of worship music). "It was amazing being one of you, but I'm not any more. He later clarified that his faith was on shaky ground.

1 Timothy 4:1 NLT

1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

Question: How can a person maintain his or her faith and commitment to Jesus Christ?

Everybody faces doubts at times.

Everyone will struggle with pain, hurt, and failures.

Everyone will be confronted with seemingly convincing arguments why the Bible is wrong and everyone else’s viewpoints are right.

What happened spiritual to Joshua Harris—the pastor who wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye—and Marty Sampson, the worship writer for Hillsong?

Some would say that Joshua and Marty were never saved to begin with. That may to true—but I also believe that a person can fall away from their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Question: How do you know that you are a genuine follower of Jesus—that you are saved from spiritual death—and saved into everlasting life in Christ? What evidence can you produce that reveals the authenticity of your faith in God through Christ?

The Word of God shows us the answer in many places. Today, I want to look at only one of those places in Scripture. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church.

Text

2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT

16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

Real Change Transforms Your View of Jesus Christ.

When a person becomes a Christian—a real Christian, that person’s view of Jesus Christ changes.

Jesus is no longer viewed as a mythical person, or a religious person, or a nice person, or a good moral teacher.

Jesus is Savior and Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV

15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

When a person becomes a Christian, every priority changes.

Jesus becomes the center of life, existence, and purpose.

I live my life for Jesus Christ.

I make it a priority to know everything about Jesus (I study the Scripture).

I pattern what I think, what I do, and the attitudes of my heart after Christ.

This comes my life-long pursuit—to know Christ.

If this does not describe you, something may be seriously wrong in your spiritual life.

Either you are not a genuine Christian—saved by God’s grace.

OR, you are drifting away from Christ—and your faith is on shaky ground.

Either way, repentance must be your starting point.

Transition

Since a real Christian’s view of Jesus has changed, something else also happens.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Real Change Transforms Your Spiritual Condition.

What does “belongs to Christ” (or In Christ) mean? This is a profound statement of inexhaustible significance.

The ramifications of our sin changes. Jesus bore the judgment of God—paying the price for our sin. As a result, we have been forgiven.

The ramifications of our separation from God changes. We are now part of His family—restored into right relationship with God.

The ramifications of our future changes. The believer now has full assurance of everlasting life—a participant in the inheritance God has for all who would believe.

The ramifications of self-preservation and fear changes. The believer now can live in the confidence of the presence and power of Christ—living in obedience, sacrifice, and servanthood.

Living in the reality of our new spiritual condition in Christ, our whole purpose and pursuit of life changes.

2 Corinthians 5:18 NLT

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

Real Change Transforms Your Purpose for Living.

God does not take us out of this world when we get saved. He appoints us to the task of reaching people with the good news of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT

20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

Let me tell you the story of James.

I met James about ten years ago when he moved temporarily from Panama and became a graduate student at Kansas State University.

Although James seemed to be a quiet and shy person, James loved people—and he deeply loved Jesus Christ. Every Sunday, James had someone with him that he invited to church.

It was through James, that a member of the Chinese Communist Party (a visiting professor at KState) became of follower of Jesus Christ.

Today, James is married, back in Panama with a PHD in Engineering—and still a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ.

As a genuine Christian who has experienced real change through Jesus Christ, you are to be a first responder in the Kingdom of God.

A Change of Heart

Conclusion

Question: Are you living your life as one who as experienced real change—a change that has...

Transformed your view of Jesus Christ?

Transformed your spiritual condition?

Transformed your purpose for living?

If you said “yes”—praise the Lord. If that is your reality—you will do much in the Kingdom of God.

But, if you said “no”—don’t settle for an unchanged life. Today is the day you can experience real change!

I want to speak to two types of people in this room right now

There are those of you that are not saved through Christ. You have not experienced real change that only God can bring to you. But today you want to put your faith—your trust in Christ.

There are those of you that at one time lived for God, but you have fallen away from the faith—you have drifted away from God and His truth. But today you want to trust in Christ again.

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