The theme of today’s message can really be summed up in one word. This word makes some people extremely uncomfortable. For others, this one word is exactly what they’re looking for.
The word is change. Whether we like it or not, our God is in the business of changing people.
In Romans 12, Paul is exhorting the church in Rome to not conform to the patterns of this world, but instead to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.
“The world” for these Roman Christians was a culture dominated by the Roman empire. Theirs was one of the most accomplished civilizations in the history of mankind. It was also one of the most wicked – slavery and prostitution were rampant, political leaders were practically worshipped as divine, and brutal, public executions were common.
It’s in this context that Paul tells the Christians not to adopt the values and practices of the society around them. He tells them instead to change. In so doing, they’ll be able to determine what God’s will is for them.
And how did Paul encourage them to bring these new values to life? He explains in verses 9-21…to love sincerely, to honor those around you, to bless those who curse you, and to overcome evil with good.
So we have the dominant, highly influential Roman culture, and then you have the grassroots ragtag Jesus followers. People who weren’t necessarily the most educated. Not people of power or influence. One group perished…the other persevered.
The Roman empire stood for 1,000-1,500 years. The church will stand forever.
There’s no influence on this earth like the influence of men and women who have been changed by the gospel. Their influence supersedes empires, rules, politics, economics, and social structures.
And so today, I invite you to consider change. Perhaps change is exactly what you’re looking for. Perhaps change makes you uncomfortable. But our unchanging God is in the business of changing people – from death to life, from blind to sight, from darkness to light, from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, from enemies to sons and daughters.
When we come to Christ by faith and ask him to forgive our sin, he changes us. He makes us righteous in His sight. That doesn’t only change your life here on earth, it changes your eternity.
Read Romans 3:21-26. “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”
