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Christ changes people’s lives completely when they put their trust in him (2 Corinthians 5:17). Perhaps formerly they were thieves and criminals (Ephesians 4:28); perhaps they were guilty of wrong sex acts (1 Corinthians 6:9-11); perhaps they were selfish and greedy (Luke 19:1-10). All of these people, and every other kind of person, Christ invites to become his people (Mark 2:15-17). Their wrong deeds may be many, but God wants to forgive them (Luke 7:36-50). Christ’s death is enough to give each one of them a right relationship with God (Romans 5:6-8).
That is like when someone leaves a dangerous path to go in another direction (Matthew 7:14). That person must first realise the dangers of the way that he is going. Until he is desperate, he will not be ready or willing to make a complete change of direction. However, when he sees the new and better way to go, he will never want to return to the dangerous way (compare Psalm 1).
That is how it should be in a Christian’s life. That person realised the dangers of his former life, with all of his selfish and evil attitudes and behaviour. He saw that his life was taking him to hell (Revelation 21:8). Perhaps he tried to save (rescue) himself, but he could not do it (Romans 7:14-24). Then he saw that Christ alone could save him. So, he put his trust in Christ, and God, in his great love, forgave that person.
Of course that Christian should never return to his former attitudes and behaviour. If he does, he should at once confess his evil act to God (1 John 1:9). He must return immediately to the right way to live. Every Christian needs to turn completely from the wrong behaviour that, formerly, was leading him to hell.
Next part: Cruel and nasty attitudes towards other people (Colossians 3:8)
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© 2019, Keith Simons.