2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

People, by nature, tend to resist change. Consequently, many appear to be allergic to any type of change, and that includes spiritual changes.

WHY IS CHANGE NECESSARY? vv. 14-16 
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And 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. 16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.”

1. We need to change because we are . Romans 6:23
2. We need to change because death means . Luke 13:3
3. We need to change because we need with God. 1 John 1:7
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 
4. We need to change because we need in life. Proverbs 29:18
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.”

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord?s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:28).

WHAT IS THE ROAD MAP FOR CHANGE? v.17
Two Views of Change:
1. God does everything. Philippians 1:6
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
2. Change is up to me. 2 Corinthians 7:1
“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 

THREE GUIDEPOSTS FOR CHANGE:
1. A change of heart. 2 Corinthians 7:10
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
2. A change of lifestyle. 2 Peter 1:2-5
3. A change of destination. I Peter 1:4

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE OF CHANGE? vv. 18-19
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
1. I do what pleases God, not me. 2 Corinthians 7:15
2. I do what pleases God, not people. 1 John 3:22
“and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.”
3. I represent God, not myself. 2 Corinthians 5:20

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20?21).