“People Don’t Change”

Bulletins

Michael Hickox
02/04/24 - General

The phrase “people don’t change” is sometimes used to “justify” sin. Though this phrase sounds wise to some, God’s Word teaches differently. Most people don’t change as God desires, but some people do, and everyone can.

Consider the apostle Peter, who denied Jesus (Matt. 26:69-75), yet later had the faith to be an elder of a local church (1 Pet. 5:1).

Consider the Jews Peter spoke to on Pentecost, who were directly responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion (Acts 2:36), yet chose to give their lives to the One they had delivered up (Acts 2:41-47).

Consider Saul of Tarsus / the apostle Paul, who persecuted Jesus’ followers (Acts 9:4-5), yet later dedicated his life to preaching Jesus (Acts 9:20).

These individuals had sinned drastically. Yet, they still had a chance to be saved.

This chance was contingent on changing. On truly repenting. This is the answer we must give when sin is in our lives. The answer is not to say “that’s just who I am,” but to “go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, we find an example of people who had changed drastically. In verses 9-10, the Holy Spirit through Paul noted some sins of immorality, saying, “Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s kingdom.” Verse 11 then says, “such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

This verse shows that those guilty of fornication, homosexual conduct, covetousness, drunkenness, gossip, or any other sin noted in verses 9-10 can’t justifiably claim, “That’s just who I am and I can’t help it.” The same is true with anything God defines as sin.

Notice also the change that’s alluded to in 1 Peter 4:3: For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles… Like the Christians Peter wrote to, we can give up lustful and sinful ways.

Regardless of our past, we have the ability to change in ways God demands. The path of correction is there. By choosing this path, we can look at sin and say “such was I, but I’m different now. I’ve been cleansed. I’ve been sanctified. I’m walking in ‘newness of life’” (Rom. 6:4).