Character is not built in the arenas of life. Character is an inside job, built by ourselves.
If a golfer, for example, never changes, his game will never improve; and the most he will accomplish will be no more than a hitter of golf balls because the arena of golf will not change his character.
If a church member refuses to change, he will do no more than he is doing now because the arena of church will not change his character.
If a person lies and cheats in life, he will lie and cheat in golf because his character remains the same; and if he lies and cheats in life, just as he lies and cheats in golf, he will also lie and cheat in church because his character remains the same.
Thus we can see: just because a person moves from arena to arena, his character will remain the same until he chooses to change himself on the inside. Until then, no real change is possible.
Jesus said,
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3: 3)
And again,
"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." (John 3: 5)
Therefore, the born again experience of the believer in Christ must be internalized by the believer. It is a change that will be produced on the inside of people, not on the outside. It is a change that will be wrought by Christ, and not by ourselves. It is a work that we are incapable of doing, and it will only happen when people submit their minds and their hearts to Christ and Christ alone.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8, 9)
Knowing, then, that the Word of the Lord is true, we should be able to believe that it is impossible for people to permanently change their character by themselves, for this change must be produced from heaven above, and which they must be willing to accept.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2nd Corinthians 5: 17)
If a golfer, for example, never changes, his game will never improve; and the most he will accomplish will be no more than a hitter of golf balls because the arena of golf will not change his character.
If a church member refuses to change, he will do no more than he is doing now because the arena of church will not change his character.
If a person lies and cheats in life, he will lie and cheat in golf because his character remains the same; and if he lies and cheats in life, just as he lies and cheats in golf, he will also lie and cheat in church because his character remains the same.
Thus we can see: just because a person moves from arena to arena, his character will remain the same until he chooses to change himself on the inside. Until then, no real change is possible.
Jesus said,
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3: 3)
And again,
"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." (John 3: 5)
Therefore, the born again experience of the believer in Christ must be internalized by the believer. It is a change that will be produced on the inside of people, not on the outside. It is a change that will be wrought by Christ, and not by ourselves. It is a work that we are incapable of doing, and it will only happen when people submit their minds and their hearts to Christ and Christ alone.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8, 9)
Knowing, then, that the Word of the Lord is true, we should be able to believe that it is impossible for people to permanently change their character by themselves, for this change must be produced from heaven above, and which they must be willing to accept.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2nd Corinthians 5: 17)
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