"Why Can't I Change??"

Have you ever struggled with a particular sin, a bad habit, and found yourself unable to make a change? I think most everyone has, and it is no wonder...

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." (Jeremiah 13:23)

The fact is that we cannot make permanent changes for the better, of our own power.

"...There is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 53:5)

The root of the problem is a natural tendency to do wrong. Every son of Adam and daughter of Eve has it...

"Behold I was shapen in iniquity..." (Psalm 51:5)
"All we like sheep have gone astray." (Isaiah 53:6)

The GOOD NEWS is that God is not willing to leave us defeated in our sins! All the way back in the Garden of Eden He promised to send Messiah (Genesis 3:15), the Redeemer who would proclaim liberty to the captives of sin, and heal us, and restore our broken relationship to God!

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives...To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD..." (Isaiah 61:1-2)

Jesus Christ is Messiah, sent by God. He became the Lamb of God, sacrificed on our behalf so that we might go free (like Abraham's son Isaac!). He received the punishment that we deserve for our sin.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

God promised to send a Redeemer, and his promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ! But we must approach God on his terms, and not on our own terms.

"Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12

Jesus Christ is the only way to approach God the Father; the blood He shed is what can cleanse us of our sins and set us free from that bondage. Only Jesus can bridge the huge gap that sin puts between you and God.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

Jesus demonstrated his power over sin by his impeccable life (Luke 23:4); his power over selfishness by his self-sacrificial death (John 10:15); his power over death by his resurrection! (John 10:17-18)

Through Jesus Christ you can become a new creature! Can a leopard change his spots? Can a sinner be made clean?

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

Pray to God in Heaven, confessing your sins to him. Claim the blood Jesus shed on your behalf, and he will wash you clean!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)