The phrase “people don’t change” might be used to “justify” sin that “cannot be stopped.” Though this phrase sounds wise to some, God’s Word teaches differently. Though most people do not change as God desires, some people do, and everyone can.
Consider the “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” in which Jesus spoke of a man who was [metaphorically] “dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:24). This son had to change in order to be described as such.
Consider the apostle Peter, who denied Jesus three times (Matt. 26:69-75), yet later had the faith to be an elder of a local church (1 Pet. 5:1).
Consider the apostle Paul, who persecuted Jesus and His followers (Acts 9:4-5), yet later dedicated his life to preaching that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20).
Consider the Jews Peter spoke to on Pentecost, who were responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion (Acts 2:36), yet chose to give their lives to the One they had delivered up (Acts 2:41-47).
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 6:11, we find an example of individuals who had changed drastically. The Holy Spirit through Paul listed characteristics of unrighteousness and then said, “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.”
Notice also the change 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). May we accept responsibility for changing as God desires.
– Michael Hickox