Dear Brethren,

In the Scriptures we read of two significant changes that each of us must go through before we enter the Kingdom of God.  Right now, we are in the flesh – that must change.  Flesh to Spirit – that is the final change.

“It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”  (1 Corinthians 15:44)

“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.”  (Philippians 3:21)

What an incredible, astonishing and immense change that will be – to be changed into His glorious body!  We will even look like God:

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”  (1 John 3:2)

We will be like God!  That is more than our minds can imagine!  These verses are speaking of the time of the resurrection of the Just.  The ancient patriarch Job knew about this change that must come:

“If a man dies, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change comes.  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”  (Job 14:14-15)

The apostle Paul wrote about our change in the Resurrection Chapter:

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

The Protestants get this change of being born again into the Family of God after this life – all mixed up with what they call “giving their heart to the Lord,” “believing in Jesus” and “getting saved.”

This change that takes place after one’s death is certain; there is no avoiding it.  There will be awaiting everyone who has ever lived – either eternal life or the second death (Revelation 20:14).  The resurrection to life eternal – that is the change we all seek.  But there is another change that must take place in us before that - if we hope to be in the better resurrection.

Paul goes on to say:

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.”  (1 Corinthians 15:21)

Adam ushered in death – necessitating a change – and that change came in the form of Jesus bringing the resurrection of the dead.  God must first call us and grant us repentance and faith.  We must act on those gifts and go through a change.  That first change is conversion.  What is conversion? Conversion is the act of changing from one state of being to another.  Living a life of submission and turning to God is the mark of true conversion.

At baptism, and with the laying on of hands, we are changed instantly into Children of God – no longer mere children of the world.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)

The Spirit of God will bring about continued change throughout our lifetime because the change to being Christians is a great deal more than a momentary change of conviction.  A man is converted by God through many tests and fiery trials of his faith – into an immortal Child of God in the Family of God.

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God.”  (Acts 14:22)

God’s Spirit in a Christian begins the conversion process which will culminate in our being born into the eternal Family of God at the first resurrection.  Conversion is a process that begins with a “newness of life” at water baptism and the laying on of hands, and continues uninterrupted until we are raised as spiritual beings in the “likeness of Christ’s resurrection” (Romans 6:4-5).

This truth about the changes a Christian must go through is lost on the world.

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Sermon:

"Two Fundamental Changes - Part 1"