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THE WAY I USED TO BE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    One of the beautiful and ugly things about human beings is that we can change.

 

B.      Two examples: 

1.      The Corinthians (I Cor. 6:9-11)

 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived:  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And 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.

 

a.      Note the words:  “And such were some of you…”

b.      They had radically changed from a sinful lifestyle to being consecrated unto God.

 

2.      Saul of Tarsus (I Tim. 1:12-13)

 

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:  but obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

 

C.     We have entitled this lesson:  “The Way I Used to Be.”  Let’s look at some ways that we can change.

 

I.                   I USED TO BE A SINNER

 

A.    God is sovereign over all of the earth (Eph. 4:6).  As the Creator of all things, He has the right to direct and command His creation.

 

B.      He directs His creation through the written revelation found in the pages of the book we call the Bible (Matt. 4:4).

 

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

 

C.     When a man or woman refuses to obey the Word, he sins.  John says that sin is the transgression of God’s Word (I John 4:3).

 

D.    Eventually, all become sinners (Rom. 3:23).

 

E.      We do not have to stay in that condition. 

1.      The blood of Christ has been shed to wash us from our sins (Rev. 1:5).

 

…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

 

2.      This cleansing takes place when we obey the Word of God

a.      Eph. 5:25-26

 

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word.

 

b.      I Peter 1:22-23

 

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

3.      Just think!  It is possible for a person to stand before the word and say:  “I used to be a sinner, but I am not one today.  Today, I am a saint, a child of the living God.”

 

II.                I USED TO BE A BABE IN CHRIST

 

A.    When a mother gives birth to a child, he is innocent, but he possesses no knowledge and no experiences.  The child must grow into a mature adult.

 

B.      The same happens to a Christian.  When a person obeys the gospel, he is born into the family of God (John 3:3, 5).

1.      At the moment of one’s conversion, he is a babe in Christ.

2.      This babe has little knowledge and little experience as a child of Christ.

3.      He must grow into adulthood in Christ.

 

C.     Growth comes through obtaining a deep knowledge of God’s Word. 

1.      I Peter 2:2

 

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

 

2.      II Peter 3:18

 

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…

 

3.      II Timothy 3:16-17

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, or reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

 

4.      We read.  We define words.  We outline.  We seek understanding.  We uncover lessons.  We make application of the Word of God to our lives.  As we do, we grow.

 

D.    Just think!  In a matter of days, weeks, and months, we can look at our Christian life and say:  “I used to be a babe in Christ.”  You may not be completely full grown, but you are no longer a babe.

 

III.             AN UNDISCIPLINED SAINT

 

A.    Part of the growth of a Christian involves being disciplined.

 

B.      Several passages of Scripture refer to this growth in discipline.

1.      I Corinthians 9:27

 

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:  lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 

2.      In the KJV, self-discipline is referred to by the word “temperance.”

a.      Galatians 5:22-23

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.

 

b.      I Peter 1:5-7

 

And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.

 

C.     As we discipline ourselves, we become purer and purer.

As we discipline ourselves, we become more and more like Jesus.

As we discipline ourselves, there is less sin in our lives.

As we discipline ourselves, we become more fit for the Master’s use.

 

D.    Just think!  There will come a time when a person can examine his life and say:  “I used to be an undisciplined saint, but now, I continually and faithfully practice self-control.”

 

IV.             I USED TO BE A SELFISH GIVER

 

A.    Things that keep people from giving generously.

1.      Just giving up hard-earned money is not easy.

2.      Trying to give liberally on a fixed income is not easy.

3.      Too much debt.

 

B.      In the course of a Christian’s life, he learns numerous lessons that cause him to give in abundance and with a joyful heart.

1.      He learns about the example of Christ who gave Himself for us (Tit. 2:14).

 

Who give himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity…

 

2.      He learns that God’s Word teaches us to give generously and cheerfully (II Cor. 8:1-4; 9:7).

 

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:  for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

3.      He comes to understand the futility of earthly possessions (I John 2:17).

 

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

4.      He desires to store up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20).

 

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.

 

5.      He comes to truly appreciate the work of the church (Matt. 6:33).

 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

C.     Having learned these lessons and others, he gives freely, generously, and with a heart of good will. 

 

D.    Just think!  There comes a time in the life of a Christian when he can say:  “I used to be a selfish giver, but those days are gone.”

 

V.                AN UNFOCUSED CHRISTIAN

 

A.    Focus for the Christian is one of the most difficult things to maintain.  It is easy for our eyes and hearts to wander.  Before we know it, we are negligent of spiritual things.

 

B.      The Bible exhorts us to be focused.

1.      Proverbs 4:25-27

 

Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:  remove thy foot from evil.

 

2.      II Corinthians 4:18

 

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

3.      Philippians 3:13-14

 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

4.      Hebrews 12:2

 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…

 

C.     Every day we awake and set our sights on the goal that we desire to reach.  Each day that passes, we know that we are getting closer to it.  Our focus gets sharper and sharper.

 

D.    Just think!  One day we can honestly say:  “I used to be an unfocused Christian, but no more.  Now my focus is lazar sharp.  My eyes are set on ‘a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God’” (Heb. 11:10).

 

VI.             I USED TO BE A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN

 

A.    In the opening statement of this lesson we said:  “One of the beautiful and ugly things about being human beings is that we can change.”  This is the ugly one.

 

B.      There are some children of God who can look back, even now, and say:  “I used to be a faithful Christian.”

1.      They were always in Bible study and worship.

2.      They were at important events like extra Bible classes, gospel meetings, and VBS.

3.      They were eager to use their talents on behalf of the local church.

4.      They were positive role models for their brothers and sisters in Christ.

5.      They were members who could easily resist the devil and overcome sin.

 

C.     For some reason, however, all of that has changed.  Now, all they can say is that “I used to be a faithful Christian.”

 

D.    This is a sad condition in light of the Bible.

1.      I Corinthians 4:2

 

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

 

2.      Revelation 2:10

 

…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

E.      Just think!  A person could stand in the judgment, reflect back, and say:  “I used to be faithful.”  What a horrible thought.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Men and women can change for the better or for the worse.

 

B.      Changing for the better is what God desires of each of us. 

1.      We start as a slab of marble.

2.      God slowly chips away at us.

3.      At first, there is not much of a form.

4.      Over time, the form appears.

5.      Soon, the form is clearly beheld by all.

6.      The form that He desires in us is Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29).

 

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.