|
The
Four
Elements
of
Life
Transformation
It is
the
fundamental
message
of
the
Bible
that
people
are
not
naturally
good
and
loving.
It is
also
the
fundamental
message
of
the
Bible
that
people
do
not
and
cannot
become
good
by
trying
hard
to be
good.
Our
thoughts,
words
and
actions
are
the
result
of
who
we
really
are
inside
at
the
core
of
our
being.
Jesus
said,
"That
which
proceeds
out
of
the
man,
that
is
what
defiles
the
man.
For
from
within,
out
of
the
heart
of
men,
proceed
the
evil
thoughts,
fornications,
thefts,
murders,
adulteries,
deeds
of
coveting
and
wickedness,
as
well
as
deceit,
sensuality,
envy,
slander,
pride
and
foolishness.
All
these
evil
things
proceed
from
within
and
defile
the
man."1
God’s
goal
is
for
us to
act
good
and
loving,
but
He
knows
it
won’t
happen
by
rules,
regulations
and
threats.
The
only
effective
solution
is to
give
us a
new
"heart"—a
new
nature,
a
loving
nature
like
His—and
then
to
transform
our
minds
so
that
we
think
and
choose
what
is
good,
right
and
loving
because
we
want
to.
This
is
what
Jesus
makes
possible
for
all
those
who
believe
in
and
follow
Him.
When
a
person
first
puts
his
or
her
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
as
the
only
way
to be
"saved"
from
sin,
God
the
Holy
Spirit
comes
into
that
person
and
becomes
united
with
that
person’s
spirit.
This
re-creates
that
person’s
nature
or
"heart."
That
believer
is
now a
"new
creation"
in
Christ
Jesus—a
person
capable
of
real
love.
However,
that
person’s
soul
(mind,
will
and
emotions)
still
needs
to be
restructured
and
reformed.
This
part
of
our
salvation
is a
process
in
which
we
participate.
There
are
four
major
elements
to
the
transformation
of
the
human
soul.
Christians
need
to
apply
themselves
to
the
practice
of
these
things
so
that
Jesus
can
work
the
transformation
process
out
in
their
lives.
Churches
need
to
help
Christians
to
practice
these
four
elements.
In
particular,
the
greatest
impact
of
these
four
elements
happens
in
the
context
of a
loving
community.
Only
a
portion
of
the
transformation
elements
can
happen
on a
purely
individual
basis.
We
need
to
practice
these
together.
Walnut
Creek
Friends
are
committed
to
doing
just
that.
(Check
out
our
Small Groups.)
1The
New
American
Standard
Bible,
(La
Habra,
California:
The
Lockman
Foundation)
1977.
Revised:
21 July, 2010
|
