Progression. It's all about
progression.
"For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:8
Ultimately, if you aren't changing and growing up into the image of Christ, you aren't born again. You're not a new creation in Christ. Every person has to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith or not.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5
As I have said before , a man who has the Holy Spirit within him ( and without that he is Unsaved) can no more “ not” be changed than a man who walks around with a radioactive rock in his pocket....Seen or Unseen , a change WILL happen...
A Saved man SHOULD change..... I believe a Saved man WILL change.....He HAS to.....He is a NEW CREATION ....He possess a NEW HEART....
Having said those things, I just think that sometimes any visible changes in outward behavior to satisfy “ Fruit Inspectors” may not manifest themselves for awhile.....Given time, a Born-Again man will change....Most of the changes,these Fruits Of The Spirit ( Joy , Peace, Long- Suffering, self- control, etc) are not capable of being seen......
Yes, I believe the Regenerated man will have change in his life....all I say is that even though it WILL happen, it does not HAVE to happen.....it is the “possession” of the Holy Spirit that “spurs” these changes that is the determining factor of Salvation.....NOT the Changes in and of themselves.....The INSTANT that a man Believes the Gospel He is Saved.....if he gets hit by lightning one second after he Believes, he goes to Heaven.Without any evidence of “change” or “ growing”
Nobody has to change.....let the Holy Spirit “hang around” long enough and you will * BE* changed.....If you have the Holy Spirit in you, you got it because of your Faith ....You want that Spirit to “ hang around?” ..... do what Paul said.....you finish the Christian Life the same way you started it——- FAITH!...... “ From Faith to Faith”, was the way that Paul put it....We practice the Faith and God provides the Change.....” The Righteous shall LIVE by Faith......
Paul asked his listeners if they got the Holy Spirit by “ being good” or by “ changing” .....the answer was “ No”..... they got the Holy Spirit by Faith.....Faith is Acting on a Promise Of God ....The Promise is Believe that Jesus died for you Sins and rose from the grave and you will be Saved....Believe that Promise.....that will get you the Holy Spirit....That Spirit will change you just As certainly as carrying around that radioactive rock will.....it may take a while to see it......and if you Never see it—it’s the Spirit that prompts the change that saves—- not the change in and of itself....
Anybody that can say “ Jesus is Lord” whereas before he could NOT say that with belief and sincerity has exhibited enough “ change “ to show that he has the Holy Spirit in Him and he is a man that is Saved.....” No man can say “ Jesus is Lord” without having the Holy Spirit in him” , according to Paul.....if you have that Spirit —- you are Saved....and Sealed .....Secure forever.