{"id":5221,"date":"2014-03-19T06:48:20","date_gmt":"2014-03-19T11:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scquest.org\/?p=5221"},"modified":"2014-03-18T14:00:17","modified_gmt":"2014-03-18T19:00:17","slug":"how-can-i-change-scripture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scquest.org\/?p=5221","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Change? Scripture"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part of the \u201cHow Can I Change?\u201d series. See parts\u00a0one<\/a>,\u00a0two<\/a>,\u00a0three<\/a>,\u00a0four<\/a>,\u00a0five<\/a>,\u00a0six<\/a>,\u00a0seven<\/a>,\u00a0eight<\/a>, and nine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is a guest post by Joshua De Leon. Here he walks through principles found in Whitney’s book,\u00a0Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life<\/em><\/p>\n

Immersing Ourselves in Truth, Part 1<\/h1>\n

Reading the Bible will not change you! It is God’s grace that transforms you when you immerse yourself in the truth of God’s Word!<\/b> We do need to read the Bible, but more importantly, we need to understand the reason for a disciplined lifestyle of Bible reading. The answer is found in <\/b>John 17:17<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

John 17:17 – \u201cSanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Sanctification \u2013 literally means, \u201cto make holy; set apart from ungodly things.\u201d This does not<\/b> mean \u201cdifferent.\u201d Not all different is good. We are set apart from what is ungodly to be like Christ!<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is this Passage Saying?<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. \u00a0I am made holy <\/b>by God<\/b> \u2013 God is the one who sanctifies us! (<\/b>John 17:17; Acts 26:16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11;\u00a0 Gal 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Jude 1:24; Heb 2:11)<\/li>\n
  2. I am set apart <\/b>in Truth<\/b> \u2013 God’s Word is the instrument of sanctification!<\/b> (Romans 10:17; 1 Timothy 4:13; Luke 11:28; Revelation 1:3; Matthew 4:4)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    How is this connected to grace?<\/h2>\n

    (1 Thessalonians 2:13 \u2013 \u201cFor this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you <\/i>accepted<\/i><\/b> it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, <\/i>the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe<\/i><\/b>.\u201d<\/i>) When we expose ourselves to God’s Word, we open ourselves up to receive His grace to change and to make changes.<\/b><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    What steps can I take?<\/h2>\n