What Does the Bible Say About Change?

When the Bible talks about change, we see two main principles. The first principle of change in the Bible is that God is not one to change as far as His love towards us and what He wants for us in the future. The other principle is that when a person converts to Christianity, a slow change begins that should eventually transform him or her to a new person. Let's examine what the Bible has to say about change with regard to these two principles.

The Bible says that God does not change; however, this verse is normally misunderstood. God makes this known in Malachi 3:6 (NIV) when he said, “I the Lord do not change.” However, there are instances where God changed his mind because of the responses of His people. Usually, when the Bible tells us that God does not change, it means that he is unmovable with regard to sin. It also means that God lives up to His promises. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and will always be the same. Numbers 23:19 (NIV) makes a comparison between God and man and notes that God does not lie, change His mind, break a promise, or take no action on what He declares He will do. In James 1:17 (NIV), the Bible says God is not like shifting shadows that we see every day.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, the Bible says we should change. The change that should take place in the believer is what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). This fruit manifests as "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." The Bible also says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that when a person becomes a believer that he or she becomes a “new creation” and that change includes the old nature passing away and the new nature coming in.

The Apostle Paul welcomed change, but sometimes wrestled with it. He was no different than the rest of believers who experience a change in nature yet still struggle with the old, fleshly habits. In Romans 7:14-20 (NIV), the Apostle Paul described how he desired to change but could not always do what he wanted to do because the old sinful nature kept interfering. We will only fully change from our sinful ways when Jesus creates a new heaven and earth and takes away all sin. Until then, change from the old to the new will always be difficult for the believer.

Jesus sought to change the attitudes in religious tradition. People were depending upon their fulfillment of every letter of the Mosaic Law in order to achieve righteousness. Of course, this is impossible for anyone to accomplish and Jesus reinforced this when he said in Matthew 5:20 (NIV) that unless their righteousness exceeds the Pharisees, they will not see the kingdom of God. Jesus' point was that this ideal of living at a level of righteousness this high was impossible and people needed to change their thinking and believe in a savior who can live perfectly because He is God.

Christians should always scrutinize any popular social change. Fads appear in our culture all the time. Many behaviors and things that were not socially acceptable in our parents' time are deemed as appropriate by the pop culture today. The Bible tells the Christian in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NIV) to “test everything” against the standard of the Bible and keep only that which is good.