Can People Really Change?

Life-Changing Power from God

• Can people really change? Many times, the answer is no, because they try to change themselves without the power of God.
• We can’t change ourselves, but God has the power to free us from our past, transform our present, and redeem our future.
• Examples: Peter, James, Paul, Rahab, Samaritan Woman, and many others!
• Read: 1 Timothy 1:12-16 (Paul’s transformation)

Today: A Powerful Transformation in the Book of Genesis

Recap: Joseph has been appointed by God (and Pharaoh) to save the people of the world from a famine. 

Scripture: Genesis 42:1-4 — Joseph has been separated from his family for 22 years.

• Then Jacob sends ten of his sons to buy food in Egypt. Benjamin (the favorite son) is told to stay behind.

Scripture: Genesis 42:6-17

• Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they don’t recognize him. He treats them harshly and throws them in prison. He demands that they get Benjamin and return.

What is Joseph Doing?

• Joseph hears his brothers talking about how guilty they are for what they did to him (Gen. 42:21), but he wants to know how sincere they are and if they have really changed.
• Have they humbled themselves, confessed their sins, and repented? Or are they just angry that they are being punished? How will Joseph know how genuine they are?

Joseph wants to know if it is safe to reconcile with his brothers, or if they are still the same angry, bitter, violent men as before.

• He can’t reveal his true identity yet, because if they know Joseph is the one who can feed them, the brothers will say whatever is necessary to make him happy.
• The only real way to test their character is to devise a test.

Joseph Devises a Test.

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-23.

Jesus warns his disciples to watch out for false prophets and wolves in sheep’s clothing.

• People who act a certain way in public but have selfish, violent, or impure motives.
• Joseph wants to discern their true hearts and intentions. He does this by creating a test that will force them to reveal their true character.
• If they are forced to choose between saving themselves and saving their younger brother, what will they do?

Judah’s Transformation

Ultimately, the brothers pass Joseph’s test — especially Judah.

• What was Judah like before? In Genesis 37-38, he was bitter, violent, and selfish. He betrayed Joseph, abandoned his brothers, married a Canaanite woman, shirked his responsibilities, and committed sexual sin with his own daughter-in-law, Tamar.
• Tamar confronted Judah with the ugliness of his sin, which seems to have been a wake-up call for Judah.

The next time we meet Judah (Genesis 42-44), he’s a changed man.

He takes personal responsibility for the safety of others (Gen. 43:8-9), shows empathy, advocates for the vulnerable, and loves sacrificially.

• When Benjamin is framed for a crime and sentenced to slavery, Judah volunteers to take Benjamin’s place so he can go free (Genesis 44:30-34).
• Judah willingly trades his life for Benjamin’s out of his sincere love for his family. 
• John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (NLT)

Judah models the kind of godly sorrow Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 10:11-12. 

• “You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.” (2 Corinthians 10:11)
• Judah’s willingness to love sacrificially has an immediate, immense impact on Joseph, who revealed his true identity to his brothers right after (Genesis 45:1-2).

Main Idea:

• People really can change if they allow God to transform their hearts from the inside out.

Application:

• Don’t rely on willpower alone to overcome obstacles in your life and grow in faith. Turn to the power of God for the help you need.
• Trust in Jesus to free you from your past, transform your present, and redeem your future. 
• Believe the Gospel message, repent of your sins, confess your faith, and be baptized into Christ.

Study and Reflection:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Read: Ezekiel 36:22-32

1. Israel had been stuck in a pattern of repeated sin when God spoke these words to them. How does his response demonstrate both grace and holiness?
2. What does the image of God sprinkling his people with clean water bring to mind for you? Why do you think God compares sin to something that makes us unclean?
3. Bryan mentioned that most people can’t change themselves because they don’t rely on the power of God. What does verse 26 teach us about God’s role in our heart-level transformation?
4. According to this passage, what role does the Holy Spirit play in our relationship with God (see v. 27)? What would happen in our walk with God if we neglected the power or guidance of the Holy Spirit?
5. What do we learn about God’s desire for us in verse 28? Does God cease wanting this even when we sin? Why or why not?
6. God seems to say that he is willing to forgive us for what we have done wrong, but his grace and mercy are also designed to remind us of the seriousness of our sin. What kind of attitude does God want us to have about the sin in our lives?
7. Take a look at 2 Corinthians 7:10-11. How would you describe the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow? How can godly sorrow help us in our walk with Christ?
8. Today’s sermon focused on the need for genuine repentance and confession. With that in mind, what do you need to bring before God today? How can you demonstrate a genuinely transformed heart to him (and if applicable, to others)?