Do You Have to Change for God, or Does He Change You ?

Insights from Jesus' Teachings

According to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels and the broader New Testament context, the answer is both—but in a specific order: you must actively repent and turn to God (your response), while God is the one who ultimately changes and transforms you through His power and grace.

Jesus Calls People to Repent and Change

Jesus' ministry begins with a direct command to repent:

• In Matthew 4:17, Jesus proclaims, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
• He repeatedly calls individuals to turn from sin, such as telling Zacchaeus (after his repentance) that salvation had come to his house (Luke 19), or urging people to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8, echoed from John the Baptist).

This shows human responsibility: repentance is a decision to change your mind about sin, turn away from it, and turn toward God. It's not passive—you must choose to follow Jesus, forsake old ways, and obey His teachings.

But True Transformation Is Impossible Without God's Work

Jesus emphasizes that real, lasting change—especially entering God's kingdom—is beyond human effort alone:

• In John 3:3–7, Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again... You must be born of water and the Spirit." Being "born again" (regeneration) is a spiritual rebirth initiated by the Holy Spirit, not something we achieve ourselves.
• In Matthew 19:26, after explaining how hard it is for the rich (or anyone relying on self) to enter the kingdom, Jesus says, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Salvation and heart-level change require divine intervention.

This aligns with Old Testament promises fulfilled in Jesus:

• Ezekiel 36:26–27: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees."

And New Testament confirmation:

• Philippians 2:13: "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." God gives both the desire (to will) and the ability (to act) for godly living.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This transformation comes through union with Christ.

In summary, Jesus teaches that you must repent and seek God (your part), but God sovereignly changes you from the inside out—replacing a hard heart with a responsive one, empowering you by His Spirit. Self-effort alone leads to failure; relying on God's grace through faith in Christ brings true change. This is the heart of the gospel: God's power makes the impossible possible.