On the other hand, the old things about this person are “passed away.” They are no longer. All his old passions, old thoughts, old practices, and old principles are a thing of the past, and he now has a new destination.
Today there are many in the world who claim to be Christians, but even a passing observation of their lifestyle, habits, motives, and moral inclinations reveals that there is no real change in them. They carry on as if there is no change required. However, if we look at the verse again, it states, “behold, all things are become new.” The word behold means to observe or to gaze upon. The American Heritage College Dictionary, 3rd Edition defines it as “to perceive by the visual faculty.” This means that there must be a significant change of character—one that can be observed by others in one's social circle.
Make no mistake, these changes develop gradually as one learns to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit as He prompts one to obey what one reads in the Word of God. It is the mission of the Holy Spirit to clean us up. However, we must consent to His leading and follow in obedience to what we know to be right in the Scriptures.
It is also the mission of the Holy Spirit to lead us into the truth as it pertains to Scripture, and to give us understanding on a spiritual level. God is faithful and will not ask of us anything without His assistance. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13)
Many in the Christian faith believe that a strict adherence to the Word of God is legalism—an attempt to earn one's own salvation. However, this is bad doctrine that contradicts the Word of God.
The Bible says that we are to “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” (Matt 5:6) We also read in 2 Peter 1:5–8, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Now to reiterate just a bit, the Bible says to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Righteousness, according to the Strong’s Concordance, pertaining to Matthew 5:6, is defined as “(1) It denotes an attribute of God (Rom 3:5) (2) It is found in the sayings of the Lord Jesus. (2a) Of Whatever is right or just in itself that conforms to the revealed will of God. (Matt:5:6, 10, 20; John 16:8,10) (2b) Whatever has been appointed by God to be acknowledged and obeyed by man. (Matt 3:15; 21:32) (2c) The sum total of the requirements of God. (Matt 6:33)”
To hunger and thirst after something is not a light thing. Imagine having not eaten or drunk anything for several days and then being brought into a room filled with all your favorite foods and drinks. Oh, how you would dine. Imagine being left alone with all that food. You would devour what was on your plate, and your eyes would want more.