Being a Christian is a lot like being a pumpkin at this time of year.
First, God picks you from the pumpkin patch and brings you in from the field. The Bible says He selects us out of the world. We are in the world, but no longer of the world.
He then washes all the "dirt" off the outside that we received from being around all the other pumpkins. All the outside influences of our former life must be cleaned up. Old things are passed away and all things are become new.
Then, He carefully removes all the "yucky stuff" called "sin" out from the inside. Sin will not have such internal power.
He then changes us from the inside out by the Power of His Word. That's why it is important to go the church and learn about God's Word.
He carefully removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, and fear. He replaces them with...