“Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” (Rev 22.11)
Have you ever met someone after a gap of many years? Have they changed?
There is something in the human nature which resists change. Whatever our circumstances we tend not to change. We remain recognisable in character as well as appearance (allowing for a few grey hairs!). Even during challenging times, the selfish remain selfish; the caring remain caring. Some remain hard-hearted, unchanged. The sins of their youth remain the sins of their old age.
But the scriptures speak of the miracle of new birth. God can change a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. The “blasphemer, persecutor, and violent” (Paul’s self-description in 1 Tim 1.13) became a powerful preacher of the gospel, the power of God.
Some stay unholy. Some are wonderfully changed!