Transformed by Grace: Evidence of a Changed Life

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I think every Christian has asked themselves one question at one time or another and most likely asked it many times.
Am I a Christian? Was I really called by Christ?
While this sermon is not answering those questions directly, we are touching on this topic; for at least two reasons.
This is the beginning of a new year so my hope is that if you can’t say you are a Christian then this is the year you will be able to answer it with a yes.
And, if you can say you are a Christian, I hope you will have some goals this year so at the end of the year your life testifies even more that you are a Christian.
I am starting off with my first sermon this year about a transformed life titled; transformed by grace, evidence of a changed life.
Everyone of us goes through transformations. Remember going to school for the first time, or moving up in grades so that you are going to a different school.
Relationships transform as we get older. We still have three daughters and in many ways they will remain my little girls but our relationship with each has had to transform as they got older, as they grew into young women, from children to teens to adults to having their own lives and their own children.
Mine and Susan’s relationship has transformed over the years. I spent 30 years in the military, almost half my life. But I have spent more than half my life in a relationship with her. A relationship that has had its ups and downs, its twists and turns, its disappointments and victories; a relationship that has transformed over the years.
And with it, we, each, have transformed.
We both know we have changed and I think many of you know we have changed. But the question is how do you know we have changed?
Besides assuming that we have changed due to the length of time together or just because you think people change, how do you know we have changed? And do you know if that change has brought us closer or further apart?
I do hope you believe the answer is closer.
If it is possible that we can grow closer together or further apart, this also means that there is good and bad transformation. But what does this have to do with being a Christian, especially at the start of a new year.
Very simply this. We have been transformed by grace and that means we have changed, We have been transformed and we are being transformed. Our life as a Christian is supposed to be dynamic, potent and a growing transformation.
And we come back to the same question about Susan and I, how do you know our relationship has transformed?
How do you know if your relationship with God has transformed? Are there ways we can tell we have and are being transformed? And, if so, what are the marks of a transformed life?
Why should we look at ourselves?
And to whom should we compare ourselves?
In Romans 12, Paul teaches that transformation is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith. It is evidenced by the Holy Spirit working in your life and transforming you. As he discusses this, he gives us marks that should be seen in the life of a Christian that identifies the continuing work of the Holy Spirit.
Transformation is not a one time event but an ongoing process for a Christian.
If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, open them to Romans 12. As we look at Paul’s teaching, I will have the Scripture on the screen but I think it is important for you learn where it is in your Bible. Besides, by reading from your Bible, you are less likely to concern yourselves with what someone else is doing.
Romans 12:1–2 NASB 2020
1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

1. Present Yourselves as Living Sacrifices

Present yourselves as a living sacrifice.
Pastor John MacArthur, in his commentary on Romans, tells the story of a young woman who came to him for advice. She shared a story familiar to him about Christian lives which seemed to be anything but victorious.
No matter what they do, the always seem to lose the spiritual battles. They go to various churches, participate in various church functions but never seem to be able to win any spiritual battle in their life.
When asked what they do to solve the problem, their reply is often about what they do as well as about what they try to get from God to help them. Everything they do always falls short.
And Dr MacArthur’s answer to them is:
Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 11: The Believer’s Supreme Act of Spiritual Worship

“The key to spiritual victory and true happiness is not in trying to get all we can from God but in giving all that we are and have to Him.”

Paul tells us that we are to present our “bodies as a living and holy sacrifice.” He also includes that we must not be conformed to this world but be transformed by Christ.
We will either conform to the worldly standards or we will be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
Conformed means that we are molded. Transformed means we are changed.
In our lives, we will either be conformed to the world or transformed and made more Christ-like.

2. Participate with Humility

We are participants in this process.
An attitude of humility is commanded by God. Paul doesn’t point to his authority in telling us to be humble. He points to God’s grace in his life to be able to tell us to be humble.
An attitude of humility is difficult to have. In a time where it is more common to be individualistic, to say that what makes me happy is more important than anything else, humility is very difficult.
Why humility? When God has given us a gift or gifts to use in ministry to others, why is humility so important?
Let’s look at the actual text to understand this better.
Romans 12:3 NASB 2020
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Paul starts off saying what has been given to him was through grace. It was not because of his own merit, his work, his authority but by God’s grace. And just as God gifted Paul through grace, God’s gifts to us are purely by grace.
We can’t boast in anything about us because what we have was given to us by grace and not through anything we have earned.
It also says that we should not “think more highly” of ourselves that we ought to think.
Self-debasement is not humility. There isn’t anything wrong with enjoying the work of our hands.
The whole issue is who is at the center of your life? Are you self-centered or Christ-centered?
Paul wrote this to Timothy:
1 Timothy 1:12 NASB 2020
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
Do you have Christ at the center of your life?

3. Practice Genuine Love

It is only with Christ at the center of our life that we can practice love.
Let’s continue reading our passage.
Romans 12:9–13 NASB 2020
9 Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Love must be free of hypocrisy.
The whole idea of agape love is that this type of love is unselfish, self-giving with willful devotion to another person.
There is only one way which we an express this type of love and that is by sharing the love Christ gives to us.
Adaline has developed a cute little wave. It is with her fingers bending. On the cruise, we would be going through the ship and she would just start waving at everyone she passed, even if they weren’t waving to her or even paying attention. When people would look down and see her waving at them, they had to stop and smile and wave back, quite often mimicking the way she was waving.
It was contagious and by the end of the week, people we did not know would look down and wave to her they way she had been waving.
When we love without hypocrisy the same thing happens. I can show you videos of Adaline’s wave and you can see just how cute our granddaughter is. But how do I show you agape love, love without hypocrisy.
Paul gives us a list of how.
Romans 12:9–13 NASB 2020
9 Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

4. Pursue Peace with All

There is an old cliche about living in peace with other nations.
Peace through superior firepower. In other words, force them into peace or make peace the better choice. It also seems to be the type of peace that Rome practiced and the type of peace that Israel rebelled against.
Paul concludes this section with peace.
Romans 12:14–21 NASB 2020
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The peace we have as Christians defies our inclinations as fallen humans.
Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
That sounds like a nice cliche doesn’t it?
Be the better person.
Take the high road.
Rise above it.
Sticks and stones.
Why do we have all these sayings about being the better person? Because our fallen selves tend to scream just the opposite.
All of these things mark us as different people.
Give yourself to God.
Participate in the process with humility.
Genuinely love others.
And seek peace.
All of these are marks that we belong to God and that the Holy Spirit is at work in us.
This new year, I hope you use this passage to look at yourself and see God at work in you.
Let’s pray.
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