CONVERSION
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
FOUNDATION OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
FOUNDATION OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
The only way to change this characteristic is if scorpions were to undergo a radical transformation of their nature, and that isn’t going to happen. in the same way, sinners sin because it’s their nature to sin, and the only way to change that is by a radical transformation of that sinner’s nature.
The only way to change this characteristic is if scorpions were to undergo a radical transformation of their nature, and that isn’t going to happen. in the same way, sinners sin because it’s their nature to sin, and the only way to change that is by a radical transformation of that sinner’s nature.
But that’s where the comparison between scorpions and human beings ends, because the
transformation of a sinner’s nature is not only possible but absolutely essential if spiritual growth is to take place. Growth presupposes that a birth has taken place and a life has begun. Spiritual growth presupposes that a spiritual birth has taken place. This occurs at conversation when a sinner places his or her faith in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life. This results in the imparting of a new nature to replace the sinful nature that every person inherits at birth.
But that’s where the comparison between scorpions and human beings ends, because the
transformation of a sinner’s nature is not only possible but absolutely essential if spiritual growth is to take place. Growth presupposes that a birth has taken place and a life has begun. Spiritual growth presupposes that a spiritual birth has taken place. This occurs at conversation when a sinner places his or her faith in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life. This results in the imparting of a new nature to replace the sinful nature that every person inherits at birth.
Conversion is the basis or foundation of our spiritual growth, and in this lesson, my hope is that the better you understand what happens when a person is converted, or born from above, the better you will understand the dynamic and the process of spiritual growth.
Conversion is the basis or foundation of our spiritual growth, and in this lesson, my hope is that the better you understand what happens when a person is converted, or born from above, the better you will understand the dynamic and the process of spiritual growth.
The character of conversion, and the completeness of the new life and new nature that God placed within us when we trusted Christ for salvation. To whet your appetite for this subject and let you know where we are heading, consider the the apostle Peter described salvation in his second epistle. He declared that “[God’s] divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,” and further that as saved people we have “become partakers of the divine nature” ( ).
The character of conversion, and the completeness of the new life and new nature that God placed within us when we trusted Christ for salvation. To whet your appetite for this subject and let you know where we are heading, consider the the apostle Peter described salvation in his second epistle. He declared that “[God’s] divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,” and further that as saved people we have “become partakers of the divine nature” ( ).
That’s a radical conversion . If you are a Christian, you have a new nature within you that is from God. And along with this new nature, you have received everything you need to live a life that pleases God. Our challenge as believers to nourish and develop what we already have so it will grow. To understand and appreciate what God did for us at conversation, and its implications for our spiritual growth, we need to see it against the backdrop of the sinful nature we had before coming to Christ.
That’s a radical conversion . If you are a Christian, you have a new nature within you that is from God. And along with this new nature, you have received everything you need to live a life that pleases God. Our challenge as believers to nourish and develop what we already have so it will grow. To understand and appreciate what God did for us at conversation, and its implications for our spiritual growth, we need to see it against the backdrop of the sinful nature we had before coming to Christ.
THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION
THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION
When Adam sinned against God, his innocence was lost and he became corrupted by sin. At the core of Adam;s being there was deposited a sin nature, which became a part of his humanity and was transmitted to every one of his descendants. The Bible says, “Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin” ( ).
When Adam sinned against God, his innocence was lost and he became corrupted by sin. At the core of Adam;s being there was deposited a sin nature, which became a part of his humanity and was transmitted to every one of his descendants. The Bible says, “Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin” ( ).
Because Adam was acting as the representative head of the human race when he sinned, all of us are born with a sin nature, a disposition toward rebellion against God that is part of what it means to be human. This aspect of our nature is so pervasive that it makes everything we do, say, or think unacceptable in the eyes of a holy God.
Because Adam was acting as the representative head of the human race when he sinned, all of us are born with a sin nature, a disposition toward rebellion against God that is part of what it means to be human. This aspect of our nature is so pervasive that it makes everything we do, say, or think unacceptable in the eyes of a holy God.
The point is that sinful human beings cannot approach God in their own power, let alone grow spiritually closer to Him. In , David wasn’t saying he was illegitimate, but acknowledge the sin that pervades the human soul. (cf ). These actions are unacceptable because they are filtered through and contaminated by our sin nature.
The point is that sinful human beings cannot approach God in their own power, let alone grow spiritually closer to Him. In , David wasn’t saying he was illegitimate, but acknowledge the sin that pervades the human soul. (cf ). These actions are unacceptable because they are filtered through and contaminated by our sin nature.
Our problem as people born in sin is not that we have a minor flaw that needs to be ironed out, or a quirk of personality that we ought to work on. Sin sets us at complete hostility toward God and puts us under His judgment. (cf ).
Our problem as people born in sin is not that we have a minor flaw that needs to be ironed out, or a quirk of personality that we ought to work on. Sin sets us at complete hostility toward God and puts us under His judgment. (cf ).
The effect of the sinful nature on our lives is something like the effect that a disease known as Myasthenia gravis . a disease that occurs when the muscle doesn not receive a message from the brain because there is a problem with the nerve that transmits the motor impulse.
The effect of the sinful nature on our lives is something like the effect that a disease known as Myasthenia gravis . a disease that occurs when the muscle doesn not receive a message from the brain because there is a problem with the nerve that transmits the motor impulse.
The Bible declares that every person is born with a short circuit in his spiritual nerve system.God is sending out His signals, but the unsaved person has no capacity to receive them. Paul said, “ A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” ().
The Bible declares that every person is born with a short circuit in his spiritual nerve system.God is sending out His signals, but the unsaved person has no capacity to receive them. Paul said, “ A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” ().
The implications of this fact for spiritual growth are tremendous. There can be no growth where a new spiritual birth has not taken place. there are legions of people who go to church every week and consider themselves Christians, yet never exhibit any spiritual growth. They think they are doing all the right things, yet they wonder why their religion seems to empty and unsatisfying .
The implications of this fact for spiritual growth are tremendous. There can be no growth where a new spiritual birth has not taken place. there are legions of people who go to church every week and consider themselves Christians, yet never exhibit any spiritual growth. They think they are doing all the right things, yet they wonder why their religion seems to empty and unsatisfying .
The answer to that problem, in many cases, is that these people have never experienced genuine conversion. (cf ). We don’t know if Nicodemus came to Jesus because he was dissatisfied with his religion and wanted more or because he wanted to find out more about Jesus. Deeply imbedded within us at( birth is a sin nature that is defective and requires a spiritual rebirth.
The answer to that problem, in many cases, is that these people have never experienced genuine conversion. (cf ). We don’t know if Nicodemus came to Jesus because he was dissatisfied with his religion and wanted more or because he wanted to find out more about Jesus. Deeply imbedded within us at( birth is a sin nature that is defective and requires a spiritual rebirth.
THE CHARACTER OF CONVERSION
THE CHARACTER OF CONVERSION
Our problem is a defective, corrupt, and ruined nature, then we need a brand-new nature implanted within us to fix that mess. That’s exactly what God does for us at conversion. ().
Our problem is a defective, corrupt, and ruined nature, then we need a brand-new nature implanted within us to fix that mess. That’s exactly what God does for us at conversion. ().
GOD GIVES US HIS NATURE AT CONVERSION
GOD GIVES US HIS NATURE AT CONVERSION
‘
Conversion, or salvation, or the new birth, is the process whereby God deposits within every believer a new nature that is from Him and is therefore perfect. At the same time the old nature, called “Our old self,” is “crucified with [Christ]” (). That old sin nature that dominated us and kept the life of God from flowing through us has been put to death, and in its place is a new nature from God that the Bible says cannot sin ( ). But hold on, because that doesn’t mean we are perfect. We still bear the residue of the old sin nature, which Paul called the “sin which dwells in me” (), because these imperfect bodies have been corrupted by sin. The body contaminated by sin, or what Paul calls “the body of this death” (7:24) is where our battle with sin exists (7:23).
Conversion, or salvation, or the new birth, is the process whereby God deposits within every believer a new nature that is from Him and is therefore perfect. At the same time the old nature, called “Our old self,” is “crucified with [Christ]” (). That old sin nature that dominated us and kept the life of God from flowing through us has been put to death, and in its place is a new nature from God that the Bible says cannot sin ( ). But hold on, because that doesn’t mean we are perfect. We still bear the residue of the old sin nature, which Paul called the “sin which dwells in me” (), because these imperfect bodies have been corrupted by sin. The body contaminated by sin, or what Paul calls “the body of this death” (7:24) is where our battle with sin exists (7:23).
When we receive Christ, everything becomes new at the core of your being, and it is this new life or new nature that gives you the disposition and the capacity to know and serve God rather than serving sin and self. ().
When we receive Christ, everything becomes new at the core of your being, and it is this new life or new nature that gives you the disposition and the capacity to know and serve God rather than serving sin and self. ().
OUR NEW NATURE NEEDS TO BE NURTURED
OUR NEW NATURE NEEDS TO BE NURTURED
If you are a genuine believer, that new nature from God is there. It has perfect DNA with all the encoding necessary for you to grow into a mature spiritual adult.This new nature may be buried under old ways of thinking and acting, but it’s there and it needs to be nurtured. Spiritual growth is the process of nurturing and developing the new nature that God implanted in your heart, at the deepest core of your being.
If you are a genuine believer, that new nature from God is there. It has perfect DNA with all the encoding necessary for you to grow into a mature spiritual adult.This new nature may be buried under old ways of thinking and acting, but it’s there and it needs to be nurtured. Spiritual growth is the process of nurturing and developing the new nature that God implanted in your heart, at the deepest core of your being.
The miracle of the new birth is that this transformation and growth occurs in the midst of, and in spite of, our flawed humanity. Christians still struggle with sin, and we will continue to struggle until Jesus comes and gives us new bodies. God is not interested in just trying to knock the dents out of our old sinful self, sand down the rough places,and give our flesh a fresh coat of paint.
The miracle of the new birth is that this transformation and growth occurs in the midst of, and in spite of, our flawed humanity. Christians still struggle with sin, and we will continue to struggle until Jesus comes and gives us new bodies. God is not interested in just trying to knock the dents out of our old sinful self, sand down the rough places,and give our flesh a fresh coat of paint.
OUR OLD SELF IS A TOTAL LOSS
OUR OLD SELF IS A TOTAL LOSS
God has already condemned these sinful bodies of ours to the trash heap. The problem with too many of us Christians is that we are busy trying to repair the old nature and make it look new, when God is in the business of throwing out the old and crafting something brand-new. God has declared our old nature a total loss because we were born in sin, He wants us to concentrate on the new nature He has given us.
God has already condemned these sinful bodies of ours to the trash heap. The problem with too many of us Christians is that we are busy trying to repair the old nature and make it look new, when God is in the business of throwing out the old and crafting something brand-new. God has declared our old nature a total loss because we were born in sin, He wants us to concentrate on the new nature He has given us.
THE COMPLETENESS OF CONVERSION
THE COMPLETENESS OF CONVERSION
YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED TO GROW
YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED TO GROW
YOU’LL HAVE A NEW STRUGGLES
YOU’LL HAVE A NEW STRUGGLES
YOU’LL HAVE NEW APPETITES
YOU’LL HAVE NEW APPETITES
IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS
IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS