Real Change and Holiness
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When a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, his or her direction of living changes—priorities change—attitudes change.
When a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, his or her direction of living changes—priorities change—attitudes change.
When using the term “follower of Jesus Christ”—that mean’s a person receives God’s grace for forgiveness and God’s grace of personal relationship—all received by faith—by trusting in Jesus Christ.
Receiving God’s grace saves us and changes us!
Paul said:
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
My old life is gone—and now I have a new life in Christ.
But being different can be misinterpreted.
Ask someone what they think of Christians or the Church, and you may get some unpleasant responses.
Christian’s are judgmental
The Church is filled with hypocrites.
Christians are just like everyone else—but they don’t admit it.
Christians think they are better than everyone else (holier than thou).
Sometimes these responses are rooted in the truth:
Some of the most difficult people I have ever come across identified themselves as Christian.
Sadly, I have seen the same problems of sin in congregations as it is outside the church.
Even though this is a reality, it does not affect the truth of Jesus Christ, who came to defeat sin and provide a change of our heart toward living for God.
Question: So, how can we, as believers in Jesus Christ, embrace a live of holiness—a live that honors God and aligns our lives with God’s holiness?
There are many Scripture passages that give us the answer to this question. I have chosen for this morning a passage from
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
So, how do we embrace what is good and acceptable and perfect?
I find in these two verses four choices we need to make as Christians that lead us toward holy living.
Live in the Reality of God’s Mercies.
Live in the Reality of God’s Mercies.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God.”
The Apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Rome an appeal—a pleading—to take serious the message of his letter (Romans).
Paul: “What I ask you to do is to reflect on everything that I have written from chapter 1 to chapter 11 about sin and about how Jesus saved us from the devastating affects of sin. Remember! But remember these words in the light of God’s mercies.”
His mercy is that God does not give to us what we deserve.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As a result of God’s mercies, Christians are to give themselves entirely to God because of His saving grace.
There is a choice here—a decision that we as Christians must make—a choice to honor the mercies of God (forgiveness, salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit…)—to honor God by surrendering completely to God
We need to...
Choose the Life of Sacrifice.
Choose the Life of Sacrifice.
You are called “to present your bodies [your heart and your mind] as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
The sacrifices of the new way (the way of Christ) do not consist in taking the lives of others, like the ancient animal sacrifices, but in giving one’s own life for God and His purpose.
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
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This total dedication is not hindered by our emotions or even the challenges and problems that exist around us.
It is a choice—a choice to serve God through praise and through serving others. God is pleased with this kind of authentic, REAL sacrifice
We now see worship as much more than a song we may sing. Worship involves our whole life—every moment of every day—submissive to God’s purpose.
This means that we need to change the way we so often live—a life that is drawn to the way of the world (the way of spiritual compromise and selfish pursuits.
We need to...
Reject the World’s Way of Living.
Reject the World’s Way of Living.
“Do not be conformed to this world.”
Believers are no longer to conform themselves to the present age (of sin).
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Pet 1:14
As citizens of heaven we are to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.
This present age is evil ().
It cannot, and must not, serve as a model for Christian living. The world’s values and goals are antithetical to growth in holiness.
The church should stand out from the world as a demonstration of God’s intention for the human race.
To be culturally identified with the world is to place the church as risk.
Believers are to be salt and light (), purifying and enlightening contemporary culture.
If we are to reject the world’s way of living, then what should happen?
We are to...
Experience Transformational Thinking.
Experience Transformational Thinking.
Rather than allowing the world to squeeze you into its own mold, Paul told the believers to “be transformed by the renewal of your minds.”
Without this transformation (Real Change), there is a continuing pressure to adopt the customs and mind-set of the world in which we live.
Although that influence must me rejected, that alone will never create the kind of change God has in mind for his followers.
Real and lasting change comes from within. We must let ourselves be transformed.
The transformation that the Scripture is talking about is not a change effected from without but a radical reorientation that begins deep within the human heart.
This work of the heart is the work of the Holy Spirit. We must choose to not resist His work, but to accept the work of God that changes the heart.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Real Change and Holiness
Real Change and Holiness
Real change is not just about salvation, but also holiness.
But we must be careful. It is all too easy to drift into a legalistic set of rules to follow—rules that we can easily equate as a relationship with God.
Real relationship with God will enable the believer to understand and live a life that honors God.