Spiritual Transformation - Soul School

Remember...

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 NET 2nd ed.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 NET 2nd ed.

In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Spiritual Transformation - Transformation of the Self

Becoming a Jesus follower means one cannot stay the same - change is a necessity

Ephesians 4:17–19 NET 2nd ed.

So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Ephesians 4:20–21 NET 2nd ed.

But you did not learn about Christ like this, if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus.

Ephesians 4:22–24 NET 2nd ed.

You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.

But, how?

Clues from the beginning...

Matthew 4:18–20 NET 2nd ed.

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people!” They left their nets immediately and followed him.

Matthew 4:21–22 NET 2nd ed.

Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Then he called them. They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

And, it wasn’t just for a select group...

Luke 18:18 NET 2nd ed.

Now a certain leader asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Luke 18:19–20 NET 2nd ed.

Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ ”

Luke 18:21 NET 2nd ed.

The man replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.”

Luke 18:22 NET 2nd ed.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The ancient Jewish education system.

Acts 22:1–3 ESV

“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.

So, the disciples were trained formally.

But not just the disciples under Jesus...

Matthew 28:18–20 NET 2nd ed.

Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

“teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...”

No wonder then...

Acts 2:42–43 NET 2nd ed.

They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles.

Acts 2:44–45 NET 2nd ed.

All who believed were together and held everything in common, and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.

Acts 2:46–47 NET 2nd ed.

Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.

Soul School

Romans 12:1–2 NET 2nd ed.

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:3–4 NET 2nd ed.

For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function,

Romans 12:4–5 NET 2nd ed.

For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.

Romans 12:6–8 NET 2nd ed.

And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:9–10 NET 2nd ed.

Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.

Romans 12:11–12 NET 2nd ed.

Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.

Romans 12:13–14 NET 2nd ed.

Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:15–16 NET 2nd ed.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

Romans 12:17–18 NET 2nd ed.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.

Romans 12:19–21 NET 2nd ed.

Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.