Transcript Demonstrating the Changed Life – Nuggets from 021515

Christian Church
Unveiling The Mystery,
Christ In You The Hope Of Glory
Ephesians 3:2-3 “ If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which
is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery; as I wrote afore in few words.”
Colossians 1:27” To whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory.”
Sunday’s Message
Demonstrating the Change in
our Lives
• When we become Christians we undergo a series of
changes that will affect our core values and will
imprint Christ's character in us from the inside out.
The speed of this internal overhaul, which is called
sanctification, will vary from person to person but for
a true child of God it is a change that must take place.
• The evidence that we are truly born again will be
demonstrated in the most obvious of ways: what we
do and don't do. Why? Because our deeds are the
sign of what fills our heart.
Chapter 2 of 1st John list several evidences or proof that should reflect from our
behavior that Christ has begun a good work in you.
•We are told that if we keep God’s commandments, it verifies that we have come to know
Him and if we say we know Him and don’t keep His commandments we are liars and don’t
have the truth in us.” There's a new norm in the lives of believers: they obey God.
•He continues saying that we may know that we are in Him and He abides in us if we walk
in the same way in which He walked." Real Christians ought to live like Jesus so that when
people see us, they are drawn to Him.
•He also tells us that if we still love the ways of the world, the love of the Father is not in
us. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life, is not of the Father,"
• Scripture:
• Ephesians 4:17-24 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye
henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
(18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life
of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over
unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But
ye have not so learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye have heard him, and
have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) That ye put off
concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of
your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is
created in righteousness and true holiness.
There were Four key points identified in the message that we desire to make available for roasting this
week.
I. We must keep our eyes on the target: Christlikeness v 17-20
Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the
vanity of their mind,
• It is the Holy Spirit’s job to produce Christ-like character in us. You cannot reproduce the character of Jesus on your own
strength. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives. Christ-likeness is not
produced by mere imitation, but by inhabitation by allowing Christ to live through us. If we are true believers we have to
take off the old self, by beginning to think differently. When he said to no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, Paul is saying,
"Our lives must no longer resemble those who are still in their sin and without God."
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that
is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over
unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But ye have not so learned Christ;
From these verses we see the picture of those with an inability to rightly understand and respond to the truth
about God.
• Their understanding was darkened making them ignorant of God, of the way of salvation, of the love of Christ, they were
alienated from God because of their ignorance.
• Their hearts were blinded
• They still were given to their old ways of uncleanness and greed.
II. We cut all ties to our former life - v. 21-22 If so be that ye have
heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That
ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
• In this verse, what is removed and laid aside is our old selves, the "you"
is who we were before Christ Jesus saved us. Paul says get those old
ways of meeting our needs, those old habits that marked our Christless days off our back and out of our life. Throw it away! Cut the root!
Don't go to those websites anymore. Throw away those magazines and
don't buy anymore. Don't hang out with those people that keep us
doing things we know are wrong. Those old ways are dead to us now.
So get rid of every trace.
III. We must be renewed in our mind - v. 23 - "And be renewed in the spirit of
your minds."
It means what Romans 12:2 says when it commands:
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.
IV. We must put on a new you - v. 24 - " And that ye put on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. " In v. 22, we
are urged to shed the old clothes of our former way of life. Now, the Holy Spirit
instructs us to put on something brand new, created by God to fit us perfectly,
but with a likeness to God in true righteousness and holiness.
So now, as Paul wrote in Gal. 2:20, it's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives
in me." It's Christ's life that should be obvious in how we do our job, treat our
spouse, live out our singleness, or parent our children. How we respond, what
we think, even how we feel will find its reference point in our new relationship
with Jesus.
When we sum it all up, the Apostle Paul describes it best in
the scripture listed below.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a
new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things
are become new. It is vain for a man to profess that he is in
Christ, while he is unchanged in his heart and life, and dead in
trespasses and sins; for he that is in Christ, that is, a genuine
Christian, having Christ dwelling in his heart by faith, is a new
creature; his old state is changed.
Christian Church
Unveiling The Mystery,
Christ In You The Hope Of Glory
Ephesians 3:2-3 “ If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which
is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery; as I wrote afore in few words.”
Colossians 1:27” To whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory.”