SundaySermon - Jeff - Transformed to Serve

Transformed to Serve

Life has just begun after your Jesus Experience. You are saved from sin.... there is a transformation on the inside and this moment is glorious! And out of this glorious moment births a life of sacrifice and actual living. This is because God intended this for you... He created you for his purpose and his glory.

Verse: Romans 11:33,36 | 12:1-2

33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Now here is the purpose of our life - it is to live Christian life. And what is Christian life is built on? It is built on Christian Truth.

Here are some thoughts on Christian Truth.

  • Present your body as living sacrifice
  • Present your body as holy sacrifice
  • Present your body as a reasonable sacrifice

Present your body as living sacrifice

The old testament instituted sacrifices as part of worship. There was action (sacrifice) that pointed to a deeper meaning. The sacrifice involved taking the life of a lamb and be burnt at the altar. The body desires lust, pleasure. The body is a good slave.... but not a good master. If you give in to your body desires, then your life takes an ugly turn. Let your will control the body and this is the meaning of living sacrifice.

Present your body as a holy sacrifice.

Our will needs to be subject to the holy will of God. And the will of God needs to be understood. The only way we can understand the Holy God is when we stand in front of him. And we can approach his truth only through the blood of Christ.

Present your body as a reasonable sacrifice.

Do not conform to the world but transform our life. There are two elements to a reasonable sacrifice - conformation and transformation 

Mask of Christianity 

Christian living is not merely, not conforming to the world. When we stop doing evil, this brings out a form a Christianity. There are a lot of people who are living good lives. They don't harm anyone - and they are all good Christians. But is this good enough? If we stop at this, then we are wearing the mask of Christianity.

Metamorphosis 

The transformation is likened to metamorphosis. This not merely stopping evil, but the change allows you to do something beyond yourself. How do we do something that is beyond your self? It is only through God.... And God provides us access to him through 

  • Through the Word of God
  • Through the fellowship with his people
  • Through the Holy Spirit (who is our helper and advocate)

This metamorphosis cannot happen through our own effort. You have to look to the Cross. And we will grow from being infants into true maturity. And so we live a good and pleasing life to God.

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