Delighting in Christ: The Beauty of Transformation

In our journey of faith, we are reminded that our good deeds, born out of faith in Christ, are a fragrant offering to God, pleasing and acceptable in His sight. God delights not only in the actions of His people but in His people themselves. This delight is rooted in His joy in His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the image of His glory. Our conformity to the image of Christ is what makes us delightful to God. This transformation is not just for our benefit but also for Christ, who is to have a beautiful bride, the Church, presented in splendor without blemish.

The cross is the ultimate display of God's complex emotional life, where His hatred for sin and His joy in the sacrifice of His Son converge. The death of Jesus was both the most beautiful and the most horrific event in history. It was beautiful because it was an act of obedience and love, fragrant to God. Yet, it was horrific because it was the greatest sin, the murder of the Son of God. This paradox is essential for the gospel to be a saving gospel. Jesus willingly endured the forsaking displeasure of the Father, making His death pleasing to God and achieving our salvation.

The splendor of the redeemed Church lies in her blemish-free holiness, being supremely satisfied with Christ. Sin is the preference of anything above God, and to be free from it is our splendor. Christ's death purchased this beauty for us, and it is brought to pass by the love of the Father for the Son becoming our love for the Son. In the age to come, God's delight in the Son will become our delight, completing the beauty of the Church and filling the universe with God's glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. filled obedience. God delights in His people, not just in their actions, because they reflect the image of His Son. [13:42]
  2. God's delight in His people is rooted in His delight in His Son, Jesus Christ. Our transformation into the image of Christ is what makes us delightful to God. This transformation is not just for our benefit but also for Christ, who is to have a beautiful bride, the Church, presented in splendor without blemish.
  
  3. The cross is the ultimate display of God's complex emotional life, where His hatred for sin and His joy in the sacrifice of His Son converge. The death of Jesus was both the most beautiful and the most horrific event in history. This paradox is essential for the gospel to be a saving gospel.
  
  4. The splendor of the redeemed Church lies in her blemish-free holiness, being supremely satisfied with Christ. Sin is the preference of anything above God, and to be free from it is our splendor. Christ's death purchased this beauty for us, and it is brought to pass by the love of the Father for the Son becoming our love for the Son.
  
  5. In the age to come, God's delight in the Son will become our delight, completing the beauty of the Church and filling the universe with God's glory. This transformation is not left to our own capacities but is made possible by the Spirit. Our ultimate hope is that God's delight in the Son becomes our delight in the Son.
  
  ** [13:42]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [13:42] - Faith and Good Deeds
• [14:09] - God's Delight in His People
• [15:14] - Conformity to Christ's Image
• [16:37] - The Church as Christ's Bride
• [18:20] - The Cross: God's Emotional Display
• [19:02] - God's Pleasure in the Sacrifice
• [20:43] - Fragrance of Christ's Offering
• [22:52] - The Beauty of Obedience
• [23:36] - The Paradox of the Cross
• [25:34] - Sin and Salvation
• [27:30] - The Mystery of God's Joy
• [29:50] - The Splendor of Holiness
• [31:13] - Seeing and Feeling God's Glory
• [33:17] - Our Ultimate Hope in Christ

1. Philippians 4:18 - "I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God."
2. Ephesians 5:25-27 - "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."
3. Isaiah 53:10 - "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."

1. What does Philippians 4:18 describe as a "fragrant offering" and why is it pleasing to God? [13:42]
2. According to Ephesians 5:25-27, what is the ultimate goal of Christ's sacrifice for the church? [16:16]
3. How does Isaiah 53:10 portray God's perspective on the sacrifice of His Son? [19:02]

1. How does the concept of our good deeds being a "fragrant offering" challenge or affirm your understanding of faith and works? [13:42]
2. In what ways does the idea of the church being presented "without blemish" influence the way believers should view their personal spiritual growth? [16:16]
3. How does the paradox of the cross, being both beautiful and horrific, deepen the understanding of the gospel's saving power? [23:36]

1. Reflect on a recent good deed you performed. How did it reflect your faith, and how might it be considered a "fragrant offering" to God? [13:42]
2. In what areas of your life do you feel God is calling you to conform more closely to the image of Christ? How can you take practical steps towards this transformation? [15:14]
3. The sermon describes sin as preferring anything above God. Identify one area in your life where this might be true and discuss how you can realign your priorities. [29:50]
4. How can the understanding of the cross as both a beautiful and horrific event impact the way you share the gospel with others? [23:36]
5. Consider the idea that God's delight in His Son will become our delight. How can you cultivate a deeper delight in Christ in your daily life? [33:17]
6. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your life reflects the splendor of being "blemish-free" in Christ? [29:50]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to see and feel God's glory in their lives? [31:13]