Embracing Divine Life: Transformation Through Surrender

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound concept of life as it is presented in the scriptures, particularly focusing on the nature of life that God possesses and shares with humanity. We began by acknowledging the absolute nature of God, who alone can declare "I am that I am," highlighting His self-sustaining existence. This divine life is not merely biological but is a higher form of life that God intended for humanity to share with Him. This life from above was severed from Adam and Eve due to their disobedience, illustrating that true life is more than mere physical existence.

We delved into the different kinds of life, using examples from nature to illustrate how each form of life has its unique activities and capabilities. This analogy helps us understand that human life, when disconnected from God, is plagued by conflicting desires and corruption. This corruption is evident in the world through the destructive actions driven by human desires, as seen in historical and contemporary events.

The gospel introduces a new life, counteracting the corruption caused by the world, the flesh, and the devil. This new life is derived from the kingdom of God, where God is actively working. It transforms individuals, enabling them to live lives characterized by love and goodwill, rather than being driven by mere desires. This transformation is akin to a grafting process, where something new and divine is integrated into our being, allowing us to initiate, direct, and sustain activities that align with God's will.

The journey of transformation involves surrendering our will to God, allowing His grace to work within us. As we make choices aligned with His goodness, our personalities are gradually transformed. This process requires us to hear and embrace the message of the gospel, which is the foundation for this new life in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Nature of Divine Life: God's life is self-sustaining and absolute, unlike any other form of life. This divine life is intended to be shared with humanity, offering a higher existence beyond mere biological life. Understanding this helps us recognize the depth of life that God offers. [12:40]

2. Different Forms of Life: Just as different creatures have unique forms of life, humans have a distinct life that is meant to be lived in communion with God. Without this connection, human life is marked by internal conflict and corruption. [15:09]

3. Corruption Through Desire: Human desires, when not aligned with God's will, lead to corruption and destruction. This is evident in historical events where actions driven by selfish desires resulted in harm and chaos. [17:33]

4. The Gospel's Transformative Power: The gospel introduces a new life that counters the corruption of the world, the flesh, and the devil. This life is characterized by love and goodwill, transforming individuals to live in alignment with God's kingdom. [19:18]

5. The Process of Transformation: Transformation involves surrendering our will to God and allowing His grace to work within us. As we align our choices with God's goodness, our personalities are gradually transformed, leading to a life of peace and goodwill. [20:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [12:40] - The Absolute Nature of God
- [12:57] - Life in God and the Son
- [13:32] - Different Kinds of Life
- [14:01] - Life Indeed
- [15:09] - Manifestations of Life
- [15:58] - Human Responsibility and Corruption
- [16:39] - Consequences of Human Actions
- [17:33] - Corruption Through Lust
- [18:05] - The Gospel's New Life
- [19:18] - Life from the Kingdom of God
- [20:08] - Transformation Through Union with God
- [20:52] - Surrender and Transformation
- [21:20] - The Importance of the Message

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 5:26 - "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself."
2. Exodus 3:14 - "God said to Moses, 'I am who I am.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.'"
3. 1 Timothy 6:13, 19 - "I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things... Thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does John 5:26 reveal about the nature of life that God possesses and shares with humanity? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on divine life? [12:57]
2. In Exodus 3:14, God declares "I am who I am." How does this statement reflect the absolute nature of God as discussed in the sermon? [12:40]
3. According to 1 Timothy 6:19, what is the "life that is truly life," and how does it differ from mere physical existence? [14:01]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the different kinds of life using examples from nature? What point is being made about human life in relation to God? [15:09]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "life from above" in the sermon relate to the biblical idea of eternal life? What implications does this have for understanding our relationship with God? [13:32]
2. The sermon mentions the corruption caused by human desires. How does this align with the biblical teaching in 2 Peter about escaping the corruption in the world through lust? [17:33]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the transformative power of the gospel in counteracting the negative influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil? [18:05]
4. How does the analogy of grafting in the sermon help explain the process of transformation and union with God? What does this mean for a believer's life? [20:08]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you feel disconnected from the "life from above"? What steps can you take to reconnect with God’s divine life? [13:32]
2. Consider the desires that drive your actions. Are there any that might lead to corruption or conflict? How can you align these desires with God’s will? [17:33]
3. The sermon talks about surrendering our will to God. What does surrender look like in your daily life, and how can you practice it more intentionally? [20:52]
4. How can you actively participate in the transformative process described in the sermon? Identify one area of your life where you can invite God’s grace to work. [20:52]
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of hearing and embracing the gospel message. How can you ensure that you are regularly engaging with this message in a meaningful way? [21:20]
6. Think of a situation where you acted out of mere desire rather than goodwill. How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future, guided by the principles discussed in the sermon? [19:18]
7. Identify a specific way you can demonstrate love and goodwill in your community this week. How does this align with the new life introduced by the gospel? [19:18]

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Life Beyond Biology
The life that God possesses is self-sustaining and absolute, a divine existence that transcends mere biological life. This life is intended to be shared with humanity, offering a higher form of existence. Unlike any other form of life, God's life is characterized by its eternal and unchanging nature. Understanding this helps us recognize the depth and richness of the life that God offers to us. It is a life that calls us to rise above the limitations of our physical existence and to embrace a spiritual reality that is rooted in God's eternal nature. [12:40]

"For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself." (John 5:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you seek to experience the divine life that God offers beyond your daily routines and biological needs?


Day 2: Life in Communion with God
Human life is distinct and meant to be lived in communion with God. Without this connection, life is marked by internal conflict and corruption. Just as different creatures have unique forms of life, humans are designed to thrive in a relationship with their Creator. This communion with God brings harmony and purpose, aligning our desires with His will. When disconnected from God, our lives become fragmented, driven by conflicting desires that lead to corruption. Recognizing the importance of this divine connection can transform how we live and interact with the world around us. [15:09]

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper communion with God in your daily life, ensuring that your actions and desires align with His will?


Day 3: The Destructive Power of Misaligned Desires
Human desires, when not aligned with God's will, lead to corruption and destruction. This is evident in historical events where actions driven by selfish desires resulted in harm and chaos. The world is filled with examples of how unchecked desires can lead to devastating consequences. By understanding the destructive power of these desires, we can begin to seek alignment with God's will, allowing His guidance to shape our actions and decisions. This alignment brings peace and order, counteracting the chaos that arises from pursuing desires that are not rooted in God's goodness. [17:33]

"For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:16, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a desire in your life that may not be aligned with God's will. What steps can you take today to bring this desire into alignment with His purpose?


Day 4: Embracing the Gospel's Transformative Power
The gospel introduces a new life that counters the corruption of the world, the flesh, and the devil. This life is characterized by love and goodwill, transforming individuals to live in alignment with God's kingdom. The transformative power of the gospel is like a grafting process, where something new and divine is integrated into our being. This transformation enables us to initiate, direct, and sustain activities that reflect God's love and purpose. Embracing this new life requires a willingness to be changed and to allow God's grace to work within us, leading to a life that is marked by peace and goodwill. [19:18]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively embrace the transformative power of the gospel in your life today, allowing it to shape your actions and interactions with others?


Day 5: The Journey of Surrender and Transformation
Transformation involves surrendering our will to God and allowing His grace to work within us. As we align our choices with God's goodness, our personalities are gradually transformed, leading to a life of peace and goodwill. This journey requires us to hear and embrace the message of the gospel, which is the foundation for this new life in Christ. Surrendering to God is not a one-time event but a continuous process of yielding our desires and plans to His greater purpose. Through this surrender, we experience the fullness of life that God intends for us, marked by joy, peace, and a deep sense of purpose. [20:52]

"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." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Quotes


and he has given life to the son so that he has life in himself and then the son gives life to human beings so that helps us understand that there are different kinds of life and of course a person who does not have life from above is still alive until they die [00:12:49]

the thing that god said to adam and eve the day you eat of that you'll die is obviously not biological life if they died it was because a different kind of life was cut off from them and i think that that is the life from above the life that god intended them to share with him [00:13:28]

the life that is life indeed and not mistake the activities that they can have because of their favored position in this world as life indeed that life indeed is what you get when you act with god that's eternal life eternal living but it is a kind of activity [00:14:28]

the charge upon humanity to be responsible for the earth that we have is not one that can be fulfilled in the animal life of the human being that's all you have you can't do it and the expression of that is how human life apart from god is torn by conflicting desires [00:15:58]

and you watch that in individuals and in groups and in nations and then as a result you see the terrible things that happen around the world okay so we have this situation where is it in hungary that they had this poisonous sludge that broke out and now runs through the whole town [00:16:28]

why did the british petroleum petroleum platform blow up people were doing what they knew to be wrong why were they doing what they knew to be wrong to get what they wanted right the challenger blew up because people did not do what they knew to be doing [00:17:06]

that's all the corruption that is in the world through lust as peter calls it in ii peter to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust life does not work if all we have to go on are our natural powers organized at a natural level [00:17:33]

so the gospel the grace of god that brings salvation comes in to bring a new life and to counteract the corruption that is caused by the negative trio of the world the flesh and the devil the flesh by itself is actuated by desire [00:17:56]

the life that was in christ comes into the world and it is a life that is derived from the kingdom of god and the kingdom of god is god in action so now we have a new principle and now we have people initiating directing and sustaining activities that are new and different [00:19:21]

right and if you find people who can actually live a life of love you have found of something's been grafted on and that graft is now union with god in a life that is progressively being taken over not by desire but by will for what is good good will [00:20:08]

we surrender our will god begins to work with us and then we make choices god is with us grace is operative and we find the goodness of the things that god says to do and to be find how good that is and then gradually the transformation of personality takes place [00:20:47]

but you have to have heard that message and there's a real serious issue here of what is the message what is the message now i've already tried you out on one verse [00:21:20]

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Transcript
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