Sanctification is a dynamic process that requires our active involvement. It involves a conscious decision to put off the old self and embrace the new self, which is created in the likeness of God. This transformation is not automatic; it demands a renewal of the mind and a commitment to live according to biblical truths. We are empowered by God's grace to make these changes, and we are not left helpless in this journey. The process of sanctification is a partnership with God, where we actively choose to align our lives with His will. [02:06]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: Identify one specific area in your life where you need to actively put off the old self. What practical steps can you take today to embrace the new self in this area?
Day 2: The Trinity's Role in Our Sanctification
The Trinity plays a vital role in our sanctification, with each person of the Godhead contributing uniquely to our spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit seals us, ensuring our security in Christ. The Father forgives us, offering grace and mercy. The Son sacrifices for us, demonstrating the ultimate act of love. Understanding these roles deepens our appreciation of God's love and motivates us to pursue holiness. Recognizing the distinct contributions of the Trinity helps us grasp the depth of God's commitment to our sanctification. [11:19]
2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV): "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Reflection: Reflect on how each person of the Trinity has been active in your life recently. How can acknowledging their roles inspire you to live a more holy life today?
Day 3: Love as the New Self's Defining Characteristic
Love is the ultimate expression of the new self, characterized by kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness. This love mirrors the love God has shown us through Christ. As we embrace the new self, our lives should be marked by acts of love that cover a multitude of sins and reflect God's character. Love is not just an emotion but a deliberate choice to act in ways that honor God and bless others. It is the defining trait of those who have been transformed by God's grace. [07:29]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Think of someone you find difficult to love. What is one specific act of kindness you can do for them today to reflect the love of Christ?
Day 4: Living as Beloved Children of God
As beloved children of God, we are called to live extraordinary lives that reflect our divine heritage. This involves acts of love and sacrifice that are a fragrant offering to God. Our identity as God's children should motivate us to live in a way that pleases Him, going beyond mere obligation to a heartfelt response to His love. Living as beloved children means embracing our identity in Christ and allowing it to shape our actions and attitudes. [32:56]
1 John 3:1-2 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."
Reflection: How does your identity as a beloved child of God influence your daily decisions? What is one way you can live out this identity more fully today?
Day 5: Imitating Christ's Sacrificial Love
Christ's love for us sets the standard for our love. He gave Himself willingly and sacrificially, and we are called to do the same. This involves a deliberate choice to live for others, reflecting the love and grace we've received. Imitating Christ's love means prioritizing others' needs above our own and being willing to make sacrifices for their well-being. It is a call to live selflessly, following the example of our Savior. [50:14]
1 John 4:9-11 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Reflection: Consider a recent situation where you prioritized your own needs over others. How can you choose to imitate Christ's sacrificial love in a similar situation today?
Sermon Summary
In Ephesians 4:30-5:2, we find profound teachings on sanctification, urging us to put off the old self and embrace the new self, created in the likeness of God. This transformation is not passive; it requires conscious effort and a renewal of the mind. Paul provides a formula for this change: put off the old, put on the new, and be motivated by divine truths. The passage emphasizes the importance of love as the ultimate expression of the new self. Love is kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving, mirroring the love God has shown us through Christ.
The passage also highlights the role of the Trinity in our sanctification. Each person of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—offers unique motivations for living a holy life. The Spirit seals us, the Father forgives us, and the Son sacrifices for us. Recognizing these distinct roles helps us understand the depth of God's love and the call to imitate Him. Our response to this love should be a life that seeks to please God, reflecting His character in our actions.
The sermon challenges us to examine our lives and identify areas where we fail to imitate Christ. It calls us to consider the sacrifices we make, not out of obligation, but out of a desire to reflect the love and grace we've received. As beloved children of God, we are called to live lives that are extraordinary, marked by acts of love and sacrifice that are a fragrant offering to God. This is not about legalism but about living in response to the incredible love God has shown us.
Key Takeaways
1. hearted, and forgiving, reflecting the love God has shown us through Christ. Our lives should be marked by love, which covers a multitude of sins and imitates God's character. [07:29] 4. Living as Beloved Children of God: As beloved children of God, we are called to live extraordinary lives that reflect our divine heritage. This involves acts of love and sacrifice that are a fragrant offering to God. Our identity as God's children should motivate us to live in a way that pleases Him.
5. The Call to Imitate Christ's Sacrificial Love: Christ's love for us is the standard for our love. He gave Himself willingly and sacrificially, and we are called to do the same. This involves a deliberate choice to live for others, reflecting the love and grace we've received.
What specific behaviors does Paul instruct us to put away in Ephesians 4:31, and what qualities does he encourage us to adopt instead? [00:21]
How does Paul describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives according to Ephesians 4:30? [12:24]
In Ephesians 5:1-2, what does Paul say about how we should walk in love, and what example does he give us to follow? [12:35]
What are the distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our sanctification as mentioned in the sermon? [11:19]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does understanding the distinct roles of the Trinity in our sanctification deepen our appreciation for God's love? [11:19]
What does it mean to "imitate God" as beloved children, and how does this relate to our identity in Christ? [27:14]
How does the concept of love as described in Ephesians 5:2 challenge our understanding of sacrificial living? [50:14]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that our response to God's love should be extraordinary and marked by acts of love and sacrifice? [32:56]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on your current spiritual journey. Are there specific areas where you feel you are not imitating Christ? What steps can you take to address these areas? [01:01:02]
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more mindful of not grieving the Spirit in your daily actions and decisions? [08:37]
Think about a recent situation where you struggled to show love or forgiveness. How can the example of Christ's sacrificial love guide you in similar future situations? [50:14]
Identify a specific way you can actively "put on" the new self this week. What practical steps will you take to ensure this transformation is motivated by biblical truths? [02:06]
How can you cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Trinity's role in your sanctification? What resources or practices might help you in this pursuit? [11:19]
Reflect on your identity as a beloved child of God. How does this identity influence your daily choices and interactions with others? [32:56]
What is one tangible act of love or sacrifice you can offer this week as a fragrant offering to God? How will you ensure this act is motivated by gratitude for God's love? [56:24]
Sermon Clips
"Brethren, this portion of Scripture, this force of Ephesians chapter four, it is some of the most profound teaching on sanctification anywhere. And I know there's other places you can go, but just the basic formula that Paul lays down in 4:22, 23, and 24, it can revolutionize a life." [00:01:22]
"Now, here's the thing, if you boil it all down, I believe you can see from 5:2 that what we are to put on here is love. Now, if you just think about 4:32, you could see several things here that you're supposed to put on. You're supposed to put on kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiving." [00:06:41]
"Consider God forgiving your sins. Be melted by that. Do the same. Okay, brethren, we've already covered those two the last two sermons. We covered those two items, so I'm not gonna belabor that today. Now, let's go on from there. Remember who you are. This is 5:1." [00:09:28]
"Each of these truths that God Himself inspires Paul to set forth as a motivation to be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving, loving, each mind-renewing truth that I just read to you, all five of these, if you have eyes to see, every one of them connects with either the Spirit, the Father, or the Son." [00:10:39]
"Do you contemplate? Here's the thing, we're supposed to be renewed in the spirit of our minds by truths like these. You know what that means? That doesn't mean that you just hear it right now. That's, I mean, you just hear the preaching on any given Sunday." [00:14:55]
"Consider this, when a Christian sins, when a Christian sins, that happens, and we're all familiar with it. What ought to be most aware in our minds, it's not so much simply that we've done something wrong. Of course, we've done something wrong, or even that we've broken God's law." [00:21:34]
"Brethren, we're reminded all over again, you know what he does? He produces the doctrine of the atonement. Doctrine matters. Don't think a theology class, that's just for preachers. Don't think doctrine, oh well, you know, doctrine is deep, and that's for the theologians." [00:46:15]
"Consider your life. I mean, when you get done, one of the great sacrifices that you have made, not because of a legal requirement, because you look at your father and he's made you his child, you long to delight him and cause him joy, and you want to be like him." [01:00:01]
"Christian, what I want you to do, just as we wrap this up, I want you to consider your life. I mean, when you get done, one of the great sacrifices that you have made, not because of a legal requirement, because you look at your father and he's made you his child." [01:00:01]
"Brethren, when the annals of our church are opened up, I hope that it will say on Judgment Day when it's read, oh, this was no common people. These people did such acts of love and sacrifice. And I know there's a place where, like when David made an offering to the temple." [01:04:54]
"God gives us our own children. Some of you haven't had children yet, but when you have a child, he does. Ask any of the parents who are watching their children just begin to walk for the first time or talk for the first time and how they feel. Why they delight in those children." [00:34:43]
"Consider this, walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. There's no use speaking vaguely about love. Love can be a very nebulous thing. Again, the concept of love can be like fog, it's mysterious, hard to pin down, but there's no vagueness here." [00:48:14]