Inner Transformation: Living Out Jesus' Teachings Naturally

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often grapple with the challenge of aligning our actions with the teachings of Jesus. Many fear that striving to do what Jesus said might lead to legalism or fanaticism. However, the heart of Jesus' message is not about earning salvation through actions but about inner transformation. Grace is not opposed to action; it is opposed to earning. The essence of Jesus' teachings is about becoming the kind of person who naturally embodies His teachings through inner change. This transformation is not about outward behavior but about who we are becoming on the inside. When we truly see Jesus, we see the Father, and this vision invites us to worship in spirit and truth, focusing on inner transformation rather than mere outward compliance.

The journey of faith is about allowing heaven to get into us, transforming us from the inside out. This transformation leads to "routine easy obedience," where actions like blessing those who curse us become natural expressions of our inner being. Jesus exemplified this on the cross when He forgave those who crucified Him. The change within us makes it possible to live out Jesus' teachings without struggle. This transformation begins with faith, believing in God's love and allowing it to reshape our understanding of God and ourselves.

Fear is often a barrier to living out Jesus' teachings, but perfect love casts out fear. When we live in the kingdom of God, fear loses its grip, and we experience a new reality where love flows through us to others. This love transforms our relationships and our understanding of obedience. True discipleship involves becoming the kind of person who naturally does what Jesus said, not through behavior modification but through character transformation. Spiritual disciplines play a crucial role in this process, helping us become inwardly aligned with Jesus' teachings.

The transformation of character into Christlikeness is the goal of our spiritual journey. When our lives reflect this transformation, it becomes a powerful testimony to the world. As we embrace this journey, we become lights that shine without needing to announce it. This is the essence of evangelization—living in unity and love as Jesus prayed in John 17, so the world may know the truth of His message.

Key Takeaways:

1. Grace and Action: Grace is not opposed to action but to earning. Our journey is about inner transformation, not legalistic adherence to rules. When we truly understand grace, we realize that it empowers us to live out Jesus' teachings naturally. [29:34]

2. Inner Transformation: The focus of Jesus' teachings is on who we are becoming inside. Our behavior will naturally align with His teachings when our inner self is transformed. This transformation is about heaven getting into us, not just us getting into heaven. [31:19]

3. Routine Easy Obedience: As we change inwardly, obedience to Jesus' teachings becomes routine and easy. This means our actions flow naturally from our transformed character, without struggle or forced compliance. [34:30]

4. Perfect Love Casts Out Fear: Living in God's kingdom means living without fear. Perfect love, which flows from God to us and through us to others, removes fear and transforms our relationships and actions. [39:01]

5. Character Transformation through Discipleship: True discipleship involves becoming the kind of person who naturally does what Jesus said. This requires character transformation, not just behavior modification, and is supported by spiritual disciplines. [48:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [26:39] - The Challenge of Legalism
- [27:49] - Understanding Jesus' Teachings
- [29:34] - Grace and Action
- [31:19] - Inner Transformation
- [34:30] - Routine Easy Obedience
- [37:25] - Living Without Fear
- [39:01] - Perfect Love and Fear
- [40:05] - Lifelong Discipleship
- [41:07] - The Ten Commandments
- [42:25] - Living in Abundance
- [44:00] - Peter's Denial and Temptation
- [46:55] - Learning Through Failure
- [48:38] - Spiritual Disciplines
- [50:23] - Transformation and Evangelization

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 17:20-23 - Jesus prays for unity among believers, reflecting the unity between Him and the Father.
2. 1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
3. Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest is the main barrier to living out Jesus' teachings? ([28:06])
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between grace and action? ([29:34])
3. What example from Jesus' life is given to illustrate "routine easy obedience"? ([34:43])
4. According to the sermon, what role does fear play in our spiritual journey, and how is it overcome? ([39:01])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "inner transformation" differ from simply following rules or modifying behavior? ([31:19])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that perfect love can transform our relationships and actions? ([39:01])
3. How does the sermon interpret the idea of "routine easy obedience," and what does it imply about the nature of true discipleship? ([34:30])
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of spiritual disciplines in achieving character transformation? ([48:38])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when fear held you back from living out Jesus' teachings. How can you allow perfect love to cast out that fear in your current situation? ([39:01])
2. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with legalism. How can you shift your focus from outward compliance to inner transformation? ([26:39])
3. Think of a relationship where you find it difficult to bless those who curse you. What steps can you take to cultivate a heart of blessing in that relationship? ([34:43])
4. Consider your current spiritual disciplines. Are they helping you become more aligned with Jesus' teachings? What changes might you need to make? ([48:38])
5. How can you actively participate in creating unity within your community, as Jesus prayed for in John 17? What practical steps can you take this week? ([50:23])
6. Reflect on a recent failure. How can you view it as an opportunity for growth in Christlikeness rather than a setback? ([47:53])
7. Choose one aspect of your character that you feel needs transformation. What specific action can you take this week to work on that area? ([31:19])

Devotional

Day 1: Grace Empowers Action, Not Earning
Grace is a transformative force that empowers believers to live out the teachings of Jesus naturally. It is not about earning salvation through actions but about allowing grace to facilitate inner change. This transformation is not a legalistic adherence to rules but a journey of becoming the kind of person who embodies Jesus' teachings through inner transformation. Grace opposes the notion of earning but not the actions that flow from a transformed heart. When grace is truly understood, it becomes the driving force that enables believers to live in alignment with Jesus' teachings effortlessly. [29:34]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you allow grace to transform your actions today, moving away from a mindset of earning to one of natural expression of faith?


Day 2: Inner Transformation Reflects Heaven Within Us
The teachings of Jesus focus on who we are becoming on the inside, emphasizing inner transformation over outward behavior. This transformation is about allowing heaven to get into us, reshaping our understanding of God and ourselves. As our inner self is transformed, our behavior naturally aligns with Jesus' teachings. This process is not about striving to get into heaven but about letting heaven transform us from within. When we embrace this inner change, our actions become a reflection of the divine nature within us. [31:19]

"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: How can you invite the presence of heaven into your daily life, allowing it to transform your inner self and naturally influence your actions?


Day 3: Obedience Flows from a Transformed Character
As believers undergo inner transformation, obedience to Jesus' teachings becomes routine and easy. This means that actions such as blessing those who curse us become natural expressions of our transformed character. The struggle to comply with Jesus' teachings diminishes as our inner being aligns with His message. This transformation allows us to live out His teachings without forced compliance, as our actions flow naturally from who we have become. [34:30]

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where obedience to Jesus feels like a struggle? How can you allow inner transformation to make this obedience more natural?


Day 4: Perfect Love Drives Out Fear
Living in the kingdom of God means living without fear, as perfect love casts out fear. This love, which flows from God to us and through us to others, transforms our relationships and actions. When fear loses its grip, we experience a new reality where love becomes the guiding force in our lives. This transformation in love allows us to live in a way that reflects the kingdom of God, impacting our interactions and understanding of obedience. [39:01]

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." (1 John 4:18, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a fear that holds you back from fully living in God's love. How can you invite God's perfect love to cast out this fear today?


Day 5: Discipleship Transforms Character, Not Just Behavior
True discipleship involves becoming the kind of person who naturally does what Jesus said, focusing on character transformation rather than mere behavior modification. Spiritual disciplines play a crucial role in this process, helping believers become inwardly aligned with Jesus' teachings. This transformation of character into Christlikeness is the goal of the spiritual journey, serving as a powerful testimony to the world. As believers embrace this journey, they become lights that shine without needing to announce it, living in unity and love as Jesus prayed. [48:38]

"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." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What spiritual discipline can you incorporate into your daily routine to support your journey of character transformation into Christlikeness?

Quotes


Grace is not opposed to action; it's opposed to earning. Earning is attitude, and we want to stay out of that attitude. If we've genuinely heard the gospel, we know that Jesus took us past that, that the heart of God is far beyond that, and that all along He was looking for people who would put their faith in Him. [00:29:34]

The emphasis is on what kind of person am I becoming, what kind of person that's inside, that's who I really am. We understand that the issue is not so much getting into heaven as heaven getting into us, and then getting into heaven will take care of itself. [00:31:19]

Inner transformation progresses, and Jesus brings us along and changes who we are inside, and then the things that we decided to do that Jesus taught become a natural expression of who we are. What we're looking at is progress in routine, easy obedience. [00:34:30]

Routine easy obedience means you don't have to stop and think a lot about what you're going to do, and easy means that you are no longer struggling to manage to do what Jesus said. So, for example, He says bless those who curse you. [00:34:30]

Perfect love casts out fear. Fear is anticipation of evil. Now that I have brought my life through faith in Jesus Christ into the kingdom of God, no fear. No fear. Oh wow, does that change everything. [00:39:01]

Perfect love is first of all God's love to us, and then it's God's love through us to others, and then it will go through others and come back to us. Perfect love casts out fear. Now fear is gone. Has that changed your life? [00:39:01]

True discipleship involves becoming the kind of person who naturally does what Jesus said. This requires character transformation, not just behavior modification, and is supported by spiritual disciplines. [00:48:38]

The transformation of character into Christlikeness is the goal of our spiritual journey. When our lives reflect this transformation, it becomes a powerful testimony to the world. As we embrace this journey, we become lights that shine without needing to announce it. [00:50:23]

When Jesus on the cross said to the Father, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they're doing," that wasn't hard for Him. That was easy for Him. What would have been hard for Jesus to have done on the cross? [00:34:30]

The change of what is in us makes it possible for us to do everything Jesus said. So you see, it isn't like that we just remain the kind of person that is alienated from God and full of themselves and think they are running their life. [00:34:30]

The first move of that is faith because we have to come to believe that God so loved the world that He gave His Son. See, now then that changes our picture of God. That's the fundamental change. [00:34:30]

When you're standing in the life of God, then you are happy that others have the good things they have, and you don't feel impoverished because of that, because you are living in abundance of grace and reigning in life through one Christ Jesus. [00:42:25]

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Transcript
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