Radical Transformation: Embracing New Life in Christ

 

Summary

In Philippians 3:7, Paul writes, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." This verse encapsulates a profound transformation that occurs when one becomes a Christian. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the urgency of understanding what it truly means to be a Christian, especially in a world fraught with uncertainty and peril. Christianity, he asserts, is not merely a set of beliefs but a radical reorientation of one's life and values. It is the only path to salvation, a claim that Christianity makes unapologetically.

When a person becomes a Christian, they undergo a complete revolution in their perspective. This transformation is not a mere adjustment but a total renewal, where old values and priorities are replaced with new ones centered on Christ. Paul illustrates this by recounting his own experience, where he realized that all his previous achievements and credentials were worthless compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This realization is not just an intellectual acknowledgment but a deep, personal conviction that leads to a new way of living.

The process of becoming a Christian involves a profound self-examination, akin to conducting an audit of one's life. This audit reveals the futility of relying on one's own righteousness or achievements. Instead, it highlights the need for a new foundation, which is found in Christ alone. The Christian life is marked by honesty, thoroughness, and a willingness to face uncomfortable truths about oneself. It requires a shift from self-reliance to complete dependence on God's grace.

Ultimately, the message is one of hope and redemption. While the audit of our lives may reveal our shortcomings and failures, Christ offers a new beginning. He provides the capital for a fresh start, not based on our merit but on His sacrificial love. This new life in Christ is a partnership, where He guides and transforms us, leading us from glory to glory until we reach our eternal home.

Key Takeaways:

- Becoming a Christian involves a radical transformation, where old values are replaced with new ones centered on Christ. This change is not superficial but a complete renewal of one's perspective and priorities. [06:34]

- The process of self-examination, akin to conducting an audit, is crucial in the Christian journey. It reveals the futility of relying on personal achievements and highlights the need for a new foundation in Christ. [11:09]

- Christianity calls for honesty and thoroughness in assessing one's life. It requires facing uncomfortable truths and acknowledging one's shortcomings, leading to a deeper reliance on God's grace. [41:04]

- The Christian life is not about self-reliance but about embracing the grace and redemption offered by Christ. He provides a new beginning, not based on our merit but on His sacrificial love. [54:07]

- The ultimate hope in Christianity is the promise of transformation and eternal life. Through Christ, believers are guided and transformed, leading them from glory to glory until they reach their eternal home. [54:49]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Philippians 3:7
- [01:04] - The Urgency of Understanding Christianity
- [02:13] - Christianity's Exclusive Claim
- [03:10] - The Precariousness of Life
- [04:12] - How One Becomes a Christian
- [05:18] - The Transformation of Becoming a Christian
- [06:34] - A New Perspective and Attitude
- [08:47] - Discovering Self-Deception
- [11:09] - Conducting a Life Audit
- [13:30] - The Foolishness of Self-Reliance
- [20:31] - The Importance of Numbering Our Days
- [27:41] - The Discomfort of Honest Self-Examination
- [30:48] - The Influence of the Devil
- [33:32] - Making a True Audit
- [38:02] - The Standard and Method of a True Audit
- [45:25] - Paul's Personal Audit and Discovery
- [54:07] - The Hope of a New Beginning in Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Philippians 3:7: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says he counted his gains as loss for Christ? How does this reflect a change in his values? [06:18]
2. How does the sermon describe the transformation that occurs when one becomes a Christian? What are the key elements of this transformation? [06:34]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of conducting a "life audit" as a Christian? [11:22]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of self-examination in the Christian journey? [41:04]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's personal transformation challenge the way we view our own achievements and credentials? [09:53]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that self-reliance is inadequate for salvation? How does this relate to the concept of grace? [12:39]
3. What does the sermon imply about the dangers of self-deception and how can Christians guard against it? [10:06]
4. How does the sermon describe the partnership between a believer and Christ in the journey of transformation? [54:38]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: What are some "gains" you might need to count as loss for the sake of Christ? How can you begin this process? [06:18]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of a life audit. What steps can you take this week to honestly assess your spiritual life and priorities? [11:22]
3. Consider a time when you relied on your own achievements for validation. How can you shift your focus to depend more on God's grace? [12:39]
4. Identify an area in your life where you might be deceiving yourself. What practical steps can you take to confront this self-deception? [10:06]
5. How can you cultivate a deeper partnership with Christ in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to invite His guidance and transformation? [54:38]
6. Think about a recent challenge or failure. How can you view it as an opportunity for a new beginning in Christ, based on His sacrificial love? [54:07]
7. What is one uncomfortable truth about yourself that you are willing to face this week? How can acknowledging this truth lead to greater reliance on God's grace? [41:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Radical Reorientation of Life and Values
When one becomes a Christian, it is not merely an adoption of a new set of beliefs but a profound transformation of life and values. This change is not superficial; it is a complete renewal of perspective and priorities, centered on Christ. The Apostle Paul exemplifies this transformation in Philippians 3:7, where he considers all his previous achievements as loss compared to the value of knowing Christ. This shift is not just an intellectual acknowledgment but a deep, personal conviction that leads to a new way of living. The Christian journey begins with this radical reorientation, where old values are replaced with new ones that align with the teachings and love of Christ. [06:34]

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What are some old values or priorities in your life that need to be reoriented towards Christ today? How can you begin this transformation?


Day 2: The Necessity of a Life Audit
The process of becoming a Christian involves a profound self-examination, akin to conducting an audit of one's life. This audit reveals the futility of relying on personal achievements and highlights the need for a new foundation in Christ. It requires honesty and thoroughness, as well as a willingness to face uncomfortable truths about oneself. This self-examination is crucial in the Christian journey, as it helps individuals recognize their shortcomings and the insufficiency of self-reliance. By acknowledging these truths, one can fully embrace the grace and redemption offered by Christ, building a new life on His foundation. [11:09]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What uncomfortable truths about yourself have you been avoiding? How can you begin to face them with honesty and seek Christ's foundation in your life?


Day 3: Embracing Honesty and God's Grace
Christianity calls for honesty and thoroughness in assessing one's life. It requires facing uncomfortable truths and acknowledging one's shortcomings, leading to a deeper reliance on God's grace. This honesty is not meant to condemn but to bring about transformation and growth. By acknowledging our weaknesses and failures, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's grace, which provides strength and guidance. This journey of honesty and grace is ongoing, as believers continually seek to align their lives with Christ's teachings and love. [41:04]

"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven." (Lamentations 3:40-41, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to be more honest with yourself and with God? How can you rely more on His grace in these areas?


Day 4: The Gift of a New Beginning
The Christian life is not about self-reliance but about embracing the grace and redemption offered by Christ. He provides a new beginning, not based on our merit but on His sacrificial love. This new life in Christ is a partnership, where He guides and transforms us, leading us from glory to glory. The hope of a new beginning is a central message of Christianity, offering believers the opportunity to start afresh, free from the burden of past failures and sins. This new beginning is a gift, rooted in Christ's love and sacrifice, and it calls for a life of gratitude and devotion. [54:07]

"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: What does a new beginning in Christ look like for you today? How can you embrace this gift and live a life of gratitude and devotion?


Day 5: The Promise of Transformation and Eternal Life
The ultimate hope in Christianity is the promise of transformation and eternal life. Through Christ, believers are guided and transformed, leading them from glory to glory until they reach their eternal home. This journey is marked by continuous growth and transformation, as believers seek to become more like Christ in their thoughts, actions, and character. The promise of eternal life provides hope and assurance, motivating believers to persevere in their faith and live a life that reflects Christ's love and teachings. This hope is not just for the future but impacts how believers live in the present, as they strive to embody the values and principles of the Kingdom of God. [54:49]

"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 does the promise of transformation and eternal life influence your daily life and decisions? What steps can you take to align your life more closely with the values of the Kingdom of God?

Quotes


The Apostle here is dealing with the most vital and Urgent question for every single one of us and for everybody in the world at this very moment and that is what exactly does it mean to be a Christian and how does one become a Christian. [00:56:52]

Christianity is an intolerant religion it claims that it and it alone is right that it and it alone is God's message now that is the of the Christian message this is God's way it's the only way so the Apostle says we can't afford to be in any doubt about this for you it is safe. [02:16:52]

When a man becomes a Christian he under goes a complete Revolution there is a complete transformation or if you prefer it in the language of that 17th verse of that chapter we read at the beginning he becomes a new creature a new creation old things are passed away behold all things are become new. [06:34:56]

The process of becoming a Christian involves a profound self-examination, akin to conducting an audit of one's life. This audit reveals the futility of relying on one's own righteousness or achievements. Instead, it highlights the need for a new foundation, which is found in Christ alone. [11:09:36]

The non-Christian the man who's not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a man who always makes a false audit and always produces a false balance sheet that's the first thing the Apostle tells us what things were gain to me you see there's the annual report profit and loss account everything was all right. [20:48:04]

The Bible I say appeals to men to think to think again and to go on thinking again it's a book that is full of warnings who warned you to flee from the Roth to come says John the Baptist our Lord was always warning people look at his picture of the men building a house each one on the Rock one on the sand. [27:41:36]

The ultimate reason why this unbeliever doesn't indulge in this honest audit and balance is this that he doesn't know he doesn't know of he doesn't believe in a final compulsory audit that's his trouble he doesn't know he doesn't realize that an account is being kept and that the D come when he's got to face it. [30:48:52]

The Apostle Paul tells us in this dramatic word what happened to him once he met the Lord Jesus Christ he made his audit and what did he find startling Discovery complete reversal of everything he'd ever ever thought his balance sheet was false what he thought was gained was lost he's got nothing. [45:25:48]

Thank God when you meet the Heavenly auditor he doesn't stop at exposing the dishonesty and the chicanery and the self-deception of our supposed ledgers and balance sheets he does that first you know he always does that if you are not convicted of sin you're not a Christian. [54:07:12]

The moment you honestly admit that there's nothing there the moment you say I am indeed the chief of Sinners I've got nothing I've been a fool I've been living in a Fool's Paradise I've been deceiving myself I've been misleading myself I've been buying myself upon nothing I've got nothing I don't know where I am I'm helpless I'm lost. [54:49:00]

I'll give you a fresh start I'll put a sum of money in the bank for you I'll give you Capital you say how much do I pay you for that he says you got nothing to pay with what you're talking about I give it you for nothing by Grace received through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God. [54:49:00]

You can start living a new life and I won't leave you to run it yourself I'll be with you take my yoke upon you and learn of me I'm with you in the business it's going to be a partnership and you'll go on From Success to success you'll be changed from Glory into Glory till in heaven you take take your place. [54:49:00]

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Transcript
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