Radical Transformation: Surrendering to Christ for New Life

Summary

So many of us have fallen for the promise of quick fixes and easy makeovers—whether it’s a gadget, a new routine, or even a new flavor of Coke Zero. We want to be made new, but we want it fast, easy, and without discomfort. Yet, the truth is, real transformation doesn’t come from adding something new to our old lives or making small improvements. Ephesians 2 confronts us with the reality that before Christ, we were dead in our sins, bound to our flesh, and unable to truly change ourselves. The world tells us that freedom is found in doing whatever we want, but Paul reminds us that living for our own desires is just another form of bondage.

There’s a tension that every believer feels: the pull between the flesh and the spirit. We want to do good, but we keep falling back into old patterns. This tension isn’t something to run from; it’s actually the very ground where God grows us. Growth happens when we face discomfort, not when we avoid it. Instead of praying for a tension-free life, we should ask God for purpose in the tension, trusting that He uses it to draw us closer and make us more like Him.

The heart of being made new is not about striving harder or trying to be a better version of ourselves. It’s about surrender—dying to the old self and allowing Jesus to make us completely new. Jesus didn’t die so we could add a little religion to our lives; He died so we could be radically transformed, born again, and brought near to God. He Himself is our peace, and only in Him do we find the power to live a new life.

Being made new means going all in with Jesus. It’s not about behavior modification or majoring on the minors. It’s about a total change of identity—letting go of the old and embracing the new life Christ offers. This is a radical call, but it’s the only way to move from being an imposter to being truly alive in Christ.

Key Takeaways

- True transformation in Christ is not about self-improvement or adding spiritual practices to an unchanged life. It requires a complete surrender of the old self, dying to our flesh, and allowing Jesus to make us new from the inside out. Anything less leaves us straddling the line between the old and the new, never experiencing the fullness of life God intends. [11:37]

- The tension between flesh and spirit is not a sign of failure but an invitation to growth. God often uses discomfort and inner conflict to draw us deeper into dependence on Him. Rather than praying for the tension to disappear, we should seek God’s purpose in it, trusting that our capacity to endure and learn from tension determines our potential for spiritual maturity. [13:59]

- Jesus Himself is our peace, not our circumstances, relationships, or achievements. When we look to others or to self-improvement for peace, we will always be disappointed. Only by rooting our identity in Christ and accepting that we are chosen and brought near by His blood can we experience the deep, lasting peace our souls crave. [18:02]

- Striving to be “better” is a subtle form of self-reliance that undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. We are not called to endlessly try harder or patch up our old lives with new habits. Instead, we are called to radical newness—a total rebirth that only comes through the finished work of Jesus. [21:39]

- Living as a new creation means going all in with Jesus, not just making minor behavioral changes. It’s a radical shift of identity and allegiance, moving from being an “imposter” to being authentically alive in Christ. This new life is not about perfection but about wholehearted surrender and daily dependence on the grace that makes us truly new. [27:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:22] - Group Confessional: Chasing Quick Fixes
[05:13] - The False Promise of Easy Makeovers
[08:47] - Dead in Sin: The Real Problem
[11:37] - The Tension of Spirit vs. Flesh
[13:59] - Embracing Tension for Growth
[16:08] - Brought Near by the Blood of Christ
[18:02] - Jesus: Our Peace and Identity
[19:19] - Chosen and Adopted by God
[20:31] - Dying to the Old Self
[21:39] - Stop Striving, Start Surrendering
[22:42] - New Wine in New Wineskins
[23:34] - Faith Is Not an Accessory
[24:29] - The Illusion of Minor Improvements
[26:06] - What It Means to Live New
[27:34] - Majoring on the Minors vs. Radical Change
[28:33] - Born Again: The Call to New Life
[29:36] - Responding to the Call: Going All In
[30:35] - Prayer and Celebration

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Made New in Christ

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### Bible Reading

- Ephesians 2:1-22
(Main text: covers being dead in sin, made alive in Christ, brought near by His blood, and Jesus as our peace)

- Romans 7:15-20
(“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…” – the struggle between flesh and spirit)

- John 3:1-8
(Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about being “born again”)

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### Observation Questions

1. In Ephesians 2, what does Paul say about our condition before Christ? What words or phrases does he use to describe it? [05:13]
2. According to Ephesians 2:13-14, what has Jesus done for us, and what does Paul say Jesus Himself is for us? [16:08]
3. In Romans 7:15-20, how does Paul describe the struggle between wanting to do good and actually doing it? What does this reveal about human nature?
4. In John 3, what does Jesus mean when He says we must be “born again”? How does Nicodemus respond to this idea? [27:34]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that “real transformation doesn’t come from adding something new to our old lives or making small improvements.” Why is this distinction important? How does it challenge common ideas about self-improvement? [05:13]
2. The tension between flesh and spirit is described as “the very ground where God grows us.” Why might God allow us to experience this tension instead of removing it? [13:59]
3. The pastor said, “Jesus Himself is our peace, not our circumstances, relationships, or achievements.” What does it look like to root your identity and peace in Christ rather than in other things? [18:02]
4. Why is striving to be “better” seen as a form of self-reliance that undermines Christ’s sacrifice? How is surrender different from striving? [21:39]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon gave examples of chasing quick fixes (like gadgets or routines) to try to “make ourselves new.” What are some “quick fixes” or self-improvement strategies you’ve tried in your own life? Did they bring real change or just temporary results? [03:22]
2. The pastor talked about the tension between wanting to do good and falling back into old patterns. Where do you feel this tension most in your life right now? How do you usually respond to it—by running from it, ignoring it, or facing it? [11:37]
3. Instead of praying for a tension-free life, the sermon encouraged us to “ask God for purpose in the tension.” What would it look like for you to pray for purpose in your current struggles or discomforts? Can you think of a specific area where you need to do this? [13:59]
4. The message said, “Being made new is not about striving harder or trying to be a better version of ourselves. It’s about surrender.” What is one area of your life where you need to stop striving and start surrendering to Jesus? What would surrender look like for you this week? [21:39]
5. The pastor used the example of “new wine in new wineskins” to show that faith isn’t just an accessory or minor improvement. Are there ways you’ve tried to “add” Jesus to your old life instead of letting Him make you completely new? What needs to change? [22:42]
6. The sermon challenged us to “go all in with Jesus” and not just make minor behavioral changes. What would “going all in” look like for you? Is there a step of faith or obedience you’ve been holding back from taking? [27:34]
7. The idea of being “born again” or “made new” is radical. If you’ve already made this decision, how can you encourage someone else who is struggling with feeling like an imposter or stuck in old patterns? If you haven’t, what’s holding you back from going all in with Jesus? [29:36]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to face tension, for the willingness to surrender, and for the experience of true newness in Christ—not just minor improvements, but a radical change of heart and identity.

Devotional

Day 1: Made New in Christ, Not Just Improved
The message of Ephesians 2 begins with a bold declaration: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.” This isn’t about self-improvement or adding a few good habits to your life; it’s about a radical transformation from death to life. Before Christ, we were bound to our flesh, chasing after desires that never truly satisfied, always left unfulfilled. But through Jesus, we are not just made better—we are made new. This newness is not something we can achieve by our own effort; it is a gift, a complete overhaul of our identity and purpose. Let this truth sink in: you are not called to be a slightly improved version of yourself, but to be entirely new in Christ. [07:40]

Ephesians 2:1-5 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been settling for self-improvement instead of surrendering to the radical newness Jesus offers? What would it look like to let go of “just being better” and truly be made new today?


Day 2: The Tension Between Flesh and Spirit
There is a real struggle within every believer: the pull between the desires of the flesh and the call of the Spirit. Even when we want to do what is right, we often find ourselves doing the very things we wish we wouldn’t. This tension is not a sign of failure, but an opportunity for growth. Instead of running from discomfort, we are invited to embrace it, trusting that God uses this very tension to draw us closer to Him and to shape us into who He’s calling us to be. Growth happens when we face the discomfort, not when we avoid it. [13:59]

Romans 7:15-19 (ESV)
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Reflection: Where do you feel the most tension between your old ways and your new life in Christ? How can you invite God to use that tension for your growth today?


Day 3: Jesus Himself Is Our Peace
True peace is not found in circumstances, relationships, or self-help strategies—it is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He Himself is our peace, the one who brings us near to God and makes us whole. When we look for peace in anything or anyone else, we will always come up short. Jesus died so that you could have peace, not as an accessory to your life, but as the very foundation of your identity. Before anything else, you are His, chosen and brought near by His blood. [18:02]

Ephesians 2:13-14, 19 (ESV)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility... So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

Reflection: When you feel anxious or restless, where do you instinctively turn for peace? How can you intentionally turn to Jesus as your peace today?


Day 4: Stop Striving—Let Jesus Make You New
We are not called to strive endlessly to be “good enough” for God. Jesus already did the work; He died so you don’t have to kill yourself trying to earn His love. The call is not to patch up your old life with a little bit of Jesus, but to let Him make you completely new. Like new wine in new wineskins, your life in Christ is not about adding faith as an accessory, but about a total transformation. Striving and self-effort cannot add to what Jesus has already accomplished—He is enough. [22:42]

Matthew 9:16-17 (ESV)
No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.

Reflection: Are there areas where you’re still trying to “patch up” your old life instead of letting Jesus make you new? What would it look like to surrender your striving and trust that He is enough?


Day 5: Go All In—Be Born Again
Being made new in Christ is not about minor behavioral changes or simply attending church; it is about dying to your old self and being born again. This is a radical, all-in transformation—leaving behind the old ways and embracing a new identity as a child of God. Like baptism, where you go under the water to symbolize dying to your old life and rise up to new life, following Jesus means going all in, not straddling the line between flesh and spirit. Today, you are invited to step fully into the new life Jesus offers, to be truly made new. [28:33]

John 3:3-6 (ESV)
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to go “all in” with Jesus, leaving behind your old ways and embracing the new life He offers?

Quotes

Paul is actually saying, this should be major. This should be a big deal. We're not talking about like self-improvement. We're not talking about like, you know, the 75 hard. We're talking about you were dead and through Christ, you're now made new. This is a big deal. He's saying, this should be a big deal because you were dead. [00:07:42] (19 seconds) Edit Clip

Can I offer that if you aren't living for Christ, you're still bound and chained to something. You're bound to your desires, your flesh, those sins, those things that you want to do. You're going to be bound either way. The question is, will you be bound to your flesh or bound to the spirit of God? [00:08:57] (17 seconds) Edit Clip

Before Christ, we're dead in our sin and we want to do good things, but you wind up doing the bad things anyway. Why? Well, because you're bound to your flesh. So you can have good intentions. You could say, I want to not live a sinful life. I want to live a good life. I even prayed a prayer to be a Christian. But if you're not completely made new, you're going to keep on doing the things you don't want to do. [00:10:58] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

Tension may not be the enemy. It may in fact be what God is using right now to draw you into growth, to draw you into your next level. I would say it like this. Stop, stop praying for attention free life. Start praying for purpose in the tension. [00:15:51] (15 seconds) Edit Clip

He himself is our peace. Maybe somebody today needs a little bit of peace. And it says that he himself, the person of Jesus Christ, is our peace. So would it not stand to reason then that when you are trying to find peace in other persons, friends, in that relationship, in that friendship, everybody's great, but no one is meant to bring you peace. Jesus died so you could have peace. [00:17:33] (30 seconds) Edit Clip

``Jesus died. So stop trying to kill yourself being better because you'll never be able to do it. He already died so you don't have to die trying to earn his love, trying to be a better version of yourself. He already did the death part. Now he's offering you new life. We're not called to be better. We're called to be new. [00:21:16] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

Sometimes I sit down and I go, what could I even add to the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus that I would think would even be a measly offering at the foot of the cross. When I look at the cross, when I look at what he's done, striving has to go because he has done enough. [00:22:00] (20 seconds) Edit Clip

That's not being made new friend. That's taking an accessory, your faith, what Jesus did for you. That's not an accessory. That changes the whole person that changes everything. That's not adding a little bit more. That's becoming brand new. [00:25:39] (18 seconds) Edit Clip

If you've ever been here on a baptism Sunday, you know what our shirts say in the baptism? They say, made new. Why? Because baptism is such a beautiful example that when we dunk the person, they go down and we say, you are dying to your old sinful life. That is gone. And when you come up, you're new. God has made you new because of the sacrifice of Jesus. You are made new. You're born again. [00:29:08] (29 seconds) Edit Clip