Renovated by Grace: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
Summary
Summary:
Today, we explored the profound truth of being "under renovation" through the lens of Ephesians 1:15 to 2:10. This passage reveals the transformative power of the gospel, which is not merely about securing a place in heaven but about the complete renovation and redemption of our entire being. The gospel is the good news of Jesus, a message of hope and transformation that is alive and active in us today. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, now working within us to bring us from spiritual death to life.
Paul's prayer in Ephesians is that we would experience this power and God's transforming love, which changes us from the inside out. He emphasizes that our identity is not defined by our past or our sins but by the new life we have in Christ. We are God's masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus to do the good works He planned for us long ago. This transformation is not something we achieve on our own; it is a gift of grace, not a reward for our deeds.
The analogy of the "sin coat" and the "righteousness coat" illustrates the change that occurs when we accept Christ. We are no longer bound by our sinful nature but are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. This new identity empowers us to live differently, to choose righteousness over sin, and to embrace the renovation God is doing in our lives.
As we continue this journey of transformation, we are reminded that God's love is renovating us, and His power is at work to transform us into who He created us to be. We are fully known and fully loved by God, and this truth sets us free to live out our new identity in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Gospel's Transformative Power: The gospel is not just about securing a place in heaven; it is about the complete renovation and redemption of our entire being. This transformation is powered by the same force that raised Jesus from the dead, bringing us from spiritual death to life. [30:12]
2. Our New Identity in Christ: In Christ, we are no longer defined by our past or our sins. We are God's masterpiece, created anew to do the good works He planned for us. This new identity is a gift of grace, not something we earn. [44:15]
3. The Choice of Righteousness: Through Christ, we have the choice to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. This choice was not available before, but now we can live in the freedom and power of our new identity. [54:18]
4. Living Under Renovation: We are under renovation, being transformed by God's love and power. This process involves recognizing areas in our lives that need change and allowing God to work in us to bring about that transformation. [57:08]
5. Fully Known and Fully Loved: We are fully known and fully loved by God. This truth frees us from guilt and shame, allowing us to live confidently in our new identity and share God's love with others. [01:10:15]
YouTube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[27:37] - Introduction to the Series
[30:12] - The Gospel's Transformative Power
[34:02] - Paul's Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation
[39:36] - Understanding Our New Identity
[41:28] - The Power of "But God"
[44:15] - God's Masterpiece
[46:10] - Visualizing Transformation
[48:17] - The Sin Coat vs. The Righteousness Coat
[50:36] - The Struggle with Sin
[52:48] - The Choice of Righteousness
[54:18] - Living Under Renovation
[57:08] - Embracing Our New Identity
[01:00:43] - The Two by Four Challenge
[01:10:15] - Fully Known and Fully Loved
[01:11:24] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Under Renovation
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:15-2:10
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul pray for the believers in Ephesians 1:15-23, and how does he describe the power available to them? [34:02]
2. How does the sermon describe the transformation from spiritual death to life, and what analogy is used to illustrate this change? [54:18]
3. According to Ephesians 2:1-10, what is the role of grace in our salvation, and how does this passage describe our new identity in Christ? [44:15]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the significance of being "under renovation" in our spiritual journey? [57:08]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding the gospel as a complete renovation of our being, rather than just a ticket to heaven, change the way we view our faith journey? [30:12]
2. In what ways does the analogy of the "sin coat" and the "righteousness coat" help us understand our new identity in Christ? [54:18]
3. How does the concept of being "fully known and fully loved" by God impact our daily lives and interactions with others? [01:10:15]
4. What does it mean to live in the freedom and power of our new identity, and how can this influence our choices and actions? [54:18]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt defined by your past or your sins. How can embracing your new identity in Christ help you move forward? [44:15]
2. Identify an area in your life that feels "under renovation." What steps can you take to allow God's transforming power to work in that area? [57:08]
3. The sermon mentioned the choice to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. What is one specific area where you can practice this choice this week? [54:18]
4. How can the truth of being "fully known and fully loved" by God help you overcome feelings of guilt and shame? [01:10:15]
5. Consider the analogy of the "sin coat" and the "righteousness coat." How can you remind yourself daily of your new identity in Christ? [54:18]
6. What practical steps can you take to live out the good works God has planned for you, as described in Ephesians 2:10? [44:15]
7. How can you share the message of God's transformative love and power with someone in your life who may need to hear it? [01:10:15]
Devotional
Day 1: The Gospel's Transformative Power
The gospel is not just about securing a place in heaven; it is about the complete renovation and redemption of our entire being. This transformation is powered by the same force that raised Jesus from the dead, bringing us from spiritual death to life. The power of the gospel is alive and active in us today, working to transform us from the inside out. It is a message of hope and transformation, inviting us to experience the fullness of life in Christ. As we embrace this transformative power, we are invited to participate in the ongoing work of God in our lives, allowing His love and grace to shape us into the people He created us to be. [30:12]
Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel spiritually dead or stagnant? How can you invite the transformative power of the gospel to bring new life to that area today?
Day 2: Our New Identity in Christ
In Christ, we are no longer defined by our past or our sins. We are God's masterpiece, created anew to do the good works He planned for us. This new identity is a gift of grace, not something we earn. Our identity in Christ is rooted in His love and grace, freeing us from the burden of our past and empowering us to live out our purpose. As we embrace our new identity, we are invited to see ourselves as God sees us—beloved, redeemed, and called to a life of purpose and meaning. This identity is not based on our achievements or failures but on the unchanging truth of who we are in Christ. [44:15]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: How does your understanding of your identity in Christ change the way you view yourself and your purpose? What is one step you can take today to live more fully into this new identity?
Day 3: The Choice of Righteousness
Through Christ, we have the choice to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. This choice was not available before, but now we can live in the freedom and power of our new identity. The analogy of the "sin coat" and the "righteousness coat" illustrates the change that occurs when we accept Christ. We are no longer bound by our sinful nature but are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. This new identity empowers us to live differently, to choose righteousness over sin, and to embrace the renovation God is doing in our lives. As we make daily choices to align our lives with God's will, we experience the freedom and joy that comes from living in His righteousness. [54:18]
Romans 6:18 (ESV): "and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you struggle to choose righteousness over sin? How can you rely on God's strength to make a different choice today?
Day 4: Living Under Renovation
We are under renovation, being transformed by God's love and power. This process involves recognizing areas in our lives that need change and allowing God to work in us to bring about that transformation. It is a journey of growth and renewal, where we are continually being shaped and molded into the image of Christ. As we embrace this process, we are invited to trust in God's timing and His perfect plan for our lives. We are reminded that transformation is not something we achieve on our own; it is a work of grace that God is doing in us. [57:08]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV): "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you sense God is renovating? How can you cooperate with His work in that area today?
Day 5: Fully Known and Fully Loved
We are fully known and fully loved by God. This truth frees us from guilt and shame, allowing us to live confidently in our new identity and share God's love with others. Being fully known means that God sees every part of us—our strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between—and still chooses to love us unconditionally. This love is not based on our performance or worthiness but on His character and grace. As we rest in the assurance of being fully known and fully loved, we are empowered to live authentically and to extend that same love and grace to those around us. [01:10:15]
Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV): "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."
Reflection: How does knowing that you are fully known and fully loved by God change the way you view yourself and others? What is one way you can share this love with someone in your life today?
Quotes
Basically, what he's saying is you have a future that is better than your present. Because everyone he's writing to is at least not free, and a lot of them are, like, they're under Roman rule, but a lot of them are slaves. Like, 70 % of the Roman Empire are slaves. This is a Gentile area. These are, a lot of the church is probably literally owned by someone else. [00:36:22] (18 seconds)
The gospel is the good news that he has been transformed. I am being transformed. You are being transformed. Not just you're getting out of hell and going to heaven. It is that all of you is being redeemed and renovated. The good parts and the bad parts. The good parts and the bad parts. The good parts and the bad parts. The good parts and the bad parts. And the ugly parts. All of it is being renovated. [00:41:28] (17 seconds)
All of us are not good enough. Because of Jesus, he makes all of us good enough. It's him, and he is transforming us. And so, if you are, like, exhausted from the spiritual striving that you have to do of, like, keep pushing, keep pushing, keep pushing, you can relax. Because it's not actually about you. You are being renovated. [00:41:58] (19 seconds)
But God is so rich in mercy and he loved us so much that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God's grace that you have been saved. For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavens. In the heavenly realms, because we are united with Christ Jesus. [00:44:15] (21 seconds)
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you cannot take credit for this. It is a gift of God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. [00:44:48] (21 seconds)
Now, even though every person is born wearing this, they now have the free gift of putting this on. And what's crazy, what's so crazy is if you decide, if you decide to take this off and put on the person and work of Jesus Christ, to trust him, to bring him into your life, when God looks at you, he is no longer seeing this. He now sees his son. He sees his daughter. [00:54:36] (31 seconds)
Before Christ came into your life, that coat, your only option was to sin. And maybe you did the right thing, but it was probably tainted by pride or selfish ambition or something. It wasn't truly good. It's not that that's no longer reality. It's not that church people don't do things for their own benefit. No, no, no. We all have our issues. The difference is we now have the choice to say no to sin, to say yes. [00:56:17] (24 seconds)
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