Resolutions Rooted in Grace: A Christian Perspective

Devotional

Day 1: Grounding Resolutions in Grace

Resolutions should be grounded in the grace of God, reflecting the worth of our calling, not our own worthiness. This means living in a way that highlights the value of the calling we have received through grace. [03:25]
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, emphasizes that the worthiness of our calling is not about earning God's favor but about living in a way that reflects the grace we have received. This grace is a gift, and our resolutions should be a response to this gift, not an attempt to prove our worth. By grounding our resolutions in grace, we acknowledge that our ability to live out our calling comes from God, not from our own efforts. This perspective shifts our focus from self-reliance to a reliance on God's grace, allowing us to live in a way that truly reflects the value of our divine calling.
Ephesians 4:1-2 (ESV): "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can shift your focus from self-reliance to reliance on God's grace today?

Day 2: Transforming Resolutions into Works of Faith

The transformation of resolutions into works of faith is achieved through reliance on God's power, not human effort. This reliance connects us to divine strength, ensuring our actions are works of faith. [05:08]
Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians highlights the importance of relying on God's power to transform our internal desires into external actions. This transformation is not something we can achieve on our own; it requires a deep connection to God's strength. By relying on God's power, our resolutions become more than just personal goals; they become acts of faith that reflect our trust in God's ability to work through us. This reliance on divine strength ensures that our actions are not merely human endeavors but are infused with faith, allowing us to live out our calling in a way that honors God.
Zechariah 4:6 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"
Reflection: Identify a resolution you have made. How can you actively rely on God's power rather than your own strength to fulfill it?

Day 3: Glorifying Christ Through Our Resolutions

The glorification of Jesus Christ is the ultimate goal of fulfilling resolutions. As our resolves become works of faith, it is Christ's grace that is magnified, as His power enables us to act. [06:51]
The ultimate purpose of our resolutions, according to Paul, is to glorify Jesus Christ. When our resolutions are transformed into works of faith, it is not our own abilities that are highlighted, but the grace and power of Christ working through us. This glorification of Christ is a testament to His sacrifice and the grace He has made available to us. By focusing on glorifying Christ through our resolutions, we ensure that our actions are aligned with His will and purpose, allowing His grace to be magnified in our lives.
2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV): "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your resolutions are focused on glorifying Christ rather than highlighting your own achievements?

Day 4: Transformation Through Resolutions

Our transformation through resolutions is a journey of moving from one degree of glory to another, becoming more like Christ. This process is a comprehensive way of thinking about the Christian life. [07:29]
Paul's message to the Thessalonians underscores the transformative power of resolutions when they are grounded in faith and grace. This transformation is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of becoming more like Christ. As we fulfill our resolutions through God's power, we are transformed from one degree of glory to another, reflecting the image of Christ more clearly in our lives. This journey of transformation is a holistic approach to the Christian life, where every resolution becomes an opportunity for growth and deeper alignment with Christ's character.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: In what ways can you see yourself being transformed into the image of Christ through your current resolutions?

Day 5: Encouragement to Make Resolutions

Making resolutions is encouraged, but they should be made with reliance on God's grace and power, ensuring they are for His glory. This transforms personal goals into acts of faith. [09:58]
Paul encourages believers to make resolutions, but with a clear understanding that these resolutions should be rooted in God's grace and power. By doing so, personal goals are transformed into acts of faith that glorify God. This approach to resolutions ensures that they are not just about personal achievement but are aligned with God's purpose and calling for our lives. By relying on God's grace and power, we can be confident that our resolutions will lead to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Christ.
Colossians 1:10 (ESV): "So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: What is one resolution you can make today that relies on God's grace and power, and how will it bring glory to Him?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the question of whether we should make resolutions, especially as we approach the end of a year or any significant moment in life, it is essential to ground our understanding in the teachings of 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. The Apostle Paul provides a profound insight into how resolutions should be approached by Christians. He prays that God would make believers worthy of their calling, emphasizing that this worthiness is not about earning God's favor but about living in a way that reflects the value of the calling we have received through grace.

Paul's prayer is that God would fulfill every resolve for good, transforming these internal desires into external works of faith. This transformation is not achieved through human effort alone but through reliance on God's power. It is through faith that we connect with this divine power, allowing God to fulfill our resolutions. This process ensures that our actions are not merely human endeavors but are works of faith, reliant on God's strength.

The ultimate goal of fulfilling resolutions in this manner is the glorification of Jesus Christ. When our resolves are turned into works of faith, it is the grace of Jesus that is magnified, as it is His power that enables us to act. This grace was purchased through His sacrifice on the cross, making it available to us. As we depend on this grace, not only is Christ glorified, but we too are transformed, moving from one degree of glory to another, becoming more like Christ.

Therefore, making resolutions is not only encouraged but is a vital part of the Christian life. However, these resolutions should be made with a deep reliance on God's grace and power, ensuring that they are for His glory. This approach transforms our resolutions from mere personal goals into acts of faith that reflect the worth of our divine calling.

Key Takeaways

1. Resolutions should be grounded in the grace of God, reflecting the worth of our calling, not our own worthiness. This means living in a way that highlights the value of the calling we have received through grace. [03:25]
2. The transformation of resolutions into works of faith is achieved through reliance on God's power, not human effort. This reliance connects us to divine strength, ensuring our actions are works of faith. [05:08]
3. The glorification of Jesus Christ is the ultimate goal of fulfilling resolutions. As our resolves become works of faith, it is Christ's grace that is magnified, as His power enables us to act. [06:51]
4. Our transformation through resolutions is a journey of moving from one degree of glory to another, becoming more like Christ. This process is a comprehensive way of thinking about the Christian life. [07:29]
5. Making resolutions is encouraged, but they should be made with reliance on God's grace and power, ensuring they are for His glory. This transforms personal goals into acts of faith. [09:58]
** [09:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - The Question of Resolutions
[00:54] - Prayer for Guidance
[01:27] - Paul's Prayer for Worthiness
[02:10] - Walking Worthy of Our Calling
[03:25] - The Meaning of Worthiness
[04:08] - God Fulfilling Our Resolutions
[04:48] - The Role of Faith in Resolutions
[05:29] - The Result of Faithful Resolutions
[06:02] - Glorification of Jesus
[06:51] - Our Transformation in Christ
[07:44] - The Sequence of Grace and Power
[09:02] - The Fulfillment of Resolutions
[09:58] - Encouragement to Make Resolutions
[11:00] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
- Ephesians 4:1
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12

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Observation Questions:

What does Paul pray for in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, and how does this relate to the concept of being "worthy" of our calling? [01:49]
How does the sermon describe the transformation of internal resolutions into external works of faith? [04:27]
According to the sermon, what role does faith play in connecting us to God's power for fulfilling our resolutions? [05:08]
What is the ultimate goal of fulfilling resolutions according to the sermon, and how is Jesus Christ glorified in this process? [06:51]

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Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the sermon suggest that being "worthy" of our calling is not about earning God's favor but about reflecting the value of our calling? [03:08]
How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's grace, power, and our faith in the process of fulfilling resolutions? [08:15]
What does it mean for our resolves to become "works of faith," and how does this concept challenge our understanding of personal effort and divine power? [04:48]
How does the sermon describe the transformation process of moving from one degree of glory to another, and what implications does this have for the Christian life? [07:29]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a resolution you have made in the past. How can you ensure that future resolutions are grounded in God's grace and power rather than your own efforts? [09:58]
Identify a current desire or resolve you have. How can you rely on God's power to transform this into a work of faith? What practical steps can you take to connect with this divine strength? [05:08]
Consider the ways in which your life currently reflects the worth of your calling. What changes can you make to better highlight the value of the calling you have received through grace? [03:25]
How can you actively seek the glorification of Jesus Christ in your daily actions and decisions? What specific areas of your life need to be aligned with this goal? [06:51]
Think about a time when you relied solely on your own strength to achieve a goal. How did that experience differ from times when you depended on God's power? How can you cultivate a deeper reliance on God's grace in future endeavors? [09:58]
In what ways can you encourage others in your small group or community to make resolutions that are acts of faith, reliant on God's strength? How can you support each other in this journey? [09:58]
Reflect on the concept of moving from one degree of glory to another. What specific actions can you take this week to become more like Christ in your thoughts, words, and deeds? [07:29]

Sermon Clips

Father I pray that as we pose this really crucial question because we don't want to be mere moralists or mere legalists who just pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps and and say god helps those who help themselves who want to be deeply Christian deeply gospel rooted Christ exalting spirit dependent people I pray that you would help us now to become like that through this text I ask this in Jesus name Amen [00:57:53]

I pray for you that our God may make you worthy of his calling now there is some dispute here as to whether make you worthy of his calling is a good translation or count you worthy is a good translation and I'm gonna stay with make a couple of reasons in in first Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 12 he tells them to walk worthy of God who called them and it seems to me that what he's doing here is praying that that would happen [01:52:36]

Being worthy of a calling that originates in grace is does not mean that you become worth it now finally I deserve my colleague that's not worthy means worthy means fitting or suitable and if you boil it down to to make you worthy or to cause you to walk worthy of your calling that originated freely in God's grace to call you out of darkness into light means walk in a method in a manner that shows the worth of the calling not your own worth [03:00:23]

May he fulfill every resolve for good there's the whole issue of resolutions so we have desires or good will towards good and he is asking God subject to this Verbier is God may God fulfill every resolve so he's asking God to fulfill the resolves that we make and I think this and here's not mean a totally separate thing but when God fulfills a resolve for good that resolve becomes a work it moves from being something internal to something external and now it can be called a work of faith [03:49:03]

How do you get connected with the power of God so that he's the one who's actually fulfilling it it is his power that is decisive in the performing of it it is your resolve this is your resolve here and it is your work but it is a work of faith because it is reliant in reliance upon his his power that's absolutely crucial for how we proceed with our resolutions new years or otherwise [04:50:21]

Here's the result if we go about fulfilling resolutions that way in reliance upon God's power so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Lord Jesus may be glorified in you know that's that's surprising because he hasn't mentioned the Lord Jesus yet and yet it's the Lord Jesus the name of the Lord Jesus that's being glorified if you turn your resolves into works of faith [05:34:47]

The way Paul's thinking is that this power here is a is a is a Jesus purchased power Jesus becomes the mediator or the provider of this power which is not at all surprising because of what comes next according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ so it's the grace of God and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that has made that power available because he bought it when he died for us on the cross [06:03:36]

When that happens it's the name of the Lord Jesus that's going to be shown to be glorious and beautiful because it's His grace that enabled that power to become active in us sinners and then here's the other thing I jumped over not only will the name of the Lord Jesus be glorified when his power is magnified through your depending on it to turn resolves into works but you in him he left the verb out you will be glorified in him [06:39:18]

You become glorified in him because you are being changed your resolves are becoming beautifully manifest in works of faith and thus you are moving from one degree of glory to the next as you're conformed increasingly to Christ this is an amazingly comprehensive way of thinking about the Christian life so let's sum it up at the bottom here and watch the sequence [07:15:41]

Grace moves him to show his power so grace here power here and that power moves through our faith in that power faith in that power and through that faith God fulfills may he fulfill God fulfills what he fulfills he describes in two ways our resolves for good good and works work of faith so when we trust in this power on the basis of this blood-bought grace God fulfills our resolves and our resolves and turns them into works [08:00:48]

Should we make resolutions should we do this and the answer is a resounding yes indeed we should Gus Paul prays that our resolves will become works of our faith by reliance upon God's power and God's grace so how then should we do it and we can sum it up like this how do you make resolutions you do it by God's grace at the bottom you do it through trust or faith in God's ever arriving power that's future Grace and you do it for God's glory by God's grace through faith in God's power for God's glory [09:55:66]

Yes let's make resolutions for good with all our might by relying other lis and totally on free blood-bought grace for the glory of Christ [11:00:67]

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Resolutions Rooted in Grace: A Christian Perspective

Devotional

Day 1: Grounding Resolutions in Grace

Day 2: Transforming Resolutions into Works of Faith

Day 3: Glorifying Christ Through Our Resolutions

Day 4: Transformation Through Resolutions

Day 5: Encouragement to Make Resolutions

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Resolutions Rooted in Grace: A Christian Perspective

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