Restoration and Moral Integrity in Christ
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the concept of art restoration as a metaphor for our spiritual journey with Jesus. Just as a skilled restorer can bring an old, damaged painting back to life, Jesus restores us when we surrender our lives to Him. This restoration is not merely about outward appearances but involves a deep, transformative process that reflects God's image in us. We introduced a new series called "Refocus," which aims to re-examine the practice of moral integrity. At Grace, we define moral integrity as rejecting the corruption of sin and reflecting Christ to the world as image bearers of God.
We discussed two prevalent but flawed approaches to morality in the modern church: "sin management" and "you do you." Sin management focuses on outward displays of godliness while ignoring internal sins, creating a culture of performance rather than genuine transformation. On the other hand, "you do you" promotes hyper-individualism and a rejection of authority, leading to a subjective morality that often contradicts biblical teachings.
We emphasized that true moral integrity is about more than just following rules; it is about our identity as God's image bearers. Sin distorts this image, turning us inward and away from our original purpose of reflecting God's character. However, through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, we have the opportunity to be restored. Jesus, the perfect image of God, took on our disfigurement and offers us new life through His sacrifice.
As we embark on this series, we will delve deeper into what moral integrity looks like in practice. We will explore where moral integrity begins, how to discern biblical morality, and what to do when we fail. This journey is not about legalism or performance but about surrendering to God's transformative power and living out our true identity as His image bearers.
### Key Takeaways
1. Art Restoration as a Metaphor for Spiritual Renewal: Just as a skilled restorer can bring a damaged painting back to life, Jesus restores us when we surrender to Him. This restoration is not about outward appearances but involves a deep, transformative process that reflects God's image in us. [29:17]
2. The Flaws of Sin Management: Sin management focuses on outward displays of godliness while ignoring internal sins, creating a culture of performance rather than genuine transformation. True moral integrity involves a whole-life transformation that reflects God's character both inside and out. [31:24]
3. The Danger of Hyper-Individualism: The "you do you" mindset promotes hyper-individualism and a rejection of authority, leading to a subjective morality that often contradicts biblical teachings. True freedom and fulfillment come from aligning our lives with God's desires, not our own. [34:18]
4. Sin as a Distortion of Our Identity: Sin is not just about breaking rules; it is a rebellion against our identity as God's image bearers. Sin turns us inward, away from our original purpose of reflecting God's character. However, through Jesus, we can be restored to our true identity. [46:30]
5. The Transformative Power of Jesus: Jesus, the perfect image of God, took on our disfigurement and offers us new life through His sacrifice. By following Him, we can experience a deep, transformative restoration that allows us to reflect God's life and abundance to the world. [53:06]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[28:33] - Art Restoration Gone Wrong
[29:17] - Art Restoration as a Metaphor
[30:06] - Introduction to Refocus Series
[31:24] - The Problem of Sin Management
[32:45] - Personal Experience with Sin Management
[34:18] - The "You Do You" Mindset
[35:49] - The Need for Moral Integrity
[37:21] - Biblical Vision for Morality
[40:14] - What is Sin?
[41:44] - Creation and the Image of God
[43:07] - The Role of the Tselem
[46:30] - Sin as Rebellion Against Identity
[48:10] - The Disfigurement of Sin
[49:48] - Biblical Descriptions of Sin
[51:24] - Jesus as the Perfect Image of God
[53:06] - The Transformative Power of Jesus
[54:48] - The Grand Narrative of the Bible
[56:29] - Upcoming Topics in the Series
[57:47] - Challenge for the "You Do You" Camp
[59:24] - Challenge for the Sin Management Camp
[01:00:52] - Moral Integrity as Surrender
[01:01:34] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:27-28 (NIV)
> "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"
2. Romans 8:12-13 (NIV)
> "Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live."
3. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
> "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Genesis 1:27-28 say about the purpose of humanity as God's creation?
2. According to Romans 8:12-13, what is the result of living according to the flesh versus living by the Spirit?
3. How does Romans 12:2 describe the process of transformation for believers?
4. In the sermon, what are the two flawed approaches to morality mentioned, and what are their main characteristics? ([31:24] and [34:18])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being created in God's image (Genesis 1:27-28) influence our understanding of moral integrity and our purpose in life?
2. What does it mean to "put to death the misdeeds of the body" as described in Romans 8:13, and how does this relate to the idea of true moral integrity discussed in the sermon? ([58:42])
3. How can the transformation described in Romans 12:2 help believers move away from "sin management" and "you do you" mindsets? ([31:24] and [34:18])
4. The sermon describes sin as a distortion of our identity as God's image bearers. How does this understanding of sin change the way we view our actions and behaviors? ([46:30])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have been practicing "sin management" by focusing on outward appearances rather than internal transformation? How can you begin to address these areas honestly? ([31:24])
2. Have you ever adopted a "you do you" mindset, prioritizing your own desires over God's will? What steps can you take to align your life more closely with God's desires? ([34:18])
3. In what ways can you actively reflect God's character in your daily interactions, considering that you are created in His image? ([41:44])
4. The sermon emphasizes the transformative power of Jesus. How can you surrender more fully to this transformative process in your life? ([53:06])
5. Think of a specific instance where you failed to live up to your moral integrity. How can you seek restoration and learn from this experience to better reflect God's image in the future? ([56:29])
6. How can you support others in your small group or community who might be struggling with the concepts of "sin management" or "you do you"? What practical steps can you take to encourage genuine transformation? ([35:49])
7. Identify one aspect of your life where you feel the Holy Spirit is calling you to change. What specific actions will you take this week to respond to that call? ([51:24])
Devotional
Day 1: Art Restoration as Spiritual Renewal
Description: Just as a skilled restorer can bring a damaged painting back to life, Jesus restores us when we surrender to Him. This restoration is not about outward appearances but involves a deep, transformative process that reflects God's image in us. When we allow Jesus to work in our lives, He meticulously removes the layers of sin and brokenness, revealing the beauty of our true identity as God's image bearers. This process is ongoing and requires our willingness to be vulnerable and open to His transformative power. [29:17]
Bible Passage: "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: Think about an area of your life that feels "damaged" or broken. How can you invite Jesus to begin the restoration process in that specific area today?
Day 2: The Flaws of Sin Management
Description: Sin management focuses on outward displays of godliness while ignoring internal sins, creating a culture of performance rather than genuine transformation. True moral integrity involves a whole-life transformation that reflects God's character both inside and out. This approach often leads to a superficial faith where the emphasis is on appearing righteous rather than being righteous. It can create a false sense of security and hinder the deep, transformative work that God desires to do in our hearts. [31:24]
Bible Passage: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." (Matthew 23:25, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on an area where you might be focusing more on outward appearances rather than inner transformation. What steps can you take to address this imbalance?
Day 3: The Danger of Hyper-Individualism
Description: The "you do you" mindset promotes hyper-individualism and a rejection of authority, leading to a subjective morality that often contradicts biblical teachings. True freedom and fulfillment come from aligning our lives with God's desires, not our own. This mindset can lead to a fragmented community and a lack of accountability, as everyone pursues their own version of truth. It is essential to recognize that true moral integrity is found in submitting to God's authority and living according to His Word. [34:18]
Bible Passage: "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area where you have been living according to your own desires rather than God's. How can you realign this area with God's will today?
Day 4: Sin as a Distortion of Our Identity
Description: Sin is not just about breaking rules; it is a rebellion against our identity as God's image bearers. Sin turns us inward, away from our original purpose of reflecting God's character. However, through Jesus, we can be restored to our true identity. This restoration involves recognizing the ways in which sin has distorted our perception of ourselves and others and allowing Jesus to reshape us into His likeness. [46:30]
Bible Passage: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a specific sin that has distorted your sense of identity. How can you seek Jesus' restoration in this area?
Day 5: The Transformative Power of Jesus
Description: Jesus, the perfect image of God, took on our disfigurement and offers us new life through His sacrifice. By following Him, we can experience a deep, transformative restoration that allows us to reflect God's life and abundance to the world. This transformation is not just about personal renewal but also about becoming a conduit of God's love and grace to others. It is through Jesus' sacrifice that we are empowered to live out our true identity as God's image bearers. [53:06]
Bible Passage: "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: Reflect on how Jesus' sacrifice has transformed your life. How can you share this transformative power with someone else today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We were created as God's masterpiece, right? We talk about that all the time. You were, you were God's masterpiece. We all are. That was, we are like, humanity is like the magnum opus of a master painter. All of creation shows what He's, capable of, and humans are the piece de resistance. We are the, the magnum opus." [48:10] (20 seconds)
2. "The good news is this, a disfigured image does not stop being, being the image. For example, imagine, imagine the Mona Lisa, right? Famous painting, okay? Now imagine, first of all, it's not surrounded by 15 feet of, of tempered glass. It's just, let's just say it's there, and someone takes a bucket of red paint and splashes it all over the Mona Lisa. Well, it doesn't stop being the Mona Lisa. It is just a disfigured Mona Lisa that is in need of restoration." [51:24] (31 seconds)
3. "This is what Jesus Christ accomplished for us. First of all, He lived, He, He walked among us as a perfect image of God on the earth. He, He did what humans were always created to do. He reflected God's heart to creation without sin. Now, I want to just, I want to just, I want to just, clear about something. When I talk about Jesus being without sin, what I don't mean is that Jesus was this, like, like, straight-laced, fuddy-duddy rule follower who was no fun at parties. That's not what I mean." [53:06] (32 seconds)
4. "When we say yes to that invitation, when we follow Jesus into the transformation that He made possible, the image of God in each of us begins to shine once more. then, like a master art restorer, the Holy Spirit carefully removes the disfigurement of our sin and restores the vibrancy of our sin. And then, like a master art restorer, the Holy Spirit carefully removes the vibrancy of our sin and restores the vibrancy of our sin." [54:48] (24 seconds)
5. "Do you want to live? Do you want to be alive, to feel alive? Well, then this stuff matters. This stuff matters. You do you is a very attractive philosophy, but it is a hollow one. It's a hollow one. It's a hollow one. The image of God has been disfigured in you because of sin. Don't make it worse. Don't make it worse by trying to restore it on your own, because we know what that looks like, right? We know it's not going to go, it's not going to end well." [58:42] (33 seconds)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Moral integrity is all about our journey to be free of sinful thoughts and sinful behaviors, our journey to break free from harmful addictions, to be holy, in other words. This journey is a defining characteristic of what it means, follow Jesus. Having integrity with our morals should matter a lot to Christ followers. There's just one problem. These days, I don't really think it does. I don't really think it matters all that much, at least not to a lot of Christians." [30:06] (39 seconds)
2. "Sin management involves the idea that basically what matters is your outward displays of godliness. And frankly, that's all that matters. Like, we're going to pay a lot of attention to the things that we can see. Like, are you swearing or sleeping around? Or are you doing drugs? Like, we're going to pay attention to that. But then we are going to kind of completely ignore all the stuff that we can't see. Like, are you harboring hate or lust in your heart? Are you greedy?" [31:24] (31 seconds)
3. "We are not statues, are we? We are not static images. We're people. We are living beings, which means that we have our own minds and our own desires, our own free will, which means that as images, we have the ability to choose whether or not to faithfully represent the thing that we're imaging. We actually have a choice. Do we want to be faithful images or do we not?" [45:14] (31 seconds)
4. "Sin is the human turned in or bent in on itself. Sin is the human bent in on itself. In other words, the very creatures that were designed to be conduits, spreading God's abundant life outwards, have become completely self-obsessed. We're curved in on, on ourselves. Sin has, has warped our original purpose. Or to put it another way, the image of God in humans has been disfigured by our sin." [46:30] (33 seconds)
5. "Following Jesus is not about appearing righteous. No, it is a whole life transformation. Again, I love what Paul says, like literally on the very next page, Paul says, don't copy the behavior and the customs of this world, which includes performance, performative religion, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then, you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." [01:00:08] (33 seconds)
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