The greatest miracle God offers is not merely the forgiveness of sins after we fall, but the power to prevent us from falling into sin in the first place. This is the essence of the New Covenant, where Jesus saves us from sin itself, not just its consequences. Many Christians focus on being saved from hell, but the true focus should be on being saved from sin, which is the root cause of separation from God. This salvation is about living a life where sin does not have dominion over us, as we are empowered by grace to overcome it. [02:07]
Hebrews 7:25 (ESV): "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
Reflection: What is one sin you struggle with that you can ask God to help you overcome today, trusting in His power to keep you from falling?
Day 2: Dethroning Self for True Transformation
True Christianity involves a transformation where self is dethroned, and Christ becomes the center of our lives. This transformation begins with a new birth and continues as we grow in grace, learning to live in God's presence daily. It is a journey of moving beyond the old patterns of sin and embracing the new life that Jesus offers, where we are not just forgiven but truly set free. This requires a conscious decision to make Christ the center of our lives, allowing His love and grace to guide our actions and decisions. [04:01]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to dethrone self and allow Christ to take the center stage? How can you start doing that today?
Day 3: Grace to Overcome Sin
The Old Covenant was marked by repeated failures and the need for forgiveness, but the New Covenant offers us the grace to overcome sin. Romans 6:14 states that sin shall not have dominion over us because we are under grace. This grace is not just a concept but a living reality that empowers us to live victoriously over sin. It is through this grace that we can experience true freedom and transformation, moving beyond the cycle of sin and forgiveness to a life of victory and holiness. [13:28]
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."
Reflection: How can you rely more on God's grace to overcome a specific sin in your life? What practical steps can you take to live in this grace daily?
Day 4: Honesty and Walking in the Light
Honesty and walking in the light are crucial for overcoming sin. Being honest about our sins and not making excuses is essential for true transformation. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Grace, empowers us to live like Jesus and reminds us of His example during times of temptation. By walking in the light, we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, bringing conviction and empowerment to overcome sin. This requires a commitment to transparency and accountability in our spiritual journey. [18:03]
Ephesians 5:8-9 (ESV): "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)."
Reflection: In what ways can you be more honest about your struggles with sin? Who can you trust to hold you accountable in your journey of walking in the light?
Day 5: Empowered by the Spirit of Grace
The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Grace, empowers us to live like Jesus and reminds us of His example during times of temptation. This empowerment is essential for overcoming sin and living a life that reflects Christ's love and holiness. By relying on the Holy Spirit, we can experience the transformation that comes from living in God's presence and being guided by His truth. This involves a daily surrender to the Spirit's leading and a commitment to follow His guidance in every aspect of our lives. [19:21]
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (ESV): "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you in a specific area of your life today? What steps can you take to be more sensitive to His leading and guidance?
Sermon Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that the greatest miracle God can perform for us is not physical healing or material blessings, but the power to keep us from sinning. This is a promise that stands at the heart of the New Covenant, as revealed in Matthew 1:21, where Jesus is named because He will save His people from their sins. This salvation is not merely about forgiveness after we fall, but about being saved from falling into sin in the first place. Many Christians today focus on being saved from hell, but the true focus should be on being saved from sin, which is the root cause of separation from God.
The Old Covenant, as seen in the lives of figures like David and Elijah, was marked by repeated failures and the need for forgiveness. However, the New Covenant offers us the grace to overcome sin, as stated in Romans 6:14, where sin shall not have dominion over us because we are under grace. This grace is not just a concept but a living reality that empowers us to live victoriously over sin.
We also examined the importance of honesty and walking in the light, as described in 1 John 1:7. Being honest about our sins and not making excuses is crucial for overcoming them. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Grace, is essential in this journey, as He empowers us to live like Jesus and reminds us of His example during times of temptation.
True Christianity involves a transformation where self is dethroned, and Christ becomes the center of our lives. This begins with a new birth and continues as we grow in grace, learning to live in God's presence daily. The call is to move beyond the old patterns of sin and embrace the new life that Jesus offers, where we are not just forgiven but truly set free.
Key Takeaways
1. The greatest miracle is being saved from sin, not just forgiven after falling. This is the essence of the New Covenant, where Jesus saves us from sin, not just its consequences. [02:07]
2. True Christianity involves dethroning self and making Christ the center of our lives. This transformation begins with a new birth and continues as we grow in grace. [04:01]
3. The Old Covenant was marked by repeated failures and the need for forgiveness, but the New Covenant offers grace to overcome sin, as seen in Romans 6:14.[13:28]
4. Honesty and walking in the light are crucial for overcoming sin. We must be honest about our sins and not make excuses, allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us. [18:03]
5. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Grace, empowers us to live like Jesus and reminds us of His example during times of temptation, enabling us to overcome sin. [19:21] ** [19:21]
According to Matthew 1:21, why is Jesus named as such, and what is the significance of this name in the context of the New Covenant? [01:48]
How does Romans 6:14 describe the relationship between grace and sin, and what does this imply about the power of sin over a believer? [13:28]
In 1 John 1:7, what does it mean to "walk in the light," and how is this related to fellowship with God and others? [17:32]
What examples from the Old Testament were given in the sermon to illustrate the limitations of the Old Covenant in overcoming sin? [13:51]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the promise in Matthew 1:21 challenge the common perception of salvation as merely being saved from hell? What does it mean to be saved from sin itself? [02:40]
In what ways does Romans 6:14 suggest that grace is more than just a concept, but a living reality that empowers believers? How does this differ from the Old Covenant? [14:43]
What role does honesty play in overcoming sin according to 1 John 1:7, and why is it crucial for a believer's spiritual growth? [18:03]
How does the sermon describe the transformation involved in true Christianity, and what does it mean to dethrone self and make Christ the center of one's life? [04:01]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on your understanding of salvation. Have you primarily viewed it as being saved from hell, or from sin itself? How might this perspective change your daily walk with Christ? [02:54]
Romans 6:14 speaks of grace empowering us to overcome sin. Can you identify an area in your life where you need to experience this grace? What steps can you take to seek it? [14:43]
The sermon emphasizes honesty in dealing with sin. Is there a sin in your life that you have been making excuses for? How can you bring it into the light and seek accountability? [18:18]
True Christianity involves dethroning self. What are some practical ways you can make Christ the center of your life this week? Consider specific actions or changes in mindset. [04:01]
The Holy Spirit is described as the Spirit of Grace. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in moments of temptation? Is there a specific temptation you need help with? [19:21]
The sermon mentioned the importance of living examples of Christ. Who in your life serves as a spiritual role model, and how can you learn from their example to overcome sin? [16:06]
Reflect on the concept of walking in the light. How can you cultivate a lifestyle of transparency and honesty in your relationships with God and others? [17:50]
Sermon Clips
What is the greatest miracle that God can do for us? It is to keep us from committing sin. That is the most difficult thing for man to do. So all these people who go around proclaiming miracles, and which take our people are taken up with, we are not interested in the greatest Miracle of all. [00:00:14]
There is no promise in the Bible that God will heal us from every sickness, and there's no human being who's ever experienced healing from every sickness. We should not fool people about that, but there is a promise that we can be saved from sin. [00:00:44]
What is the first promise in the New Testament, the very first one? Matthew 1:21: you will call his name Jesus. Why is he called Jesus? Because he will save his people from their sins. Now there's a lot of difference between evil forgive their sins and he will save them from their sins. [00:01:48]
Forgiveness is after you've Fallen, saving is before you have fallen. It's not after a person falls that he say it, then he's forgiven, but he is save his people from their sins means he will save them from falling. But that has been misunderstood. [00:02:14]
The fundamental problem with man is that self is in the center of his life. He always thinks so what is beneficial for me, what is beneficial for me. I don't want to go to hell, I want to go to heaven, and the Lord is trying to remove self from the center of your life and mine. [00:03:28]
You're not really a Christian, I'll tell you that, if you don't have a desire to get rid of self from the Throne of your life and make Christ the center. That is true Christianity. There's a beginning, it's called a new birth, where Christ comes in, but then there's a growth from there. [00:03:56]
In the old Covenant, there was absolutely no way for man to overcome. He was defeated, defeated, defeated. But notice the basis of that. God had told him in Genesis and chapter 2 and verse 17 if you eat from that forbidden tree you will surely die. [00:04:48]
In the New Covenant, Romans 6 and verse 14. Romans 6:14 says sin shall not rule over you. In the old Covenant, sin ruled over everybody. David, a man after God's Own Heart, committed adultery. Elijah, right prophet, got depressed and says Lord I'm fed up with my life take it away. [00:13:23]
Sin shall not rule over you because you are under grace. He'll give you the answer, sin does not rule over a person. Okay, from the same verse you ask this 10-year-old, from this verse my son tell me what is the mark of a person who is under law Covenant, sin rules over him. [00:14:36]
The great need in the New Testament is for honesty. 1 John chapter one, verse 7. If we walk in the light, we have fellowship with God. As God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and walking in the light means just being honest first of all. [00:17:42]
Be honest, don't try to find some excuse for your sin, you'll never overcome it. I tell you this, every sin for which you find some excuse because it was this I did it because of that I did it I guarantee you'll never overcome it because you're not coming into the light. [00:18:21]
The Holy Spirit is called the spirit of Grace. That's a wonderful blessing of the New Covenant. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, Grace comes upon us, it's called the spirit of Grace, it's over us. That's the only way you can ever overcome sin. [00:19:21]