Transformative Power of Learning Christ and Holiness

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through Christ's Truth

Christianity is not merely an emotional experience but a profound transformation rooted in the truth of Jesus. This transformation calls believers to live a life that reflects the character of Christ, contrasting with the sinful living of the past. The essence of this transformation is holiness, which stands in stark contrast to the pagan and sinful living that characterized the Ephesians' past. The truth in Jesus is not just a set of doctrines but a call to a life of holiness, reflecting the character of Christ. [01:18]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: What specific area of your life still reflects your old self, and how can you actively seek transformation in that area today?

Day 2: The Unity of Justification and Sanctification

Justification and sanctification are inseparable in the Christian life. To claim salvation without pursuing holiness is a misunderstanding of the gospel, which inherently leads to a life of holiness and happiness. The gospel is not just about being saved from sin but also about being transformed into the likeness of Christ. This transformation is a journey of becoming holy as God is holy, and it is a process that involves both justification and sanctification. [03:06]

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 (ESV): "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively pursue sanctification in your daily life, and how does this pursuit reflect your understanding of salvation?

Day 3: The Exclusivity of the Gospel in Christ

The truth of the gospel is exclusive and found solely in Jesus, who embodies holiness. Any teaching that denies the incarnation or separates sin from the body leads to antinomianism and is a false understanding of Christ. True understanding of Christ involves hearing His message and being taught in Him, which means being in union with Him. This teaching is life-giving and transformative, leading to holiness. [06:24]

Colossians 2:8-10 (ESV): "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

Reflection: Are there any teachings or beliefs you hold that might be contrary to the exclusivity of the gospel in Christ? How can you align your beliefs more closely with the truth found in Jesus?

Day 4: Union with Christ Leads to Holiness

True understanding of Christ involves hearing His message and being taught in Him, which means being in union with Him. This teaching is not detached but is a life-giving, transformative experience that leads to holiness. The call to holiness is not optional but is the inevitable result of truly learning Christ. The life of Christ, His teachings, and His sacrifice all direct believers towards a life of holiness. [38:37]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Reflection: How can you deepen your union with Christ today, and what practical steps can you take to ensure that your life reflects His holiness?

Day 5: The Inevitable Call to Holiness

The call to holiness is the inevitable result of truly learning Christ. The life, teachings, and sacrifice of Christ all direct believers towards a life of holiness, making the old life of sin unthinkable and impossible. This transformation is not just about avoiding sin but about actively pursuing a life that reflects the holiness of Christ. It is a call to live in a way that is pleasing to God and that demonstrates the transformative power of the gospel. [46:15]

1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV): "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure that your life is a reflection of the holiness to which you are called in Christ?

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians 4:20-21, Paul addresses the Ephesians, emphasizing the transformative power of learning Christ. This passage challenges believers to understand that Christianity is not merely an emotional experience but a profound transformation rooted in the truth of Jesus. The essence of this transformation is holiness, which stands in stark contrast to the pagan and sinful living that characterized the Ephesians' past. The truth in Jesus is not just a set of doctrines but a call to a life of holiness, reflecting the character of Christ.

The sermon underscores the inseparability of justification and sanctification. To claim salvation without a pursuit of holiness is a misunderstanding of the gospel. The gospel inherently leads to a life of holiness and happiness, and any division of these aspects is a misinterpretation of Scripture. The historical person of Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection, all point to the necessity of holiness. The gospel is exclusive, and its truth is found solely in Jesus, who is the embodiment of holiness.

The sermon also warns against false teachings that deny the incarnation or separate sin from the body. Such teachings lead to antinomianism, a belief that one can live in sin while claiming salvation. True understanding of Christ involves hearing His message and being taught in Him, which means being in union with Him. This teaching is not detached but is a life-giving, transformative experience that leads to holiness.

The call to holiness is not optional but is the inevitable result of truly learning Christ. The life of Christ, His teachings, and His sacrifice all direct believers towards a life of holiness. The sermon concludes with a challenge to examine whether one's life reflects the truth of Christ, as true learning of Christ makes the old life of sin unthinkable and impossible.

Key Takeaways

1. giving and transformative, leading to holiness. [38:37]
5. The call to holiness is the inevitable result of truly learning Christ. The life, teachings, and sacrifice of Christ all direct believers towards a life of holiness, making the old life of sin unthinkable and impossible.

** [38:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Ephesians 4:20-21
[01:00] - The Importance of Learning Christ
[02:10] - Holiness as a Christian Imperative
[03:21] - The Inseparability of Justification and Sanctification
[04:30] - The Historical Jesus and the Truth in Him
[06:24] - The Exclusivity of the Gospel
[07:22] - The Danger of False Teachings
[09:21] - The Heresy of Antinomianism
[12:07] - The Truth in Jesus and Holiness
[13:20] - The Revelation of God in Christ
[16:44] - The Holiness of God and Christ
[19:50] - The Teachings of Jesus on Holiness
[23:14] - The Significance of Christ's Death
[25:23] - The Resurrection and the Holy Spirit
[28:47] - Hearing and Being Taught in Christ
[43:06] - The Transformative Power of Learning Christ

Sermon Clips

Christianity is not just a vague emotional experience thank God it does include our emotions but if we've only got an emotional experience we hadn't got Christianity that we know that we are here and are concerned about these things and are interested in them and look forward to coming together to worship thee and to sing thy praise and to consider thy word. [00:01:24]

There is nothing which is more ridiculous apart from being wrong and their own yes and utterly unscriptural as to say that you can be justified without being sanctified that you can receive one blessing without the other that you just believe in Christ and are saved and then later you go to certain meetings in order that you may learn about holiness and sanctification. [00:03:04]

The truth that we also saw is in him alone the gospel is exclusive and any men who objects to the exclusive character of the gospel is again denying it there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved he said him survive and the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the father but by me. [00:06:20]

These antichrists he talks about so you notice that John in that first epistle keeps on rarely elaborating on this thing the truth as it is in Jesus or as the truth is in Jesus now the whole of that First Epistle of John is rarely nothing but an exposition of this one phrase it is the truth that is in Jesus it's the opposite of everything false. [00:07:47]

You can't say now I've become a Christian I've believed in Jesus Christ and still go on living that old life which you were living before they were doing that and Paul says this is abominable you have not so none Christ haven't you realized that Jesus is truth and always truth and always this truth about holiness. [00:12:21]

What is this truth that is in Jesus think of it as a revelation of God no man has seen God at any time the only begotten which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him and he said you remember he was seen me hath seen the father but what did he teach about the father he has come to declare him to lead him forth to expound him. [00:13:45]

You can't preach Jesus Christ without preaching holiness it's inconceivable and if you attempt to do it you're denying him you can't separate the message from the person in any sense are you some separate people are not interested in Jesus Christ but the one peace or happiness or comfort or something well if they're going to get it in him they've got to face him. [00:19:25]

He doesn't stop there he says go and sin no more he doesn't stop at saying thy sins are forgiven go and sin no more and to another he said now then I've done this for you ago he says and beware of sin no more lest the worst thing happened unto thee and so it is ever always he didn't just come to give people a bit of happiness. [00:22:02]

The truth of is in Jesus all along is a condemnation of the life of sin it shows the enormity of sin that is why is death was absolutely essential there is nothing in a sense that so preaches holiness as the cross on Calvary's Hill it is because God is holy because God is just and righteous that that had to happen. [00:24:35]

The whole object every part and section of salvation is to deliver us from the life of sin from sin and from Satan and evil and to deliver us to God and to separate us that's the meaning to separate us that take us from there and put us here we are God's people and no longer people belonging to the world that's the whole truth. [00:26:19]

Learning Christ knowing the truth that is in Jesus depends upon two things and they're very simple and they're very practical but they're very profound the first is this to hear him if so be that you will heard him what does he mean by that well he obviously doesn't mean to say if you Ephesians well he did hear the Lord Jesus Christ preaching. [00:28:35]

To hear Christ and to be taught in him means that I have learned that God is so loved me that at a given point in time he sent His only begotten Son into this world out of eternity into the Virgin's womb he humbled himself and was born as a helpless babe and put in that manger then he lived and he taught the event of the perfect obedience to his father. [00:43:14]

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