Transformative Power of the Gospel in the Reformation

 

Summary

In this session, we delve into the profound transformation that the gospel brings to the human heart, as illustrated through the experiences of Martin Luther and John Calvin. Both Reformers, despite their different backgrounds and personalities, discovered the liberating truth of justification by faith alone. This truth not only justified them but also transformed their hearts, leading them to love God deeply. The Reformation was not merely a theological shift but a profound reformation of the heart, where believers moved from a superficial understanding of grace and sin to a deeper, more transformative experience of God's love and righteousness.

The Roman Catholic Church taught that salvation was by grace, but the Reformers challenged the understanding of how grace was applied. They argued that grace was not something to be earned or cooperated with through sacraments but was a free gift received through faith in Christ. This understanding brought assurance of salvation, a concept that was revolutionary and liberating, as it freed believers from the fear of not being justified before God.

The gospel, as revealed in Ephesians, shows us the riches of grace in Christ and the depth of our sinfulness. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians highlights the multifaceted nature of sin and the comprehensive nature of Christ’s redemptive work. In Christ, we find forgiveness, adoption, and an inheritance, reversing the disinheritance and disintegration caused by sin. This gospel not only justifies but also sanctifies, transforming believers into new creations who walk in good works prepared by God.

The Reformers understood that a superficial view of sin leads to a superficial view of grace. True transformation comes when we grasp the depth of our depravity and the wonder of Christ’s grace. This understanding leads to a life of praise and glory to God, fulfilling our created purpose. The gospel restores us to our original destiny, bringing us back to the glory of God from which we have fallen.

Key Takeaways:

- The Reformation was a profound transformation of the heart, where believers moved from a superficial understanding of grace and sin to a deeper, more transformative experience of God's love and righteousness. This transformation is rooted in the understanding that justification by faith alone brings both assurance and liberation. [02:53]

- The Roman Catholic Church's teaching on grace involved cooperation through sacraments, but the Reformers emphasized that grace is a free gift received through faith in Christ. This understanding brought assurance of salvation, freeing believers from the fear of not being justified before God. [09:01]

- Ephesians reveals the riches of grace in Christ and the depth of our sinfulness. In Christ, we find forgiveness, adoption, and an inheritance, reversing the disinheritance and disintegration caused by sin. This gospel not only justifies but also sanctifies, transforming believers into new creations. [22:39]

- A superficial view of sin leads to a superficial view of grace. True transformation comes when we grasp the depth of our depravity and the wonder of Christ’s grace. This understanding leads to a life of praise and glory to God, fulfilling our created purpose. [45:11]

- The gospel restores us to our original destiny, bringing us back to the glory of God from which we have fallen. This restoration is not just about personal salvation but about the reintegration of all creation under Christ's headship, fulfilling God's ultimate plan. [29:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:27] - Introduction to Ephesians
- [00:57] - Context of the Reformation
- [02:04] - Martin Luther's Breakthrough
- [02:53] - Reformation of the Heart
- [04:16] - John Calvin's Experience
- [05:30] - Transformation Through the Gospel
- [06:10] - Roman Catholic Teaching on Grace
- [09:01] - Assurance as a Protestant Heresy
- [10:17] - The Gospel That Delivers
- [11:29] - Understanding Sin and Grace
- [12:12] - The Church's View of Sin
- [15:16] - Superficial Views of Sin and Grace
- [17:10] - Justification in Christ
- [19:52] - The Transformative Power of the Gospel
- [22:39] - Riches of Grace in Ephesians
- [29:52] - Cosmic Reconciliation in Christ
- [36:19] - The Mystery of God's Will
- [45:11] - The Wonderful Exchange
- [49:29] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:1-14
- Romans 1:16-17
- Romans 5:1-11

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Ephesians 1:1-14 reveal about the blessings believers have in Christ? How does this passage describe the transformation that occurs through the gospel? [22:39]

2. In Romans 1:16-17, how does Paul describe the power of the gospel and its role in justification? How did this understanding impact Martin Luther's view of God? [02:53]

3. According to Romans 5:1-11, what are the results of being justified by faith? How does this passage illustrate the transformation of the heart? [03:33]

4. How did the Reformers' understanding of grace differ from the Roman Catholic Church's teaching, and what impact did this have on believers' assurance of salvation? [09:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of justification by faith alone challenge the idea that salvation can be earned through works or sacraments? What implications does this have for a believer's relationship with God? [06:10]

2. In what ways does understanding the depth of human sinfulness enhance the appreciation of Christ's grace and the gospel's transformative power? [15:16]

3. How does the idea of being adopted into God's family and receiving an inheritance in Christ reshape a believer's identity and purpose? [26:10]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between justification and sanctification in the life of a believer? How are these concepts interconnected? [05:30]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of grace. Do you view it as something to be earned or as a free gift? How does this perspective affect your daily walk with God? [06:10]

2. Consider the depth of your own sinfulness. How does acknowledging this reality lead you to a greater appreciation of Christ's grace? How can this understanding transform your worship and praise? [15:16]

3. In what ways can you live out your identity as an adopted child of God this week? How does this identity influence your interactions with others and your approach to challenges? [26:10]

4. How can you ensure that your understanding of justification by faith leads to a life of good works and transformation, rather than complacency? What specific actions can you take to align your life with this truth? [46:44]

5. Think about a time when you struggled with assurance of salvation. How does the gospel's promise of assurance through faith in Christ bring you comfort and freedom? How can you share this assurance with others? [09:01]

6. Identify an area in your life where you need to experience the transformative power of the gospel. What steps can you take to invite God's work in that area? [05:30]

7. How can you actively participate in God's plan to reintegrate all creation under Christ's headship? What role can you play in bringing about reconciliation and restoration in your community? [29:52]

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation of the Heart through Justification by Faith
The Reformation was a profound transformation of the heart, where believers moved from a superficial understanding of grace and sin to a deeper, more transformative experience of God's love and righteousness. This transformation is rooted in the understanding that justification by faith alone brings both assurance and liberation. The experiences of Martin Luther and John Calvin illustrate this profound change. Despite their different backgrounds, both Reformers discovered the liberating truth of justification by faith alone, which not only justified them but also transformed their hearts, leading them to love God deeply. This shift was not merely theological but a reformation of the heart, where believers experienced a deeper understanding of God's love and righteousness. [02:53]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you have been trying to earn God's favor. How can you embrace the truth of justification by faith alone in this area today?


Day 2: Grace as a Free Gift Received through Faith
The Roman Catholic Church's teaching on grace involved cooperation through sacraments, but the Reformers emphasized that grace is a free gift received through faith in Christ. This understanding brought assurance of salvation, freeing believers from the fear of not being justified before God. The Reformers challenged the notion that grace was something to be earned or cooperated with through sacraments. Instead, they proclaimed that grace is a free gift, received through faith in Christ, which brought a revolutionary assurance of salvation. This assurance liberated believers from the fear of not being justified before God, allowing them to live in the freedom and joy of God's grace. [09:01]

Romans 4:4-5 (ESV): "Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt you had to earn God's grace. How can you remind yourself today that grace is a free gift through faith?


Day 3: The Riches of Grace in Christ
Ephesians reveals the riches of grace in Christ and the depth of our sinfulness. In Christ, we find forgiveness, adoption, and an inheritance, reversing the disinheritance and disintegration caused by sin. This gospel not only justifies but also sanctifies, transforming believers into new creations. Paul's letter to the Ephesians highlights the multifaceted nature of sin and the comprehensive nature of Christ’s redemptive work. In Christ, believers find forgiveness, adoption, and an inheritance, reversing the effects of sin. This gospel not only justifies but also sanctifies, transforming believers into new creations who walk in good works prepared by God. [22:39]

Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV): "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you need to experience the riches of God's grace. How can you invite Christ's transformative work into this area today?


Day 4: Grasping the Depth of Sin and Grace
A superficial view of sin leads to a superficial view of grace. True transformation comes when we grasp the depth of our depravity and the wonder of Christ’s grace. This understanding leads to a life of praise and glory to God, fulfilling our created purpose. The Reformers understood that a superficial view of sin leads to a superficial view of grace. True transformation occurs when believers grasp the depth of their depravity and the wonder of Christ’s grace. This understanding leads to a life of praise and glory to God, fulfilling the purpose for which they were created. [45:11]

Isaiah 6:5-7 (ESV): "And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you underestimated the seriousness of sin. How can you deepen your understanding of both sin and grace today?


Day 5: Restoration to Our Original Destiny
The gospel restores us to our original destiny, bringing us back to the glory of God from which we have fallen. This restoration is not just about personal salvation but about the reintegration of all creation under Christ's headship, fulfilling God's ultimate plan. The gospel restores believers to their original destiny, bringing them back to the glory of God from which they have fallen. This restoration is not solely about personal salvation but encompasses the reintegration of all creation under Christ's headship, fulfilling God's ultimate plan. The cosmic reconciliation in Christ is a testament to the comprehensive nature of the gospel's transformative power. [29:52]

Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: How can you participate in God's plan of cosmic reconciliation today? Consider one practical step you can take to reflect Christ's headship in your community or environment.

Quotes


And our topic for this session is "The Reformation of the Heart." And it would be a platitude, although a true platitude to say that the heart of the Reformation did turn out to be a reformation of the heart. Luther's own experience, hating the righteousness of God in Romans 1:16 and 17, and then having this great breakthrough created in his heart by the understanding of the gospel that the righteousness of God he hated was now the righteousness of God that justified him as a sinner and therefore led him to love God. [00:02:39]

And the answer to that question was that you are given grace at baptism, but you lapsed from that grace with which you were called to cooperate until your life was justifiable. And since you lapsed from that grace, through the Church there are instruments placed into your life, into your ears, before your eyes, occasionally into your mouth, that will restore you to that grace and enable you to cooperate with that grace. [00:06:19]

And what happens is that consciences are released, hearts are filled with joy, and we are able to say that we know nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We are able to rejoice in our justification. We are able to rejoice in the assurance of our salvation. We are able to rejoice in God, the heart is set free. Glory begins to fill our souls. Lives are transformed. The gospel begins to run to the ends of the earth through the testimony of ordinary Christians. [00:09:50]

And in a sense, in terms of the transformation of the heart this, this, in a sense, could be brought down to two basic principles that you need to understand the depravity of the heart, and you need to understand the wonder of grace in Jesus Christ. You need to grasp your sinfulness on the one hand, and you need to grasp the wonder of the love and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. [00:11:12]

And not just that we are, as it were, disinherited but that we become part of a cosmic disintegration. So that the whole creation is groaning even until now, longing for the day when our being disinherited will be finally reversed, and we will experience the glory of the liberty of the children of God in the resurrection of our bodies and in the final resurrection and reconstitution of all things. [00:28:43]

And the very cosmic family of God has been fractured by our sinfulness. But do you notice what he says here in Ephesians chapter 1, that God has shown us that according to His purpose, verse 9, which He set forth in Christ, He has a plan for the fullness of time to unite, to reintegrate all things in Christ, things in heaven and on earth. [00:29:42]

And the marvel of this is there is an integration in the mind and then in the affections and therefore, grabbing the heart when we understand this counterpoint of sin and grace. It is not possible to find God's grace in Jesus Christ, that is as we have been reminded Jesus Christ Himself. It's not possible to see Him as a wonderful Savior, unless you see the depravity from which He has saved you. [00:44:40]

Superficial views of sin inevitably are connected to superficial views of grace, and superficial views of grace in Jesus Christ are inevitably connected to superficial views of sin. And the two are inevitably connected to a superficial view of the Christian life. But Paul is saying when you realize all the that is yours in Christ, and when correspondingly God, as it were, opens up to you the depravity of your heart and the depravity of your lifestyle, then the glory of the gospel, not only in this aspect of what Christ has done for us, but what Christ does in us, becomes truly a wonderful exchange. [00:45:11]

And the dead are made to live, and those who walked as prisoners walk as Christ's free men. You would almost think that Paul was able to see that the Reformation would take place, because you notice where he says in that context. It's as though he says, "I know what you're thinking." If you preach this gospel of free grace, then the response is going to be "free grace, free lifestyle." [00:46:05]

And this, as we have been hearing, is what the Reformers discovered, what by God's grace we too have discovered, that fills our hearts with praise and joy. And you'll notice what is the most obvious thing in Ephesians chapter 1, that Paul says all of this brings us back to our created destiny. Remember, I put, it said in Romans 1, he says the problem is we have exchanged the glory of God for our sinfulness and idolatry. [00:47:26]

And when he describes sin in Romans chapter 3 verse 23, which you all memorized within two weeks of your conversion, "all have sinned." And as if I were finishing the sentence, I would say, "All have sinned and have broken the law of God," he does not actually say that. It's true, but it's not the truth that he teaches in that verse. He says the real tragedy is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. [00:48:22]

And you'll notice the refrain that runs through Ephesians chapter 1. All this is to the praise of the glory of His grace. All this is to the praise of the glory of His grace. All this is to the praise of His glory. It's sola Scriptura, as we've been hearing. It's sola gratia, as we've been hearing. It's sola fide, as we've been hearing. It's sola Christus, as we've been hearing, and it's soli Deo gloria as well. What a gospel! What a gospel! And what a privilege to be a Christian. [00:48:56]

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Transcript
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