Transformative Spiritual Formation: Beyond Justification to Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Beyond Conformity

Spiritual formation is a profound transformation of the inner self, aligning one's heart and mind with the character of Christ. This transformation is not about conforming to religious norms or external behaviors but involves a deep, inner change facilitated by the Holy Spirit. It is an essential aspect of salvation, where believers actively participate in becoming more like Christ. This process is not optional but integral to living a life that reflects Jesus' teachings and love. [06:34]

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: In what areas of your life are you still conforming to external expectations rather than seeking inner transformation? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in these areas today?

Day 2: Regeneration as New Life

Salvation is not merely about the forgiveness of sins but involves a regeneration—a new life that begins at the moment of salvation. This new life is marked by the indwelling presence of Christ, which naturally leads to spiritual formation and discipleship. It is a dynamic process where believers experience a profound change in their identity and purpose, moving beyond a narrow view of salvation to embrace a life of growth and transformation in Christ. [22:50]

Titus 3:5-6 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: How does understanding salvation as regeneration change your perspective on your spiritual journey? What steps can you take to embrace this new life more fully today?

Day 3: Grace as Empowerment

Grace is not a passive, unmerited favor but an active force that empowers believers to do what they cannot do on their own. It is intertwined with discipline, enabling growth in Christlikeness through spiritual disciplines. This understanding of grace challenges believers to engage actively with God's transformative power, allowing them to overcome personal limitations and live a life that reflects Jesus' teachings and love. [50:16]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel powerless? How can you rely on God's grace to empower you in these areas today?

Day 4: Discipleship as a Natural Progression

Discipleship is a natural progression of having confidence in Jesus as Lord. It involves staying close to Jesus, learning from Him, and living life in the kingdom of God as He would. This journey of discipleship is not about obligation but about a loving relationship with Christ, where believers naturally obey His commandments out of devotion and love. [46:19]

Matthew 11:29 (ESV): "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus today to make discipleship a natural part of your life? What practical steps can you take to learn from Him and live as He would?

Day 5: Reforming Our Understanding of Salvation

There is a need to reform our understanding of salvation to include regeneration and discipleship as essential components. Moving beyond a justification-only view fosters genuine transformation and a vibrant Christian life. This reformation involves embracing a holistic view of salvation that includes growth, transformation, and a deep, abiding relationship with Christ. [11:12]

Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV): "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."

Reflection: How does your current understanding of salvation align with the idea of regeneration and discipleship? What changes can you make in your spiritual practices to embrace this holistic view of salvation?

Sermon Summary

In this message, I explored the profound and often misunderstood concept of spiritual formation within the Christian faith. The central theme revolves around the idea that spiritual formation is not merely about behavior modification or adherence to religious traditions, but rather a deep, transformative process that aligns one's inner self with the character of Jesus Christ. This transformation is not an optional aspect of Christianity but is integral to the very essence of salvation.

I began by addressing the common misconception that being saved is solely about having one's sins forgiven and securing a place in heaven. This narrow view, often prevalent in Western Christianity, overlooks the transformative power of regeneration—a new life from above that begins at the moment of salvation. This new life is characterized by the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ, which naturally leads to spiritual formation and discipleship.

Spiritual formation, as I explained, is not about conforming to outward religious forms or cultural expressions of Christianity. Instead, it is about the reshaping of the inner self, the heart, and the mind to reflect the character of Christ. This process is facilitated by the Holy Spirit and involves an active, participatory relationship with God. It is about becoming the kind of person who naturally and routinely obeys Christ's commandments out of love and devotion, rather than obligation.

I also highlighted the importance of understanding grace not as a passive, unmerited favor but as an active force in our lives that empowers us to do what we cannot do on our own. Grace is intertwined with discipline, and through spiritual disciplines, we engage with God's transformative power, allowing us to grow in Christlikeness.

Finally, I emphasized the need for a reformation in how we understand and teach salvation and spiritual formation within the church. This involves moving beyond a justification-only view of salvation to one that includes regeneration and discipleship as natural and essential components. By doing so, we can foster a vibrant Christian life that is marked by genuine transformation and a deep, abiding relationship with Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. only view to foster genuine transformation and a vibrant Christian life. [11:12]
** [11:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Introduction and Context
[01:17] - Spiritual Formation and Theology
[02:39] - Barriers to Transformation
[03:24] - Transformation in the New Testament
[05:01] - Clarifying Spiritual Formation
[06:34] - Inner Dimension of Spiritual Formation
[08:04] - The Greatest Commandment
[09:06] - Love and Obedience
[11:12] - Salvation and Transformation
[13:36] - Justification and Salvation
[17:00] - Understanding Grace
[22:50] - Regeneration and New Life
[29:10] - Life and Spiritual Formation
[46:19] - Discipleship and Obedience
[50:16] - Grace and Discipline

Sermon Clips

Spiritual formation, as portrayed in the Bible and the great ones, is not primarily behavior modification, though modification of behavior certainly is an outcome of it. Especially it is not being trained into one or another outward cultural form of the Christian religion—Lutheran, Benedictine, Quaker, Baptist, whatever. [00:05:01]

It is not entirely misleading to regard this inner dimension of the self as the spiritual side of the human being and then to think of spiritual formation as the process of reshaping or redeveloping that inner side until it has, to a substantial degree, the character of the inner dimensions of Jesus himself. [00:06:34]

The announced name of this conference is life in the spirit, spiritual formation in theological perspective. Earlier indications from some of the organizers of the conference said that we would be concerned with, quote, the deeply spiritual and practical aspects of following Jesus. [00:02:39]

The practical aim of the one who takes obedience seriously is not to obey but to become the kind of person who is, who easily and routinely does obey as a result of devotion to Jesus and consequently of taking him as Lord, teacher, and friend. [00:10:19]

Salvation is by grace through faith; that is a foundational truth, but it is usually understood to mean that nothing you do contributes to salvation. And with this as understood, a pervasive passivity enters the scene. [00:17:00]

Grace is not opposed to action; it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude, and God won't have anything to do with it because that's all shot, and that's what we have to give up on to come in faith to Jesus Christ. [00:50:16]

The first clear manifestation of heavenly life in the individual is recognition, hearty confidence that Jesus really is the one. He is the anointed one; he is the Christ; he is Lord; he is not only master; he is maestro; he is the governor of the universe. [00:29:10]

Discipleship may be loosely described as staying close to Jesus Christ as possible. It is a life with him, which from the reverse side is his life with us. As his disciples, we are learning from Jesus how to live our life here and now in the kingdom of the heavens. [00:46:19]

Grace is God acting in us to accomplish what we can't act on our own, what we can do on our own. A new non-human activity becomes a part of our life. That's what happens at regeneration; our life is now interwoven with his, and his amazing grace indeed is interwoven with ours. [00:28:50]

The greatest field opened for discipleship evangelism today is the North American and European churches and seminaries or divinity schools. They are full of people hungering for real life, which surely we all know is offered in companionship with Christ in his kingdom. [01:12:00]

The key to it all from the point of view of action is indirection. We want to obey Jesus, and we know that we cannot do this just by trying to do what he said. We understand that we are broken; we are not only wrong; we are wrong twisted with parts that do not connect upright. [00:57:32]

The future of vital Christian life lies in the hands of the pastors and others who teach for Christ, especially those who teach pastors. What will they do? The greatest field opened for discipleship evangelism today is the North American and European churches and seminaries or divinity schools. [01:12:00]

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