Transformed by Union: New Life in Christ

 

Summary

In the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul presents a profound truth about the transformation that occurs in a believer's life through union with Christ. This transformation is not merely about the forgiveness of sins, but a complete change in our spiritual status and nature. We were once dead in our trespasses and sins, but through Christ, we have been made alive, raised up, and seated in heavenly places. This is a spiritual resurrection that mirrors Christ's physical resurrection, signifying a shift from death to life, from condemnation to justification, and from bondage to freedom.

The depth of our sinfulness is often underestimated. We may acknowledge our imperfections, but fail to grasp the extent of our spiritual death. Similarly, we often fail to appreciate the magnitude of the salvation we have received. Salvation is not just about being forgiven; it is about being raised to new life in Christ. This new life means we are no longer under the wrath of God or the dominion of sin. We are no longer bound by the law in a legalistic sense but are under grace, living in a personal relationship with God as our Father.

Our union with Christ means that what happened to Him physically happens to us spiritually. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too are raised from spiritual death. This union brings about a profound change in our identity. We are no longer in Adam, subject to sin and death, but in Christ, sharing in His life and righteousness. This transformation affects every aspect of our being—our mind, heart, and will. We now have a new mind that thinks in terms of eternity, a new heart that desires righteousness, and a new will that seeks to please God.

This new life in Christ is characterized by a desire for God, a love for His Word, and a longing for fellowship with other believers. It also brings a burden for those who are still lost in sin. As Christians, we are called to live out this new life, dedicating our faculties to the glory of God and walking in the newness of life that we have received through Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Understanding Our Union with Christ: Our spiritual resurrection with Christ signifies a profound transformation from death to life. This union is not just a theological concept but a reality that changes our spiritual status and nature, moving us from condemnation to justification and from bondage to freedom. [07:39]

- The Depth of Sin and the Magnitude of Salvation: We often underestimate the depth of our sinfulness and the magnitude of our salvation. Salvation is not merely about forgiveness but about being raised to new life in Christ, free from the wrath of God and the dominion of sin. [02:31]

- Living Under Grace, Not Law: In Christ, we are no longer under the law in a legalistic sense but under grace. This new relationship with God as our Father changes how we live, moving us from a legalistic adherence to the law to a personal relationship characterized by love and grace. [17:38]

- A New Identity in Christ: Our union with Christ means we are no longer in Adam, subject to sin and death, but in Christ, sharing in His life and righteousness. This new identity affects every aspect of our being—our mind, heart, and will—leading us to live in a way that pleases God. [26:08]

- Walking in Newness of Life: As Christians, we are called to live out the new life we have received in Christ. This involves a desire for God, a love for His Word, and a longing for fellowship with other believers, as well as a burden for those who are still lost in sin. [34:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Introduction to Ephesians
- [00:36] - The Depth of Sin
- [01:35] - The Magnitude of Salvation
- [03:21] - Union with Christ
- [04:52] - Quickened with Christ
- [05:13] - Raised with Christ
- [06:57] - Spiritual Resurrection
- [08:13] - New Life in Christ
- [10:07] - No Longer Under Wrath
- [12:12] - Justification through Resurrection
- [15:36] - Dead to the Law
- [18:12] - Dead to Sin
- [24:50] - Old Man Crucified
- [28:26] - Sharing Christ's Life
- [34:48] - Walking in Newness of Life

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:4-6
- Romans 6:4-6
- Colossians 3:1-3

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Ephesians 2:4-6, what actions has God taken for us through Christ? How does this passage describe our spiritual status? [00:15]

2. In Romans 6:4-6, what does Paul say about our old self and our new life in Christ? How does this relate to the concept of being "dead to sin"? [18:12]

3. How does Colossians 3:1-3 describe the believer's new identity and focus? What does it mean to be "hidden with Christ in God"? [28:26]

4. The sermon mentions that our union with Christ signifies a shift from death to life. How is this spiritual resurrection compared to Christ's physical resurrection? [07:39]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to be "raised up" and "seated in heavenly places" with Christ, as mentioned in Ephesians 2:6? How does this affect a believer's daily life and perspective? [00:15]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers often underestimate the depth of their sinfulness and the magnitude of their salvation? How can this misunderstanding impact one's faith journey? [02:31]

3. How does the concept of being "dead to sin" in Romans 6:6 influence a believer's understanding of their relationship with sin and temptation? [18:12]

4. The sermon emphasizes a new identity in Christ. How does this new identity affect a believer's mind, heart, and will according to the sermon? [26:08]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of your union with Christ. How does knowing you are "raised with Christ" change the way you view your current struggles or challenges? [07:39]

2. Consider the depth of your sinfulness and the magnitude of your salvation. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for the grace you have received? [02:31]

3. In what ways can you live under grace rather than law in your daily life? How does this shift in perspective affect your relationship with God and others? [17:38]

4. Think about your new identity in Christ. How can you actively renew your mind, heart, and will to align more closely with this identity? [26:08]

5. The sermon mentions a desire for God and a love for His Word. What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God and engage more with Scripture? [34:48]

6. How can you develop a burden for those who are still lost in sin? What specific actions can you take to reach out to someone who does not yet know Christ? [42:39]

7. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. How can you dedicate your faculties to the glory of God and walk in the newness of life more intentionally? [45:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Union with Christ: A Spiritual Resurrection
Our union with Christ signifies a profound transformation from death to life. This is not just a theological concept but a reality that changes our spiritual status and nature. Through Christ, we have been made alive, raised up, and seated in heavenly places. This spiritual resurrection mirrors Christ's physical resurrection, signifying a shift from death to life, from condemnation to justification, and from bondage to freedom. Understanding this union helps us grasp the depth of our transformation and the new identity we have in Christ. [07:39]

Ephesians 2:4-6 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: How does understanding your spiritual resurrection with Christ change the way you view your daily struggles and challenges?


Day 2: The Depth of Sin and the Magnitude of Salvation
We often underestimate the depth of our sinfulness and the magnitude of our salvation. Salvation is not merely about forgiveness but about being raised to new life in Christ, free from the wrath of God and the dominion of sin. This new life means we are no longer under the wrath of God or the dominion of sin. We are no longer bound by the law in a legalistic sense but are under grace, living in a personal relationship with God as our Father. [02:31]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: In what ways have you underestimated the depth of your sinfulness, and how can you begin to fully appreciate the magnitude of your salvation today?


Day 3: Living Under Grace, Not Law
In Christ, we are no longer under the law in a legalistic sense but under grace. This new relationship with God as our Father changes how we live, moving us from a legalistic adherence to the law to a personal relationship characterized by love and grace. This shift allows us to live in freedom, no longer bound by the constraints of the law but motivated by a desire to please God and live in accordance with His will. [17:38]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you are still living under the law rather than embracing the freedom of grace, and how can you begin to shift your mindset today?


Day 4: A New Identity in Christ
Our union with Christ means we are no longer in Adam, subject to sin and death, but in Christ, sharing in His life and righteousness. This new identity affects every aspect of our being—our mind, heart, and will—leading us to live in a way that pleases God. We now have a new mind that thinks in terms of eternity, a new heart that desires righteousness, and a new will that seeks to please God. [26:08]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: How does your new identity in Christ influence your thoughts, desires, and actions, and what changes can you make to align more closely with this identity?


Day 5: Walking in Newness of Life
As Christians, we are called to live out the new life we have received in Christ. This involves a desire for God, a love for His Word, and a longing for fellowship with other believers, as well as a burden for those who are still lost in sin. Walking in newness of life means dedicating our faculties to the glory of God and living in a way that reflects the transformation we have experienced through Christ. [34:48]

Romans 6:4 (ESV): "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to walk in the newness of life that you have received in Christ, and how can you encourage others to do the same?

Quotes

"God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saved and that raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of His grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." [00:00:15]

"Our troubles undoubtedly are due to the fact that we are guilty of a double failure we fail on the one hand to realize the depth of sin we saw that in studying the first three verses we may admit that we are not perfect we may say that we occasionally do things that we shouldn't do and we think that that is sin and that that is a consciousness of sin." [00:01:29]

"What makes us Christians is our union with Christ you've noticed that he goes on repeating it together it is with Christ we have been quickened together with him even when we were dead in sins he has raised us together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus this doctrine of our union with Christ is absolutely vital." [00:03:54]

"Once our Lord was raised from the dead there were certain things that were no longer true of him and the same thing exactly can be said about the Christian there are certain negatives which are of tremendous importance and perhaps the best way for us to work all this out is to work it out in terms of that sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans." [00:08:41]

"The Christian by definition is no longer dead spiritually he is no longer in a spiritual grave he was we were all dead in trespasses and sins that's it we were dead we were in a grave in a spiritual grave but as Christians we've come out of it as Christ came out of the grave we are out of the grave we've left behind the grave clothes." [00:10:15]

"The fact that we are no longer dead and no longer in the grave is proof positive that we are no longer under the wrath of God and we are no longer under condemnation now the Apostle puts this in a very interesting form in this epistle to the Romans the last verse in the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans is this he referring to our Lord." [00:11:45]

"Our Lord's death was on account of our offenses he died because he bought our offenses he bore our sins and our transgressions and the punishment was death so he died yes but how do we know that God was satisfied with their offering how may we know for certain that the Almighty holy righteous God really has felt that sin has been dealt with." [00:12:21]

"Because we are no longer dead but alive that we are also dead to the law we are not under law but we are under grace he says and in the 7th chapter of that epistle to the Romans you remember he works it out with a comparison he says that a woman as long as her husband is alive is bound by that husband and to that husband." [00:15:43]

"Before we become Christians we are dead in trespasses and sins that airs Christians there is no longer true of us before we belong to the realm of sin to the Dominion of sin to the whole territory of sin and we were under the power of sin you remember our Paul has worked it out in detail we were controlled by the lusts of the flesh." [00:19:28]

"We are no longer the slaves of sin we have been taking you right out of that of course we may still in our folly listened to the devil we may still yield to temptation we may still respond to a sinful impulse but that doesn't mean that we are slaves to sin we no longer have controlled that's the principle and it is in that sense that we are dead to sin." [00:22:01]

"We are sharing the life of Christ we therefore become like Christ and as Christians we are absolutely different from what we were before I use my terms advisedly we are absolutely and essentially different in what respects well listen to how Paul puts it likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ." [00:28:30]

"The Christian is one who because He is risen with Christ is walking in newness of life and the man lives with his mind his heart and his will the Christian has got a new mind what is it well says Paul again in the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." [00:35:08]

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Transcript
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