Transforming Hearts: Living by the Spirit of God
Summary
In this message, we explore the profound transformation that occurs when God's law is written on our hearts and minds, as opposed to being merely external commandments. Before becoming Christians, individuals strive to conform to an external standard, but as believers, the standard is internalized. This internalization leads to a new understanding and a deeper comprehension of God's law and its purpose. The veil that once blinded us is removed, allowing us to see the true spirit of the law, which is not about mere external adherence but about the heart's intent and the spirit behind the actions.
The Pharisees and religious leaders of old were fixated on the letter of the law, missing its spirit. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, highlighted this by showing that true obedience goes beyond actions to the heart's motives. The Christian life is not about self-preservation or self-satisfaction but about living to please God out of love and gratitude for His grace. This new life in the spirit is characterized by liberty, joy, and a new motive driven by love for God and a desire to glorify Him.
The Christian's journey is marked by a new spirit of liberty, free from the bondage of the law and sin. This freedom is not a license to sin but a liberation to live righteously, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The believer's life is a progressive transformation, becoming more like Christ, moving from glory to glory. This transformation is not self-achieved but is the work of God within us, ensuring that He who began a good work in us will complete it.
Key Takeaways:
1. Internalization of God's Law: The transition from external adherence to internal transformation is crucial. God's law is now written on our hearts, leading to a deeper understanding and a life lived in the spirit, not just by the letter. This internal change is the essence of the Christian life, where the standard is within us, guiding our actions and thoughts. [12:15]
2. Understanding the Spirit of the Law: True obedience to God's law is not about mere external compliance but understanding and living by the spirit of the law. Jesus emphasized this in the Sermon on the Mount, showing that the heart's intent is what truly matters. This understanding transforms our approach to God's commandments. [17:27]
3. New Motive for Living: The Christian life is driven by a new motive—love for God and gratitude for His grace. This love compels us to live righteously, not out of fear or self-interest, but to glorify God and express our thanksgiving for His salvation. [26:52]
4. Liberty in the Spirit: Living in the spirit brings true liberty, freeing us from the bondage of the law and sin. This freedom is characterized by joy, hope, and a desire to live righteously, empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is a life of rejoicing and thanksgiving. [32:24]
5. Progressive Transformation: The Christian journey is one of continuous transformation, becoming more like Christ. This change is not self-achieved but is the work of God within us, ensuring that we are being changed from glory to glory, moving ever closer to the image of Christ. [44:54]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [11:40] - God's Law Written on Hearts
- [12:43] - Internal Transformation
- [13:34] - New Understanding of the Law
- [15:42] - The Veil Removed
- [17:27] - Spirit vs. Letter of the Law
- [19:21] - The Greatest Commandment
- [21:26] - New Motive for Righteous Living
- [23:32] - Self-Righteousness vs. God's Righteousness
- [26:31] - Love as the Motive
- [29:48] - Spirit of Adoption
- [32:24] - Liberty in the Spirit
- [35:05] - Dead to Sin and Law
- [38:22] - Hope of Glory
- [44:54] - Progressive Transformation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Philippians 2:12-13
2. Matthew 5:17-48
3. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
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Observation Questions:
1. How does Philippians 2:12-13 describe the process of working out our salvation, and what role does God play in it? [12:43]
2. In Matthew 5, Jesus contrasts the letter of the law with the spirit of the law. What examples does He give to illustrate this difference? [17:27]
3. According to 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, what transformation occurs when we live in the spirit, and how is this transformation described? [44:54]
4. What was the main issue with the Pharisees' understanding of the law, as highlighted in the sermon? [16:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the internalization of God's law change a believer's understanding and approach to God's commandments? [12:15]
2. What does it mean to live by the spirit of the law rather than the letter, and how does this affect one's daily life? [17:27]
3. How does the new motive of love and gratitude for God's grace influence a Christian's actions and decisions? [26:52]
4. In what ways does the liberty found in the spirit differ from the bondage of the law, and how does this liberty manifest in a believer's life? [32:24]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt compelled to follow God's commandments out of fear rather than love. How can you shift your motivation to one of gratitude and love for God? [21:43]
2. Consider an area of your life where you might be adhering to the letter of the law but missing its spirit. How can you realign your actions to reflect the true intent of God's law? [16:29]
3. Identify a specific way you can express your love and gratitude to God in your daily routine. What changes can you make to ensure this becomes a consistent practice? [26:52]
4. Think about a situation where you felt bound by rules or expectations. How can embracing the liberty of the spirit help you approach this situation differently? [32:24]
5. The sermon mentions a progressive transformation into the image of Christ. What is one area of your life where you desire to see growth, and what steps can you take to allow God to work in that area? [44:54]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God's law in your heart and mind, and what resources or practices might assist you in this journey? [12:15]
7. Reflect on the concept of living for God's glory rather than self-preservation. How can this perspective change the way you approach challenges and opportunities in your life? [27:23]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Law Within Us
When God's law is internalized, it transforms from a set of external rules to a guiding principle written on our hearts. This internalization leads to a deeper understanding and a life lived in the spirit, not just by the letter. As believers, we are no longer striving to meet an external standard but are guided by an internal compass that aligns with God's will. This change is the essence of the Christian life, where the standard is within us, influencing our actions and thoughts. [12:15]
Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Reflection: In what ways can you allow God's law to guide your decisions today, rather than relying on external expectations or pressures?
Day 2: The Spirit of the Law
True obedience to God's law is not about mere external compliance but understanding and living by the spirit of the law. Jesus emphasized this in the Sermon on the Mount, showing that the heart's intent is what truly matters. This understanding transforms our approach to God's commandments, moving us from a focus on actions to the motives behind them. By embracing the spirit of the law, we align our hearts with God's desires, leading to genuine transformation. [17:27]
2 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV): "Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Reflection: Consider a commandment or teaching of Jesus that you have been following externally. How can you shift your focus to the heart's intent behind it today?
Day 3: Love as Our Motive
The Christian life is driven by a new motive—love for God and gratitude for His grace. This love compels us to live righteously, not out of fear or self-interest, but to glorify God and express our thanksgiving for His salvation. Our actions are no longer about self-preservation but about pleasing God and reflecting His love to others. This shift in motive transforms our daily lives, infusing them with purpose and joy. [26:52]
1 John 4:19 (ESV): "We love because he first loved us."
Reflection: Identify one way you can express your love and gratitude to God through your actions today. How can this act glorify Him?
Day 4: Freedom in the Spirit
Living in the spirit brings true liberty, freeing us from the bondage of the law and sin. This freedom is characterized by joy, hope, and a desire to live righteously, empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is not a license to sin but a liberation to live according to God's will, rejoicing in the new life we have in Christ. This liberty allows us to experience the fullness of life that God intends for us, marked by peace and purpose. [32:24]
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 is one area of your life where you feel bound by old habits or fears? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to bring freedom and transformation to that area today?
Day 5: Transformation into Christ's Image
The Christian journey is one of continuous transformation, becoming more like Christ. This change is not self-achieved but is the work of God within us, ensuring that we are being changed from glory to glory, moving ever closer to the image of Christ. As we grow in our faith, we reflect more of Christ's character, impacting the world around us with His love and truth. This progressive transformation is a testament to God's faithfulness and power at work in our lives. [44:54]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "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: Reflect on a recent change or growth in your spiritual life. How can you continue to cooperate with God's transforming work in you, and what steps can you take to reflect Christ more fully in your daily interactions?
Quotes
Before a man becomes a Christian he is always trying to conform to a standard and a pattern that is outside himself but be a Christian means this that the standard is inside you of course in a sense it's still outside you but the important thing is that it's now inside you as well. [00:11:56]
The Apostle says now he says we have become dead to the law and we rejoice in that we're delivered from the law being dead to that which formerly held us out why well for this reason that we should serve in newness of spirit not in the oldness of the writing it's within us in our minds in our hearts. [00:13:00]
This newness of spirit this new life in the spirit means that we've got an understanding now which we didn't have before I mean an understanding of the law and its purpose and everything that is true of it in the economy of God what was the trouble with the people under the old dispensation well he says the trouble was their the veil was over their hearts. [00:13:34]
The moment a man comes to the spirit the veil is taken away and he sees and he understands and it revolutionizes his whole position very well there's the second thing let me come to the third and these follow you will see the one from the other the next thing is that the men begins to see now this vital distinction between observing the mere letter of the law and being concerned about the spirit of the law. [00:16:05]
The Supreme commentary on that of course is The Sermon on the Mount and especially the fifth chapter of The Gospel according to Matthew that is devoted almost entirely from verse 17 to the end to an exposure of this false attitude of the Jews and their teachers religious teachers to the law of God. [00:16:55]
The law says Thou shalt not covet it isn't enough that you don't do things do you desire them do you sin in your imagination in your mind and in your heart do you covet concupisent that's it this desire after things that in the sight of God is sin God seeth the heart. [00:18:37]
The Christian Life not because we are afraid of Hell any longer we are not doing it to please ourselves or to attain a standard and to contrast ourselves with others who are sinners and who are failures we are no longer interested in self-preservation because we know that we have been kept and preserved and saved. [00:26:52]
The love of Christ he says constrain us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that in order that they which live should no longer live unto themselves but unto him that died for them and Rose again that's it that's the argument of the Christian. [00:27:59]
Where the spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty you're set free from the shackles that wherein we were held we are dead to it and you're a free man and able to use all your powers where the spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty you're beginning to enjoy the Glorious Liberty of the children of God. [00:32:24]
There is nothing more wonderful than to know that our sins are forgiven and we know it there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus but come to the second thing we've already been considering it let me give you a summary of all we've been saying since last October we are dead to sin we are dead to the law yes we are dead to death. [00:34:23]
We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are being changed we are not doing it it's being done to us as we behold in the glass the glory of the Lord as we go on living this life in the the spirit with this new understanding and insight and motive and love and power and all that is so true. [00:44:54]
He which hath begun a good work in US Philippians 1:6 he which has begun a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ if you are in the hands of this great Potter if God through his son and by the spirit has begun a work in you he'll never give it up he'll never leave it incomplete he'll go on with it. [00:46:03]
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