Transforming Regret into Righteousness and New Identity
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound and often painful topic of regret. We all have moments in our lives that we wish we could undo, but the reality is that regret is a universal experience. I shared a personal story about a costly mistake I made while trying to do something good, which led us into a deeper discussion about the nature of regret and its impact on our lives. Regret often leads us to hide, much like Adam and Eve did after their disobedience in the Garden of Eden. It brings along fear, guilt, and shame, which can paralyze us and keep us from moving forward.
We delved into the etymology of the word "regret," which comes from a French word meaning to incessantly weep or lament over something dead and gone. This highlights the futility of dwelling on past mistakes that we cannot change. Instead, we should view regret as an opportunity for education and motivation. Regret should teach us valuable lessons and motivate us to make better choices in the future.
However, regret should never become our identity. The enemy uses guilt to glue us to our worst moments, but God calls us by our name, not by our sin. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross has given us a robe of righteousness, replacing our old identity with a new one. We are not defined by our past mistakes but by what Christ did for us. This righteousness is a free gift, received through faith, and it transforms our identity from sinners to children of God.
We concluded by emphasizing the importance of confession and faith. Confession is not just about admitting our sins but also about declaring the truth of who we are in Christ. By believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths, we align ourselves with God's truth and receive His righteousness. This new identity empowers us to live boldly and confidently, free from the chains of regret.
### Key Takeaways
1. Regret Leads to Hiding and Shame: Regret often drives us into hiding, much like Adam and Eve after their disobedience. It brings along fear, guilt, and shame, which can paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. Recognizing this pattern helps us understand the need to confront and deal with our regrets rather than letting them control us. [04:33]
2. Regret Should Be an Education: Regret should serve as a valuable teacher, guiding us to make better choices in the future. Experience is a costly teacher, but obedience to God's word is the best way to avoid the pain of regret. Learning from our mistakes helps us break negative cycles and patterns in our lives. [07:54]
3. Regret Should Be Motivation, Not a Destination: The Apostle Paul teaches us that regret should motivate us to pursue righteousness and holy living. It should not become a destination where we get stuck. The enemy uses guilt to keep us bound to our worst moments, but God calls us to move forward in His grace. [11:05]
4. Righteousness is a Free Gift: Our new identity in Christ is a free gift, received through faith. It is not based on our actions but on what Jesus did on the cross. This gift of righteousness transforms us from sinners to children of God, empowering us to live boldly and confidently. [31:43]
5. Confession and Faith are Essential: Confession is not just about admitting our sins but also about declaring the truth of who we are in Christ. By believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths, we align ourselves with God's truth and receive His righteousness. This new identity frees us from the chains of regret and empowers us to live a victorious life. [36:53]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:23] - Personal Story of Regret
[03:38] - The Impact of Regret
[04:33] - Regret Leads to Hiding and Shame
[05:22] - The Root of Regret
[06:14] - The Futility of Dwelling on the Past
[07:07] - Regret as a Cloud
[07:54] - Regret Should Be an Education
[08:43] - Breaking Negative Cycles
[09:48] - The Problem with AA
[10:22] - Regret Should Be Motivation
[11:05] - Pursuing Righteous Living
[12:19] - Boldness in Christ
[13:06] - The Boldest Version of You
[14:25] - Jesus Deserves Our Best
[15:12] - Regret Should Never Be a Destination
[15:59] - The Enemy's Strategy
[17:19] - Reclaiming Purity
[18:09] - Personal Testimony
[19:08] - The Enemy's Lies
[19:58] - Jesus Defeated the Devil's Power
[21:31] - The Power of Identity
[23:06] - The Gift of Righteousness
[24:39] - Paul's Revelation of Grace
[26:04] - The Purpose of the Law
[27:55] - Righteousness is for All
[29:43] - Received Through Faith
[31:43] - Righteousness is a Free Gift
[34:00] - Confession is Necessary for Possession
[35:47] - The Power of Confession
[36:53] - Aligning with God's Truth
[37:48] - Communion and Righteousness
[39:38] - The Accuser's Lies
[40:25] - Confessing Our New Identity
[41:16] - The Price Jesus Paid
[42:18] - Declaring Our Righteousness
[42:52] - When God Sees Us, He Sees Jesus
[43:38] - Invitation to Be Born Again
[45:04] - Prayer for New Beginnings
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 6:19 - "Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using this illustration of slavery to help you understand this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, which led to even deeper into sin. Now, you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy."
2. Romans 3:22-24 - "The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
3. 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 6:19 suggest about the transformation from living in sin to living in righteousness?
2. According to Romans 3:22-24, how is righteousness received and who is it available to?
3. What promise is given in 1 John 1:9 regarding confession and forgiveness?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being a "slave to righteous living" in Romans 6:19 challenge or encourage you in your daily walk with Christ? [11:05]
2. In what ways does Romans 3:22-24 redefine our understanding of identity and worth in the eyes of God? [23:06]
3. How does the act of confession, as described in 1 John 1:9, align with the sermon’s emphasis on declaring the truth of who we are in Christ? [36:53]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when regret led you to hide or feel ashamed. How can you confront and deal with that regret in light of the sermon’s message? [04:33]
2. The sermon mentioned that regret should serve as an education. What is one past mistake you can learn from, and how will you use that lesson to make better choices in the future? [07:54]
3. How can you shift your perspective of regret from being a destination to a motivation for pursuing righteousness and holy living? [11:05]
4. The sermon emphasized that righteousness is a free gift received through faith. How can you remind yourself daily of this new identity in Christ, especially when faced with feelings of guilt or shame? [31:43]
5. Confession was highlighted as essential for aligning with God's truth. What specific truths about your identity in Christ do you need to confess and declare over your life this week? [36:53]
6. Think of a recent situation where you felt paralyzed by fear, guilt, or shame. How can you apply the sermon’s teaching to move forward boldly and confidently in your new identity in Christ? [04:33]
7. Identify one area of your life where you have been stuck in a cycle of regret. What practical steps can you take to break free from this cycle and embrace the righteousness that Christ offers? [07:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Regret Leads to Hiding and Shame
Regret often drives us into hiding, much like Adam and Eve after their disobedience. It brings along fear, guilt, and shame, which can paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. Recognizing this pattern helps us understand the need to confront and deal with our regrets rather than letting them control us. When we allow regret to dominate our thoughts, it can create a cycle of self-condemnation that distances us from God's grace and forgiveness.
Instead of hiding, we are called to bring our regrets into the light of God's truth. By doing so, we can experience His healing and restoration. God does not want us to be bound by our past mistakes; He desires for us to walk in freedom and newness of life. Remember, God calls us by our name, not by our sin. [04:33]
Genesis 3:8-10 (ESV): "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?' And he said, 'I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.'"
Reflection: Think of a regret that has caused you to hide or feel ashamed. How can you bring this regret into the light of God's truth and seek His healing today?
Day 2: Regret Should Be an Education
Regret should serve as a valuable teacher, guiding us to make better choices in the future. Experience is a costly teacher, but obedience to God's word is the best way to avoid the pain of regret. Learning from our mistakes helps us break negative cycles and patterns in our lives. When we view regret as an opportunity for growth, we can transform our past failures into stepping stones for a better future.
God's word provides wisdom and guidance that can help us navigate life's challenges and avoid the pitfalls that lead to regret. By aligning our lives with His principles, we can make decisions that honor Him and bring us peace. Let regret be a catalyst for positive change, not a chain that holds you back. [07:54]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Reflect on a past mistake that you regret. What lesson can you learn from it, and how can you apply this lesson to make better choices in the future?
Day 3: Regret Should Be Motivation, Not a Destination
The Apostle Paul teaches us that regret should motivate us to pursue righteousness and holy living. It should not become a destination where we get stuck. The enemy uses guilt to keep us bound to our worst moments, but God calls us to move forward in His grace. Regret can be a powerful motivator for change when we allow it to drive us toward God's purposes for our lives.
Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, let them inspire you to seek God's will and live a life that reflects His love and grace. Remember, God's grace is sufficient to cover all our sins and empower us to live victoriously. Do not let regret define you; let it propel you toward the abundant life God has for you. [11:05]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where regret has held you back. How can you use this regret as motivation to pursue righteousness and holy living?
Day 4: Righteousness is a Free Gift
Our new identity in Christ is a free gift, received through faith. It is not based on our actions but on what Jesus did on the cross. This gift of righteousness transforms us from sinners to children of God, empowering us to live boldly and confidently. When we accept this gift, we are no longer defined by our past mistakes but by the righteousness of Christ.
This new identity allows us to approach God with confidence, knowing that we are fully accepted and loved by Him. It also empowers us to live in a way that honors Him and reflects His character. Embrace your new identity in Christ and let it shape the way you live each day. [31:43]
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: How does understanding that righteousness is a free gift from God change the way you view yourself and your past mistakes?
Day 5: Confession and Faith are Essential
Confession is not just about admitting our sins but also about declaring the truth of who we are in Christ. By believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths, we align ourselves with God's truth and receive His righteousness. This new identity frees us from the chains of regret and empowers us to live a victorious life.
Confession is a powerful tool that helps us to internalize and live out our new identity in Christ. It is a declaration of faith that aligns our thoughts and actions with God's truth. As we confess who we are in Christ, we begin to experience the freedom and victory that comes from living in alignment with His will. [36:53]
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV): "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Reflection: What truths about your new identity in Christ do you need to confess and believe today? How can this practice help you overcome regret and live victoriously?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Regret is like a cloud. A cloud that starts hanging over you when you do something wrong. Does anybody know what I'm talking about? And after a while, you carry it around with you that it's not something that's all over you. It's something that's on you. And then if you wear it long enough, it's not something that's over you, that it's on you. It actually starts identifying you. It's actually not what you did. It's now who you are." [07:07] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The enemy is really good at reminding you of what you did wrong. Some of you don't even need the devil. You got friends that will do that for you. Who will remind you over and over of something in the past that you can never undo. Something that you can't do anything about. But we all experience regret. We all experience it. So how should we deal with regret?" [06:14] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The enemy uses guilt to become the glue, the glue that keeps you stuck to the worst moments of your life. You know what I'm talking about. You went and you got drunk. So now you didn't get drunk. You are, you are a drunk. You are a drunk. You didn't get high. You're a addict. You didn't stumble sexually. You're just immoral. That's who you are." [15:12] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The only one that can tell you who you are is the one who created you in the very beginning. He's the only one that even knows. He's the only one that even knows. So today how how do we deal with regret pastor I'll tell you how you deal with regret you take off regret and you put on righteousness you take off regret and you put on righteousness you take off and you put on you take off and you put on you put on righteousness." [21:31] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The good news is not that Jesus came to tell you that you're in sin, you got a lot of friends that will help you. And enemies, it came to tell you that his body was broken. His blood was shed, his blood, his blood. It wasn't shed so you could be forgiven of sin alone, that's half of it. It was shed so that you could become, come on, say it with me. Say it loud, so you could become." [38:46] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Regret should be an education. Experience is a great teacher. It's just the most expensive one. The best teacher is obedience. It's that when you do what's right, you recognize the result afterwards and you go, I like that. I'm going to keep doing that versus doing what's wrong and going, I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to do that again." [07:54] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Regret should be motivation. The Apostle Paul tells us this in Romans 6, 19. Because of the weakness of your human nature, I'm using this. I'm using this illustration of slavery to help you understand this. Previously, just as you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and to lawlessness. Okay, you let yourself be slaves to that. You let yourself be immoral. You let yourself party and lawlessness, which led to even deeper into sin. Now, here's what I want you to do. You must give yourselves to be a? To what? Righteous living, so that you will become? So that you become holy." [11:05] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The enemy knows that in order for him to keep you bound, all he's got to do is name you something, and he can leave you alone. Because from that point on, you think that's you. You are the drunk. You are the addict. You are the party animal. You are the one that's depressed. You are the one that's filled with anxiety. You are the one that's filled with fear. And once he names you that, that becomes your identity." [16:45] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The only power that he has over you is if you believe his lie and take off your robe and set it aside to go back to what Jesus already delivered you from. It's number one this righteousness is for all say it with me it's for all Romans 3 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for one one of the things my spiritual father taught me a long time ago is nobody is outside of the grace of God." [27:55] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The righteousness of God is revealed from as it is written the righteous shall live by why is it faith because the moment you give your life to Christ when you look at your life you don't see righteous you you see all the history of all the junk of you you see all the mistakes that you've made in the past you have to believe by faith that this is no longer true but what Christ did two thousand years ago on the cross is true." [29:43] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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