Trusting Jesus for True Transformation and Redemption
Summary
Life is full of moments when dreams seem to slip away, when the things we hoped for don’t materialize, and when disappointment creeps in over untapped potential. Many of us reach a point where we realize that some of our ambitions, whether in career, family, or personal growth, may never come to pass as we imagined. In those moments, it’s easy to become bitter or discontent, wondering if we missed our season or failed in some way. But the truth is, our confidence was never meant to rest in our own ability to make ourselves into the best version of ourselves. Instead, we are invited to trust Jesus to make us what we are supposed to be.
Paul’s words to the Corinthians remind us that our journey with God began not with our own wisdom or strength, but with humility—admitting our need and receiving Christ. The Christian life is not about boasting in our own progress or comparing ourselves to others, but about losing confidence in ourselves and gaining confidence in Jesus. He is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption. These aren’t just theological terms; they are the foundation of our hope and transformation.
Sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ, is not something we can accomplish by sheer willpower. Our human spirit is strong, but it has limits. We all have an “autopilot” bent toward self and sin, and only Jesus can reprogram that. Even after coming to Christ, we find ourselves struggling with old patterns, but this is not a sign of failure—it’s a reminder that we are God’s property, and He is committed to working in us, drawing out the good and removing the bad over time. The discomfort we feel with sin is evidence that God’s Spirit is at work, giving us new desires and appetites.
Progress in holiness comes as we grow in our knowledge of God, intentionally seeking Him through His Word, community, and even through trials. Trials are not just obstacles; they are opportunities for God to shape our character and deepen our dependence on Him. Sanctification is often slow, but God promises to complete the good work He began in us.
Finally, Jesus is our redemption. He not only forgives us but will one day set everything right—healing every wound, restoring every loss, and bringing us into a perfect, redeemed existence with Him. Even the disappointments and missed opportunities of this life will be swallowed up in the glory of what He has prepared for us. Our hope is not in what we can achieve, but in what Christ has done and will do for us.
Key Takeaways
- True spiritual progress is not achieved by our own strength or determination, but by trusting Jesus as our sanctification. Our efforts alone cannot overcome the deep-seated patterns of sin; only Christ can reprogram our hearts and lead us into genuine transformation. This humbles us and keeps us dependent on His grace rather than our own resolve. [12:12]
- The ongoing presence of sin in our lives is not a sign that God has abandoned us, but a reminder of our continual need for Him. God allows us to struggle with certain weaknesses to keep us humble and aware that our sanctification is His work, not ours. This tension draws us closer to Him and deepens our gratitude for His mercy. [17:07]
- Growing in holiness requires intentional pursuit of God through knowledge—immersing ourselves in His Word, learning from others, and seeking to understand His character. The world constantly tries to conform us to its image, so we must actively renew our minds with the truth of who God is. The more we fill ourselves with the knowledge of God, the more we are transformed into His likeness. [25:54]
- Trials and hardships are not just random difficulties, but divinely permitted opportunities for sanctification. In the midst of suffering, God is shaping our character, teaching us to respond as Jesus would, and working His purposes into our lives. Embracing trials with faith allows God to work deeper transformation than comfort ever could. [29:18]
- Redemption in Christ means that every loss, disappointment, and failure will ultimately be set right. Jesus not only forgives our sins but promises to restore all things, bringing us into a future where every wrong is made right and every sorrow is turned to joy. Our hope is anchored not in this life’s outcomes, but in the certainty of Christ’s final victory and restoration. [34:52]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Facing Disappointment and Untapped Potential
[02:01] - Wrestling with Missed Seasons and Bitterness
[07:28] - Christ as Our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption
[11:24] - Jesus Makes Us God’s Own and Works in Us
[12:12] - The Autopilot of Sin and Jesus as Our Sanctifier
[13:57] - No Longer Under Sin’s Mastery
[17:07] - The Purpose of Ongoing Struggle with Sin
[18:11] - Humility and the Reality of Our Sinful Desires
[19:29] - Evidence of Sanctification: New Appetites and Desires
[21:11] - Jesus Completes the Work He Begins
[22:49] - Illustration: Sanctification vs. Just Forgiveness
[24:45] - Growing in Knowledge of God for Transformation
[25:54] - The Importance of Pursuing God’s Knowledge
[29:18] - Trials as Tools for Sanctification
[30:24] - The Slow Process of Sanctification
[31:38] - Christ as Our Redemption
[33:31] - Freedom from the Enemy’s Lies
[34:52] - The Promise of Ultimate Redemption
[35:48] - Illustration: Redeemed from Slavery
[39:47] - Closing and Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Trusting Jesus with Our Progress and Redemption
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### Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
"But by his doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"
Romans 6:12-14
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."
Colossians 3:10
"And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Corinthians 1:30, what four things does Jesus become for us?
2. In Romans 6:12-14, what does Paul say about the power of sin in the life of a believer?
3. The sermon described our “autopilot” bent toward self and sin. What illustration did the pastor use to explain how Jesus changes this autopilot? [12:12]
4. In Colossians 3:10, what is the “new self” being renewed in, and how does this relate to our transformation?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says our confidence was never meant to rest in our own ability to make ourselves into the best version of ourselves. Why is this an important distinction for Christians to understand? [07:28]
2. The pastor mentioned that the ongoing presence of sin in our lives is not a sign that God has abandoned us, but a reminder of our continual need for Him. How does this perspective change the way we view our struggles with sin? [17:07]
3. According to the sermon, how does growing in the knowledge of God (through His Word, community, and trials) lead to real transformation? [25:54]
4. The sermon describes redemption as Jesus not only forgiving us, but also setting everything right in the end. How does this promise affect the way we handle disappointment and loss in this life? [34:52]
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### Application Questions
1. The pastor shared about facing disappointment and untapped potential in life. Is there an area in your life where you feel like you “missed your season” or something didn’t turn out as you hoped? How have you responded to that disappointment? [02:01]
2. The sermon says that sanctification is not something we can accomplish by sheer willpower, but only by trusting Jesus to work in us. Are there areas where you’ve been trying to “fix yourself” instead of depending on Jesus? What would it look like to surrender those areas to Him? [12:12]
3. The pastor described how God sometimes allows us to struggle with certain sins or weaknesses to keep us humble and dependent on Him. Can you think of a struggle in your life that God might be using to draw you closer to Him? How can you respond with humility instead of frustration? [18:11]
4. Growing in holiness requires intentionally seeking God through His Word and community. What is one practical step you can take this week to pursue a deeper knowledge of God? (For example: joining a Bible reading plan, asking someone to read with you, or listening to a sermon podcast.) [25:54]
5. The sermon talked about trials as opportunities for God to shape our character. Think of a recent or current trial in your life. How might God be using it to grow you, and how can you respond in faith rather than just wishing it away? [29:18]
6. The pastor said that even our disappointments and missed opportunities will be swallowed up in the glory of what Jesus has prepared for us. How does this future hope help you deal with regrets or losses today? [34:52]
7. The message emphasized that our hope is not in what we can achieve, but in what Christ has done and will do for us. Is there an area where you’ve been measuring your worth by your achievements or progress? How can you shift your confidence to rest in Jesus instead? [07:28]
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Devotional
Day 1: Trusting Jesus Over Our Own Efforts
No matter how hard we strive or how much we plan, we cannot make ourselves into the people we are meant to be by our own strength. Our disappointments and untapped potential remind us that our confidence should not be in our own wisdom, abilities, or timelines, but in Jesus, who alone can shape us into what we are supposed to become. When we let go of self-reliance and trust in Christ, we find true security and hope, knowing that He is working out His perfect plan in us, even when life doesn’t go as we expected. [07:28]
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV)
"And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"
Reflection: Where in your life are you still relying on your own strength or wisdom instead of trusting Jesus to shape your future? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?
Day 2: Jesus Is Our Sanctification
Progress in holiness and Christlikeness is not something we can achieve by sheer willpower or religious effort; it is Jesus who initiates and completes our sanctification. Even when we stumble or feel frustrated by our slow growth, we can rest in the truth that Jesus is actively working in us, transforming our hearts and desires over time. Our failures and ongoing struggles are reminders to stay humble and dependent on Him, knowing that He alone can reprogram our “autopilot” and lead us into true spiritual maturity. [13:57]
Romans 6:12-14 (ESV)
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you keep falling back into old patterns? How can you invite Jesus to take over and transform that area, trusting Him as your sanctification?
Day 3: Growing in the Knowledge of God
Our transformation into Christlikeness is fueled by continually renewing our minds with the knowledge of God. As we intentionally seek to know Him more—through Scripture, teaching, and godly conversations—we are renewed in His image and our desires begin to align with His. The world constantly tries to conform us to its image, so we must be proactive in filling our minds and hearts with the truth and beauty of God, making space for His character to shape us from the inside out. [24:45]
Colossians 3:10 (ESV)
"And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to increase your knowledge of God—whether it’s reading Scripture, listening to a sermon, or joining a Bible study—and how might that help you grow in Christlikeness?
Day 4: Embracing Trials as Part of Sanctification
God often uses trials and hardships as tools to shape our character and deepen our dependence on Him. While trials can feel slow, painful, or even pointless, they are opportunities for us to learn how to respond like Jesus, to humble ourselves, and to let God work His character into us. When we trust that Jesus is with us in every trial, working for our good and His glory, we can endure with hope and come out the other side with a deeper song of praise and a testimony that points to Him. [29:18]
James 1:2-4 (ESV)
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a current or recent trial in your life. How might God be using this situation to shape your character or draw you closer to Him, and how can you respond in a way that reflects Jesus?
Day 5: Jesus Is Our Redemption—Hope for All That’s Lost
Jesus is not only our sanctification but also our complete redemption, promising to set right all that is broken, lost, or disappointing in our lives. Even when we grieve over missed opportunities, failures, or pain, we can trust that Jesus will ultimately redeem every story, bringing us into a future where all things are made new. Our hope is not in this world’s outcomes but in the promise that, because of Christ, we will one day experience perfect restoration, joy, and belonging in His presence. [34:52]
1 John 5:19 (ESV)
"We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one."
Reflection: What is one area of disappointment or loss that you need to entrust to Jesus’ redemption? How can you shift your focus from what didn’t happen to the hope of what Jesus promises to make new?
Quotes
He says, your wisdom wasn't enough to even get you to me, so you'll be wise in certain ways, but I want you ultimately to trust me to be your wisdom. I'll lead you to wiser things, and I'll make sure that you're energized and given wisdom at the right time. And so that becomes very much a faith walk. It becomes a trust walk. I trust God. He is giving me wisdom right now. I'm trusting that Jesus is wise, and he makes me wiser than I am. [00:06:22] (24 seconds)
That means he's all that I need to be. He's the morally perfect one, so my moral imperfections, it's not like I'm trying to top off my imperfections with more perfection. No, Jesus is 100 % completely all that I need to rely on and lean on for my moral purity. I have none. He has it all. And we use this illustration that went over some people's heads, but it was having an adamantium -laced skeleton so that it doesn't matter. It's not something that you put on. It's something that's inside. You can't get rid of Jesus' righteousness once you've trusted him, and nothing can beat it. Nothing can beat it out. Nothing can beat it away from you. [00:06:50] (37 seconds)
Jesus is the one that makes it possible. So what this means is when we come to know Jesus, he makes us instantly, legally right with God. He takes all of our sin and says, that's all paid for, that's all done. You are no longer guilty. Jesus was guilty, so you're not guilty. That is instantaneous. But through life, you'll notice there's still sin in me. My body still does sinful things. You're like, ah, bless God, I'm gonna beat it. No, anything you've already beaten, you beat it because Jesus caused you to beat it or beat it through you. And as you keep walking, you're gonna find out it's only he that releases you to greater levels of holiness. And that's your whole life. For the whole rest of your life, if you've trusted Christ, you're gonna be working out what Jesus has been working in. You're slowly gonna be, some of it's real fast, but a lot of it is, after years and years, you're like, how is this still in there? It's still in there because Jesus alone is your sanctification. He's the one who makes it possible. [00:10:32] (52 seconds)
That's a very, it's a Christian thing to even think because most people think they're more perfect than they are. But those who are really being transformed by Christ, you're increasingly aware, you're increasingly, increasingly, you begin to recognize, I am grieving the spirit of God with the ways that I treat him and the ways that I treat others. And you gotta know, just so you don't like wanna give up, that's normal. [00:11:44] (24 seconds)
But as soon, baby, you left the strength for a second and it goes, starts going right back toward our old sinful nature. Are we hearing that? Now, Jesus, Jesus knows how to disengage the autopilot and reprogram it to go his way so that we start going the way of Jesus. But you and I can't reprogram. We can't disengage the autopilot. We can't reprogram it. But the spirit of Jesus, who is our sanctification. Somebody say my sanctification. He's the one who absolutely can do it. Now, here's what happens when we come to know Jesus. It's a Bible -y thing. We're going to be a little bit Bible -y and theological today. But I know that's fierce. So I know that you guys like the Bible and I know that you're going to love it. You're going to shout amen like so much. So much amens. You're just going to keep on going. [00:13:29] (48 seconds)
If you're in Christ, you are not charged with guilt anymore. Why? Because Jesus was charged with your guilt and that's already done and God doesn't charge somebody double anymore, okay? It's already done. So you're not charged with guilt, which otherwise would make them sinners before God, which in one sense you still sin, but you're no longer a sinner before God. Doggone it gets deep, dude, but the deep stuff is good. Can I just tell you? [00:17:09] (20 seconds)
I've been walking, doing this thing for five years, but I can't believe I'm back here. Jesus pulls your head to his chest and he reassures you, I promise you I'm going to complete the good work I began. I am your sanctification. I didn't just start it. I'm a completer. I'm an overcomer. I'm a finisher. [00:21:28] (21 seconds)
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