MIRACLE OF LIFE CHANGE

Sermon Notes, June 3, 2012

Pastor Jan Sinozich

Pastor Jan’s sermon was titled “Keeping the Unity,” and her text was Ephesians 4:3, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit, through the bond of peace.”  For the last two weeks the sermons have been about the miracle of change, and the word metamorphoo, or morphing.  Why do we need to do this?  2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that when we come to Christ, we are a NEW CREATION; OLD things have passed away, and ALL things have become new.

What is morphing?  It’s not an extreme makeover, or a face-lift; it’s not self-help or surface change.  It is a supernatural, inside-out change.  Our behavior on the outside needs to match what God has done on the inside.  We need to look like we’ve been transformed by God!

Here are three reasons we fail to morph.

1.      SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE.  We live in an age of biblical ignorance.  We don’t understand God’s Word.  It tells of justification, that Jesus died for us on the cross.  He paid the price of our disobedience; God required someone perfect to pay for our sin.  We can’t go through life earning our way—Jesus already paid.  God calls us to sanctification; being called, or set apart for relationship—with God and others; to walk by faith, through God’s grace. As Christians, our life goal is to master the contents of God’s Word.  Start today: let’s be People of the Book.

2.      SPIRITUAL ISOLATION.  We need each other.  We’ll never experience holy transformation—morphoo—until we are involved in regular, loving, accountable relationships, centered on God’s Word.  Model God’s word in your family, at work, and your daily walk.  Teach God’s word by they way you live.  Pride, the lack of a servant’s heart, keeps us from authentic community.  Having friends that you can share your heart with at the deepest level, centered on biblical truth, is a core component of a healthy life.

3.      SPIRITUAL MYOPIA.  We don’t see the big picture; we fail to see what is at stake in matching up who we are in Christ with how we live.  Our lives should reflect what we believe.  We need a higher view of God.   The bottom line is there is one body (you, me, and the Church).  There is one Spirit, one Son, one Father (working supernaturally).  There is one hope (we’re made for heaven; this world is not our home). (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Morphing, or holy transformation, requires biblical knowledge, authentic community, and a high view of God.