God has given us an agent of change, a helper to renew and direct us as we grow: the Holy Spirit. It is this Spirit that resurrects our spirit and can then serve to reorient our minds and thoughts onto service and submission to God’s will and purpose.
Observations:
- The unregenerate practice sin with a depraved mind
- The church must teach correct living
- The “Old Self” is corrupted by deceitful desires
- The “New Self” is created to be like God
Conclusions: characterized by:
- The Old Self – Hard-heartedness
1. Callousness – “So what?!”
2. Forfeit – “I might as well give in”
3. Sensuality – “If it feels good…”
4. Pleasure-seeking – “What else can I try?”
5. Selfish greed – “More for me!” - The New Self – Spirit-Mindedness
1. Is transforming
2. Is identity shaping
3. Is relationally maintained
4. Is strategic in spiritual warfare
5. Is virtue producing
Application: 3 stages 1. Heart 2. Heads 3. Hands
- Step #1 – Hearts: You need a new heart
1. Believe 2. Repent 3. Trust - Step #2 – Heads: You need to change how you think
1. Your desires deceive you
2. You are made new to reflect the character of God - Step #3 – Hands: You need to change how you live
What needs to be “put off”?What needs to be “put on”?
What you believe – lies / truth
What you feel – anger / conflict resolution
What you have – selfishness / generosity
What you speak – unwholesome talk / helpful talk; encouragement
How you treat others – ill-will / kind, compassionate, forgiving
But How? Look at Jesus
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Titus 2:1-8
“You, however, must teach what is in accordance to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”
James 1:13-15
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Colossians 3:5-8
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Ezekiel 36:26
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Matthew 5:48
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Luke 6:36
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Romans 15:7
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.”
Ephesians 5:2
“Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us.”
Colossians 3:13c
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
1 Peter 1:16
“Be holy as He is holy.”
1 John 1:7
“Walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light.”