Transformed Sermon Series Part 2 - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Nov 9, 2023
- 3 min read
Transformed Sermon Series Part 2
Chapel Sermon Series
"An Amazing Transformation"
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
A. This is an Antagonizing verse – many people argue and debate what this verse really means.
There are actually pastors that believe that if you preach this verse, you believe in a works-based salvation.
B. This is an Affirming verse – understanding this verse brings great assurance.
The Bible gives us many “tests” of true salvation.
This verse does just that.
C. This is an Amazing verse – the truths that are hidden in the words of this verse is amazing!
This is an amazing verse, for a number of reasons.
It is amazing when we understand…
I. The Scope – “…if any man…”
Make no mistake about it.
Every person that gets saved gets transformed.
This transformation does not have a 10% or 25% or 60% success rate.
Every person that God ever touched, He changed.
Every person that God ever saves, He transforms.
It doesn’t matter what their background is.
If they were churched or unchurched.
If they had a Christian background or not.
If they had good pastors as a child or not.
When God saves a person, He changes all of them.
II. The Stipulation – “…in Christ…”
The conditions for this change; the stipulations; the key component in this transformation is being IN CHRIST!
Professing Christ won’t do it.
Pretending to know Christ won’t do it.
Being related to people that are in Christ won’t do it.
Being surrounded by people that are in Christ won’t do it.
In order to experience this transformation, you must be IN CHRIST!
That is just another way of saying “born again” or “saved”.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
III. The Significance – “…he is a new creature…”
The truth of this phrase is amazing.
God literally makes us a new creation.
We cannot remain the same, if we are a new creature.
The old creature was dead; we are made alive.
The old creature was a child of the darkness; we are now children of the light.
The old creature was blind; we have been given sight.
The old creature was a sinner; we have been made saints.
The old creature was a child of Satan; we are a child of God.
The old creature was under the wrath of God; we are not.
The old creature was the enemy of God; we are the friend of God.
The significance of this verse is amazing in that when we got saved, God started a new work all over again.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
IV. The Severance – “…old things are passed away…”
As the old song says, “The things I used to do, I don’t do them anymore.”
There’s been a great change, since I’ve been born again!
The Bible is filled with story after story of this very thing taking place in the life of a new convert.
Mary Magdalene that had 7 devils started worshipping Jesus.
The maniac of Gadara that lived in the tombs and cut himself sat at the feet of Jesus in his right mind.
Zacchaeus stopped stealing money and started returning it.
Saul stopped killing preachers and became one.
The Philippian jailer went from trying to commit suicide to washing the stripes of Paul and Silas.
We could go on and on.
When Jesus meets up with a person, and saves them, the old life is severed from.
V. The Substitution – “…all things are become new…”
When God takes something away, He replaces it with something better.
God is not a God that delights in depriving His children of fun and blessing.
It’s quite the contrary.
God causes the old things to pass away because the new things are so much better!
For example:
The old way of dating results in teenage pregnancy and diseases; the new way results in purity and holiness.
The old way of listening to music makes you suicidal and perverts your mind; the new way glorifies God.
The old way of watching movies fuels lustful thoughts and develops ungodly world views; the new way is wholesome.
The old way of chasing your dreams ends in heartbreak and failure; the new way brings joy and fulfilment.
The old way of dressing makes you look sensual and worldly; the new way is modest and protects you.
The old way of talking is vulgar and disrespectful; the new way is kind, intelligent and speaks grace to the hearer.
The old way of spending your free time is selfish, wasteful and sinful; the new way is clean and holy and godly.
Conclusion: The question I have for you today is this – when did this amazing transformation take place in you?
The Bible is clear – when Jesus saves a person, He makes a change.
There is not one single example in the Bible of a person that God touched that remained the same. Not one!
