Sermons

What The IDENTITY of a TRANSformed Life Means to the World

by Shawn Bain

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Scripture: Rm 12:6-21 Aug 30, 2023

As transformed Christians, we should demonstrate our new identity through genuine love, discernment between good and evil, affection and honor for our spiritual family, diligent service to the Lord, and other Christ-like traits.

We must remove selfish pride and conform our minds to God's will in order to fulfill the assignments He gives us according to the measure of faith we've received.

When the world sees these transformed traits lived out among us, they will understand the true meaning of discipleship and hopefully desire that same mercy and transformation from God.

Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Sure. Good to see everyone that is here this evening. Grateful for the chance that our God has given us to go through the day and to be as safe and to be as prosperous as we have, as well as being able to come together. To think in terms of what the Book of Pro, excuse me, the book of Psalm.

I'll get it right in just a minute. Romans chapter 12 and looking at verse six two, verse 21 says, the heat has just got to me, I guess is what it is. I don't know. Before I get into this, I want, I must tell you, That I appreciate very, very much, uh, by the elder's invitation to come and be with you in the few days that we were together.

Appreciate very much all of the kindnesses that you've shown to us from the beginning of our time together. We walk into the motel room and there's this big basket about as big as this pulpit stand full of goodies. And it most interesting thing about that is it has all of the things in it that we like.

Now, somebody's been talking. And I don't know who it is, but I'm glad they did because all those things are very, very appreciative and we appreciate very much the opportunity, more so than anything to be with you this week. We, uh, greatly, uh, have appreciated just your spirituality and your faithfulness and love for God and the songs that have been sung, the effort's been put forth in trying to blend those songs in what we're talking about.

The prayers that have been offered and the generosity, and those of you that have invited us to be with you at some other point in time during the week, I can only say thank you, uh, from my, the bottom of my heart, my sweetie is, uh, we are very grateful for that. I do know that one of the great endeavors besides making sure that I preach and teach the scripture is that you get to know my wife very well, and by the time that I'm done, you appreciate the fact that she was here more than you.

Appreciate the fact that I'm here. And she is, uh, just a wonderful, uh, I'd say blessing to what it is that we both do together in the preaching of the gospel. Appreciate the fact that we could be with all of you very, very much. And again with Reagan and Stephanie are very, very valuable friends of ours from many days gone by and I know you appreciate them very much.

The elders here. I want, I want to just say something to you and to your wives. Thank you for what service you rendered to the kingdom of God. And, um,

I know what you do. I know what you do. Shepherding is a valuable means of serving the congregation. As a result, you, you bestow that blessing of serving as a shepherd onto the members that are here, whether they're deacons, teachers, or whoever. And I do know the value of what you do, and it is absolutely appreciated by myself.

Whether or not others do, I, I, I just adore what you do. It is just absolutely wonderful.

Let let's get into, oh, I, there's a comment that was made I, I got to realize I've been here, I don't know if you'd call it long enough. Or too long when somebody comes up and says, well, is this gonna be a long sermon? That's the question I get. I, and I'm not, I'm not gonna say any names, but I'll talk to this person after we're done and we will, we'll compare notes and see.

But I want you to turn with me to Romans chapter 12. We had have endeavored to look very carefully at the first five verses. Of this chapter to talk about the means of trans being transformed, the identity of that being in this world. And while we think about that, there is, there is one word that I wanted you to think about with me, and that is once all these things that are stated in verse one, divers five put in their place of you having been given the invitation.

Also you've been willing to, by the mercies of God to sacrifice yourself in verse one. And then you find yourself not conforming to the world. In verse two, renew your mind and you wanna prove what is the goodwill of God. And then you see the assignment that we talked about last night in verse three to verse five.

The question usually comes up is to how what? In other words, the how that comes right after that says, what is it now that I'm supposed to demonstrate this transformation? Here's where we go, verse six, and having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us. Whether prophecy let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith or ministry, let us give ourself to ministry.

Or he that teaches to his teaching or he that exhorted to his exhorting, he that gives, let him do it with liberality. He that rules doing so with diligence. Either that showeth mercy with cheerfulness, let love be without hypocrisy. A poor that which is evil. Cleaved that which is good. And love of the brethren tenderly.

Affection one to another in honor preferring one another in diligence, not slothful. Fervent in spirit. Serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Continuing to steadfastly in prayer, communicating to the necessity of the saints given to hospitality. Bless them that persecute you. Bless and curse.

Not rejoice within the rejoice. Weep within the weep. Be of the same mind, one toward another set. Not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. Render to no man. Evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as in you lies.

Be peace with all men. Avenge not yourselves beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God. For it is written, vengeance belongs unto me. I will recompense, says the Lord. But if thy enemy hunger, feed him. If he thirsts, give him the drink. For, in so doing thou shalt, he close a fire upon his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

And I, I can't give you the reason as to why Paul put this list for these people. I could surmise so many different angles on this. There is something that I want you to look at with me though, and that is the statement that was made by Paul to Timothy as we talked about last night. In the book of one Timothy chapter four, that will help us understand a little bit, uh, maybe a basis for why it is that we can look at these things and at the same time, apply them and not forget them.

First Timothy chapter four, Paul says to Timothy verse 14, neglect not the give that is in the, which was given the prophecy with a laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Be diligent in these things. Giving thyself wholly to them that thy progress may be manifest to all take heed of thyself into thy teaching.

Continuing these things for, in doing this, thou shalt say both thyself, and then the hear thee. Paul is giving this information to Timothy, knowing that he's received something from God by the hands of the presbytery in verse 14. And it's not so much that you take that. And, uh, and, and brag about it, and boast about it and say, I've got something.

You don't have the responsibility. Now, once you receive this assignment, like we were talking about in Romans chapter 12, is you give yourself holy to them so that progress may be manifested. And that's what we ended with a little bit last night. It second Thessalonians chapter one, verse three. That was one of the prayers that Paul offered for the brethren that he witnessed their progress, all because of the knowledge of faith of scripture.

Then he, he emphasizes the value of this. So there's something to be said for realizing, when you look at what verse 16 says, there's a dual benefit, two being transformed. One is it saves you, you're saved. But when you go out into the world, what value is that gonna mean to them? Well, it's helping teach and save them that hear what you've got to say as well as what you do.

Therefore, you can go out and teach somebody the gospel, lead them to the point of transformation, but there's a good, very good time of which they're gonna look and see what you're gonna do first. It's like what I said last night. They'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day. And as a result of that, that is an intriguing thing.

And we'll talk a little bit more about that in some of these points that we make here in the book of Romans, chapter 12, verse six, two verse 21. We're not gonna cover all of those. We're gonna cover maybe about half of 'em and when Lord will, we'll talk about the rest of 'em tomorrow night. I do realize that when you get to the last chapter of the book of Romans, why would this be so important that they will be people once you get through chapter one through 11?

Understand the means of salvation. In the midst of what the Gentiles did, what the Jews did. Everybody's in sin come through the glory of God. Then you see the need for faith, grace, obedience, no matter of how it is that we need to remove ourself from the old law, come into the new law, abide by that because there is no condemnation for those that follow Jesus Christ.

Romans eight verse one, and then when you get to chapter 12, what's the point of all these things he mentions here? Notice in the book of Romans chapter 16, something very interesting to me in verse 14, I myself also am persuaded of you brethren, that you selves are full of goodness filled with all knowledge able also to minus one another.

I'm must tell you something about that verse that will be the exact mindset that I will have and dying I will have when we leave you, Lord with me tomorrow night. I'll have that same thought of this very thing, but he says, I'm writing the more bolding to you and some measure is putting you again in remembrance because of the grace of God that was given me by God.

And that same phraseology is the same thing that you'll see in the book of Romans chapter 12 verse three. By the grace of God, they receive this as a measure of faith. That I should be a minister of Christ Jesus under the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable.

Being sanctified by Holy Spirit, the conversion of the Gentiles as well as the Jews, not to be conformed to the world, but be transformed by their new nevermind is something of which he's praying for that will be continuing in their life. Therefore, as a result of that, you're getting into all these things that are listed here in the book of Romans chapter 12, verse six to verse 21.

All these things kind of tie in together, and one of the first things he talks about in this list here is the idea of prophecy, being the messenger, being that mouthpiece of God's revelation. But he goes further, he says, how about ministry? Serving in an area where God needs you. And I can't just say, okay, he needs you just over here with these young people.

He needs you over here with these older people. He needs you over there, down by the lower parts of the cv, where there are people that are homeless and don't have anything and anybody to call their friend, but it could be anywhere. Then the matter of teaching, just instructing God's grace to other people.

And then he goes on further and talks about exhorting. You would think of that as someone like Barnabas in the book of Acts, chapter 11, verse 23, that when he was, had witnessed all those people that were in the Antioch that were converted, then he encourages him more. It's not like, okay, once you're saved, you don't have to worry about anything else.

You're saved, and that's it. It's a matter of the salvation of which was witnessed in them. He said, I want you to clean to the Lord. One of the most interesting things you'll see in Hebrews chapter three is a very significant phrase of which the Hebrew writer says about how valuable it is to be exhorted by other people.

Where it says in verse 12, take Hebrew brethren less happily there might be any one of you. An evil heart of unbelief and falling away from the living God. Why would it be so important that there will be people exhorting each other? Why would that be so valuable in the means of a transformed individual?

Because they're people that need to be encouraged not to go back to where they were, or at least be ticked by something else that will cause them to fall away. Verse 13, exhort one another day by day, so long as it's called today. Let anyone of you be hardened by the deceitful of sin. Makes perfect sense.

As to why he wouldn't use the idea of ex exhortation. But it goes further and talks about the idea of giving, sharing what it is that you have with other people. It's not to be kept for yourself according to what you see in scripture. In the book of one John chapter three, verse 17 and 18, he talks about all those worldly goods that you've got, and he says, whoever has this world's goods, Beholds his brother in need and shuts up his compassion from him.

How does the love of God about in him? Verse 18, my little children let us not love in word neither with a tongue, but indeed in truth, and you see that value. But one of the most interesting things about giving and sharing with anybody in any time has a lot to do with what you do First. And by the scriptures in the book of one Corinthians, chapter eight, verse five.

The reason these people in Corin or in say in other places were doing what they were doing in Macedonia to the needs of other people is because they first gave themselves to the Lord. Now, that doesn't mean you may not give because you haven't given yourself first of Lord. You could give anyway. But for the person that's transformed to be different than everybody else in the world, their identity is gonna be giving and sharing with what they have to others because of the fact that they've been given mercy by God to be a child of God and they don't mind and want to give to other people.

Right? They're, they're ready to. You just ask them and they're ready to go. Then we go a little bit further. We talk about this one in the scriptures of which you see here. In the book of Romans chapter 12, he talks about this ruling or leading some versions, even may use the word shepherd. It's a diligent effort with a lot of serious energy on the part of the individual to lead, let their life be led right by the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, as well as trying to lead others in the same direction.

It's just like Hebrews chapter three, verse 12 and 13 was talking about just a minute ago. And then we get to this one right here. And this list, Terry is talking about showing mercy, loving and caring.

And it's not because they deserve it, it's because they need it. It's because they need it. There are about. If you start at verse six and go all the way down to verse 21, there's about, depending on how you count them, is between 20 to 30 different traits and different means of responsibility of those people that are transformed, that identify them different than the disoriented world of which we live.

Therefore, when he comes along in verse two and he says, conform not to the world, but be transformed by the ign. Renew your mind. The tendency is to say, okay, well what's the difference between me and my neighbor? What's the difference between me and the people I work with? What's the difference between me and everybody else in my family who doesn't believe God?

What's the difference between me and the people I go to school with? What's gonna be the difference? There are males, there are females. If there's girls, go to school with me. Boys go to school with me. Men and women all over the co. What's the difference though? And these are gonna be the different traits.

Some have even included that. These seven in this list right here, three of 'em, which talk about gifts of utterance with your speech, and four of 'em talk about the gift of assistance or the gift of service to other people, like ruling or exhorting, things of that nature. So there's a lot to be said for understanding the value of this.

And please know you, you, when you see all these differences, it's kinda like what we talked about last night. These differences are blending together in a united body, and it's not competition. Neither one of these is competing with the other. They're both lending themselves to the body of Christ and its growth.

And this is something of which Paul is hoping at the end of the book in Romans chapter 16, that will be witnessed by them and it'll be different than what they were before they've ever became a Christian. And they will see the difference and others will notice it too.

So let's just think about a little image here before we get into the remainder of this beginning of verse nine in just a minute. And let's talk about a visitor that comes in the building here. First time they've ever come. I don't know if they saw the sign, decided to come in, maybe by personal invitation.

Maybe they're just walking down the street, maybe they're just driving through 10. I don't know what the reason would be for them to come, but when they do come in, would there be the possibility that either one of these seven could be witnessed by them?

Somebody in the world I would say. If so, then that's a good indication of good sign that we are working on the transformation and the identity that we have that is different than the people of the world because the comments have been made to me in the congregations that I've been associated with, specifically the one where we are, there's something different about what you're doing compared to what I've seen before.

There's something different, something that I've never heard before. As a result of all those comments that are made and the witnessing of that, that is your part in bringing about an understanding of what it means to be transformative, which they've never, never seen before. Now, they may think it's weird and unusual, but the more that it's practiced and the more they see it, the more they're gonna value the fact that they could be transformed by the mercies of God, just like you and I are.

One of the most difficult things, and, and I'm gonna make a reference here to the class that I, that Diane, I attended with the young people, uh, the middle school and the high school class at Reagan and Stephanie's house on Saturday night. I let 'em read this list, verse nine through verse 21, and I asked them the question.

I said, which one of these, which one of these? And you could use every one of 'em. Which one of these do you believe? You would like to see demonstrated the most above all of them, and ask him why. So let's look at the first one where he says, here in this text he says, let's let love be without hypocrisy.

Let love be genuine. And that was one of the comments that was made. I'd rather see this one. And if you, if you sit there and you think about it just a minute, about how convoluted the idea of love has become, then it makes sense how it is that there should be a true, genuine, pure demonstration of this without hypocrisy.

So that just indicates to you that there are people out here who are faking it. I mean, they're casting some kind of cloak or veneer or cover over what they're really doing and what they really feel by just telling you, I love you. It's so fake and so superficial, and as a result of this, Paul is saying, don't let any of that superficial and fake love ooze out of you.

Not one, because here's what we've got a problem with. In one John four, in verse 20, he says, if a man says, I love God and hates his brother. He's a liar and he that loves not his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. This is the commandment which you have from him, that he who loves God, loves his brother also.

So you've got the hypocrisy in verse 20, but you got the genuine pardon in verse 21. So to say what Paul says here is a very true thing. So let, let me just look at it from the standpoint of what would be going on possibly, and I cannot surmise everything about this, but let's say there were Jews out there that said they loved other Jews and there's this gentile that comes along and he realizes because he works around and maybe has been associated with this person's a Jews somewhere in the past.

And he says, He's a fake. He's an absolute fake 'cause I know he doesn't like this man. I know he doesn't love him. Even though he says he does for the Gentile. They're looking for something genuine for the Jew. He's not demonstrating it. So therefore, we got a convoluted, disoriented world. They don't know what love is.

Therefore, to let love be without hypocrisy is a matter of making this love. As one Timothy chapter one, five says, out of a pure heart, letting it be demonstrated so other people will know exactly what love is. And as Paul was talking about in his list of characteristics of love, in one Corinthians 13, verse six, he says, love rejoices with the truth.

Truth is demonstrated with love. You can't say, I love the brethren, hate your spouse. Can't say, I love my spouse. Hate the brethren. I mean, we're, we're having conflicting ideas of what love's all about, but the end of the charge is this. Therefore, don't let love be puffed up with something artificial. But then he goes on there, he goes further.

He says, okay, let's do this. Let's pour that, which is evil and clean to that, which is good. And when you look at this, this is pretty straightforward. I mean, there's, you can't really mess this up, can you? Only if only if you're trying to make one be the other. Like the book of Isaiah five talked about and Isaiah chapter five, verse 20, when the people of Judah were delivered, this message was delivered to them.

There's an interesting thing that happened. In their life. And that is they were trying to call evil good verse 20 and Good Evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness. That put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. And there are people today in our counterculture trans culture or taking good.

Making it evil and taking evil and making it get good,

and that just kind of disorients people's mind. Well, I've lived by this neighbor for a long time and, and he goes to church and, and their family is wonderful, and all of a sudden you're telling me that, oh man, they're evil. What is there about them? That's evil. They're honest working people, and they're valuable folks.

You're telling me they're evil

and then they talk about the evil is good. Yeah, I know The circumstances in their life were not the best. I know it's tough for them. You know, if I was them, I'd go out and steal something too. We're looking at the evil and the false as if that's. Good.

We just don't make evil, evil, and we don't become the ones who make good good. It's all by definition of what God says is good because you go back to the book of Romans, chapter 12 verse two, you're proving what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God? Not what I say is good. It's what God says is good.

Now if, if we wanna try to hold onto both at the same time, we're gonna have a hard time according to Matthew 6 24, because you're gonna hate the one, love the other hold. The one despise the other. You can't serve both at the same time. You can't hold them both. One in one hand, one on the other said, I can do this.

I can juggle this act. It's like oil in water. It doesn't mix. No more than it does in the minds of God. According to what is stated in one Thessalonians chapter five, he says something in verse 21 by saying, prove all things hold fast. That which is good. Now, if you, if you look the very first part of the statement in verse 21, prove all things, do you think that that would mean that the idea of good and evil is kind of clouded and you, and you really don't know?

Or is the prove all things give you a very clear understanding that there's a very good possibility that a distinction between good and evil can be made. Especially when he says, hold fast. That which is good and especially when you get to verse 21, abstain from every form of evil. That may be why prove all things is there hold fast at, which is good.

And abstain from every appearance of evil. Romans chapter 12 verse nine of or that which is evil cle that which the good makes perfect sense. One that would be there if we want to try to hold on to both at the same time, proverb writer has something to say about this. In Proverbs 1715, he says it this way, he that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the righteous.

Both of them are like an abomination to Joel. Justify the wicked condemn, the righteous. Both of them are alike as an abomination to Jehovah, but let's go further. Let's talk about this one. Let's talk about love one another, the way he states it here, and love of the brethren be tenderly affectionate one to another, and honor preferring one another.

I don't have all of that stated here upon the overhead, but the summation of verse 10 is we need to be the people who have this brotherly affection for one another. It, it's very, it's, it's very much the idea that we're family. We are family, and as a result of being family, we are the people. As fellow family members, believers in the church, transforming individuals, we show affection toward one another to demonstrate the love that was shown to us.

And a statement that was looked at earlier in the book of one Corinthians 12, verse 12, verse 18, goes on further to say, In verse 22. Much rather, those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, necessary, and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, we need to bestow more abundant honor.

And our unlink comely parts have more comeliness, whereas our comely parts have no need. But God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked so that there will be no cision in the body, that the members should have the same care, one for another. Very much demonstrates the phrase of which he mentions here.

Romans chapter 12, show this affection, show this honor. In other words, it shouldn't be very well witnessed in my life and in yours that the people that we prefer to be around and we honor the most. Are the people that are definitely believers as we are, definitely we elevate those people to whom we're closest and hopefully for the transformed individual.

He or she will pick the Christian as the one that want to be with first. And that was, that was kinda laid out for us before the Romans ever knew it, before the book of Romans were ever written. Jesus. In the book of John 13th chapter, verse 34, was talking to people about how it would be that other people would know his disciples.

He said, I'll give a new commandment to you that you love one another, even as I love you so, so love one another. And he says, by this, by that demonstration of love, all men will know that you're my disciples. If you have loved one to another. Again, it goes back to this idea of what we're looking at. If there's a disoriented world out there that doesn't know what family love is like, and especially a spiritual family that should be loved one another's, like if they don't, of all they've heard and all they witnessed is this fight, this fight, this division, this division, then they're, they've got this very skewed understanding of what love the brethren's all like.

They've heard it all they like, but yet there's nothing that really shows them what this is supposed to be. Hopefully until they walk in the doors of this building with these people,

and then they know exactly what Jesus was referring to for This is such a selfless, generous group of people who have the mindset. Philippians chapter two, where if there's any joy, if there's any constellation of love and if there's any unity among us, it's because these people look out to the things of others.

And right after that he says, have this mind in you, which is also on Christ Jesus. It's because these people behave the way the transform people behave. Well, let's go to this one. This is, this is one that's kind of, oops, this, this kind of put all together here by saying this in verse 11, in diligence, not s lawful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

Have you ever met an effervescent Christian? I'll, very zealous, boiling over enthusiastic child. New American Center renders this by saying, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord New international version says it this way. Never be lacking in zeal, but keeping your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

The English standard version you might have says, do not be lawful in zeal. Be fervent in the spirit, serving the Lord. You might be, you're passionately involved. You're keeping the spiritual life boiling. An attitude that never does faith. It's just a practice that just keeps going and going and going.

It's a, it's a behavior that never loses its appeal. It, we we're so involved in this work of the Lord, it just never, ever stops with us. This. We love doing this because this is the means of a transformed individual. This is their identity, and everybody knows 'em because of this. They're always working for the Lord.

And you don't have to call it elder deacon, preacher, teacher. You call it Christian. And when you call it Christian, they're just like this. And it attacks all this negative attitude that can't, we can. Won't with will

and don't with do. It puts all those in its proper perspective. The spirit is totally opposite of laziness. So therefore, as a result of this, I think this one segment of this list is gonna reduce and probably eliminate any possibility, boredom in the family of God

and all these anxious moments that people have. It takes all that away because you're so working so well, working in the famine of God. You don't have time to worry about anything or afraid of anything or doubt anything. You're working because God asked you to do it, and he's looking at this and saying, you know, this is totally opposite or predestination.

It is. It's totally opposite of predestination. Predestination would say, don't worry about it. You're picked out. You're selected. You don't have to worry about anything. You just move on through life, however you want to go. But this takes that away. It's a matter of not being one that thinks I'm there, but it's not earn, we we're not doing this to earn anything.

This, this, this matter of what he says here in diligence, not lawful affirm in spirit, serve the Lord, does not remove mercy. It does not remove love. It does not remove grace. It does not remove obedience. It does not stop the goodness of God. It is because of the mercies of God that a person would do this.

Very similar words in one Corinthians chapter 1558. Wherefore, my beloved brethren be steadfast, immovable, steadfast, immovable, constantly, always abounding. He says, in the work of little word, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain, the Lord. I mean, this is a continuous effort. Whatever you do, first Corinthians chapter 10 31, whatever you do in eating or drinking, whatever you do, do alter the glory of God with energy, with passion, with Zia, with desire.

With anticipation, with hope of going to heaven. And when you do what you do, we could, we could lo go over read if he's in chapter five, chapter six, where he says The things that you're doing, whether you're a parent, you're a child, you're work, you're a slave, you're a master, you're boss, your employee, whoever it may be.

One of the things that was stated in class of chapter three was so significant where he said in verse 23, whatever you do, work, hardily as unto the Lord and none of the men. Knowing that from the Lord, you shall receive the recompense of the inheritance. You serve the Lord Jesus. You serve Jesus Christ, you be the one that's diligent and you realize how serving Christ is the highest privilege, privilege known to man.

That's the highest privilege.

Okay, let's stop right here. Let's stop right here. We'll talk about the rest of 'em with tomorrow night and talk more about this. But when you think about what goes on here, do I want you to, I hope you can see one thing. Well, no, two things. One is that self is just removed from the picture, and let me, I like let give you an example of that real quick.

Like in the book of Romans chapter 12 to do all these things. He says, you come out away from you and you do for others. But you will notice what takes place in Romans chapter 16, although this is a very significant thing where he says, he says, I beseech you brethren that that the same thing you said in Romans 12 verse one, I beseech you brethren, marked them that caused the division and occasion of assembling contrary to the doctrine which you learn and turn away from them.

There's somebody out there that's acting more conform to the world than they are transformed, says they are such as sir, not our Lord Jesus, but their own belly. And by their smooth and fair speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent you. You see the direction of which this person's going. It is not transformed by the renewing of his, of the mind, but it's conforming to the world.

And just like the world, they're serving their own belly. They're wanting to do everything that suits them and their pleasure and their worth, and what makes them feel good. You don't gain anything in the family of God like that. You, you don't especially bring it to the point of growing. Living in a way which makes God extremely valuable is the life of the transformed person.

And these things that we've discussed tonight are part of the identity of the transformed, which as I stated before is, is it in many instances, and I would say totally different than everything that you will see in the world. Everything you'll see, you might see some similarities like a man like Cornelius would do, or maybe Lydia would do.

She'd go pray. She'd go out and pray by the seashore, or you would see people do things like the eunuch would do. He'd be very forward and loyal to his work. You, you might see those people do those things. But when all those people like the eunuch and the jailer and Lydia, and about those 3000, all those people were saved and converted, transformation, radical changes took place in their life, the direction in which their life took, all because of God's mercy, and inviting them to be identified as a transformed person.

And the same thing can happen to you as to me as well. Believe in Jesus as the Christ. Would you not repent? And I'm not saying you've got just a few things to do. Take this off, add this one on, or maybe you've got one, add a little bit more. I'm talking about radical changes because as Luke 13 three says, unless you repent, you'll perish.

Confess in the name of Jesus the Christ. Who brings you by the mercies of God into his kingdom and your obedience and baptism where all things are washed away. Like Romans six was talking about old's crucified. And now this new man is acquired.

Not only will you see the difference, but the rest of the people in the world would witness it in you too. And there will be your calling. To be a disciple of Jesus, do what's right. Well, together we sing this song.

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