KJV Sermon Outlines

Changed......But How Much?

When we were baptized into Christ, a great change took place.
A. Some of this change was a direct result of God working on our sin sick souls.
1. God performed an operation upon our souls....
He circumcised us.
a. Not a physical circumcision, but a spiritual one.....a circumcision of the
heart and soul.
2. When this operation was performed, we were changed in multiple ways.
a. We became members of the Family of God.....we are now children of God.
b. We were taken from the kingdom of darkness and placed in the Kingdom of Light.
c. Our attitudes changed from one of fear and despair to one of hope and promise.
d. We were no longer destined for destruction but we were placed on the
path of salvation.

Many things took place in the waters of baptism.
1. In truth.....we died and came back to life!!!

Read: Romans 6:6-13
It is quite apparent that the change that takes place is through the power of God........BUT.....it is also apparent that God expects some changes to be made by the one being converted.
A. Converted means to change for the better.....an improvement.....a change that can used to benefit others, as well as self.

An electrical “transformer” converts or transforms an electrical voltage to a higher
or lower voltage, as may be needed......its product benefits those using electricity.

A power converter (inverter) can be plugged into our cigarette lighter and it will change 12 volts, D.C. to 120 volts, A.C........in other words, it gives us the capability of plugging many household appliances into the converter (inverter) in our cars.

In every one of these examples, a change MUST TAKE PLACE FOR THEM TO BE USEFUL. If that change does not take place, they are useless to the user.
A. It can be said that for us to be useful and functioning in the Kingdom of God.....as a part of the Family of God............A CHANGE MUST TAKE PLACE!
1. But how much of a change is expected, by God?
What takes place at baptism?........We essentially die, and then come back to life as a Child of God.

The scriptures explain the change that takes place from death to life far better than anyone else could.

I Cor. 15:35-38 “But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.”

1. In this illustration we see the death and life of a seed.
a. Corn seeds are so completely different from a fresh corn stalk that there could be
no comparison.

God’s Word goes on to compare a fleshly body with the body that will be created when Christ returns.

1 Cor. 15:42 – 49 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”

2. Again, we see the total and absolute change that comes about from death to life.
a. It’s not a little change......it’s not a temporary change.....it’s not a hidden
inner change.

If we were changed at the time of our baptism, the change should follow the same direction as these changes.
A. It should be complete, total, all encompassing, real, and combined with the power of God and the will of our hearts and souls.
1. Our change should be as total and complete as the grain of corn to the green shoot of corn.....as our fleshly body to the eternal and spiritual body.
B. It should be a visible change.
1. Many things will change inside.....in our hearts, but the fruit of that change should be seen.
a. By us and by those who witness this transformed life.

How much do we need to change? Have we really changed.....or are we faking it?

Is the change that we have experienced still working in us or have we changed back to who we were to begin with?

You be the judge.

I. Christians need to overcome the control of sin in their lives!

Before they were changed by baptism, sin ruled in their lives......they gave in to the urges, temptations, desires, and lusts of satan......they lived to satisfy their own desires.

Rom. 6:16-18 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

A. In the life of a born again child of God......sin should be the occasional exception.........NOT THE NORM OF EVERYDAY LIFE.
1. Christians have changed from the old patterns that they were following when they were slaves to satan and to themselves.

IN WHAT WAY HAVE YOU CHANGED ?

II. When the changed happened within, it would have been displayed without.......in other words, there should, by cause and effect, be a visible fruit of that change within.

A. This fruit of conversion will manifest itself in some visible ways.
1. Our working as hard for the Kingdom of God as we worked for evil in the kingdom of darkness.
2. Our attitude towards God and towards our fellow man.
3. Our hearts easily touched and moved by the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
4. Our readiness to sacrifice.....even the hardest things to sacrifice....even life, itself (if necessary).
5. Including God in every aspect of our lives.......praying to Him and listening for Him in everything that we do.

III. Our minds have been transformed....changed. Before we died to sin, our minds took whatever path they might wish to take.......NOW......our minds are set on a course....a path....a direction that is controlled by the “New Man”.

Romans 8:5 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

II Cor. 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

A. Our minds should have changed.....they are now on a new direction.....under new control.
1. Now that we are of the Spirit.....we think on spiritual things......we consider the Spirit in all of our decisions.

IV. Our hopes, our trust, our confidence has changed since we have died and come back to life.
A. We used to place all our hopes, trust, and confidence in that which we could see or know....our trust was in our powers and abilities.
1. Financially - We trusted in our earning power, our bank accounts, our credit history, or in fate or blind luck.
2. Physically - We trusted in our own muscles....our ability to perform.....vitamins, exercise, doctors, medicine, etc.,
3. Spiritually - We trusted in the NON-EXISTANCE OF GOD, HEAVEN, HELL,
AND THE CONSEQUENCES TO OUR ACTIONS.
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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