A Transformed Discipe
By: Pastor Donny Granberry
Today I want to ask you a question and offer a resolution to that Question.
The Question is, “Are you a disciple or follower of Christ?”, and if so, “What distinguishes that to others?”
You see, many believe that the function of the church is to save people, but that is not what the bible teaches.
The church cannot save people, that is only possible through the vicarious work of Christ on the cross.
The church is a place for corporate worship, but the function of the church is to make disciples.
Just as Christ reproduced himself through people (His Disciples), we are to reproduce Christ through others through the making of Disciples.
This all begins with transformation.
If he that is in Christ is a new creation, then we can agree that to become a new creation we must be transformed.
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer 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.
The Lord’s chilling appraisal of the Laodicean church should sober up anyone.
• The Laodicean church was not cold, but it was not hot.
• They were lukewarm.
• Things were rocking along just fine.
• They had become rich, they had increased in goods, and they had need of nothing.
Many Pastors might have thought, boy, I’d like to pastor that church.
God said that they were miserable and poor, wretched, blind and naked.
God is saying, you compromised, you claim Christianity, but in reality, you are spiritually miserable.
The ultimate success of the church is in transformed disciples.
The reason that the church is not having the desired impact on the world today is because the world has no concept of how Christians are different from everyone else.
What do people of the world think about Christianity?
1. They don’t understand where we come from.
Transformed Disciples Should Be Different.
It should be a comfort to disciples to realize that the world did not understand where Jesus came from.
Jesus acted different and he spoke different.
The world saw Jesus as a remarkable man but could not accept Him as the product of the supernatural.
They thought of Him as just another human being.
The world thinks the Christian is just another human being – the product of blood.
Blood – DNA, you are what your family history says you are.
They are not alone in their thinking.
There are many on church rolls today who believe they are Christians because Christianity is in their blood line.
• I was born into a Christian family
• I can’t remember a time when I did not attend church
• My family has been a part of this denomination since it began.
These are wonderful facts as long as you do not think you are a Christian because of them.
ILLUSTRATION
Every year in the beginning of the fall they begin to give out flu shots.
It does not matter if you Mom and Dad get flu shots.
“” “” “”” if your grandparents get flu shots.
“” “” “” if all of your Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins get them.
If you want to be protected, you must get your own flu shot.
You cannot become immune because of them.
People of the world don’t know where Christians come from, and some think Christians are…
2. Produced Through the Will of the Flesh.
You cannot become a Christian by human resolve or influence.
Many in the world believe that all you need to become a Christian is to join a Christian church, or to believe in God, and if you want to be a really good Christian, it takes a lot of work.
This type of thinking says that if a person does so many good works, God will not turn them away from heaven.
It would be a tortuous effort to attempt to find salvation through human effort.
This salvation is a product of self-righteousness rather than faith in the finished work of Calvary.
Let’s not confuse works with rewards.
ILLUSTRATION
The story goes that a man had a dream. He stood at the gate of Heaven and confronted Peter. The man asked, “What does it take to get into Heaven?”
Peter answered, “One Thousand Points.”
OK the man said, “I have been faithful in church attendance all my life.” Peter said, “That’s one point.”
The man could not believe it, he then added, “I was a deacon in my church for over 20 years.” Peter said, “That’s another point.”
Getting very anxious the man said, “I did many good things to help people.” Peter said, “That’s another point.”
In great despair the man said, “If all I can get is three points for a long life in the church and doing good works, I guess I’m just gong to have to throw myself on the mercy of God and the love of Christ displayed on the cross.”
Peter said, “That’s a thousand points; come on in.”
Ephesians 2:4-9 NIV
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
You are saved by Grace, through faith and not works, it is the gift of God and no works would ever be enough.
People of the world don’t know where Christians come from, some think Christians are produced through the will of the flesh, while others think people become Christians …
3. Through the will or plan of man.
This view says that people become Christians because they have been cultured into the church by well-meaning parents and friends.
Remember this; do not be deceived into believing that discipline without spiritual life is enough to become a Christian.
Christians are born of God through a powerful, super-natural act.
It demands the impossible – a new being through a spiritual birth.
Some think that Christianity is about being good.
If you do good, you’ll be good.
Jesus’ teachings say, “First be good, then you’ll do good.”
Jesus said, “You must be born again.”
You must be transformed.
You see, becoming a Christian begins with transformation.
You see, you cannot help someone become a disciple, a follower of Christ without transformation because discipleship is a spiritual process.
Just as there is no life without birth in the natural, there is no life without birth in the spiritual.
You cannot become a Christian through the will or plan of man.
Christ said that He is willing that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The two thieves on the cross, one said Remember me, or forgive me, and at that very moment he was transformed.
There were no works of human will or nature there, only the work of Grace and Mercy.
SONG
Justice demanded that I should die, but your grace and mercy said I’ve already paid the price.
Your grace & mercy, has brought me through, I’m living this moment because of you.
You can only become a Christian through receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior and committing your life to Him.
