# 1. Redeemed and Renewed
Title: "Renewed and Redeemed: Embracing God's Transforming Grace"
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Psalm 51:10 (ESV): "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." This heartfelt plea from King David demonstrates his desire for spiritual renewal and transformation.
I remember trying to get approved for our first mortgage. There were a number of difficulties and it was very frustrating both for me, and I'm sure for our agent. But after all the sweat and tears we got approval and consequently the offer on the house we wanted was accepted. Some weeks later I called our guy again, that was his name, Guy. And gave him an update on our financial picture, wanting to make sure everything was still in order. My wife has taken this job, this credit card is paid off, we sold this vehicle.... things had happened and our financial picture was clearer and better. I thought Guy would be pleased, but he explained to me very politely ... IT DOESN'T MATTER. You are ALREADY approved. I could have quit my job, maxed out my credit cards, bought a dozen cars on credit ... that wouldn't have changed the equations. I was already approved.
Christian, you are already approved. God has accepted you, ALREADY. Not because of your efforts, not because you are worthy, because of GRACE.
Text… ALL things are new, the old has passed away. We’re renewed and redeemed!
Introduction: Scott Wylie writes… Renewal, as a biblical discipline, is a transformative process that Christians embark upon to rejuvenate their spiritual lives. It involves the deliberate effort to draw closer to God, shedding old ways and adopting a renewed mindset in alignment with His will. Throughout the Bible, God encourages His people to engage in the process of renewal, assuring them of His transformative power and grace.
God’s renewal is a transformative process that touches every aspect of a believer’s life. The Bible reveals that God not only redeems us from sin but also renews us, making us into new creations who reflect His character and live out His purposes. This renewal is an ongoing process that continues throughout our lives as we grow closer to God.
I. How Has God Renewed Us?
1. Renewing Our Minds- One of the primary ways God renews us is by transforming the way we think. Our natural minds are shaped by the world and our sinful desires, but through God’s grace, He renews our minds so that we can understand His will and align our thoughts with His truth.
Romans 12:2 speaks directly to this renewal: "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."
God Has Transformed Our Minds…
• Through the Work of the Holy Spirit- The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in renewing our minds. As believers, the Spirit lives within us, guiding us in truth and convicting us when our thoughts and actions stray from God’s path. The Holy Spirit helps us grow in spiritual understanding, bringing about inner transformation.
• By Shifting Our Focus to Godly Things- God renews our minds by helping us shift our focus away from negative, harmful, or sinful thoughts and toward things that are true, noble, and pure. As we intentionally focus on these godly virtues, our minds become more attuned to what pleases God, leading to inner transformation and growth.
• Through Community and Fellowship- God uses the community of believers to help renew our minds. Fellowship with other Christians can provide encouragement, accountability, and wisdom. Through sharing life with others who seek to follow Christ, we are challenged to think differently and to grow in our spiritual understanding.
• By Replacing Old, Sinful Patterns with New, Godly Ones- Renewing our minds involves leaving behind old, sinful habits and thought patterns. God calls us to put off our "old self" and to take on a new attitude in our minds that reflects the holiness and righteousness of Christ. This daily process of sanctification is God’s work in us, molding us to be more like Jesus.
2. Renewing Our Hearts- God also renews our hearts, giving us new desires, motivations, and a passion to live for Him. The Bible teaches that our hearts are naturally inclined toward sin, but through God’s renewing work, He replaces our sinful hearts with hearts that long for righteousness.
In Ezekiel 36:26, God promises: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
* A heart of flesh refers to a heart that is responsive, soft, and receptive to God's will and guidance. * This imagery contrasts with a heart of stone, which symbolizes hardness, stubbornness, and resistance to God's ways. * The phrase is used to describe the transformation that God promises to bring about in His people, turning their hearts from being spiritually hardened and rebellious to being sensitive and obedient to His commands.
3. Renewing Our Strength- In moments of weakness, weariness, or spiritual fatigue, God renews our strength. Life’s challenges can leave us physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained, but God promises to renew our strength when we trust in Him.
Isaiah 40:31 beautifully captures this promise: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
* This renewal of strength comes when we place our hope in God rather than relying on our own efforts. * God refreshes us with His power, enabling us to persevere and continue serving Him, even in the face of difficulties.
* This renewal is not just physical strength but also spiritual endurance, helping us to keep pressing forward in faith. * When we feel exhausted, God promises to give us the energy and strength we need to fulfill His purposes.
4. Renewing Our Spirit- God renews us spiritually by giving us new life through His Holy Spirit. This renewal is central to the Christian experience, as it marks the transition from spiritual death to spiritual life.
Titus 3:5 explains: "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."
• This renewal by the Holy Spirit is not just a one-time event but an ongoing process. Ephesians 5:18 says: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” The verb "be filled" is in the present continuous tense in Greek, which means it is an ongoing action. This indicates that being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event but something that must happen continually.
• The Holy Spirit continually works in us to renew our spirit, empowering us to live according to God’s will, resist temptation, and grow in holiness.
• Through this spiritual renewal, we experience a deeper relationship with God, growing in faith and becoming more like Christ.
Finally…As we open our hearts to God’s renewing power, we are called to trust in Him, seek His presence, and allow His Word and Spirit to guide us. 2 Corinthians 4:16 reminds us: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."
No matter what challenges we face, we can trust that God is at work within us, renewing and transforming us daily, as we walk in faith and obedience to Him.
II. The Blessings of Redemption:
1. Forgiveness of Sins- Ephesians 1:7 says: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."
* Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, the debt of sin has been paid in full, and we are no longer under its condemnation. Forgiveness is a blessing that restores our relationship with God and removes the barriers that sin creates between us and Him.
* The blessing of forgiveness also frees us from the burden of guilt and shame. We are no longer defined by our past mistakes or failures but are given a fresh start in Christ. This freedom allows us to live in peace, knowing that we are accepted and loved by God.
2. Adoption into God’s Family- Another blessing of redemption is our adoption into the family of God.
Galatians 4:4-5 explains: "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."
Adoption into God’s family is a gift of grace, a privilege that allows us to call God our Father. As His children, we are no longer outsiders but are given full access to His love, protection, and provision. This relationship is not based on our performance but on God’s unconditional love and grace.
3. Eternal Life- The ultimate blessing of redemption is the promise of eternal life. Before redemption, we were destined for spiritual death as a result of our sins. However, through Christ’s sacrifice, we are given the gift of eternal life, a life that begins now and continues forever in the presence of God.
Romans 6:23 explains: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Eternal life is more than just living forever—it is a life of perfect fellowship with God, free from sin, pain, and suffering. It is the fulfillment of God’s promise to make all things new, where we will experience the fullness of His presence and the joy of His kingdom.
Revelation 21:4 describes this future hope: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
“It is God’s Initiative to Save Us.” This shows us how much God approves of you.
Scripture: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Application: How Do We Wear These Great Gifts of Redemption and Renewal? What difference does it make in my daily living? Is horizontal grace missing in your life? You may have embraced God’s vertical grace to you, but missed its all-important connection in your relationships.
Chuck Swindoll tells the story: A magnificent example of horizontal grace came by watching the late Tom Landry while he was still coaching the Dallas Cowboys. The closer you got, the more you respected him. He was a man who lived under God’s grace, and he gave it away like few I’ve seen. This came into clear focus in his response to Woody Hayes.
Hayes coached the Ohio State football team for 28 years and took General George Patton as his model of leadership. His hard-nosed discipline gained him a reputation for being fiery. He was very difficult to please, had little tolerance for failure, and sometimes crossed the line when disciplining a player. Over his career, Hayes amassed an incredible win-loss record, but he also created a long list of offenses against players, parents, fans, and sports reporters. During the 1978 Gator Bowl, an opposing player intercepted an Ohio State pass and wound up on the Buckeyes’s sideline. Infuriated, Woody Hayes slugged the boy, nearly knocking off his helmet—all on national television.
Appropriately, Ohio State fired him the next day. But in the weeks that followed, the nation raged, reporters mercilessly piled on, and anyone with a grudge vented his spleen on the humiliated coach. He retreated in silence and shame behind drawn drapes and locked doors.
During that time, Coach Tom Landry was to attend a prestigious banquet in New York and he was free to ask a guest to join him. Normally, he would have taken his wife, Alicia. But this time he appeared with Woody Hayes. Landry’s poignant act of grace lifted Hayes out of his shame and silenced his tormenters. Grace has a way of doing that.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the incredible blessing of renewal. Thank You for renewing our minds, hearts, strength, and spirits through Your grace and power. We ask that You continue to work in us, shaping us into the image of Your Son. Help us to walk in the light of Your renewal, trusting in Your strength, and living out Your will. We give You all the glory and praise, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
