Real Transformation:Real Transformation:The Fruit of the Way of the The Fruit of the Way of the

CrossCrossThe Way of the Cross Series [8]The Way of the Cross Series [8]

Selected ScripturesSelected Scriptures

November 3, 2013November 3, 2013

Pastor Paul K. KimPastor Paul K. Kim

JESUS’ TEACHING ON REAL TRANSFORMATION

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate,

but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly

appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23:25-28

JESUS’ TEACHING ON REAL TRANSFORMATION

• The Wrong Approach: To clean the outside of the cup only—outwardly they appear good to others but inwardly they are full of hypocrisy and evil [Pseudo Transformation].

• The Right Approach: To clean FIRST the inside of the cup and then the outside also will be clean [Real Transformation].

PSEUDO TRANSFORMATION VS. REAL TRANSFORMATION

Pseudo Transformation Real Transformation

Conformed to cultural Christianity

Need for improvement

Focus on the visible: behavior changes

Change: Outside-In (“Problems are fixed.”)

Conformed to Christlikeness

Need for repentance

Focus on the invisible:

heart changes

Change: Inside-Out(“The heart is transformed.”)

PSEUDO TRANSFORMATION

Sin in Our Behavior

(Sin in Our Heart)

visible level

invisible level

Changes on

the Outsid

e

REAL TRANSFORMATION

Sin in Our Behavior

Changes from the Inside Out (Sin in Our Heart)

visible level

invisible level

THE PROCESS OF REAL TRANSFORMATION IN HEART (Cycle of

Spiritual Transformation*)

Rationalization [Jer. 17:9]

Brokenness [Ps.139:23-24 ]

Repentance [1 Jn. 1:9]

Abandonment [Rom. 12:1]

Freedom [Rom. 6:16-18]

visible level

invisible level

* Adapted from Larry Crabb’s Model

HOW CAN WE PURSUE REAL TRANSFORMATION FROM THE

INSIDE OUT?1) Stop RATIONALIZING YOUR SINS on the visible level.

9The heart is deceitful above all things,and desperately sick;

who can understand it?10 “I the LORD search the heart

and test the mind,to give every man according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his deeds.”Jeremiah 17:9-10

When we focus on the visible level, we rationalize our sins; hence, we look “okay” in our own view (externalism).

Our heart often deceives us in the rationalization process, making excuses, blame-shifts, and victimization for sins.

The only cure from rationalization is to look to God’s discerning eyes by humbling ourselves before God.

Just as water ever seeks and fills the lowest place,

so the moment God finds you abased and empty,His glory and power flow in.

Andrew Murray

HOW CAN WE PURSUE REAL TRANSFORMATION FROM THE

INSIDE OUT?2) Face WHAT’S BROKEN INSIDE of you honestly and

humbly.23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24

 

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify

your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

To face what’s broken inside of us, we must look beyond the visible level (e.g., motives, urges, attitudes).

We are to ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and show us what’s broken (sinful) in us.

Brokenness causes a deeper awareness of our sinfulness.

HOW CAN WE PURSUE REAL TRANSFORMATION FROM THE

INSIDE OUT?3) Repent of YOUR SIN IN HEART as the Spirit convicts

you.I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I did not cover my iniquity;I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,"

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32:5

 

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9

To “repent” means to have a change of mind toward sin.

It leads to confess: (1) to accept the responsibility and turn from it, (2) to be thankful for the atoning blood of Christ, and (3) to trust in the Spirit’s enabling power to overcome the sin.

It restores us and points us to God’s power over all sins.

HOW CAN WE PURSUE REAL TRANSFORMATION FROM THE

INSIDE OUT?4) Abandon YOURSELF to God’s control and power.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies

as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Galatians 2:20

True repentance brings us to a deep realization that we are utterly powerless before sin on our own strength.

This leads us to recklessly abandon ourselves to God.

In surrendering ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, we entrust ourselves to God’s power and control.

HOW CAN WE PURSUE REAL TRANSFORMATION FROM THE

INSIDE OUT?5) Walk in FREEDOM FROM YOUR SIN through the power

of the Spirit.17 But thanks be to God, that you . . .

18 having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Romans 6:17-18 

We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;

the snare is broken, and we have escaped!Psalm 124:7

It is the Spirit of God who frees us from sin (2 Cor. 3:17).

We experience freedom from the power of sin when we are under the control of the Holy Spirit’s power.

To be free from sin means to be a slave of righteousness—to be used as instruments for what God desires.

THE PROCESS OF REAL TRANSFORMATION IN HEART (Cycle of

Spiritual Transformation*)

Rationalization [Jer. 17:9]

Brokenness [Ps.139:23-24 ]

Repentance [1 Jn. 1:9]

Abandonment [Rom. 12:1]

Freedom [Rom. 6:16-18]

visible level

invisible level

* Adapted from Larry Crabb’s Model

First Step Into Real TransformationColossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts” . . . When we lose our peace, God's “referee” [Holy Spirit] in our hearts has blown his whistle! Let us stop immediately, ask God to show us what is wrong, put by faith the sin He shows us under the Blood of Jesus, and then peace will be restored and we shall go on our way with our cups running over . . . Many of us, however, have neglected the referee's whistle so often and for so long that we have ceased to hear it. Days follow days and we feel we have little need of cleansing and no occasion of being broken. In that condition we are usually in a worse state than we ever imagine. It will need a great hunger for restored fellowship with God to possess our hearts before we will be willing to cry to God to show us where the Blood of Jesus must be applied. He will show us, to begin with, just one thing, and it will be our obedience and brokenness on that one thing that will be the first step into revival for us.

— Roy Hession

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1. In what ways am I convinced of my need to stop rationalizing and cleaning on the visible level only? As CrossWay Church?

2. What might be my first step toward facing what’s broken inside of me, pursuing inside-out real transformation? As CrossWay Church?

3. In what ways can I participate in the Spirit’s work of real transformation within my church community and beyond? As CrossWay Church?