Journey to Transformation: Embracing Jesus in a Fallen World

Imagine this: you bump into your doctor at the local supermarket, and they suddenly voice concern over a potential health issue you might be facing. Instead of suggesting an immediate check-up, they advise you to enroll in medical school, earn a medical degree, and diagnose yourself. Absurd, isn’t it? This hypothetical situation seems disconnected from reality, but it mirrors a common misstep we, as Christians, can fall into when engaging with non-believers. We sometimes, albeit inadvertently, expect them to ‘clean up their act’ before they can connect with Jesus. This mindset, while misdirected, also proves counterproductive.

Last Sunday, 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 taught us a pivotal lesson at Christ Community Fellowship: it’s not our current standing in life that shapes our bond with God, but rather our steadfast commitment to Jesus and His teachings. In essence, you don’t have to be a paragon of virtue to approach Jesus; we should come to Him even at our lowest.

Though easy to preach, patience and a forbearing understanding of fallen humanity become challenging when faced with individuals we find difficult to relate to or comprehend. Nevertheless, it’s essential to cultivate empathy, especially when examining passages like Ephesians 4:17-24 from the New Testament.

This passage sketches a transformative journey acknowledging our imperfect human condition and mapping out a course toward spiritual renewal through Christ. Ephesians 4:17-19 tells us a summary of fallen humanity, devoid of divine guidance. The resulting ignorance obstructs their understanding of God’s will and intention, leading them astray from God’s planned path for humanity.

The text emphasizes that this ignorance isn’t coincidental but sprouts from a hardened heart that resists God’s directives. This rigidity propels them further into spiritual descent as they pursue and partake in actions against God’s will. Rather than seeking repentance or yearning for reformation, they cultivate a predilection for debauchery, marking a perpetual path away from righteousness.

In contrast, Ephesians 4:20-24 offers a beacon of hope, presenting a roadmap to discovering Jesus Christ, a journey beyond human capabilities. This spiritual enlightenment begins with hearing about Jesus, recognizing that our understanding of Him is a divine revelation, not a self-realized discovery. God instills this comprehension through the Gospel, a truth our flawed human intellect could never independently unveil. This truth relayed from Jesus through His apostles and subsequent believers filled with the Holy Spirit signals that our encounter with Jesus transcends mere information exchange—it’s a divine revelation.

Yet, hearing about Jesus doesn’t equate to understanding Him. An intricate process bridges hearing and believing, which involves comprehending the message revealed to human hearts by the Holy Spirit. This transformative learning allows us to ponder our past sins, appreciate the truth in Jesus, and consciously choose to place faith in Him, acknowledging humanity’s fallen state.

Following this realization, we’re urged to cast aside the ‘old self’ to let go of past ignorance and associated desires. Then, we are encouraged to adopt the ‘new self.’ This symbolizes a readiness to embrace the life Jesus has for us. The new self represents a new life crafted in God’s likeness and epitomizes the Gospel’s aspiration to revert humanity to the original, righteous, and pure state God intended for us at creation. It signals our willingness to become the person God envisioned us to be, a testament to our acceptance and desire to apply the Gospel’s transformative power.

Ephesians 4:17-24 serves as a spiritual compass, guiding us from spiritual bewilderment to enlightenment. This journey towards God isn’t about reaching the destination but experiencing transformation from Jesus along the way.

In Ephesians 4:17-24, Apostle Paul addresses the fallen human condition to resist God’s will, making choices that estrange us further from Him. The Bible reminds us that we’ve all been there—distanced from God, entangled in our desires.

Therefore, when we encounter people unaware of Jesus, expecting them to act saintly is unrealistic. Quite the opposite should be anticipated. But rather than feeling disheartened, we should find a renewed motivation to share Jesus’ message—the same Jesus who loved humanity enough to give Himself on the cross for us.

Embracing Jesus isn’t about instantly adopting a moral code. It begins with hearing about Jesus, learning His teachings, and recognizing our need for transformation. It involves contrasting who we are with whom Jesus aspires us to be and deciding to walk His path.

This transformative journey involves shedding old habits and embracing a new life steered by Jesus’ teachings. This process isn’t swift or effortless—it requires time and patience. However, the resultant life, reflecting God’s love, righteousness, and purity, is worth the struggle.

In summary, as people embracing the new life in Jesus, we should not distance ourselves from the world’s flaws but remember that we were once in the same situation. We must share Jesus’ message with patience, realizing transformation is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to leave old habits behind and embrace the new life Jesus offers. Change isn’t instant, and our journey toward embodying Christ’s teachings will continue throughout our lives. Realizing who we were and who we are becoming should give us hope and a zeal to share Jesus’ Gospel. Letting our understanding of hope in Christ guide us as we reach out to a world annexed from God and needing Gospel transformation.