A Transformed Life

Welcome to this new lesson. Let's ask God's assistance:

Dear Savior,

An indescribable joy dwells in our hearts when we understand that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we obtain forgiveness for our sins.

But the message of the Gospel, which You wish to give us today, goes even further.

May this unique message transform our life here below, and finally lead us to everlasting life. In Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen.

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John 16:12

[Jesus said,] «I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.»

Hebrews 5:14

Solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Please make sure to have properly understood the previous lesson: «Do We Really Need Christ?» before going on, because the present lesson will take for granted that you know the crucial elements that were explained in it.

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Matthew 18:3

[Jesus] said,

«Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.»

In the previous lesson's discussion, we saw that all men are sinners and are consequently sentenced to death.

However we also learned that, thanks to Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross, God totally erases the repentant sinner's dark past.

This lesson will show that God also desires to transform our present and future!

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John 3:3-5

Jesus answered and said to [Nicodemus], «Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.»

Nicodemus said to Him, «How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?»

Jesus answered, «Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.»

Speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus approached the subject of conversion.

He compared it to a new birth, necessary for eternal life.

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2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

By inviting Jesus Christ to become our personal Savior, we also allow Him to come into our heart, in order to transform us into His image.

This change of nature is only possible through God's intervention in our life. No one can be converted by his own efforts.

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1 Corinthians 3:1,2

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it.

1 Peter 2:2

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

The newborn Christian, like a baby, will grow in Jesus day after day.

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2 Corinthians 4:16

Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

As we make progress in our Christian experience, the powerful action of God's Spirit will gradually bring about a change in our values, our priorities, our conception of things, our interpretation of events.

We will more and more reflect Jesus Christ's character.

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John 15:4,5

[Jesus said,]

«Abide in Me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.»

Through the personal relationship we establish with Christ, we will bear good fruit.

And what is this good fruit?

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Galatians 5:22,23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

A tree spontaneously bears fruit through the action of sap circulating within its branches. In the same way, through the action of the Spirit in our hearts, we will spontaneously bear the fruit of the Spirit.

This continuous work of God's Spirit within our hearts is called sanctification.

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1 Corinthians 1:30

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

The salvation of man therefore includes two great parts:

- justification, by which the repentant sinner receives forgiveness for his past sins;

- sanctification, which is the work of the Holy Spirit within us, transforming us day after day into God's image.

Sanctification is the proof that we were sincere when we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and to become our personal Savior.

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Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Ephesians 5:17

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

The better we get to know our Savior, the more we will desire to know His will, and to accomplish it through the power of His grace.

But what, exactly, is the will of God?

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Psalm 40:8

I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.

John 14:15

[Jesus said,] «If you love Me, keep My commandments.»

1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

The will of God is expressed in His commandments.

We will have the opportunity to study this amazing subject in a future lesson.

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Hebrews 5:9

[Christ] became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

It is most important to have a relationship with Jesus marked by obedience to His will. However let us pay attention to the following point:

We do NOT obey TO be saved

BUT RATHER

We obey BECAUSE we are saved.

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Galatians 2:20

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

Revelation 3:20

«Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.»

Remember: without Jesus, we cannot do anything.

We must invite Him to live within us, that He may transform us into His image.

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1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Left on his own, man cannot obey the will of God.

But the Lord gives us the power necessary to overcome trials, and to follow His will until the end.

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John 14:16,17,26; 16:13

[Jesus said,]

«And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, (...) and [He] will be in you. (...)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (...)

When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.»

The work of the Holy Spirit is essential for our spiritual growth.

It is He who makes us feel our need of a Savior, and who also guides us into all truth, reviving our hearts.

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Luke 11:13

[Jesus said,]

«If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!»

God wants us to approach Him with faith, to ask Him for this essential power which dwells in the Holy Spirit.

By His presence within us, we will be able to obey God's will.

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Luke 6:44

For every tree is known by its own fruit.

Galatians 5:22,23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Sanctification is revealed by the Holy Spirit's continuous action in our hearts, bearing fruits worthy of repentance.

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Philippians 4:5-7

The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will make possible our sanctification by bringing us to depend on the two major resources God puts at our disposal.

The first of these is prayer, through which we can communicate anytime with God, to thank Him and present Him our requests.

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Matthew 4:4

[Jesus] answered and said,

«It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."»

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The second resource is the study of God's Word, which is as necessary to spiritual life as food is to physical life.

Of course, this study must be made with the sincere desire to seek what God expects from each one of us.

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1 Thessalonians 4:1

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.

Being justified in Jesus Christ, God now invites us to follow the path of sanctification, that is, to grow spiritually day after day by the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.

But is sanctification really necessary for our salvation? Isn't justification enough?

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1 Thessalonians 4:3

For this is the will of God, your sanctification.

Hebrews 12:14

Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

The Bible is clear: both justification and sanctification (holiness) are essential to salvation.

Remember, we can only be justified and sanctified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

We must understand this essential point and never forget it.

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John 1:11,12

[The Word] came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

No repentant sinner, whatever the number of his sins, is a hopeless case for God.

God can lead each one of us along the path of sanctification, if we truly desire it.

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Ezekiel 36:26,27

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

If we give Him a chance, the Holy Spirit will revive our hearts, so that we may be «doing the will of God from the heart» (Ephesians 6:6).

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Philippians 2:13

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

God puts at our disposal the power of the Holy Spirit, just like all the resources from the Bible, from which we can draw anytime through prayer and meditation.

Why not ask the Lord, right now, to grant us these graces?

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Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

We have no reason to be discouraged: God promises us that He will guide us along the path of sanctification.

We just have to accept His invitation, firmly holding His hand all along our journey. He will know how to lead us to our destination.

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Let us thank God for His precious help:

Our Heavenly Father,

We now understand that You do not only wish to erase our past. Indeed, You also wish to transform our present and our future.

Please grant us Your Holy Spirit, according to Your promise, so that He may guide us in our search for truth and help us to obey Your will, as revealed to us during our study of Your inspired Word.

This is our prayer in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

  The test of Lesson 7 is waiting for you!

Source of the Pictures of this Lesson

Screen 1: Picture collection «ClickArt 65,000» by Broderbund, CD #4, NATFL095.JPG. Screen 2: In: «The Children's Bible, volume 11», Golden Press, 1981, p.657. Screen 3: Used by permission. Copyright © 1962, 1989 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. ANDERSON, Harry. In: «L'Espoir de l'Humanité» volume 2 (Ellen G. White), Editions Le Monde Français, front cover. Screen 4: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «L'Espoir de l'Humanité» volume 2 (Ellen G. White), Editions Le Monde Français, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1972, p.545. Screen 5: In: «The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes» (TAYLOR, Kenneth N.), Moody Press, Chicago, 1956, p.132. Screen 6: Used by permission. Copyright © 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1976 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. NYE, Vernon. In: «Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, volume 2» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.98. Screen 7: Picture collection «Corel Gallery Magic» by Corel, 1997, CD #8, Photo Library 4, 651001.PCD. Screen 8: In: «The Watchtower» magazine (September 15, 1987), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.10. Screen 9: In: «The Living Bible», Holman Illustrated Edition, 1973, p.992. Screen 10: «Grape, purple». In: «Collier's Encyclopedia Deluxe 1998», Sierra Home. Screen 11: Used by permission. Copyright © 1957, 1985 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. SEDLACK, Andrew. In: «The Bible Story, volume 9» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.186. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 12: KNOX, John. In: «Ministry» magazine (June-July 2000), Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association, front cover. Table of Screen 12: GREENE, Nathan. In: «Signs of the Times» magazine (July 1990), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.10. Screen 13: EASTMAN, Bryant. In: «Signs of the Times» magazine (May 1990), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.2. Screen 14: LEE, Elfred. In: «Revelation Seminars», Seminars Unlimited, 1986, lesson #11 («L'Observation du Dimanche et l'Apocalypse»), p.3. Screen 15: STEEL, John. In: «The Triumph of God's Love, volume 2» (WHITE, Ellen G.), Pacific Press Publishing Association and Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1950, p.398. Screen 16: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «Vers Jésus» (WHITE, Ellen G.), Editions Le Monde Français, Pacific Press Publishing Association, front cover. Screen 17: Used by permission. Copyright © 1957, 1985 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. RUDEEN, Herbert. In: «The Bible Story, volume 10» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.191. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 18: In: «Questionnaire Adulte de l'Ecole du Sabbat», Pacific Press Publishing Association, Third Quarter 2000, front cover. Screen 19: TITIAN. «The Pentecost». In: «The Reader's Digest Bible - Illustrated Edition», 1990, Reader's Digest Association, p.857. Screen 20: Picture Collection «Corel Gallery Magic» by Corel, 1997, CD #8, Photo Library 4, 676028.PCD. Screen 21: In: «Egermeier's Bible Story Book» (EGERMEIER, Elsie E.), The Warner Press, 1963, p.235. Screen 22: «Amazing Facts - Net New York '99» advertisement. Screen 23: TANK, Darrel. In: «Ministry» magazine (June-July 2000), Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association, p.51. Screen 24: In: «The Triumph of God's Love, volume 2» (WHITE, Ellen G.), Pacific Press Publishing Association and Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1950, p.580. Screen 25: Used by permission. Copyright © 1959, 1987 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. ZINGARO, Charles. In: «Votre Bible et vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.48. Screen 26: In: «Adventist Review» (May 1996), p.15. Screen 27: Photo by H. Armstrong ROBERTS. In: «Adventist Review» (April 1996), p.19. Screen 28: Used by permission. Copyright ©1952, 1980 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. ANDERSON, Harry. In: Bible study guide «Les Sentiers de la Foi» (GERBER, Charles), Lesson #23 «Jésus-Christ dans les Evangiles», p.1. Screen 29: Picture collection «ClickArt 65,000» by Broderbund, CD #4, NATOT017.JPG.

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