And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:8

Love is not something God does, it’s who He is.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

GOD WON’T, UNTIL I’VE…

God cares about fixing you more than you do.

HOW DOES JESUS TRANSFORM US?

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

John 5:1-9

A multitude of needy people were there, yet none of them looked to Jesus. A blindness had come over these people at the pool; there they were, and there was Christ, who could heal them, but not a single one of them sought him. Their eyes were fixed on the water, expecting it to be troubled; they were so taken up with their own chosen way that the true way was neglected.

Charles Spurgeon

1. A LOOK

6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time,

John 5:6

GOD ALWAYS MOVES FIRST

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram,

Genesis 15:17-18

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:7-8

1. A QUESTION

6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

John 5:6

1. A WORD

8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

John 5:8-9

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

1. A STEP

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”

John 5:14

We haven’t arrived until we look just like Him.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

“27 John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.’ … 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.’” John 3:27-28, 30.
The lie: If you really love Jesus, you need to carry the weight of changing the whole world.

1. The lie: It is your turn to save.

2. The truth: Jesus alone is the savior.

“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

If we don’t understand the “new creation” we have been made to be in our salvation, we will deny the role we have been made for and step into the role of the savior.

“4 Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘you will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen 3:4-5.

In their humanity, he gave them the assignment to image Him to the rest of creation.

Salvation doesn’t do away with humanity. Salvation redeems humanity.

Our role is not to become the savior to others. It is to reflect the image of the savior to others.

“The new creation [2 Cor 5:17] doesn’t mean you are something other than human. It means you are a new type of human. God the Father sent his Son not to show us how to be another God but how to be human. God does not want little gods. God wants big humans. He is not after demigods. He is after disciples.”- Dr. Dharius Daniels.

Savior Complex- a person compelled to “save” and fix others.

2. The truth: Jesus alone is the savior.

“no one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

3.Step into the “JTB” role- be a faithful witness.

“6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness of the Light, that all through Him, might believe. 8 He (John) was not the Light but was sent to bear witness of the Light.” John 1:6-8.

“Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29.

“26 Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified- behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” John 3:26.

“27 John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’…30 He must increase, but I must decrease.’” John 3:27-28,30.

We are not Christ, but we have been sent to be a witness of Christ.
We aren’t called to save, but we can point people to the savior.

The JTB calling or the role of the Christian is not to be Christ. It is to point to Christ. It is to image Christ. To be a witness of Christ. And when Christ comes, we get out of the way. We let Jesus be the savior.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

We aren’t Christ. We are Christians.

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

The Good News is not trying to be good in order to prove the cross was enough. The Good News is an announcement that the cross WAS enough.

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

The pressure to control — The distraction of “good things” — The one thing necessary

1. THE PRESSURE TO CONTROL

Mary sees love for Jesus as control given. Martha sees love for Jesus as taking control.

We live in a world that rewards the mastery of something, and neglects faithfulness to someone.

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:4-6

1. THE DISTRACTION OF “GOOD THINGS”

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things…

Luke 10:41

“One of the easiest ways to miss Jesus is to become obsessed with everything you think Jesus needs from you.”

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41-42

1. THE ONE THING NECESSARY