Sermon Central
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Becoming Like Christ : The Purpose Of God In Our Lives
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Oct 21, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: THIS SERMON IS ABOUT BECOMING LIKE CHRIST WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE FOLLOWING 1. TRANSFORMATION 2. VICTORY 3. CONFIDENCE 4. PRAISE 5. HOLINESS 6. JOY 7. LOVE
BECOMING LIKE CHRIST : THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES
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OUTLINE
1. TRANSFORMATION
2. VICTORY
3. CONFIDENCE
4. PRAISE
5. HOLINESS
6. JOY
7. LOVE
THE MESSAGE
BECOMING LIKE CHRIST : THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES
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1.TRANSFORMATION
The Lord wants us to be transformed into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. We should follow the example of the Lord Jesus . We must pray like Christ who cried out to God to preserve His life until He fulfilled His mission on earth. We should learn obedience through the sufferings we go through. The Apostle Paul wanted to share the sufferings of Christ in order to know Christ. We can know the Lord intimately when have the fellowship of His sufferings as we can understand what He went through for our sake.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered
JOHN 7:1,30
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.
At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
2.VICTORY
The Lord has predestined us , called us , justified us and glorified us. Therefore He is on our side and no enemy can prevail against us .The Lord who sacrificed His Son for us will surely grant us everything else that we need. He defends us against the accusations of the enemy. The Lord Jesus stands at the right hand of God interceding for us and bringing the blessings of God in our life and causing us to have victory in all our battles.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
"All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
"This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
I will go before you and will level the mountains ; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
