Donate

Grace Based Holiness Part 2

Creflo Dollar

October 23, 2020

27:29

Join the dynamic leadership and teaching of Dr. Creflo and Taffi Dollar.

Closed captions

Grace Based Holiness Part 2

Show timecode

Hide timecode

Coming up next on"Changing Your World."
00:00:06.308 --> 00:00:08.444
Creflo Dollar: Believe who theWord of God says you are.
00:00:09.211 --> 00:00:12.147
Believe who theWord says you are.
00:00:12.714 --> 00:00:14.716
Don't let your behaviordefine who you are,
00:00:14.750 --> 00:00:17.653
you believe what the Wordsays who you are regardless
00:00:17.686 --> 00:00:21.090
of how you're behaving.
00:00:21.123 --> 00:00:22.624
Because, listen, you area brand new creation.
00:00:22.658 --> 00:00:25.594
That's what the Word says.
00:00:25.627 --> 00:00:27.262
You are therighteousness of God.
00:00:27.563 --> 00:00:29.531
You are holy.You are blameless.
00:00:29.565 --> 00:00:32.234
And you are God's belovedchild, believe that.
00:00:32.267 --> 00:00:37.106
male announcer: Thereis a purpose for your life.
00:00:39.274 --> 00:00:40.776
Introducing Grace Life Academy,an innovative approach
00:00:40.809 --> 00:00:44.713
to learning God's Word.
00:00:44.746 --> 00:00:46.615
Grace Life Academyoffers unlimited access
00:00:46.648 --> 00:00:49.251
with hundreds of hoursof online teachings.
00:00:49.284 --> 00:00:51.520
You'll have access tocomprehensive video
00:00:51.553 --> 00:00:53.789
Bible lessons that includefeatures such as e-courses,
00:00:53.822 --> 00:00:57.159
study guides, an onlinecommunity, quizzes and more.
00:00:57.192 --> 00:01:00.362
Text GLA to 51555, or go onlineto MyGraceLifeAcademy.com.
00:01:00.395 --> 00:01:07.069
♪ This is your world, ♪
00:01:09.938 --> 00:01:12.307
♪ so let's vow to makeit a better place. ♪
00:01:12.341 --> 00:01:17.513
♪ Let every heartthat needs to know ♪
00:01:17.546 --> 00:01:22.551
♪ your love ishere to stay ♪
00:01:22.584 --> 00:01:25.120
♪ Oh, it's time welive a new life ♪
00:01:25.154 --> 00:01:28.991
♪ Oh, let his loveshine bright in you ♪
00:01:29.024 --> 00:01:32.995
♪ Oh, we're savedby his grace, ♪
00:01:33.028 --> 00:01:36.165
♪ so we embraceyour love today, ♪
00:01:36.198 --> 00:01:39.768
♪ we are changed ♪♪
00:01:39.801 --> 00:01:43.005
♪♪♪
00:01:43.038 --> 00:01:46.708
Creflo: We've been talkingabout grace-based holiness,
00:01:46.742 --> 00:01:51.446
and we defined holiness inthat last teaching last week.
00:01:51.480 --> 00:01:55.817
We said it was--to beholy means to be whole.
00:01:55.851 --> 00:01:59.821
And what God wants is for usto accept who he has made us,
00:01:59.855 --> 00:02:07.095
and then to mature into that.
00:02:07.129 --> 00:02:10.332
Well, tonight I wannacontinue talking about that,
00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:13.468
but I wanna talk moreabout the transformation.
00:02:13.502 --> 00:02:17.172
In other words, Jesus hasbeen made for us righteousness.
00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:21.710
He has been made for ussanctification or holiness.
00:02:21.743 --> 00:02:25.948
He's been made for usredemption and wisdom.
00:02:25.981 --> 00:02:29.618
And so, if Jesus has beenmade for us all of these things,
00:02:29.651 --> 00:02:33.455
the question is,what does transformation
00:02:33.488 --> 00:02:36.225
look like on our part?
00:02:36.258 --> 00:02:38.360
In other words, how isit that once I believe
00:02:38.627 --> 00:02:41.630
that I am who Jesus has made me?
00:02:41.663 --> 00:02:46.201
What's the transformationof that looks like?
00:02:46.235 --> 00:02:48.237
The Bible says, "As he is,so are we in this world."
00:02:48.270 --> 00:02:52.874
And we spoke the last timeabout just by beholding Jesus,
00:02:52.908 --> 00:02:57.012
the Bible says weare changed into
00:02:57.045 --> 00:03:00.048
that very image bythe Holy Spirit.
00:03:00.082 --> 00:03:02.884
And so, let's look at this,the transformation,
00:03:03.151 --> 00:03:06.388
and I wanna start offwith this comment.
00:03:06.421 --> 00:03:08.757
Having the right belief aboutyourself equals real repentance.
00:03:09.324 --> 00:03:15.397
Having the right belief aboutyourself equals real repentance.
00:03:15.964 --> 00:03:19.501
We have defined repentanceas a change of heart,
00:03:19.534 --> 00:03:22.070
a change of mind, ora change of direction,
00:03:22.104 --> 00:03:25.941
and that's true,but to add more on it,
00:03:25.974 --> 00:03:28.810
we're changing our heartand our mind concerning
00:03:28.844 --> 00:03:32.814
who we have beenmade to be, who we are.
00:03:32.848 --> 00:03:36.685
And so, real repentance deals
00:03:36.918 --> 00:03:38.854
with you changing yourmind about who you are.
00:03:38.887 --> 00:03:42.858
Real repentance deals withyou changing your mind about
00:03:42.891 --> 00:03:47.062
the identity that you havebeen given by Jesus Christ.
00:03:47.095 --> 00:03:51.566
So, having the rightbelief about yourself.
00:03:51.600 --> 00:03:54.002
Do you believe that you'rethe righteousness of God?
00:03:54.036 --> 00:03:56.605
Do you believe thatyou've been redeemed?
00:03:56.838 --> 00:03:58.974
Do you believe that you're holyand that you are sanctified?
00:03:59.007 --> 00:04:03.111
You know, and you nolonger believe that you're
00:04:04.046 --> 00:04:06.348
a sinner saved by grace,and you no longer believe
00:04:06.381 --> 00:04:08.750
that you're condemnedand that you're a nobody.
00:04:08.784 --> 00:04:11.687
And so, real repentanceis all about having
00:04:11.920 --> 00:04:13.622
the right belief about yourself.
00:04:13.655 --> 00:04:16.758
Let me give you an illustration.
00:04:17.125 --> 00:04:18.527
Many of you rememberthe character Tarzan,
00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:21.863
and the movie "Tarzan," thecartoon was about Tarzan.
00:04:21.897 --> 00:04:25.600
And this is agreat illustration,
00:04:25.634 --> 00:04:28.103
because Tarzan was raisedby the apes in the jungle,
00:04:28.136 --> 00:04:33.075
and began to think thathe was actually an ape,
00:04:33.108 --> 00:04:38.046
until one day, drinking water,he saw his reflection
00:04:38.080 --> 00:04:41.850
in the water, and realizedthat he was not an ape.
00:04:41.883 --> 00:04:45.654
Now, I want you to listento this very carefully
00:04:46.021 --> 00:04:47.923
because when you have theright belief about yourself,
00:04:47.956 --> 00:04:51.727
then you're gonna haveto make a decision.
00:04:51.760 --> 00:04:54.763
You're gonna haveto make a decision.
00:04:55.130 --> 00:04:56.431
I mean, once he saw hisreal reflection and saw
00:04:56.465 --> 00:04:59.601
that he was notan ape but a man,
00:04:59.634 --> 00:05:02.237
he now had a choice to make.
00:05:02.437 --> 00:05:04.740
Would he continueliving like a gorilla, an ape,
00:05:05.374 --> 00:05:08.910
or start acting likewho he really was?
00:05:08.944 --> 00:05:14.249
And the same questionis true for us today.
00:05:14.583 --> 00:05:16.451
Once you find out you'rethe righteousness of God,
00:05:16.485 --> 00:05:18.754
will you continue tolive like a sinner?
00:05:18.787 --> 00:05:21.423
Once you find out thatyou have been redeemed,
00:05:21.757 --> 00:05:24.192
will you continue tolive as if you are,
00:05:24.226 --> 00:05:27.062
you know, in bondageand if you are,
00:05:27.095 --> 00:05:30.365
you know, still, you know,in the bondages
00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:32.968
that Jesus hasdelivered you out of?
00:05:33.001 --> 00:05:35.170
And so, it becomessomething very important,
00:05:35.570 --> 00:05:38.173
that once you know who you are,once you realize who you are,
00:05:38.206 --> 00:05:41.309
then you've got to beginto believe who you are,
00:05:41.343 --> 00:05:45.280
and you've got to make adecision to walk that way
00:05:45.313 --> 00:05:48.917
and to walk in that identitythat has been revealed to you.
00:05:48.950 --> 00:05:52.320
So, real transformationhappens when we discover
00:05:52.354 --> 00:05:56.691
who we really are.
00:05:56.725 --> 00:05:58.393
Praise God, I've discovered thatI'm the righteousness of God.
00:05:58.727 --> 00:06:01.897
I have discovered thatI have been redeemed.
00:06:01.930 --> 00:06:04.199
I have discoveredthat I am holy.
00:06:04.232 --> 00:06:06.568
I have discovered thatI have been sanctified.
00:06:06.601 --> 00:06:09.471
I've discovered that, so my realtransformation is gonna happen,
00:06:09.504 --> 00:06:13.909
number one, when Idiscover who I am,
00:06:13.942 --> 00:06:16.778
but number two, transformationwill start with believing.
00:06:16.978 --> 00:06:21.450
Transformation into holiness.
00:06:21.817 --> 00:06:24.219
Transformationinto righteousness.
00:06:24.252 --> 00:06:26.655
It starts with me believing it.
00:06:26.688 --> 00:06:28.557
I've got to believe thatI'm the righteousness of God.
00:06:29.024 --> 00:06:31.460
I've got to believe thatI am holy right now.
00:06:31.493 --> 00:06:33.829
I've got to believethat I'm redeemed
00:06:33.862 --> 00:06:35.831
and that I'mdelivered right now.
00:06:35.864 --> 00:06:38.633
So, transformation, startingwith you believing, it's vital.
00:06:39.167 --> 00:06:45.006
Please listen to me.
00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:46.374
Often, we speak about repentanceas a change of behavior.
00:06:46.408 --> 00:06:49.911
Most of the time you hearpeople talk about repentance,
00:06:49.945 --> 00:06:51.813
they're talking about reallychanging your behavior.
00:06:51.847 --> 00:06:54.082
You know, youcuss and they say,
00:06:54.115 --> 00:06:55.884
"You know, you need to repent."
00:06:55.917 --> 00:06:57.419
What they're saying is you need
00:06:57.452 --> 00:06:58.820
to change your behaviorabout cussing.
00:06:58.854 --> 00:07:00.188
Or, you know, you'recarrying on in a sinful way,
00:07:00.222 --> 00:07:02.491
and they say, "You needto repent," they're talking
00:07:02.524 --> 00:07:04.259
about you need tochange your behavior.
00:07:04.292 --> 00:07:07.729
But we're not talkingabout changing behavior.
00:07:07.762 --> 00:07:10.465
A change of behavior isthe fruit of repentance.
00:07:10.665 --> 00:07:14.069
Repentance is not achange of behavior,
00:07:14.102 --> 00:07:16.671
a change of behavior isa fruit of repentance.
00:07:16.705 --> 00:07:19.407
In other words, whenyou really repent
00:07:19.441 --> 00:07:21.042
and change your mind aboutyour identity and who you are,
00:07:21.076 --> 00:07:24.179
then your behavioris gonna follow suit.
00:07:24.212 --> 00:07:27.516
But as long as real repentancedoesn't take place,
00:07:28.283 --> 00:07:32.821
the changed behaviormight not last long.
00:07:32.854 --> 00:07:36.291
Look at the book of Markchapter 1, verse 14 and 15.
00:07:36.825 --> 00:07:40.529
I wanna look atthree Scriptures,
00:07:40.562 --> 00:07:41.897
well, two Scriptures,Mark chapter 1:14 and 15
00:07:41.930 --> 00:07:44.599
and then Romans 10:10.
00:07:44.633 --> 00:07:46.601
I think belief and repentance,they go hand in hand.
00:07:46.635 --> 00:07:49.838
I don't believe you're gonnachange your mind
00:07:49.871 --> 00:07:51.506
about your identity and whoyou are until you begin
00:07:51.540 --> 00:07:54.342
to believe who you are.
00:07:54.376 --> 00:07:55.710
Verse 14 says, "Now afterthat John was put in prison,
00:07:56.077 --> 00:08:00.015
Jesus came into Galileepreaching the gospel
00:08:00.048 --> 00:08:03.385
of the kingdom of God."
00:08:03.418 --> 00:08:04.853
Verse 15, "And saying,'The time is fulfilled,
00:08:04.886 --> 00:08:07.889
and the kingdom of Godis at hand,'" watch this,
00:08:07.923 --> 00:08:11.159
"Repent ye andbelieve the gospel."
00:08:11.192 --> 00:08:14.362
So, repent andbelieve the gospel.
00:08:14.396 --> 00:08:16.798
It's important that youunderstand that there's
00:08:16.831 --> 00:08:19.834
really not gonnabe a real change
00:08:19.868 --> 00:08:22.837
or real repentanceuntil you believe.
00:08:22.871 --> 00:08:26.875
Look at Romanschapter 10 and verse 10.
00:08:27.175 --> 00:08:29.844
He says, "For with the heart manbelieveth unto righteousness,
00:08:30.912 --> 00:08:35.016
and with the mouth confessionis made unto salvation."
00:08:35.050 --> 00:08:39.421
Notice, you believein your heart first,
00:08:39.454 --> 00:08:42.190
and then the confessionis made unto salvation,
00:08:42.223 --> 00:08:44.626
the change takes place.
00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:46.161
So, repentance is a decisionthat results in a change
00:08:46.194 --> 00:08:50.098
of mind, which in turn leadsto a change of purpose,
00:08:50.131 --> 00:08:55.170
and then a change of action.
00:08:55.203 --> 00:08:57.772
You're changing your mind, andspecifically changing your mind
00:08:58.373 --> 00:09:01.476
about who you thought you were.
00:09:01.509 --> 00:09:03.612
You thought you were no good.
00:09:03.812 --> 00:09:05.547
You thought you werethe lowest of the low.
00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:07.949
You thought thatyou were still stuck
00:09:07.983 --> 00:09:10.051
in the bondage of this life.
00:09:10.085 --> 00:09:13.555
Change of belief comes first,and that's why I believe
00:09:13.989 --> 00:09:20.795
that you gotta changehow you believe.
00:09:20.829 --> 00:09:22.230
What is it that you'vebeen believing about you?
00:09:22.263 --> 00:09:24.399
That's gotta change first.
00:09:24.733 --> 00:09:26.434
And as we change ourmind about who we are,
00:09:26.468 --> 00:09:29.604
as we change our beliefabout who we are,
00:09:29.638 --> 00:09:33.074
then what happens?
00:09:33.108 --> 00:09:34.442
The fruit of repentancewill be a changed behavior.
00:09:34.476 --> 00:09:38.713
Wow, see, we've beenspending so much time
00:09:39.114 --> 00:09:41.783
trying to figure out how tochange our behavior,
00:09:41.816 --> 00:09:43.885
and we have missed outon these steps.
00:09:43.918 --> 00:09:46.021
We've missed out on whatreal repentance is all about.
00:09:46.521 --> 00:09:49.824
When you really believe thatyou're no longer what you
00:09:50.725 --> 00:09:54.863
used to identify with,you're no longer a sinner,
00:09:54.896 --> 00:09:58.800
you change your mind about that,then the fruit of repentance
00:09:59.067 --> 00:10:03.905
is going to be achanged behavior.
00:10:03.938 --> 00:10:05.507
So, I can just basically saythat a person who behaves
00:10:05.540 --> 00:10:09.344
wrong is a personwho's believing
00:10:09.377 --> 00:10:11.246
the wrong thing about who he is.
00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:13.014
A person who has badbehavior is a person
00:10:14.082 --> 00:10:16.751
who has the wrong beliefabout his identity.
00:10:16.785 --> 00:10:19.654
You see, a changethat will remain,
00:10:20.522 --> 00:10:25.360
behavior that will remainchanged comes as a result
00:10:25.727 --> 00:10:29.564
of repenting about who you are.
00:10:29.597 --> 00:10:31.332
So, as we repent fromself-righteousness
00:10:31.366 --> 00:10:34.302
and we start to believethe gospel of Christ,
00:10:34.335 --> 00:10:37.372
we will experience thatthe gospel is the power
00:10:37.405 --> 00:10:41.643
of God to salvation andtransformation for everyone.
00:10:41.676 --> 00:10:47.048
If you understandthat, say amen.
00:10:47.816 --> 00:10:49.584
Now, we would make a big mistakeby turning it around and letting
00:10:50.185 --> 00:10:55.090
our behavior tell us who we are
00:10:55.123 --> 00:10:57.192
and what we should believeabout ourselves.
00:10:57.225 --> 00:10:59.761
So instead, believe who theWord of God says you are.
00:11:00.195 --> 00:11:04.866
Believe who theWord says you are.
00:11:05.734 --> 00:11:07.435
Don't let your behaviordefine who you are,
00:11:07.469 --> 00:11:10.405
you believe what theWord says who you are,
00:11:10.438 --> 00:11:13.608
regardless of howyou're behaving,
00:11:13.641 --> 00:11:15.477
because, listen, you area brand new creation.
00:11:15.510 --> 00:11:18.446
That's what the Word says.
00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.248
You are therighteousness of God.
00:11:20.281 --> 00:11:22.350
You are holy.
00:11:22.383 --> 00:11:23.718
You are blameless,
00:11:23.752 --> 00:11:25.420
and you are God's belovedchild, believe that.
00:11:25.453 --> 00:11:29.891
In you is the verynature of God,
00:11:30.792 --> 00:11:33.428
and the desire to live forhim is on the inside of you.
00:11:35.029 --> 00:11:39.033
This is who you really are.
00:11:39.400 --> 00:11:41.202
And the devil's tried tokeep that from a lot of people,
00:11:41.736 --> 00:11:44.305
especially a lot of Christians.
00:11:44.706 --> 00:11:46.307
This is who you really are.
00:11:46.341 --> 00:11:48.042
So, some may say that, well,when we preach the gospel
00:11:48.676 --> 00:11:52.447
of God's grace, wedo not focus enough
00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:55.784
on repentance and holiness.
00:11:55.817 --> 00:11:57.385
Well, I mean, now that youunderstand what I'm saying,
00:11:57.418 --> 00:11:59.087
the whole process is theprocess of repentance.
00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:01.723
The whole process oftrying to, you know,
00:12:02.223 --> 00:12:04.559
change your mind aboutyour old identity
00:12:04.592 --> 00:12:08.496
is a process of repentance.
00:12:08.530 --> 00:12:09.864
But, I mean, you canclearly see now that
00:12:09.898 --> 00:12:12.500
that's just not the truth.
00:12:12.534 --> 00:12:13.968
As we preach the truthabout who we have become
00:12:14.202 --> 00:12:17.872
as new creations in Christ,then real repentance
00:12:17.906 --> 00:12:21.376
is going on continuouslybecause of that.
00:12:21.409 --> 00:12:25.413
Well, how can we walk--well, howcan we ask people to change
00:12:27.482 --> 00:12:30.685
the fruit without going tothe root of the problem?
00:12:30.718 --> 00:12:33.888
How can we ask peopleto change their behavior
00:12:33.922 --> 00:12:35.723
without going to theroot of their behavior?
00:12:35.757 --> 00:12:38.426
And that root is this issue ofchanging your belief about
00:12:38.459 --> 00:12:43.565
who you were toldyou are or who--
00:12:43.598 --> 00:12:47.869
what you've been acting like.
00:12:47.902 --> 00:12:49.204
You know, I heard thisguy say one time,
00:12:49.237 --> 00:12:50.572
he said, "You know, I thoughtthat I was a bad man
00:12:50.605 --> 00:12:54.876
because I had bad behavior."
00:12:54.909 --> 00:12:56.744
He allowed his badbehavior to tell him,
00:12:57.312 --> 00:12:59.113
"You're a bad man."
00:12:59.147 --> 00:13:00.481
So, to preach repentanceis to preach the gospel,
00:13:01.149 --> 00:13:04.118
so people canstart to believe it,
00:13:04.152 --> 00:13:06.321
and so people can startexperiencing its power.
00:13:06.354 --> 00:13:10.258
So, how does this realtransformation take place?
00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:13.795
Let's really get into this,
00:13:13.828 --> 00:13:15.363
because you areholy as he is holy.
00:13:15.396 --> 00:13:18.900
What does that look like?
00:13:18.933 --> 00:13:20.268
How are we, whenwe say the Scripture,
00:13:20.768 --> 00:13:22.704
"As he is, so are we inthis world,"
00:13:22.737 --> 00:13:25.773
what does realtransformation look like,
00:13:26.107 --> 00:13:30.178
and how does realtransformation take place?
00:13:30.211 --> 00:13:32.146
Well, we all wanttransformation in our lives,
00:13:32.180 --> 00:13:35.450
in one area or another, so howdoes this transformation happen?
00:13:35.483 --> 00:13:39.921
I'm gonna giveyou the first word,
00:13:40.355 --> 00:13:41.656
it is so truth, focus.
00:13:41.689 --> 00:13:44.292
Wow, focus, I mean,whatever we focus on
00:13:45.627 --> 00:13:49.530
is what we give strength to.
00:13:49.564 --> 00:13:52.000
You think about that statement.
00:13:52.033 --> 00:13:53.368
Whatever we focus on iswhat we give strength to.
00:13:53.735 --> 00:13:56.638
What are some ofthose bad habits
00:13:57.405 --> 00:13:59.007
that you used to focus on?
00:13:59.040 --> 00:14:00.341
That's what yougive strength to.
00:14:00.375 --> 00:14:01.709
Whatever we focus on,that's what we give strength to,
00:14:02.577 --> 00:14:05.246
and I believe that realtransformation begins
00:14:05.280 --> 00:14:09.951
with focusing onthe right thing.
00:14:09.984 --> 00:14:12.387
Paul is clear on whatwe should focus on
00:14:13.221 --> 00:14:16.591
in Colossianschapter 1:27 and 28.
00:14:16.624 --> 00:14:20.028
Paul was very clear.
00:14:20.061 --> 00:14:21.362
We focus on Christand Christ in us.
00:14:21.396 --> 00:14:24.432
We focus on Christand Christ in us.
00:14:24.532 --> 00:14:27.201
Look at verse 27, "To whomGod would make known what
00:14:27.235 --> 00:14:30.405
is the riches of the glory ofthis mystery among the Gentiles,
00:14:30.438 --> 00:14:34.008
which is Christ inyou, the hope of glory."
00:14:34.042 --> 00:14:37.512
Verse 28, he says,"Whom we preach,
00:14:37.545 --> 00:14:40.615
warning every man, and teachingevery man in all wisdom
00:14:40.648 --> 00:14:43.918
that we may present every manperfect," what, "in Christ
00:14:43.952 --> 00:14:48.189
Jesus," so this is what Paulwas preaching.
00:14:48.222 --> 00:14:50.124
Christ, focus on this, focuson Christ and Christ in us.
00:14:50.158 --> 00:14:54.162
Focus on Christand Christ in us.
00:14:54.629 --> 00:14:56.497
That's changed my whole life.That's changed my whole life.
00:14:56.531 --> 00:14:58.933
My focus is on Christand Christ in me.
00:14:58.967 --> 00:15:02.003
And I'm telling you,transformation will change
00:15:02.537 --> 00:15:04.472
when you start focusingon Christ and Christ
00:15:04.505 --> 00:15:07.308
on the inside of you.
00:15:07.342 --> 00:15:09.444
The New InternationalVersion, Colossians 1:28 says,
00:15:09.844 --> 00:15:14.382
"He is the one who proclaim andadmonishes and teaching everyone
00:15:14.415 --> 00:15:21.723
with all wisdom, sothat we may present
00:15:21.756 --> 00:15:24.492
everyone fullymature in Christ."
00:15:24.525 --> 00:15:29.330
You know, Paul says that wepreach Christ and not ourselves.
00:15:30.665 --> 00:15:34.435
We are perfect in Christ Jesus.We are not perfect in ourselves.
00:15:35.169 --> 00:15:41.943
The gospel doesn't haveanything to do with us,
00:15:42.610 --> 00:15:44.846
it has everythingto do with Christ.
00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.515
And so, the focus cannotbe on your behavior,
00:15:47.915 --> 00:15:52.720
it cannot be on whatyou did last week,
00:15:52.754 --> 00:15:55.056
your focus has got to beon Christ and Christ in you.
00:15:55.089 --> 00:15:58.426
That's wheretransformation starts.
00:15:58.659 --> 00:15:59.961
Where is the focus?
00:15:59.994 --> 00:16:01.629
You see, the big differencebetween the gospel and religion,
00:16:02.130 --> 00:16:06.467
listen to me carefully.
00:16:06.501 --> 00:16:07.869
The big difference betweenthe gospel and religion,
00:16:08.169 --> 00:16:10.972
first of all, religion focuseson who we are in ourselves,
00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:16.577
and it disqualifieseven the best people.
00:16:16.611 --> 00:16:19.981
But the gospel of Christ focuseson who we are in Christ,
00:16:21.315 --> 00:16:25.787
and it qualifies eventhe worst people.
00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:28.656
Religion excludes people,
00:16:29.857 --> 00:16:31.859
but the gospel of Christincludes people.
00:16:31.893 --> 00:16:34.695
So, if we focus some onus and some on Christ,
00:16:35.229 --> 00:16:41.135
what has to happen?
00:16:42.470 --> 00:16:43.805
We focus a little onChrist, a little on us,
00:16:44.338 --> 00:16:46.574
well, if we focus someon Christ and some on us,
00:16:46.774 --> 00:16:50.244
then now we'vecreated a mixture.
00:16:50.278 --> 00:16:52.313
We've mixed religionand the gospel,
00:16:53.114 --> 00:16:55.483
and the power of God in thegospel of Christ has been
00:16:55.516 --> 00:16:58.586
hindered from doing its fullwork in us because we mixed
00:16:58.619 --> 00:17:04.492
religion with the gospel.
00:17:04.525 --> 00:17:07.361
And when that happens,you don't see the full power
00:17:08.429 --> 00:17:12.033
of God operating in our lives.
00:17:12.066 --> 00:17:14.001
Now, what is the hopeof a glorious life?
00:17:15.069 --> 00:17:18.773
The hope of a gloriouslife is Christ in us.
00:17:18.806 --> 00:17:21.909
That's the hope.
00:17:21.943 --> 00:17:23.344
So, what does it meanto be a Christian?
00:17:23.377 --> 00:17:25.713
This is important now.
00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:27.415
Some would say,well, you know,
00:17:27.682 --> 00:17:29.684
that means you gottago to church, no.
00:17:29.717 --> 00:17:32.453
It means you gottabelieve in Jesus, kind of.
00:17:32.487 --> 00:17:36.424
It means that youlive a good, moral life, yeah.
00:17:36.891 --> 00:17:40.428
It means you pray toJesus, and, you know,
00:17:40.995 --> 00:17:44.398
you hear all of 'em,so on and so forth.
00:17:44.432 --> 00:17:45.933
But however, what does itmean to be a Christian?
00:17:46.267 --> 00:17:49.303
It means to have Christliving on the inside of you.
00:17:49.337 --> 00:17:53.174
You are a Christianbecause Christ lives in you.
00:17:53.474 --> 00:17:55.977
That's why the focus has gotto be Christ and Christ in you.
00:17:56.144 --> 00:17:58.880
You're not a Christian
00:17:59.280 --> 00:18:00.581
because you do ten goody-goodythings a week.
00:18:00.615 --> 00:18:02.650
You're not a Christian becauseyou feed all the poor,
00:18:03.151 --> 00:18:05.753
you clothe all-no, no, no,you are a Christian
00:18:05.786 --> 00:18:08.189
because Christ liveson the inside of you.
00:18:08.222 --> 00:18:10.958
Look at Galatianschapter 2:20 and 21.
00:18:11.459 --> 00:18:14.328
Only Christ canlive the perfect life,
00:18:16.264 --> 00:18:19.033
and you're a Christian becauseof Christ living in you.
00:18:19.066 --> 00:18:21.903
Look what he said in verse 20.
00:18:22.270 --> 00:18:23.604
He says, "I amcrucified with Christ,
00:18:23.638 --> 00:18:25.006
nevertheless I live, yet notI, but Christ liveth," where?
00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:29.043
"In me, and the life which I nowlive in the flesh I live," how?
00:18:29.076 --> 00:18:33.414
"By the faith of the Son ofGod," "By the faith of the Son
00:18:33.447 --> 00:18:37.118
of God, who loved me," verse21, "And gave him for me," 21,
00:18:37.151 --> 00:18:43.624
"I do not frustratethe grace of God.
00:18:45.793 --> 00:18:48.429
For if righteousnesscome by the law,
00:18:49.230 --> 00:18:52.700
then Christ is dead in vain."
00:18:53.301 --> 00:18:55.469
He says I'm not gonna frustratewhat came to me freely.
00:18:55.503 --> 00:18:59.373
I'm not gonna frustratethe grace of God.
00:18:59.407 --> 00:19:01.475
If righteousnesscame by my effort,
00:19:01.509 --> 00:19:03.377
or my performance, or byme thinking that somehow
00:19:03.411 --> 00:19:06.080
I'm righteous becauseI kept the law,
00:19:06.113 --> 00:19:08.482
he said, well,Christ died in vain.
00:19:08.516 --> 00:19:10.952
If you somehow think you'rerighteous because of what you
00:19:10.985 --> 00:19:13.688
have done, or what youhave performed in order
00:19:13.721 --> 00:19:16.224
to be righteous, thenChrist died in vain.
00:19:16.257 --> 00:19:19.594
See, Christ died so that inspite of your behavior
00:19:20.161 --> 00:19:23.064
and your performance, you wouldbe made righteous
00:19:23.097 --> 00:19:25.600
because of Jesus Christ, becauseof your faith and belief
00:19:25.633 --> 00:19:29.003
in Jesus, and not because ofyour performance,
00:19:29.036 --> 00:19:32.473
and not because yourefforts and that you worked
00:19:32.506 --> 00:19:36.110
the law in orderto achieve that.
00:19:36.143 --> 00:19:38.279
It's not because you kept15 commandments perfectly
00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:41.549
that you're righteous,you are righteous
00:19:41.582 --> 00:19:43.818
because of Jesus Christ.
00:19:43.851 --> 00:19:46.320
And he says you frustrate thegrace of God when you think
00:19:46.354 --> 00:19:49.023
that somehow by your behaviorand by your performance,
00:19:49.056 --> 00:19:52.126
you have achieved righteousness.
00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:53.694
He says Christ died in vain.
00:19:53.728 --> 00:19:55.429
And so, this is so veryimportant for us to see.
00:19:56.831 --> 00:19:59.533
The teachings on discipleshipshould not be over-emphasized
00:19:59.567 --> 00:20:04.505
as the solution to everything.
00:20:04.538 --> 00:20:06.674
Yes, we are disciplesof Christ, absolutely,
00:20:06.707 --> 00:20:09.377
but we are alsomore than disciples.
00:20:09.410 --> 00:20:13.414
The great Master has nowcome to live inside of us.
00:20:14.649 --> 00:20:21.389
Wow, and that's powerful.
00:20:22.256 --> 00:20:24.525
We're not only limiting Jesuswhen we think that way
00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:30.731
and allow religionto come in, listen,
00:20:30.765 --> 00:20:33.601
he lives his life throughus, that's powerful.
00:20:33.634 --> 00:20:37.004
Jesus lives--Jesus hascome on the inside of us,
00:20:37.571 --> 00:20:40.975
Jesus lives his life through us,
00:20:41.008 --> 00:20:44.578
and so we've got to allowhim to take over.
00:20:45.146 --> 00:20:47.415
And you limit him whenyou don't realize that,
00:20:47.982 --> 00:20:53.220
you don't recognize that,you don't admit that.
00:20:53.254 --> 00:20:55.556
When somehow you keepgiving yourself the credit
00:20:55.956 --> 00:21:00.194
for your self-effortof doing it,
00:21:00.227 --> 00:21:01.796
you're limitingthe power of God.
00:21:01.829 --> 00:21:03.931
You know, I often think aboutthis long-distance runner,
00:21:05.232 --> 00:21:10.705
and I've never been along-distance runner,
00:21:10.738 --> 00:21:12.506
but I used to runtrack, and it has a,
00:21:12.540 --> 00:21:15.976
you know, when wewere practicing,
00:21:16.010 --> 00:21:18.079
it was just so hard.
00:21:18.112 --> 00:21:19.447
But I noticed that,I don't know,
00:21:20.514 --> 00:21:21.949
the second wind kicked in.
00:21:21.982 --> 00:21:23.918
And when that secondwind kicked in,
00:21:24.418 --> 00:21:27.221
something thatstarted off being hard,
00:21:27.421 --> 00:21:30.057
it became somewhat sweatless.
00:21:30.257 --> 00:21:32.693
This is a coretruth of the gospel,
00:21:33.627 --> 00:21:36.364
and listen to me carefully.
00:21:36.397 --> 00:21:37.832
Christ has come tolive his life through us.
00:21:38.165 --> 00:21:41.736
Christ is my secondwind, if you will.
00:21:43.170 --> 00:21:45.773
He has come to livehis life through us.
00:21:46.307 --> 00:21:49.343
We are the body ofChrist in this world.
00:21:49.377 --> 00:21:51.779
We are his arms.We are his feet.
00:21:51.812 --> 00:21:55.349
We are his legs.
00:21:55.383 --> 00:21:57.284
Let Christ love people,watch this, through you.
00:21:58.386 --> 00:22:03.958
Wow, look at this, man.Christ has come to live in me.
00:22:04.959 --> 00:22:08.129
Let Christ speak encouragingwords through your mouth.
00:22:08.162 --> 00:22:12.566
Words have powerto transform people.
00:22:13.801 --> 00:22:16.103
So, let Christ walkto the unreached.
00:22:16.137 --> 00:22:21.242
Let him minister to theunreached through our feet.
00:22:21.609 --> 00:22:26.280
Let him walk to themthrough our feet.
00:22:26.313 --> 00:22:28.783
Let him use us, wow.
00:22:28.816 --> 00:22:31.652
His redemptive work wasfinished by the crucifixion
00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:35.423
and the resurrection 2.000years ago, but his ministry,
00:22:35.456 --> 00:22:39.794
even though what happened2.000 years ago happened
00:22:40.294 --> 00:22:43.864
and it was finished,his ministry,
00:22:43.898 --> 00:22:46.100
it still goes on today, how?
00:22:46.133 --> 00:22:48.669
Through me, through you.
00:22:48.702 --> 00:22:50.438
His ministry is operating today.
00:22:50.771 --> 00:22:52.606
You see, if we're focusingon Christ and Christ in us,
00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:55.843
then his ministry is workingand operating through us today.
00:22:55.876 --> 00:22:58.946
Let me give you an illustration,Matthew chapter 9:35 talks
00:22:58.979 --> 00:23:02.316
about how Jesus is continuingto heal and doing those things.
00:23:02.349 --> 00:23:06.187
So, what Jesus did, you know,his redemptive work was finished
00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:10.591
by the crucifixion and theresurrection 2.000 years ago,
00:23:10.624 --> 00:23:14.161
but his ministry is stilloperating through you
00:23:14.195 --> 00:23:16.397
and through me.
00:23:16.430 --> 00:23:17.765
That's a powerful thing, man.
00:23:17.865 --> 00:23:19.200
Verse 35 says, "And Jesuswent about all the cities
00:23:19.633 --> 00:23:22.837
and villages, teachingin their synagogues,
00:23:22.870 --> 00:23:25.339
and preaching the gospel ofthe kingdom and healing every
00:23:25.372 --> 00:23:28.342
sickness and everydisease among the people,"
00:23:28.375 --> 00:23:31.078
and that is still going on todaythrough us, through us.
00:23:31.111 --> 00:23:36.083
I mean, what a great honorto be a vessel for him,
00:23:36.617 --> 00:23:38.953
and we can never,ever boast of anything,
00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:43.491
because we remind ourselvesthat it's Christ in us.
00:23:43.524 --> 00:23:46.994
It's Christ and Christ in us,
00:23:47.795 --> 00:23:49.830
and we can neverboast about anything.
00:23:50.297 --> 00:23:51.832
All the glory, all of thethanks goes to God.
00:23:51.866 --> 00:23:55.870
It goes to him alone.
00:23:55.903 --> 00:23:57.671
You see how focusedyou are with that?
00:23:58.439 --> 00:24:00.207
I focus in on this.
00:24:00.975 --> 00:24:02.409
God gets the gloryfor everything.
00:24:02.443 --> 00:24:05.212
God gets the thanksgiving.
00:24:05.246 --> 00:24:06.547
And I know sometimesyou struggle with that,
00:24:06.580 --> 00:24:07.915
you think, well, you know.
00:24:07.948 --> 00:24:09.617
I think about this.
00:24:10.951 --> 00:24:12.253
When one of my nephews,for Christmas,
00:24:12.286 --> 00:24:15.656
my father got him a bicycle, andsomebody in the family asked,
00:24:15.689 --> 00:24:20.160
they said, "Who gotyou that bicycle?"
00:24:20.194 --> 00:24:21.962
He said, "Jesus,"and my dad said,
00:24:21.996 --> 00:24:23.931
"No, Jesus didn't, Igot you that bicycle."
00:24:23.964 --> 00:24:26.400
I think that's a pretty goodillustration of what we're
00:24:26.433 --> 00:24:28.903
tempted to do sometimes, thatwe wanna be recognized for what
00:24:28.936 --> 00:24:32.306
we've accomplished and somethings that we've made happen.
00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:35.442
And yet, that just showsyou your focus is
00:24:35.776 --> 00:24:37.945
not where it needs to be.
00:24:37.978 --> 00:24:39.313
My focus needs to beChrist and Christ in me.
00:24:39.346 --> 00:24:42.349
Now, again, how doesthis transformation happen?
00:24:42.983 --> 00:24:46.020
I got a little off.
00:24:46.053 --> 00:24:47.388
How does transformation happen?
00:24:47.421 --> 00:24:48.756
Look at 2 Corinthianschapter 3 and verse 18.
00:24:48.789 --> 00:24:50.991
How does thistransformation happen?
00:24:51.692 --> 00:24:54.194
Verse 18 says, "But we all,with open face beholding
00:24:54.228 --> 00:24:58.599
as in a glass theglory of the Lord."
00:24:58.632 --> 00:25:01.368
Notice, as we behold,just by beholding,
00:25:02.136 --> 00:25:06.140
"We are changed into the sameimage from glory to glory,
00:25:06.173 --> 00:25:10.010
even as by theSpirit of the Lord."
00:25:10.044 --> 00:25:12.046
So, the Spirit of the Lord saysif you'll just begin to behold
00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:14.448
Jesus, I can now changeyou into that very image.
00:25:14.481 --> 00:25:18.485
female announcer: In hisnew three-message series,
00:25:21.221 --> 00:25:23.223
"Grace Based Holiness," CrefloDollar challenges religion
00:25:23.257 --> 00:25:27.795
and reveals whatholiness is really about.
00:25:27.828 --> 00:25:30.664
Get all three life-changingmessages and the notes
00:25:30.698 --> 00:25:34.101
to take your study to anew level, for a love gift
00:25:34.134 --> 00:25:37.504
of just $25 U.S.dollars or more.
00:25:37.538 --> 00:25:40.674
Creflo: True holinessruns from nothing.
00:25:40.874 --> 00:25:44.478
announcer: Call the numberon your screen or visit
00:25:44.511 --> 00:25:47.181
the website to orderyour combo today.
00:25:47.214 --> 00:25:49.383
male announcer: Thereis a purpose for your life,
00:25:50.718 --> 00:25:52.553
and you are meantto do great things.
00:25:52.586 --> 00:25:54.855
Introducing Grace Life Academy,an innovative approach
00:25:54.888 --> 00:25:58.792
to learning God's Word.
00:25:58.826 --> 00:26:00.561
Grace Life Academy offersunlimited access with
00:26:00.594 --> 00:26:03.464
hundreds of hours of onlineteachings from Creflo Dollar.
00:26:03.497 --> 00:26:06.634
For one low monthlysubscription,
00:26:06.667 --> 00:26:08.969
you'll have access tocomprehensive video Bible
00:26:09.003 --> 00:26:11.405
lessons that includefeatures such as e-courses,
00:26:11.438 --> 00:26:14.408
study guides, an onlinecommunity, quizzes and more.
00:26:14.441 --> 00:26:17.745
Text GLA to 51555 toget started right now,
00:26:17.778 --> 00:26:22.750
or go online toMyGraceLifeAcademy.com.
00:26:22.783 --> 00:26:26.086
Creflo: I pray that thisbroadcast blessed you today.
00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:35.195
I want you to pray aboutsowing a financial seed
00:26:35.229 --> 00:26:37.464
into this ministry.
00:26:37.498 --> 00:26:38.866
I also want to extend a specialthanks to those of you
00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:41.568
who have remained our loyal
00:26:41.602 --> 00:26:43.337
partners, supporters,and friends.
00:26:43.370 --> 00:26:45.406
Your financial supportgoes a long, long way.
00:26:45.439 --> 00:26:48.776
Your donations help equip uswith what we need to send
00:26:48.809 --> 00:26:51.912
this broadcast allover the world.
00:26:51.945 --> 00:26:54.081
And when you giveto this ministry,
00:26:54.114 --> 00:26:55.983
you partner with us to reachpeople everywhere who
00:26:56.016 --> 00:26:59.019
are hurting and in needof the revelation
00:26:59.053 --> 00:27:02.056
of God's grace and love.
00:27:02.089 --> 00:27:04.091
male announcer: If Godhas placed it on your heart
00:27:04.591 --> 00:27:06.126
to support the vision of thisministry to reach the world
00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:09.129
with the gospel of grace,you may call in to make
00:27:09.163 --> 00:27:11.498
your financial donationsor log on
00:27:11.532 --> 00:27:13.467
to CrefloDollarMinistries.org.
00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:16.070
God bless you.
00:27:16.103 --> 00:27:17.438
announcer: Thank you,partners and friends.
00:27:20.374 --> 00:27:22.076
CC by Aberdeen Captioning1-800-688-6621 abercap.com
00:27:22.109 --> 00:27:27.114

Menu Top

Grace Based Holiness Part 2

Grace Based Holiness Part 2

Video Keywords

Menu Top

Grace Based Holiness Part 2

Grace Based Holiness Part 2

Video Keywords

Stay Up to Date With Our Newsletter