Not Imitation but Incarnation
The sermon emphasizes the importance of allowing Christ to live through us in every aspect of our lives for effective service and witness to the world.
Theodore Epp emphasizes that Christ desires to live His life through us, urging believers to allow Him to use every part of their being--eyes, ears, lips, heart, mind, hands, and feet--to fulfill His mission in the world. He highlights the importance of surrendering not just our physical bodies but also our intellect, emotions, and will to Christ, enabling Him to express compassion and love through us. Epp encourages believers to bring their thoughts under Christ's control and to make decisions that honor Him, reflecting the transformative power of being baptized into Christ.
Text
Romans 12:1-5
Christ wants to live His life through us. He wants to use our eyes to behold the world situation as it is today. He wants to use our ears to hear the cry of the unsaved and the cry of those who are in need. He wants to use our lips to tell others the Gospel. He wants to use our hearts to express compassion and love to everyone. He wants to use our minds to think through situations and to have something to say to the people involved. He wants to use our hands to do His work and our feet to get to the places He wants to go to help others through us. The body also includes the soul, which is the seat of the intellect, the emotions and the will. God not only wants the physical aspect of our bodies, but He also wants our intellect, emotions and will.
Christ wants to think His thoughts through us, and He wants to bring our minds under His control. Second Corinthians 10:4,5 says, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Jesus Christ also wants our emotions so He might express Himself through us to a lost and dying world. The Lord Jesus Christ also wants our wills through which to make decisions that will honor Him.
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27).
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the concept of incarnation
- The importance of Christ living through us
- Scriptural foundation from Romans 12:1-5
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II
- Using our senses for His purpose
- The role of our intellect in His service
- Emotional expression of Christ through us
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III
- The significance of our will in decision making
- Understanding the body and soul in service
- The call to action for believers
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IV
- The power of thoughts and obedience to Christ
- The impact of our actions on the world
- Living as vessels for the Gospel
Key Quotes
“He wants to use our eyes to behold the world situation as it is today.” — Theodore Epp
“He wants to use our hearts to express compassion and love to everyone.” — Theodore Epp
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Reflect on how you can allow Christ to influence your daily decisions.
- Consider practical ways to express compassion and love to those around you.
- Commit to using your gifts and abilities as vessels for sharing the Gospel.