Real Change For Real Sinners

2 Peter 3:18

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

Ephesians 4:15

We are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.

The key to real growth isn’t self-improvement—it’s Jesus.

Our growth is in Christ.

We need Jesus in all His glory!

Ephesians 3:8

The unsearchable riches of Christ.

You can dig into Jesus for the rest of your life and never reach the bottom

Seven Dimensions Of Jesus.

1. Jesus Rules

Jesus exercises supreme authority over the entire universe.

Matthew 28:18

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Though we often see chaos, injustice, and suffering, faith confesses that all things remain under the reign of God’s sovereign will. There is no maverick molecule, no rebel event, no stray circumstance outside of His governance. Sin runs its course, evil does its work, but God remains Lord. He allows human freedom and yet directs history infallibly toward the revelation of His kingdom. Providence does not fail when the world trembles; rather, it is then we must learn to see by faith that the Lord reigns. — Herman Bavinck

The great call on our life is not self-rule, but surrender.

Philippians 2:10-11

At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Evey knee will bow—Choose to bow now.

2. Jesus Saves

Ephesians 2:1-2 & 4-6

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

The gospel isn’t “Jesus gives you momentum.” The gospel is “Jesus raises the dead.”

Luke 7:37-39

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this,he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Luke 7:41–42

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Luke 7:43

Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Luke 7:47–50

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Every single one of us is the five-hundred-denarii sinner.

Too many think lightly of sin, and therefore think lightly of the Savior. He who has stood before his God, convicted and condemned, with the rope around his neck, is the man to weep for joy when he is pardoned. A great sinner makes a great saint when he is fully forgiven, for he cannot but love much when he has had much forgiven. — Charles Spurgeon

3. Jesus Befriends

John 15:15

No longer do I call you servants … but I have called you friends.

Slaves are driven by duty.

Friends are driven by devotion.

John 15:15

For the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Matthew 11:19

A friend of tax collectors and sinners.

Luke 15:1

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

Learn from the tax collectors and sinners and draw near.

4. Jesus Perseveres

John 13:1

When Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

“to the end” - the whole distance.

Philippians 1:6

He who began a good work in you notice this will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t just begin your story and end your story—He walks with you through every page of it.

Romans 5:6

While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:10

While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.

You’re not hanging by a thread. You are held by nail-scarred hands that will never let you go.

5. Jesus Intercedes

Romans 8:34

It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Intercession means He is standing before the Father right now, presenting you as His own.

Hebrews 7:25

He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Intercession is the ongoing harmony of Father and Son—one heart, one mission, one love—for you.

Christ’s intercession is His continual appearance for us in heaven, presenting Himself, His death, His blood, His satisfaction on our behalf. It is not that He moves the Father from a disinclination to love us, but that He constantly declares the Father’s will and our reconciliation already purchased. He appears before the throne as the living testimony of God’s eternal love. — John Owen

6. Jesus Is Returning

Matthew 24:42 

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 

Matthew 24:44

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout

The critical question isn't "When is it going to happen?" It's "Am I ready?" & "Who around me isn't ready?"

Mark 13:35 

Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming— in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Don’t let this darkness cause you to fall asleep on your assignment.

7. Jesus Is Gentle

Matthew 11:29

I am gentle and lowly in heart.

Gentle - He is approachable and safe, compassionate and kind. He’s not harsh, not quick to anger, not trigger-happy with judgment. He doesn’t push you away; He pulls you close.

Lowly - He is accessible, humble, drawn to those who know their need.

Jesus is not repelled by your weakness, He’s actually drawn to it.

Romans 5:20

Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.

Grace didn’t just meet sin measure for measure; it surpassed it.

Every time you fail, understand, God already prepared the ground for your forgiveness.

Jesus is gentle, because grace has a face—and it’s His.

Gentleness - strength under control.

Jesus is not gentle because He is weak; He is gentle because He has already used His strength to bear the weight of sin at the cross.

Jesus Rules — He holds the universe and your Tuesday in the same nail-scarred hands.

Jesus Saves — He doesn’t boost the struggling; He raises the dead.

Jesus Befriends — He doesn’t hire servants; He welcomes friends—sinners included.

Jesus Perseveres — He loved you through the cross; He’ll love you through the finish.

Jesus Intercedes — Your name is on His lips right now before the Father.

Jesus Is Returning — & it’s not a metaphor; He’s a soon-coming King—so live ready.

Jesus Is Gentle — He’s drawn to your weakness, not repelled; where sin runs deep, grace runs deeper.