In this powerful message, Pastor DaVon Alexander teaches you how to renew your mind, think with a righteous consciousness, and see yourself the way God sees you. You’ll also discover what to do when you sin and how to move forward without allowing guilt, shame, or condemnation to define you. It’s time to stop thinking like a sinner and start thinking like the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!
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Notes
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Beseech - to urge or to beg
Mercies - benefits (Psalm 103:1-5)
You present - not God, deny yourself.
Reasonable service - your way to worship
Renew - renewal, renovation, complete change
Your mind is the control center of your life
Mind - mentality, philosophy, way of thinking, thought life, reasonings
Mind consists of your conscious, subconscious, and conscience
The conscious mind, subconscious mind, and conscience are three distinct aspects of how we think, process information, make decisions, and determine what is right or wrong.
Renewing your mind means intentionally changing how you think by aligning your thinking with God’s Word.
Romans 3:23-26 NLT
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
We are free from the penalty of sin and the power of sin. We are not free from the practice of sin nor the presence of sin.
There is a difference between a sinner and a saint or the righteous.
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Righteous- right standing with God. Innocent. Cannot be earned. Only comes with faith in Jesus.
Jesus, who never sinned, was made sin. You, who always sin, were made righteous.
Romans 5:12-21
Death - separation from God
People were sinning from Adam to Moses, but it wasn’t counted against them because there was no law against it.
The law exposed how sinful we were.
Adam disobeyed a specific command (v. 14)
Gift, something freely and completely given to you.
The gift of righteousness is right standing with God
Condemnation - a guilty sentence
Reign in life - rule and control (v. 17)
The Law Introduced Sin Consciousness
Sin consciousness is being more aware of your sins, failures, and mistakes than you are of what Jesus has accomplished for you.
Focuses on what you’ve done wrong.
Produces guilt, shame, condemnation, and feelings of unworthiness.
Causes you to approach God based on your performance rather than Christ’s finished work.
Sin consciousness says: “I am a mess because of what I’ve done.”
Jesus Introduced Righteousness Consciousness
Righteousness consciousness is being more aware of who you are in Christ than who you were before Christ.
Focuses on what Jesus has accomplished.
Produces confidence, peace, boldness, and freedom.
Causes you to approach God based on your position in Christ rather than your performance.
Righteousness consciousness says: “I’m righteous because of what Jesus has done.”
1 Corinthians 15:34 - Awake to righteousness, and sin not.
Sin consciousness keeps you focused on your past. Righteousness consciousness keeps you focused on your position in Christ.
Righteousness consciousness doesn’t mean you’re unaware of sin. It means you’re more aware of the power of righteousness in Christ Jesus than you are of your mistakes.
What Should You Do When You Sin?
1 John 1:9-10 NKJV
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Confess - To acknowledge; do not deny
1 John 2:1-2 NLT
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
Advocate - defender or supporter
Romans 8:1 NLT
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Condemnation - a guilty sentence
Romans 8:1 TPT
So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One.