The Building of a Healthy Self-Image (Acts 2:36)

Introduction

Recently inducted into the word hall of shame. Is the word guilt? Guilt is bad. Guilt is negative. Guilt is harmful. That’s what we hear so often today. Is it? Is guilt necessarily a bad thing? Or is a sense of one’s guilt? Acknowledging one’s guilt. Is that instead conducive to spiritual health? Our betterment. Real and good and great transformation. And is it not a prerequisite to eternal war? Now, for that observation, I would take you quickly to Psalm 51. That is David’s psalm, most likely pinned in relation to his sin with Bathsheba, where he says, I have gone wholesale into sin. My sin is ever before me. I was conceived in sin. That’s that bad. And as he acknowledges, against thee and thee only have I sinned, he then begins to work from the acknowledgement of his guilt to the transformation of the sinner.

1. We Should Deal With Guilt Properly

The restoration of a steadfast spirit within himself, create in me a clean heart, teaching transgressors your ways. And so he is taking the guilt that is there in relation to his sin and then using it in a productive future way. Not just an old testament concept. In fact, this was brought to my attention when Jeff was reading in the Lord’s Supper last Sunday from 1 Corinthians 11 and verse 27, where in Corinth, obviously, they are turning the Lord’s Supper into something less by making it a common meal, and one was filled and another was hungry. And he says, This is not an act of worship. You need to discern what these two elements represent, and a failure to do so if we do not partake in a worthy manner by giving this the proper meditation of the body and blood of the Lord, he states it in the severest of terms possible.

In verse 27. He says, You shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. You can incur further guilt by a failure to observe this memorial properly. So we shouldn’t just wish guilt away. Swoosh it away. Make it go away. I don’t want it. We should deal with it properly. Just prior to where John was reading in his Lord’s Supper comments in Matthew chapter 27, we have Pilate making a plea to the people on the basis of his innocence. He says, What evil has he done? The mob is yelling, Let it be crucified, let it be crucified. And ultimately, because of their calls, he washes his hands, and Pilate says, interestingly enough, I am innocent of his blood. I’m innocent of this. And yet, in his very act, there is a measure of guilt for Pilate.

But do you remember what the people said? The people said, His blood be upon us and upon our children. Oh, we’ll take the guilt that you don’t want, Pilate. And indeed they did. And on the day of Pentecost, the conclusion of the sermon that Jesus is now sitting upon David’s throne, the one that you have crucified, God has made him both Lord and Christ. And they were pierced to their hearts. There was guilt. And yet 3,000 responded nobly for their betterment for their spiritual health. Responded to this guilt when they were given the instructions of what they must do. The same thing is implied in Acts chapter 3.

Verses 17 through 19 in the next sermon recorded in the book of Acts that the Christ should suffer. And really going back to verse 14, he accuses his audience and he says, But you disowned the holy and righteous one and ask for a murderer. You put to death the prince of life. And so what’s the call? The call in verse 19 is that you must repent. You must deal with your guilt. Repent and return, that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. It’s completely unhealthy to live in denial of the problem of sin.

That’s exactly what so many do.

2. Great Danger to Live in Denial of Sin

I, in fact, I’m going to declare myself not guilty. There is great danger to live in denial of the problems of sin as so many do and say, I don’t want God, I don’t want this, I don’t trust this, I don’t think this is truth. I reject God. He doesn’t offer anything that I need other than restrictions. And I don’t want those. So I reject God. And people live as virtual automatons in need of no external force as some kind of mechanical contrivance that can do whatever it wills and design what is best for them. I can map out or chart or invent my own way. I can invent my own course for fulfillment and ultimate happiness. So many people are doing just that. Guilt, not going to deal with that.

I only need myself. I know what is best for me. I know what will bring me happiness and pleasure in this life. I’ve got the answers. I don’t need any answers outside of myself. I certainly don’t want to feel guilty about anything that I’ve done. Kyle took us to Isaiah 46, and a wonderful passage that is stated about God. I know Sherry posted it this week in Isaiah 46 when he says, For I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is no one like me. My purpose will be established and I will accomplish all my good pleasure. This is the God who calls us to account. But I happened when he was reading that to look over to chapter 47. I found a wonderful little nugget in Isaiah 47 in a lament against Babylon.

Now then hear this, you sensual one who dwells securely, verse 8, who says in your heart, listen this.

You talk about a statement that represents the culture you and I live in, that’s it. I am, I am the height of everything. I am, and then there is no other besides me. I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children. You know, I can keep myself from the troubles that come upon other people. But then he says in verse 11, but evil will come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away. And disaster will fall on you. I think folks would think they can just turn things away. I can just charm it away. That’s not going to affect me. I am, and there is no other besides me. This view of self is destructive in every possible way.

3. Sinners Unfit for the Presence of God

Now, why am I preaching this? Why am I preaching this message? Why the gospel? Why do you need it? As an adult, if indeed there is sin on your account before God, you have transgressed the will of your creator. If that is indeed a truth, let me tell you why that should matter to you. Because as sinners, we are unfit for the presence of a perfect and holy God. That’s why we need the gospel. That’s why acknowledging your guilt and getting the remedy for that is so very important. But I realize that presents a tremendous challenge. You have to acknowledge that there are indeed unseen realities. You say I have guilt on my account, but I’m actually feeling pretty good about myself. Or as the scriptures would say, enjoying the passing pleasures of sin.

In fact, I don’t feel bad about it. I actually feel pretty good in it. What you would call sinful conduct, I like, I want, I even crave. And so if I just act as if God doesn’t exist, and that I have no creator and the product of evolution, then I don’t have to answer to these standards that you’re calling me to. The problem is there has been ample evidence provided for the existence of a creator. Our universe testifies to his existence. These unseen realities, the evidence of this particular book that it comes from such an author, from such a source is overwhelming. You can’t deny that these realities exist, not logically so. And furthermore, this book promises us a coming day of reckoning. And guess what?

I’m pretty sure you’re not going to live forever. No matter what marvels of modern science and medicine can introduce, I don’t see you living to be 110. If you do, happy for you. Although you probably won’t be feeling that great at 110. That’s been my experience. You’re not going to live forever, then what? And this book says that we’re going to stand before the judgment seat of our God.

4. Spiritually Remade and Given Value

History moves toward a goal. But, okay, so you’re saying a sinner unfit for the presence of God, that means I have to deal with guilt. Guilt is so crippling and guilt is so damaging and hurtful to my psyche. Listen, God’s plan does not leave us to an endless, unrelenting, and harmful self-recrimination. That’s not what God’s will does for us. Instead, and this is the thought I had last Sunday morning, instead, he provides the building blocks of a healthy self-image based upon the acknowledgement of my guilt and then dealing with it as he has prescribed. That’s the goal of this lesson this morning. One’s self-image, I am, and there is no other besides me. One self-image without God, without living consistently with his will. That is unhealthy.

That is an unhealthy and harmful choice. You may think automaton is the way to go. Depend only on me, myself, and I. Numero. That is unhealthy. What the Bible gives us is true and ultimate health. As we deal with the problem of sin in our life. How are we spiritually remade by our powerful creator God? We are a new creation in Christ. We are correctly spiritually remade. And we are given value by the very fact that our creator has redeemed us. You see, I said we were sinners unfit for the presence of a holy God, and yet God has acted in such a way to say to you and to me, I have value. Unworthy me. I have value to God. You have value to God.

Immediately, your self-image is going like this. I know there’s this problem of sin, and I sunk really low. But God is already saying love lifted me. That’s what he’s saying. From the muck and mire of our transgressions and sin, God is lifting us up. We are the redeemed of God. Those of us who are in Christ. Would you look at 1 Peter chapter 1? Now, I put 13 verses. I’m not going to read all of those. But I really want you to go back this afternoon or tomorrow and to read all of these verses. And start in verse 3. But I’m just saying, you’ve got to get the whole flavor of this context because right in the middle of it, Peter makes an astounding point to us as he’s encouraged his audience to be sober, to not be conformed to the lusts that were theirs in their ignorance, to be holy as God is holy.

That’s our new mission. But he says this to conduct your stay on earth in fear. Okay? Talked about the wrath of God last week. That contributes to that. Or two weeks ago. Conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon the earth, knowing, look at this. That you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold. Silver and gold’s pretty good in this world. But you weren’t even redeemed with silver or gold. Those things perish. He says, from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers. You know, we just sort of repeat the mistakes of previous generations. That’s what we tend to do. And we’ll walk in the ways that they did. We get in the same problems of sin that they did.

And he said, that’s the way that you’ve inherited in this world. He says, but you are not redeemed, even with the most precious of things in this world, like silver and gold, but with instead the precious blood. As of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. And then he goes on to talk about our obedience to the truth in which our souls are purified. 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 22. As we’re born again of the incorruptible seed, the living and abiding word of God.

You immediately our view of ourselves changes. When we see that not, hey, what if somebody had redeemed you for 100,000 pieces of gold? Redeemed, by the way, means that we were in a bad fix. We need somebody said, I’m going to pay the ransom for him. 100,000 pieces of gold. Of course, not you just valued the Lord at 30 pieces of silver. That’s another story. How terrible of a devaluation that was. Hundred thousand pieces of gold. Well, that’s pretty good. That’s pretty good. Something better than that, as John read from Matthew 27. The priceless blood of the perfect Son of God was your redemption price. And when we sign on, and there’s much more that could have been said, obviously, you thought I was going to say more.

I could have said more. That’s not all. This problem of guilt that we have, I’m a sinner before God is terrible. What does salvation in Christ do for us? As he goes on to say in chapter 3, baptism doth also now save us. It’s not the removal of the filth of the flesh. It’s not like taking a bath in water. But it’s the appeal to God for a clean conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Hebrew writer is going to talk about that in chapter 9 and 10 as well. About being sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. Here’s the great thing. When you sign on to serve the Lord, all of that guilt in the past, gone. Removed. A great weight is lifted. We saw the weight in the opening graphic.

The great weight is lifted. Not only do I have value from my creator, but the problem of the guilt of my sin is removed. It doesn’t mean you’ll never have any guilt anymore. In fact, you may find yourself on a moment of foolishness, not walking wisely, as Peter had talked about in chapter one. You may delve into that futility and foolishness again.

5. A New Way of Seeing Ourselves

Find himself in the gall of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity. You may fall and slumber back into that, but here’s the great thing. That can be fixed too. Pray that the thought of your heart might be forgiven you, Peter said. Any future guilt can be eradicated and removed. And here’s the point. Correctly remade. Self-image correctly remade by the will of God. Wellness is defied by my relationship with God. What this does, and this is the goal of the lesson for you for me today. It’s a new way of looking at ourselves. That’s what the gospel does. A healthy self-image. You’ve got a new way of seeing yourself. And this has been anticipated by the prophets. You’re going to be called, Isaiah said, by a new name, which no one knows but he who receives it.

As we read in Revelation chapter 2. Called by a new name, which the Lord’s mouth will designate. You shall no longer be called forsaken or her land desolate. That was our former condition. But instead Hefzebah. That’s who you are now. Hefzeebah. My delight is in her. And your land shall be called Beaula. Which means married. Your new status, the new name that you have in Christ is God delights in you, and you have a relationship with him tantamount to spiritual marriage.

A whole new way of seeing ourselves. And the Bible talks about that throughout the New Testament. We’re going to go through this very quickly. Where are you sitting right now? Not on a pew. Very comfortable one. All right. But that’s not where you’re sitting. As Christians, we sit in the spiritual realm. We’ve put on Christ. Our association is Him. Again, our wellness is defined by our relationship with God. And you know what? We have received every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. According to Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3. And you have been raised to sit in the heavenlies with Christ. Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 6. When you start thinking about what you are in Christ, would you think about that? Or as he would say in Philippians chapter 3, our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly await for a Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Who will transform our lowly estate into conformity with the body of his glory? We’ve got great things ahead of us. You are a citizen of heaven, and it’s better than being a great citizen of Texas. It’s infinitely better. Did I say the wrong thing?

I grew up in Indiana. It was great being a boosier, but sort of like being a Texan better.

But there is nothing like sitting in the heavenlies with Christ. You see how he’s exalted and changed our circumstances. That’s where our citizenship is. And it’s like the people of all the people of faith. They acknowledged they were exiles and strangers here, but they desired a better country, a heavenly country. Abraham’s citizenship was elsewhere. And so was ours. When I was preparing this, I don’t know. My mind went back 30 years to the Jeffersons. We’re moving on up. To the east side. To the luxury apartment in the skies. We got something better than even Mr. Jefferson. Our citizenship is in heaven. Oh, the Bible’s not done talking about this new relationship. We just pass over this vessels of honor. Where there was dishonor, now there’s honor.

6. Vessels of Honor

We’re fit for the master’s use according to 2 Timothy chapter 2. How cool is that? When I serve in God’s plan and further his plan along and contribute in the ways that I can when I offer my lips in consistent and persevering worship unto him with his people. When I live that holy life because that’s what he called me to, I am now a vessel of honor. I’ve been set apart and sanctified for his special purposes. Here I was, lowly man of guilt.

This treasure in earth investments. And I’m not doing it by myself.

You know, if I had to rely on little old me, it wouldn’t amount to much. But I’m being equipped by God and by his powerful spirit to become in Christ what he calls me to be. And he’s helping me along the way as my life is being transformed into the image of Jesus and I’m modeling his behavior, I become a vessel of honor. Instead of a broken vessel, my vessel’s been put back together, and it’s better than super glue. Or gorilla glue. It’s God’s glue. And I’m being remade. And here’s the great thing about it. I can focus on others and help them to become the same and not injure myself in the process. One of our great missions as vessels of honor as citizens of heaven is we’re going to try to show other people how they can be a vessel of honor too.

And assist them. Just like our Lord did. Let the mind of Christ be in you. Who sacrificed so much for everyone else. Esteem others better than yourself. Don’t merely look upon your own personal interests, but also the interests of others. And then as we pursue these noble and great objectives that God gives us holiness and worship and furthering his cause and promises, I am an ongoing recipient of his favor. Kyle talked about that. Growing in the grace and knowledge, continuing in the grace of God. Continuing in the favor of God. We need to be praying about that. Bask in his love, his fellowship, his equipping, and his glorified use of your being. Ask him to let you continue in his favor. You know, there’s a side note to this.

Because we are such people, it really affects the way we view our trials. You know, if it wasn’t for this, we’d look at trials as, and we sometimes get this way anyway. Poor pitiful me. No, this didn’t happen to anybody else. This isn’t fair. Life is unjust. This is awful. Isn’t it really cool then about this new elevated existence that we have, our wellness defined by our relationship with God? Isn’t it really cool that even our trials can contribute to our betterment and make us long for the ultimate that’s coming. Our momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison. We do not look to the things which are seen. Whoa, what an answer is that. Your life is a mess.

Get your eyes off of that. Be anxious for nothing. Tell that to the throne of God, and you set your sights on things above. What a solution. And we thought trials were bad. They’re also purified and helping us. People in the world wear monikers that are special to them and give them some feeling of importance. It’s got to be pretty cool. If you’re Usain Bolt, and you’re known as the fastest man on earth.

For a decade. Fastest man on earth. Or if you’re LeBron James. I’m the greatest basketball player on the planet. And probably the greatest that’s ever lived. But that’s another story. But let’s bring it close to home. You’re not a giant. But you’re Gigante. Jose Altuve. That’s his nickname. Greatest little baseball player. At least in Houston. If not the major leagues. And we can look at a lot of other arenas, greatest singer, all the other arenas that mean so much to people.

Conclusion

How do you see yourself? You realize that as Christians we’re something even greater. Do you do you see it? I am a faithful child of the king of kings. And there’s nothing in this one that eclipses.

Kyle also quoted from Psalm 66, verse 10. And I noticed something in that context in verse 12, and I noticed it because the King James Version reads differently than some of the newer versions. But it says in Psalm 66 and verse 12 that as a result of God’s activity, that he has brought us to a place of abundance. He has brought us to a wealthy place. Or as the King James says, you have brought us out to rich fulfillment. Now that is a healthy, remade self-image defined by your relationship with God. Can you leave this place this morning and say with all assurance and certainty? You know, I’m really doing better than Gigante. I’m a faithful child of the King of Kings. Despite the guilt of our past, we can repent and be converted.

Our sins being washed away, and times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Do you need to respond to his invitation? Let’s stand it up.