I was out of the pulpit on New Year's day, so this week's podcast is from the archives. I preached this sermon on January 4, 2020.

Surveys reveal that almost half of all American adults plan to make New Year's resolutions, the most common being exercising more. However, an analysis from Strava found that many give up on their resolution to exercise more as early as mid-January. Almost 11% of all gym memberships for the entire year are sold in January—greater than any other month.

New year resolutions generally come from recognizing something in our past that we do not like and desiring a better future. The great weakness of new year's resolutions is that they are founded on our strength and power. In Ephesians 2:11-19, Paul calls us to remember who we once were. He is not trying to motivate the church with a guilt trip or encouragement to try harder. Instead, he calls the church to remember who they were before salvation, who has saved them, and celebrate who they are now in Christ.

To be transformed is to be irrevocably changed. Once a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it can no longer be a caterpillar again. Butterflies never return to being caterpillars, nor do those saved by the cross of Jesus go back to a life ruled by sin.

The end of Romans 5 says that where sin increases, so does grace. To the sinful mind, this sounds like an invitation to sin more to get more grace. In Romans 6, Paul responds by teaching what it means to be transformed. Yes, more sin equals more grace, but the response by one transformed by the gospel is not to desire more sin but more righteousness.