“Jesus and Others Did It Anyway” #9

                                     Pastor Mike Barnett

                                       November 12, 2006

 

THEME: AT TIMES YOU WILL FEEL LIKE A WEAK SINNER, BUT CHOOSE TO ACT LIKE A SAINT ANYWAY BECAUSE THAT IS WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST AND YOUR POSITION IN HIM DOES NOT CHANGE EVEN WHEN YOUR BEHAVIOR AND FEELINGS DO.

 

John 17:1-24 (pg. 765)  says:

 

1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

 6"I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

 

·        God ordained and appointed Jesus to be the Holy Messiah to have all authority over mankind.

 

·        God also ordained and appointed believers to be adopted into the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.

 

·        God gave “Christ followers” to Jesus while he was on earth.

 

·        And now, in this prayer before departing, Jesus acknowledges that these believers God gave to Him, ultimately belong to God the Father.

 

·        Jesus also prayed for us – his future believers that we would be sanctified by the Word of God and unified as one.

 

·        To be sanctified means to be set apart.

 

·        The Word of God speaks into a believer’s life and sets them apart from the ways of the world.

 

·        A believer is sanctified (set apart from sin) through the spoken and written _______________________(word) of God!

 

·        In other words, you were chosen by God to be Holy, righteous and pure and that is who you are in Christ.

 

1 Peter 2:1-12 (pg. 857) says:

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:
   "See, I lay a stone in
Zion,
      a chosen and precious cornerstone,
   and the one who trusts in him
      will never be put to shame."[a] 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
   "The stone the builders rejected
      has become the capstone,[b]"[c] 8and,
   "A stone that causes men to stumble
      and a rock that makes them fall."[d] They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

·        Many professing Christians today do not feel holy, righteous and pure.

 

·        Instead of being set apart from the World’s ways, most Christians have been sucked into the World’s mold.

 

·        Many Christians today feel ugly, inferior, sinful and defeated.

 

·        This dilemma is not a new problem for followers of Christ – Peter felt inadequate to follow Jesus 2000 years ago.

 

John 13:6-10 (pg, 763) says:

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"  10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

·        Peter told Jesus to wash just not his feet, but his hands and his feet as well.

 

·        The head represents were sinful thoughts __________________________(originate).

 

·        The hands represent how sinful thoughts are ___________________________(carried) out.

 

·        Jesus told Peter that his physical body did not need a bath because Jesus had _________________________(declared) him __________________(clean) spiritually.

 

·        What Jesus declares clean is for all eternity.

 

John 15:1-8 (pg. 764) says:

 

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 

·        Once again, we see in Scripture where Jesus declared his followers clean because of the Words He spoke to them!

 

·        Many professing Christians today do not understand this principle of the Word of God declaring them clean!

 

·        Christian you are clean – because God’s Word __________________________(declares) you to be spiritually clean forever despite your behavior!

 

·        Sometimes Christians feel dirty because of past sexual sins.

 

·        If you had premarital sex, you can be completely clean in Christ.

 

·        If you have been in an immoral, adulterous relationship you can be completely clean in Christ.

 

·        Your body parts that once sinned against God and defiled your body are now declared clean in Christ.

 

·        If you have confessed and repented of your sin, you are now declared clean, regardless of how you feel.

 

·        Feelings are the result of your ___________________(thoughts), and when your thoughts ___________________(reflect) God’s Holy Word, your ______________________(feelings) will also___________________(reflect) God’s truth about you.

 

Ephesians 4:22-24 (pg. 829) says:

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Romans 12:1-2 (pg. 803) says:

 

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

·        Instead of feeling dirty and rotten, you will feel clean and whole in Christ as you __________________(renew) your ____________________(mind) with God’s ____________________(truth)!

Romans 5:12-21 (Pg. 798)  says:

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5: 12-21

·        Justification – is the doctrine in the New Testament that says…We are never more saved or more loved, or accepted by God than the ____________________(moment) we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

NOTE: Some of us have been carrying so much guilt, shame, and condemnation around for so many years, we think it is normal to go through life weighted down with the emotional baggage of the past.

In fact:

·        Most of us are so use to feeling guilty and shamed, we feel insecure when we have no baggage!

 

·        For some people, having a little baggage to dwell on provides a comfort Zone for them

NOTE: God wants his children to be free from _________(all) emotional baggage of the past and it starts by being ___________________(JUSTIFIED) before God.

·        Justification: is being ___________________(declared) righteous by God through the ____________________ ______________________(imputed holiness) of Jesus to his followers.

Colossians 1:21-23 (pg. 833)says:

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because ofn your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. Colossians 1:21-23

 

  • Whereas, sanctification is being made righteous – (being conformed to the image of Christ).

 

  • Justification is our ___________________(position) before God that never ____________________(changes).

 

  • Whereas sanctification is a process…

 

  • Justification is _______________________(immediate) and _______________________(complete) upon conversion.

 

  • For the "Christ follower" who sins after conversion, justification is restored back to wholeness immediately upon _______________________(confession) of sin.

 

1 John 1:8-9 says:

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

 

NOTE: You don’t practice _________________________(justification)! It happens once for all, upon conversion and is restored through the confession of sin.

NOTE: You will never be more justified than you are the first moment you trust in the person and the finished work of Christ at conversion!

 

·        Because sanctification is a process you will be more sanctified (set apart from the world) as you continue to walk in God’s grace!

 

NOTE: The weakest believer and the strongest saint are alike, equally ________________________(justified) before God.

 

·        Justification admits no _________________(degrees) - A person is either wholly justified or wholly condemned in the ___________________(sight) of God.

 

  • One of the key deterrents to receiving God’s grace and being free from guilt, is ________________________(legalism).

 

  • Legalism is basing our relationship with God on our own __________________________(performance).

 

  • Legalism is seeking to achieve forgiveness from God and acceptance by God through _________________________(obedience) to God.

 

  • God accepts and forgives the Christian weather they have been perfectly obedient or not.

 

  • Forgiveness is a ________________ ___________________(free gift) from God and cannot be earned or deserved.

 

  • A legalist is anyone who behaves as if they can earn God’s approval and forgiveness through personal performance.

 

  • Legalism claims that the death of Jesus on the cross is insufficient…It essentially says to God, "Your plan didn’t work. The cross wasn’t enough and I need to add to my good works to it to be saved."

 

 

THE MISTAKE OF THE LEGALIST:

  • He/she ________________________(confuses) his/her own ongoing participation in the process of _______________________(sanctification) with God’s finished work of __________________(justification).

 

  • He thinks that godly practices and good works somehow contribute to his justification.

 

THE TRUTH IS: Apart from the cross of Christ, _________________________(condemnation) is _________________________(normal). Without Jesus, we all deserve to be condemned and punished for sin.

 

THE TRUTH IS: For the Christ follower a feeling of condemnation is _______________________(irrational) because his/her sins are forgiven and forgotten by God.

 

Romans 8:1-2 says:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,n 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

 

Condemnation is defined as: - A sustained sense of guilt and shame over sin for which you have repented to God and to any appropriate individuals.

 

QUESTION: When you read scripture, does it reveal the boundless love of the Savior or merely intensify your condemnation?

QUESTION: Are you more aware of your sin than you are of God’s grace, given to you through the cross?

 

  • Don’t buy the lie that cultivating condemnation and wallowing in your shame is somehow pleasing to God, or that a constant, low-grade guilt will somehow promote holiness and spiritual maturity.

 

  • GOD IS WORSHIPPED AND GLORIFIED WHEN WE BELIEVE WITH ALL OUR HEARTS THAT WE WHO TRUST IN CHRIST CAN NEVER BE CONDEMNED AGAIN!

 

A BIBLE ILLUSTRATION:

Luke 7:36-50 (pg. 731) says:

36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,n and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.""You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:36-50

NOTE: IT’S ONLY WHEN WE RECEIVE HIS FREE GIFT OF GRACE AND LIVE IN THE GOD OF TOTAL FORGIVENESS THAT WE’RE ABLE TO TURN FROM OLD, SINFUL WAYS OF LIVING AND WALK IN _________________ (GRACE ____________________(MOTIVATED) _____________________( OBEDIENCE).

·        God’s Grace leads the authentic “Christ follower” to ___________________________(gratefulness) and (repentance)

NOTE: The Christian who desires to live a cross centered life will regularly face his or her own depravity and the seriousness of personal sin, squarely and unflinchingly. It’s a reality. But the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin is even greater.

·        When you feel guilt and shame regarding past sins you repented of, it is important to realize that you are not on trial, God’s Promise - the ___________________(blood) of ________________________(Jesus) is.

The Bible says in Psalm 103:8-13 (pg. 428)

:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

PS 103:9 He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

PS 103:10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

PS 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

PS 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

PS 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

 

The Bible says in Micah 7:18-19 (pg. 656)

18 Who is a God like you,

who pardons sin and forgives the transgression

of the remnant of his inheritance?

You do not stay angry forever

but delight to show mercy.

MIC 7:19 You will again have compassion on us;

you will tread our sins underfoot

and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

·        When a repentant person walks in shame and guilt, they are trusting their ____________________(feelings) more than God's ____________________(word) and that is _____________(sin) that _________________(separates) them from God and His blessings.

A BIBLE EXAMPLE OF LIVING BY FAITH!

Romans 7: 21 - 8:2 (pg. 800) says:

21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,n 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 7: 21 - 8:2

·        There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, because they have already been declared righteous regardless of their future sins and behavior.

 NOTE: It’s impossible to resolve issues of yesterday by doing ___________________________(better) tomorrow -Yesterday is resolved by _______________________(confessing) your sins to God and repenting of them on a daily basis as needed!

The Bible says in 1 John 1:8-9 says:

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

·        Only God’s Grace allows a person to move on, not better performance!

HOW DO I DEAL WITH THE GUILT AND SHAME FROM PAST SINS THAT PLAGUES ME:

1) Do not __________________________(minimize) sin – ____________________(Confess) it and ____________________(repent) of it.

The Bible says in 1 John 1:8-9 says:

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

·        We should never let ourselves off the hook lightly; never suggest in any way that the sin, whatever it was, is not important.

 

·        By giving the sin a less offensive name, we attempt to sneak the guilt past our moral guard. We actually began this practice in childhood – when our parents accused us of lying we called it a "white lie" or a fib.

 

·        You cannot make a deadly thing friendly by employing a light name. Cancer is cancer even when you call it indigestion.

 

·        It is easy to deceive ourselves into believing that sin is justified by the circumstances at hand. I broke God’s holy boundaries because I was lonely…well, aren’t there a lot of lonely people out there who do not sin?

 

·        Admit the sin and own up to it. There is nothing quite so healthy, nothing so spiritually healing as dropping all evasions and admitting fault!

  1. Do not ________________________(Maximize) your sin!

Romans 8:1-2 says:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,n 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

NOTE: Conscientious believers usually do not minimize their sins, but rather maximize them!

How do we maximize our sins?

ANSWER: By failing to forgive ourselves after we have accepted the forgiveness of God.

 "I am convinced that this is a fatal flaw in the life of many believers. We do not doubt God’s forgiveness; we just never seem quite able to forgive ourselves. The memory of the trespass lacerates us and we cannot get it out of our minds". Earl Wilson

  • Just like an unhealed wound in the body, an unhealed wound in the Spirit drains our strength, hinders our progress, pours poison into our spiritual bloodstream, and makes us invalids.

 

  • In wanting to demonstrate to God their deep sorrow for our sin and our level of contrition, we are tempted to fail to forgive ourselves.

 

  • Our unwillingness to forgive ourselves is a form of spiritual ___________________(pride).

 

·        When we do not forgive ourselves, we are really saying, "How could I have done that?" I have so many spiritual advantages and have been trained in the Word of God. How I hate myself.

 

  • Notice the attention to "I"

 

NOTE: This self hate does not aid repentance, it destroys us.

  • This exaggerated attempt at humility is really inverted pride.

 

  • You are actually lifting yourself above the very holiness of God and saying, "God, you might be able to forgive me of this sin, but if your standard of holiness was as high as my standard, you would not be so quick to forgive it."

 

  • Nobody has the right to condemn you in Christ, not even yourself.

 

  • Accept the forgiveness of God by forgiving yourself. You cannot undo the past, but if God has forgiven you (And He has if you have truly repented), then who can justly condemn you? No one, not even yourself.

THE BIBLE SAYS IN ROMANS 8:28-39 (pg. 800):

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,n whon have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:"For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."nRO 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,n neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28 - 39

3.  Realize you cannot _________________(undo) the past.

  • All of our sins, confessed to God, are buried in the sea of his forgetfulness. Satan may bring them to our memory, but if God forgives them, who are we not to forgive ourselves?

4. Understand that God will __________________________(redeem) the past.

  1. God has a way of using even sin and failure in a positive way.

 

  1. He can take every evil that destroys and turn it to redemptive purposes.

·        The greatest illustration of that, is the CROSS! Putting Christ on the cross was the foulest thing that human kind ever did; but it became the most sublime thing God ever used. The cross was humanity’s worst, but at the same time it was heaven’s best; our worst, but God’s zenith. If God is able to do that with the cross, can He not do something similar with your worst?

  1. Take your sin to God and he will make something beautiful out of it!

"He will not encourage you to talk about it, but He will use it to help drive the engines of your will". Earl Wilson

  1. God will quicken your compassion for other sinners and make you more sensitive to the fallen when other Christians give the impression that God is hard and unforgiving.
  • ILLUS- PAUL – Having been forgiven by God of such sins, Paul forgave himself. In forgiving himself he found that God used his memory of his former life of sin as the force to drive him to serve the Lord and his church even through many hardships. Paul could have condemned himself and never have been used by God. But God turned this great persecutor into the greatest of all proclaimers.

NOTE: It is Satan’s wish to cripple our lives; God in his grace, restores us to our new life in Him. Recognizing God’s ability to do that should inspire us to not allow the past to paralyze us, but to move with confidence to our future in service to Him and His church.

·        When the devil reminds you of your ______________________(past) – remind him of his ______________________(future)!

5. Exercise the gift of __________________(faith) that God has given you to ______________________(believe) that Jesus died for the very sins you feel condemned for.

NOTE: We must guard against putting anything beyond the grace of God; even saying that God has never kept and never will keep a redeemed person from sin.

NOTE: Even though this perfect Christ lives in us, we are imperfect people; we still sin. But we need not turn completely away from Christ. Rather we can go to our advocate, our blessed Lord, repent of the sin, and find forgiveness. Then we can forgive ourselves and move from that point of failure to serve the Lord with joy.

THE BIBLE SAYS I HAVE AN ADVOCATE IN CHRIST!

1 John 2:1-2 (pg. 862) says:

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also forn the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

QUESTION: Do you often find that you’re more aware of your sin than of what Jesus accomplished on the cross?

When you picture God’s attitude toward you, do you think God as disappointed with you rather than delighting over you?

 NOTE: Being freed from condemnation doesn’t require that we forget or deny the depth and depravity of our sins, whether they’re sins committed prior to our conversion or sins committed since our conversion.

TRUTH: Paul called himself "the worst of sinners – yet he was not paralyzed by condemnation.

1 Timothy 1:14-17 (pg. 839) says:

"The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen".1 Timothy 1:14-17

TRUTH: Everyone of us can honestly claim the "worst of sinners" title because we know more of the folly of our own heart than we do of other people’s.

  • Feeling condemned is a result of being more __________________________(focused) on our __________________(sin) than on God’s __________________(grace).

 

  • Subjectivism is basing our view of God on our changing feelings and emotions.

 

  • Objectivism is basing our view of God on his unchanging commands and promises.

 

  • "Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that your are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself". David Martyn Lloyd Jones.

NOTE: We can either listen to ourselves and our constantly changing feelings about our circumstances, or we can talk to ourselves about the unchanging truth of who God is and what He’s accomplished for us at the cross.

  • That which is subjective changes regularly, like shifting sand. But that which is objective is built on the solid rock of the gospel.

 

  • When we look inward, we live by the subjective, the temporal, the ever changing, the unreliable, the likely to be false.

 

  • When we look outward to the gospel, we live by the objective, the never changing, that which is perfectly reliable and always completely true.

 

  • Don’t listen to the CRITIC that lives within.

 

  • Through the cross we overcome not only the guilt of sin, but the power of sin as well. Because of the cross we can successfully battle and overcome sinful patterns and practices.

 

  • The cross motivates us to be holy as our father in heaven is holy. The gospel empowers our ongoing pursuit of sanctification.

 

  • Every day our Christian experience should be a day of relating to God on the basis of his grace alone.

 

  • We are not only saved by grace, but we live by grace every day.

 

"I feel as if Jesus had died only yesterday". Martin Luther.

 

THEME: AT TIMES YOU WILL FEEL LIKE A WEAK SINNER, BUT CHOOSE TO ACT LIKE A SAINT ANYWAY BECAUSE THAT WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST AND YOUR POSITION DOES NOT CHANGE EVEN WHEN YOUR BEHAVIOR AND FEELINGS DO.