The Grace Driven Life
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1. Grace vs. purpose paradigm - understanding
grace vs. promise model |
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2. Growing in grace - with the Lord |
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3. Growing in grace - with fellow Christians |
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4. Sharing God’s grace - with unbelievers |
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5. Rejoicing in God’s grace - through worship |
6. Living in God’s grace - in
What makes
What do you like about it’s system?
In what ways is our system flawed from a religious point of view?
Are we a “Christian” nation?
How are we different from Old Testament Israel?
What has changed the most in
1.
Activist judges
2.
Laws against religion
3.
Government getting involved in religion - faith based
4. Socializing of government programs.
5. Lawsuits - taking over of lawyers.
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous thrive, the people
rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
What are the implications of this when we think about politics in America?
What are some examples of people groaning when the “wicked rule”?
In what ways has
How have today’s religions addressed this desire to have people rejoice?
How does the press portray today’s evangelicals?
Why?
What motivates the evangelicals?
On the liberal side, you also have the World Council of Churches who try to influence the governments of the world.
What is their typical approach and motivation?
The Lutheran approach is different due to several
principles -
Matthew
22:15-21 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said,
“we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in
accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men,
because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us
then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes
to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil
intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?
Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They
brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose
portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he
said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
John
1
Corinthians 9:20-23 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law
(though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having
the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as
to win those not having the law. To the weak I became
weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all
men so that by all possible means I might save some. I
do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may
share in its blessings.
1
Corinthians
Daniel
1:19-21 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which
the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians
and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel
remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Matthew
28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age.”
1
Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the
1
Corinthians 1:8-9 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be
blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God,
who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is
faithful.
Psalm
46:5-7 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice,
the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God
of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Romans
8:31-39 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If
God is for us, who can be against us? 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? Who will bring any
charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God
who justifies. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For
your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am
convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.
Evangelicals have said: “We’ve
tried that (just preaching the Word from the pulpit and not getting involved in
politics), but it doesn’t work.” What is our answer to this?
Again, there are TWO DIFFERENT swords - Romans
13:4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if
you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment
on the wrongdoer. Hebrews Which one
has God called on us to use as a church?
As
individuals however, what must we confess when it comes to our government? 1 Timothy
2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that
we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Living in Grace
- with Your “Rights” How has
this demand for “individual rights” been abused by our
society?
What has
the trial lawyer mentality done to our society?
When someone’s rights are “violated”, how do they often respond?
God’s Word sets a different pattern for us as Christians in
society - Philippians
2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in
very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in
human likeness. And being found in appearance as a
man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! (We aren’t here to
rule / but to serve - as Christians - government is here to rule.) How did
Jesus show this attitude in life?
In this
society, we need to keep our place in mind - 1
Corinthians 6:7-8 The very fact that you
have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why
not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat
and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. What do
we need to recognize may happen to us as we live in America?
What does
Paul say to do when we are wronged by fellow Christians?
Why not?
Matthew 5:38-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for
eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not
resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if
someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two
miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn
away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You
have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Gives sense that
Christians are vengeful and not forgiving and GRACIOUS - cf. 45) Yet that doesn’t mean the government does no
good - Romans 13:1-2 Everyone must submit himself to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is
rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. What “good” does the government do?
Acts 22:25 As they stretched him
out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for
you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” How
did Paul use the government?
Lutheran Confessions state: “a Christian may use an office of the government against
wicked people” without violating his conscience. It also states that private revenge is
forbidden, but “public redress through a judge is not forbidden but expressly commanded , and it is a work of God according to Paul
(Romans 13:1ff.)” When push comes to shove, we simply can’t trust the
government - Revelation 13:7-8 He was given power to make war against
the saints and to conquer them. And he was given
authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All
inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been
written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the
creation of the world. Why not?
Instead,
Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an
ever-present help in trouble.”
(The same God who directed the Assyrians and Babylonians can direct our
country graciously and take care of us throughout evil and bent governments. We simply continue
to use the sword as long as we should.
Rely on GOD’S GRACE in