TITLE: The Result of Grace and Mercy

TITLE: The Result of Grace and Mercy

TEXT: Romans 12:1-2THEME: A proper view of grace should motivate the believer to love and serve God.

Pope Francis

"I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. … I am a sinner, but I trust in the infinite mercy and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I accept in a spirit of penance."

Pope Francis

"We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible. I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that. But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time."

Pope Francis

"A beautiful homily, a genuine sermon must begin with the first proclamation, with the proclamation of salvation. There is nothing more solid, deep and sure than this proclamation. Then you have to do catechesis. Then you can draw even a moral consequence. But the proclamation of the saving love of God comes before moral and religious imperatives. Today sometimes it seems that the opposite order is prevailing."

Pope Francis"'I see clearly, that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else... The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you.”

How does a proper view of grace fulfil our vision of becoming like

Jesus?

I. It provides a realistic basis for true freedom.

A. Grace defined:1. Technical Definition: Grace means gift-

something of value given without merit.



something of value given without merit.2. Practical Definition: A contrast

• Regarding Motivation: Instead of saying: “Do and I will love and bless you.” God says, “I have loved and blessed you therefore, do.”



something of value given without merit.2. Practical Definition: A contrast

• Regarding Motivation: Instead of saying: “Do and I will love and bless you.” God says, “I have loved and blessed you therefore, do.”• Regarding Salvation: Instead of saying, “Be good

and I will save you.” God says, “I have saved you therefore be good.”


A. Grace defined:B. Grace Applied– God desires a life spontaneous love and service.


A. Grace defined:B. Grace Applied– God desires a life spontaneous love and service.• We no longer serve to boast or out of self-

righteousness.



righteousness.• We no longer serve to gain favor.




–We serve out of genuine thankfulness for having been loved and served.




–We serve out of genuine thankfulness for having been loved and served.

–We serve out of genuine desire to impart this love and service.


A. Grace defined:B. Grace AppliedC. Grace’s Risks and Advantages1. The advantage is that every believer is free

from the anxiety of:– Living up to an impossible standard



from the anxiety of:– Living up to an impossible standard– Gaining God’s favor



from the anxiety of:– Living up to an impossible standard– Gaining God’s favor– This allows you to spend direct all your energy to

bringing glory to God.



from the anxiety of:2. The disadvantage is that it may be abused.– Some may use it to profane the most sacred

things in live.



from the anxiety of:2. The disadvantage is that it may be abused.– Some may use it to profane the most sacred things

in live.– Some may use it as do as they want (License)


A. Grace defined:B. Grace AppliedC. Grace’s Risks and Advantages1. The advantage is that every believer is free from

the anxiety of:2. The disadvantage is that it may be abused.– Some may use it to profane the most sacred things in

live.– Some may use it as do as they want (License)– Some may use it to enforce legalistic codes.

Comparing Religions

• The Buddhist eight-fold path,

Comparing Religions

• The Buddhist eight-fold path, • the Hindu doctrine of karma,

Comparing Religions

• The Buddhist eight-fold path, • the Hindu doctrine of karma, • the Jewish covenant,•

Comparing Religions

• The Buddhist eight-fold path, • the Hindu doctrine of karma, • the Jewish covenant,• the Muslim code of law

Comparing Religions

• The Buddhist eight-fold path, • the Hindu doctrine of karma, • the Jewish covenant,• the Muslim code of law

Each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God's love

unconditional.


Jesus?

II. It provides balance between extremes

A. Regarding Intellectual Freedom:


A. Regarding Intellectual Freedom:• It guards against intellectual legalism.


A. Regarding Intellectual Freedom:• It guards against intellectual legalism. Which makes learning a matter of indoctrination


A. Regarding Intellectual Freedom:• It guards against intellectual legalism. Which makes learning a matter of indoctrination Which can stifle creativity.


A. Regarding Intellectual Freedom:• It guards against intellectual legalism. Which makes learning a matter of indoctrination Which can stifle creativity. Which can cut of an honest pursuit of truth.

Acts 15 Respond to the question

“What is the bare minimum that we should require of Gentiles who come to faith in Christ?”

Acts 15: 28-29

“28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.”


A. Regarding Intellectual Freedom– It guards against intellectual legalism– Grace assures that pursuit of truth:


A. Regarding Intellectual Freedom– It guards against intellectual legalism– Grace assures that pursuit of truth:• Does not lead to a dead end or blind alley- but to a

greater understanding of God.



greater understanding of God.• It prevents intellectual license




– Which makes learning purely speculative.




– Which makes learning purely speculative.– Which creates doubts and uncertainty.


A. Regarding Intellectual FreedomB. Regarding Social Relationships– It removes the threat of social rejection


A. Regarding Intellectual FreedomB. Regarding Social Relationships– It removes the threat of social rejection– It is not the absence of ruling principles

“License”

Argues, if I am saved by grace and my salvation is preserved by grace then I can go on sinning without fear of consequence or quilt. I am a sinner so why not have a good time since grace covers.

Romans 6:1-56 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.


A. Regarding Intellectual FreedomB. Regarding Social Relationships– It removes the threat of social rejection– It is not the absence of ruling principles• It is a matter of motivation and enablement.


A. Regarding Intellectual FreedomB. Regarding Social Relationships– It removes the threat of social rejection– It is not the absence of ruling principles• It is a matter of motivation and enablement.• Involves a “What” are the rules and principles.


A. Regarding Intellectual FreedomB. Regarding Social Relationships– It removes the threat of social rejection– It is not the absence of ruling principles• It is a matter of motivation and enablement.• Involves a “What” are the rules and principles.• Involves a “Why” should keep the rules attitude.


A. Regarding Intellectual FreedomB. Regarding Social Relationships– It removes the threat of social rejection– It is not the absence of ruling principles• It is a matter of motivation and enablement.• Involves a “What” are the rules and principles.• Involves a “Why” should keep the rules attitude.• Involves a “How” do I keep the rules.

A. Regarding Intellectual FreedomB. Regarding Social RelationshipsC. Regarding Spirituality– Prevents Christian love from becoming lax or

sentimental.


sentimental.– Keeps holiness from becoming carping criticism

or unapproachable conceit.


sentimental.– Keeps holiness from becoming carping criticism

or unapproachable conceit.– It provides an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to

conform us to be like Christ.

Romans 14:1-17

“5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. ...”

Romans 14:1-17

“10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat... 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,”


Jesus?

III. It provides an appealing hope for unbelievers.

Four groups of unbelievers- The one who says:

• God can’t accept me because I am too bad. (Guilt ridden)



• I don’t need Jesus because I am good enough on my own. (Self-righteous)




• I don’t know if you really can know the truth about Jesus. (Self- Doubt)




• I don’t know if you really can know the truth about Jesus. (Self- Doubt)

• Jesus did not really exist or He is not really God- at best He is a great teacher.

APPLICATION

• We need to understand and apply Gods grace to our lives.

APPLICATION


• We need to share the grace of God with others.

APPLICATION


• We need to share the grace of God with others.

• The SEED Strategy.

Anne Lutz

"Sooner or later, all of us are involved in some kind of wreck—it may be your own fault or someone else's. When the damage is your fault, there's a good chance you'll be confronted by the flashing blue lights of the morality police. But my father gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to experience the loving, forgiving embrace of my heavenly Father.”

TITLE: The Result of Grace and Mercy

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