Spiritual Growth
Compelled by Love
April 23, 2006

1. Living by grace instead of by works.

· God’s acceptance and blessing are based on the merit of Jesus. Nothing you will ever do will cause Him to love you any more or less. He loves you strictly by His grace given to you through Jesus.

· How do we react to this emphasis on God’s grace?

· The Bible recognizes the possibility of misunderstanding and abusing the grace of God.

They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Jude 4

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? Romans 6:1

· The grace of salvation is the same grace by which we live the Christian life.

We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Romans 5:2

· Solutions to the grace/works problem.

Ø Not adding legalism to grace.
Ø It is to be so gripped by the love and generosity of God’s grace that we respond out of gratitude, not a sense of duty.


2. What about commitment, discipline, and obedience?

Motivated by a grateful response to God’s grace, not to try to earn God’s blessing.

Therefore, 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 act of worship. Romans 12:1

Fighting the tendency to divide the Christian life into grace and works compartments.

The fact is that we do have a duty and obligation to God.

But God motivates us to obedience, not on the basis of His sovereign rule, but on the basis of His mercy to us in Christ Jesus.

Our motivation for commitment, discipline, and obedience is more important to God than our performance.

And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. 1 Chron 28:9

He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Cor 4:5

What about our good works?

Ø Must be motivated by the right principle – love to God.
Ø Must be done for the right reason – in obedience to God’s revealed will as contained in scripture.
Ø Must be done with the right end – a desire for God’s glory.

3. Motivated by love and a deep sense of reverence.

Christ’s love compels us.

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Cor 5:14-15

The difference between grace and freedom from the law.

Ø Freedom from the law is a result of grace, but not the same as grace.
Ø Truly understanding the grace of God will not lead to abusing grace by living irresponsibly.

Reverence for God leads to obedience – the example of Joseph.

No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" Genesis 39:9

God is worthy because of what He does.

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Cor 7:1

God is worthy because of who He is.

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Rev 4:11


Diagram from sermon preached by Randy Pope at OMPC:

GOD

Performance . . . . . . . . . . Grace

Love

Link to Randy Pope's sermon on this diagram

Spiritual Growth
Crucified with Christ
April 16, 2006

1. The cross and spiritual growth. Jesus died for my sin

· The necessity of the cross/ God’s good news – the gospel.

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12

• The cross is God’s provision for my sin.
• All spiritual growth starts from the day I come to Christ.
• But I never have a day that I don’t need the message of the gospel. “Preaching the gospel to myself every day” tells me that:
  
  Ø The gospel frees me from the penalty of sin.
  
  
  
  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
  
  Ø The gospel frees me from the guilt of sin.
  
  How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14
  
  Ø The cross frees me from the power of sin.
  
  Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. Romans 6:6
  
  Ø The gospel frees me to live life as God intended – the Christ life.
  
  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20
  
  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil 1:21
  
  
  2. The life of Christ and His own growth. Jesus lived as my example
  
  Pattern
  
  He grew in the fruit of the Spirit.
  
  Ø His love in giving his life for many.
  Ø His joy as the Great Shepherd who carries His lost sheep to the Father.
  Ø His peace in the midst of a storm.
  Ø His patience with slow-to-learn disciples.
  Ø His kindness to the poor and needy.
  Ø The sheer goodness of His life as He ministers publicly for three years.
  Ø His amazing faithfulness to God in His mission and to undeserving men.
  Ø His gentleness to the sick and needy, to the broken hearted, and to needy and hopeless sinners.
  Ø His self-control when wicked men mocked and scourged Him.
  
  He grew through overcoming temptation.
  
  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
  
  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18
  
  He grew in obedience.
  
  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Heb 5:8
  
  He grew through experience.
  
  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52
  
  Means
  
  Jesus knew the scriptures.
  Jesus found fellowship with God in prayer.
  Jesus looked for fellowship with God’s people.
  
  
  3. He is risen! Jesus ascended to heaven for me
  
  To prepare a place for me.
  
  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. John 14:2-4
  
  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7
  
  To send me the Holy Spirit.
  
  Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don't go away the Counselor (Helper) will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7
  
  To be my intercessor.
  
  Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25
  
  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. 1John 2:1
  
  To be my judge.
  
  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10
  
  
  But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Spiritual Growth
Introduction
April 2, 2006

1. Introduction - Growth compared to babies and trees.

· Spiritual growth compared to infancy.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to people of flesh, as babies in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food; because you were not yet able to receive it. In fact, you are still not able. 1 Cor 3:1-2

Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature- for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. Heb 5:13-14

· Spiritual growth compared to fruit-bearing trees.

The righteous thrive like the palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they thrive in the courtyards of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age; healthy and green. Psalm 92:12-14

· What do we mean by “Spiritual Growth?” Other terms (maturity, discipleship, sanctification, spiritual formation).

· What does scripture say about spiritual growth?


Growing in Christlikeness - the purpose of our salvation.

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Rom 8:29

· Spiritual growth is a process whereby God the Father has enabled us, through the Holy Spirit to become like His Son. It is not complete until we reach our eternal home.

We all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18

· Creation and recreation.

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Gen 1:27

You have put on a new nature which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Col 3:10

And just as we have borne the image of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly man. 1 Cor 15:49

· Christlikeness is best seen as we meditate on the life of Jesus in the gospels. Perhaps it can best be described as the fruits of the Spirit or the character described in the Beatitudes.

· Exhortations to follow the example of Christ:

You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do as I did to you. John 13:13-15

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. Mat 11:29

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 1 Cor 11:1

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps. 1 Pet 2:21

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1-3

By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:5-6


Growing into Christlikeness takes place in the following areas:

· Growing in grace.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet 3:18

· Growing in love.

And this I pray, that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment. Phil 1:9

· Growing in faith.

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater. 2 Thes 1:3

· Growing in knowledge.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Col 1:9-10

· Growing in holiness.

As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy." 1 Pet 1:15-16 Message

· Growth in fruitfulness.

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:8

· Growth in contentment.

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Phil 4:11-12

· Growth in all things.

But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all things into Him, who is the head, even Christ. Eph 4:15


Seeing the heart of God for our growth/ desiring the same for others.

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. Galatians 4:19

· Helping others to grow and looking at areas of growth in my own life.