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