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What Grace means… (3 things)
- 1st – Grace means – helping a brother in need… vs. 1-6 (3 things)
- 1st – If you know someone who is struggling with sin – help out… vs. 1-2
- This is not talking about someone who wants to sin – you can do to help them – just pray…
- It is hard to see someone destroy their lives with poor sinful choices…
- Yet there are people who do not want to stop sinning – they like they way they live…
- And there is really not much you can do for them – but wait – till they are broken…
- If someone is struggling with sin – and want to stop – then we are called to help them out…
- Once a person realizes they need to change – sees their sin is destructive…
- That is when we can – in fact need to – step in and help them in any way we can…
- By giving them accountability – be willing to ask them the hard questions…
- If they struggle with lust – have you looked at ‘those pictures’…
- If they struggle with drinking – ‘have you been tempted to pick up ‘the bottle’…
- Not so that we can condemn them – but to help them avoid sin!
- By helping to ‘restore’ them – the word means to mend a broken net – Matthew 4:21
- Sin tears lives apart – it separates us from our walk with Jesus Christ…
- When we make a mistake – we feel condemned – like we cannot come to Jesus…
- That is when we need someone to come along side – and point us to Jesus…
- Romans 8:1 – “There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
- Jesus is the in the business of forgiving sins – mending torn up lives!
- Conviction is good – the work of God’s Spirit telling us not to sin – but repent…
- Condemnation is bad – focusing on our failures – dwelling on our mistakes…
- Disappointed – frustrated – that we cannot keep ourselves from sin…
- When we are focused on our mistakes – we are not looking to Jesus…
- We are condemning ourselves – even though God says we are NOT guilty…
- I John 3:20 – “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart.”
- If someone is caught up in self loathing / pity over their sins and poor choices…
- We need to help them get their eyes off themselves – and put them back onto Jesus!
- Sin tears lives apart – it separates us from our walk with Jesus Christ…
- But we must be careful not to get pulled into their sin…
- Often when people are caught up in sin – they are not comfortable coming to church…
- They think everyone knows – and is talking about ‘what they did’…
- They fear if they come they will look foolish – so they stay away…
- So it is our responsibility to go to them – reach them where they are!
- If they are wandering around the plaza – wander with them…
- But we do need to be careful – we do not want to get caught up in their sin…
- Do not get sucked what they are doing – but go and share Jesus with them!
- By helping carry one another’s ‘burden’- we fulfill the Law of Christ…
- The word ‘burden’ – means overwhelming / crushing weight…
- It is the same word used in John 19:17 – of Jesus carrying the cross!
- When we see our brother – ‘over loaded’ / weighed down we NEED to help…
- In doing so we fulfill the Law of Christ that Jesus gave us to us…
- The Law of Christ – is to love each other the way Jesus loved us…
- John 15:12 – “My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
- God did not love us only when we did the right thing – He loves us as sinners…
- Romans 5:8 – “God demonstrates His love … while we were sinners, Christ died for us!”
- It is easy to love someone who is perfect – is not struggling with sin…
- But that is not the Love of Christ – we are called to Love sinners!
- The word ‘burden’ – means overwhelming / crushing weight…
- This is not talking about someone who wants to sin – you can do to help them – just pray…
- 2nd – Do not boast in the failures of others… vs. 3-5
- There are people who like to look down on the mistakes of others…
- The reason – if they focus on others mistakes – it makes them look better…
- There are many today who enjoy tearing others down – so they do not look so bad…
- Want to look tall – stand next to the short guy / white – next to the dark guy…
- If you want to look ‘good’ point out all the sin of the ‘bad’ guy…
- Did you even notice how people love to gossip about those who are sinning…
- As though somehow they are more righteous – because at least they are ‘not as bad’…
- But they are deceiving themselves – and need to examine their own lives…
- Whenever we try to ‘justify’ ourselves – we end up having to lower God’s standards…
- Looking for people who are worse sinners than we are – so we look better!
- Assume because we are more ‘Godly’ than there are – we are a good person…
- But God does not grade on a curve – He has only one standard – His Word…
- And compared to God’s standard – all of us are in desperate need of Jesus!
- So do not rejoice in others failure – we are ultimately only responsible for our own actions…
- We must all carry our own ‘burden’ – different word – it means fair portion…
- The truth is we will all stand before Jesus – and be accountable for our lives…
- So rather than focusing on what others are doing right or wrong…
- We need to make sure we are walking pure and holy before the Lord!
- There are people who like to look down on the mistakes of others…
- 3rd – Provide for those who teach the Word… vs. 6
- One of the best ways to help those overcome by sin – teaching the Word of God…
- The only thing that sin does well – is separate us from God
- The Bible will keep you from sin – sin will keep you from the Bible!
- Psalms 119:11–“Your word I have hidden in my heart, I might not sin against You!”
- Those who ‘instruct’ others in the Word of God – should be paid for their work…
- As much as possible a pastor should be provided for practically by those within the church
- I Timothy 5:18 / Matthew 10:10 – “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
- If a pastor has to work to support himself practically – little time for the church…
- It is a blessing to the people to provide for the pastor to free him up to minister
- One of the best ways to help those overcome by sin – teaching the Word of God…
- 1st – If you know someone who is struggling with sin – help out… vs. 1-2
- 2nd – Grace means – we do not get away with sin… vs. 7-10 (3 things)
- 1st – God is not mocked – sin comes with a price… vs. 7
- Paul warns us not be deceived – we cannot ‘turn our nose up’ at God…
- Many assume they are ‘ok’ because God does not immediately punish them…
- They make mistake of interpreting God’s ‘patience’ for God’s ‘acceptance’…
- When we see the wicked/godless/evil men of the world prosper – we wonder…
- Where is the justice of God – where is His judgment against sin…
- Just because God has not judged yet – does not mean God will not judge…
- Psalm 73:16-17 – “So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then one day I went into your sanctuary… and I thought about the destiny of the wicked.”
- God is patient – longsuffering – giving time to repent and turn back to Him…
- God waits to punish sin only because He loves the sinner – II Peter 3:9
- God is patient – longsuffering – to give time to repent and turn back to Him…
- But if we harden our hearts – choose not to repent – our sin will not remain hidden
- Numbers 32:22 – “Be sure your sin will find you out…”
- Paul warns us not be deceived – we cannot ‘turn our nose up’ at God…
- 2nd – Sowing to the flesh / sowing to the Spirit… vs. 8
- Paul uses the analogy of sowing and reaping…
- If you plant a kalamansi seed in the ground – you are going to reap kalamansi…
- You do not expect to plant a kalamansi seed – and harvest papaya!
- In the same way we will reap what we sow in our life…
- If we sow to the flesh – sexual sins / idolatry / jealously and anger / partying…
- Then it should come as no surprise that we reap corruption / destruction…
- Whether it is some disease / prison / fight / death – sin will destroy our life…
- And in the end it will keep us out of heaven – we will miss out on eternal life!
- If we sow to the spirit – spending our time with Jesus / in the Word…
- Then it should come as no surprise that we reap life / blessings…
- We become Godly men – with Godly wives and children – blessed in all we do…
- And in the end – we will inherit eternal life – forever with Jesus!
- If we sow to the flesh – sexual sins / idolatry / jealously and anger / partying…
- Paul uses the analogy of sowing and reaping…
- 3rd – Therefore do not stop doing what is good… vs. 9-10
- A harvest does not happen the day after you plant the fruit…
- You do not plant a seed – and expect there to be fruit on the branches in the morning…
- And if you sat there and waited for the plant to grow – you would likely give up!
- The solution is to keep busy – weeding / plowing – in time the fruit will come…
- So often we want to see the good fruit from our efforts right now!
- When the fruit does not come – we get tired – assuming nothing will every happen…
- It is easy to get frustrated with the failures in our Christian walk…
- It can be tempting to want to ‘give up’ – thinking things will never change…
- Do not give up – good fruit takes time and patience to grow…
- Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man… delight is in he Law of the Lord… he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season.”
- As we attend church / read our Bibles / pray – changes do happen – slowly…
- Rather than looking for the fruit – we just need to keep busy serving Jesus…
- As we are faithful to abide in Jesus – stand up for His Word…
- In God’s time we will bear great fruit – be used powerfully for the Lord!
- So keep doing good – especially to those who are brother and sisters in the Lord!
- A harvest does not happen the day after you plant the fruit…
- 1st – God is not mocked – sin comes with a price… vs. 7
- 3rd – Grace means – it is all about Jesus… vs. 11-18 (3 things)
- 1st – See what large letters I have written to you… vs. 11
- We know Paul dictated most of his letters to the churches – Romans 16:22
- It is believe that Paul had a problem with his eyes – a severe infection…
- But Paul concludes this letter by personally writing the last 7 verses…
- And his handwriting was in ‘large letters’ – because he could not see very well…
- Proof he wrote this final section – to emphasize its importance to the church!
- 2nd – The reason for teaching legalism… vs. 12-13
- The Judaizers only taught the Law – because they did not want to be persecuted…
- They knew if they stood up for the cross – they would be mocked…
- One of the first questions you get when you walk about Jesus – ‘what is your religion’…
- Ever wonder why people are so defensive about their ‘religion’…
- It is not because they are so convinced they are right…
- It is because they want to blend in – they do not want to be made fun of!
- Yet even those who are teach the religion (circumcised) – do not keep their rules (Law)…
- The evidence that people are not convinced of their religion is in their actions…
- The same person who is adamant about their religion – do not even go to church!
- They may even try to convince you to believe their religion…
- But it is only so that they can brag about you – rather than be convicted by you…
- If you accept religion – then it strengthens their position…
- The more people who are on their side – the more convinced they are they are right…
- In contrast if you stand by Jesus – then they are convicted by your relationship with God!
- The Judaizers only taught the Law – because they did not want to be persecuted…
- 3rd – Boasting only in Jesus Christ… vs. 14-18
- Paul did not brag about religion – he only boasted in Jesus Christ…
- Because there is not a single religion (circumcision) that can save you…
- It does not matter if you belong to this church or that church…
- All that matters is the new life you have by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!
- II Corinthians 5:17 – “ If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”
- Those who follow this rule are the ‘Israel’ (people) of God…
- The whole purpose of belonging to a religion / denomination – is to be accepted by God…
- Almost every ‘church’ out there claims they are ‘the church of God’…
- But it is not about your religion – or your works – that is not what makes you God’s people…
- THE CHURCH of GOD – are those who have a living relationship with Jesus Christ…
- I bear in my body the marks of Jesus…
- In Roman times – a slave would be ‘branded’ with the mark of his master…
- Much the same way we ‘brand’ cattle today with the mark of their owner…
- Paul was saying he was ‘branded’ by Jesus Christ – he belonged to God…
- Referring to the ‘marks’ from his beatings he received for his faith – II Corinthians 11
- What mark do we carry – who owns us…
- Are we still bound up in sin – in bondage to our flesh – Romans 6:16
- Are we still bound up in empty religion – foolishly thinking rules make us right with God
- Or do we carry the mark of Jesus – do we show the new life we have in Christ…
- Maybe the fruit is slow in coming – but are confident we are the people of God!
- In Roman times – a slave would be ‘branded’ with the mark of his master…
- The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you in Spirit – Amen!
- Paul did not brag about religion – he only boasted in Jesus Christ…
- 1st – See what large letters I have written to you… vs. 11
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