Skip to main content

sermon notes

“Sanctification is the progressive work of God in man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology) Or, “becoming what you already are.”



On justification...
“By his blood" (Romans 5:9)

Through the principle of representation and substitution, Jesus Christ (like Adam) represents the human race that follows (and is united to) him. As Adam was our representative and we were plunged into darkness and sin because of his action, so now those who are related by faith and new birth to Christ, are lifted to light and righteousness because of his actions. Jesus' death is a propitiation, which satisfies God's justice. His death is so excellent and effective that it can remove the guilt and sin of an entire world. Through substitution Christ gets what we deserve (judgment), we get what he deserves (eternal riches and blessing). Our relationship with God is built upon this priceless work.


The “solas” (solus, -a, -um, Lat., “alone, only”)

--Sola Scriptura … Scripture alone is the final authority on our salvation. Augustine, Aquinas and church leaders can help us, but the ultimate authority lies in the Word.

--Solus Christus … our salvation is accomplished solely and completely by Christ.

--Sola gratia … only by his grace are we saved-- we could not come to him, but he came to us.

--Sola fide this received by faith alone. This faith will produce works like fruit from a tree, but Christ's work is so complete it can only be received and lived in.

--Soli Deo gloria … to God alone be the glory!


The blessings of justification (Romans 5:1-11)


--Peace with God / reconciliation (5:1, 11)

--A Position / standing in God's grace (5:2)

--The certain hope of future glory (5:2, 9-10)

--Suffering which produces character (5:3-4)

--The Holy Spirit who reveals God's love (5:5-8)

--Joy in the Lord himself (5:11)


“When I say that God Is the Gospel I mean that the highest, best, final, decisive good of the gospel, without which no other gifts would be good, is the glory of God in the face of Christ revealed for our everlasting enjoyment. The saving love of God is God’s commitment to do everything necessary to enthrall us with what is most deeply and durably satisfying, namely himself. Since we are sinners and have no right and no desire to be enthralled with God, therefore God’s love enacted a plan of redemption to provide that right and that desire. The supreme demonstration of God’s love was the sending of his Son to die for our sins and to rise again so that sinners might have the right to approach God and might have the pleasure of his presence forever.” (John Piper, God Is The Gospel [Crossway, 2005], pp13-14)

The relevance of justification (Luke 18:10-14)...it destroys self-justification.

--how we approach God. With our own works / self-righteousness, or with empty hands, trusting God to be "propitious" (to provide the sacrifice of atonement, which he did in Christ)?

--how we walk with God. Motives are important. Both men are praying, both men are in the temple, both men are sincere. Yet only one man's prayer is acceptable.
Are we worshiping in a self-justifying manner, or in a manner befitting grace?

--how we relate to others. The tax-collector is aware only of his sin and his need of God's forgiveness; the Pharisee is aware of God but also is comparing. The Cross and justification by grace through faith removes any sense of superiority or inferiority. God's community is built on level ground.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

bible reading nov 1-2

  Bible reading for weekend Nov 1 -- 2 Nov 1 -- Hosea 7 and Psalms 120-122 Nov 2 -- Hosea 8 and Psalms 123-125 ================   "Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing." (Hosea 8:12) THE RESULTS OF SIN (ch 7-8). Notice the words and metaphors to describe Israel's sinful condition: they are surrounded with, and proud of, their evil (7:1-3); like adulterers in the heat of passion (7:4-5); their anger is like a hot oven (7:6-7); they are like a half-cooked (one side only) cake (7:8); their strength is gone (7:9); they are like silly doves easily trapped (7:11-12); they are undependable like a warped bow (7:16). In spite of all of this they are so proud of themselves! (We might say they have a strong self-esteem.) They have spurned what is good (8:3); they sow to the wind and have no real fruit (8:7); they are a useless vessel (8:8) and a wild donkey wandering alone (8:9); they regard God's law as a strange thing

bible reading dec 3-5

  Bible reading for weekend December 3 -- 5  Dec 3 -- Nahum 1 and Luke 17 Dec 4 -- Nahum 2 and Luke 18 Dec 5 -- Nahum 3 and Luke 19 ================ "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness." (Nahum 1:7-8)  TIME'S UP FOR NINEVEH (Nah 1-3). The prophecy of Nahum is God's word to the people of Nineveh, part two. Jonah was part one, chronicling a city-wide repentance of Assyrians in the capital about a hundred years earlier. The closing bookend is Nahum, and the Assyrian empire is big, powerful, and aggressive. Notice the references to chariots (2:3-4, 13; 3:2). The Assyrians were a militarily advanced culture, and cruel in their warfare. Whatever spiritual receptivity they had at the time of Jonah was gone by the time of Nahum. Nahum may not have actually visited Nineveh, for it seems the book was w

bible reading june 4-6

Bible reading for weekend June 4 -- 6 Jun 4 -- Isaiah 36 and Revelation 6 Jun 5 -- Isaiah 37 and Revelation 7 Jun 6 -- Isaiah 38 and Revelation 8 ================    "So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD." (Isaiah 37:20) HISTORICAL INTERLUDE (ch 36). Chapters 36 and 37 demonstrate that what Isaiah prophesied actually came to pass. The pre-siege negotiations begin. The Rabshakeh, referring to the chief representative of the Assyrian army, dissuades the people of Jerusalem from trusting in Egypt for deliverance (good advice), and also not to trust the Lord, the God of Israel, to rescue them (bad advice). The Assyrians are mocking the God of Israel as just another regional god who would fall at the hands of their mighty men. "Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?" (v 20). Hezekiah's trus