Doctrine of the Gospel pt2

Intro

Good morning and welcome again. We thank you for joining us in person and online. This week we are continuing our Series on the heart of the church and we are wrapping up the section on the Doctrine of the gospel. I’m going to take a quick moment for the disclaimer.

Something we need to remember about this series is that it is a topic that we’re drawing inspiration from a book that has an amazing perspective on this matter. this book is not replacing the bible by any means, but being used to inspire the topic and the conversations. There is something Theocast, a pod I listen to, says. They say they rely on people much smarter than them to help them understand the difficult things in scripture. Though this book and those people are not the holy spirit or a replacement, they are a great source of inspiration.

I’d Like to take a moment and recap somethings from last week to keep us together today. Last week Nohan gave us a 30,00ft view on Justification, forgiveness faith and repentance and how these are worked in us and how ultimately we live justified lives of forgiveness faith and repentance, Lives in christ.

Reconciliation

Likewise we are going to continue in that this week as we dive in to the las 3 portions of this subject, reconciliation, sanctification, good works.

Ephesians 2:1–10 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Let us pray.

Reconciliation focuses on the relational aspect of salvation and It refers to the restoration of a broken relationship between humanity and God. Joe Thorn, from here on will either be Joe or Thorn, says this:

Our reconciliation is not merely the patching back together of a fractured relationship, or smoothing over of hurt feelings. In reconciling sinners to himself, God turns enemies into friends.

This is where we consider the first three verses of our verses.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Our relationship with with God isn’t merely broken, but impossibly and hopelessly non-existent. The distance between us and God is greater than the heights of MT Everest, deeper than deepest ocean trenches and wider than anyhing evil canivel could hope to jump. God is morally perfect and utterly other than us in every way possible. Charles Spurgeon says this:

God's holiness is that which most of all separates Him from mankind.

The holiness we need to focus on is the vertical difference not the horizontal one. Meaning this, sometimes instead of noticing the chasm be tween us and God and seeing his holiness and the ultimate measurement, we look to our neighbor and compare ourselves to them and in a time when social media helps us do that, it’s easier than ever to forget the holiest of holy, God. I’d love more than anything spending time breaking the bone of comparison and resetting into grattitude and self awareness, but we don’t have time for that today.

Romans 5:10 ESV

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

This is what I love about how God and his word work, he gives us the bad news then the good news. We can’t begin to understand why reconciliation is so sweet until we recognize how badly we need it. Just to further drive it home

Titus 1:15 ESV

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

All of us are enemies of God for he is holy and we are not. We are all enemies until we’re not. Through Christ This non-existent relationship, like our non-existent spiritual life, comes to exist, not unlike the creation story. Something seemingly impossible to us, is not impossible to our God as Luke 1:37 says.

John 1:12–13 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Man, God is so good. Let’s go back to our main portion of scripture:

Ephesians 2:1–6 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

There was something Thorn said:

Our salvation is not a matter of orphans being adopted by God. We are rebels who are redeemed to be a part of God’s family.

And initially I was confused cause I can almost with absolute certainty remember scripture calling us orphans, I’ve even lead confessional prayers and recently with that in it, but nope…His word tells us to protect and look out for widows and orphans, but not that we are orphans specifically. This is part of what makes this so amazing, we were enemies given the right to become children of God and as children of God we are being transformed.

Sanctification

This transformation is called Sanctification. Sanctification is the process by which believers become increasingly conformed to the image of Christ and set apart for God's purposes. This is where we can look at our verses today and see this act of walking in the good works god prepared before hand.

The transformation is Like the rest of gospel doctrine, a work of God alone,

1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:3 ESV

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

quick geek out. There is also a second school of thought that we take part in sanctification which is called synergistic sanctification. I have read the supporting verses and have been unconvinced especially in light of

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

which is also used as an argument for both, the last portion of that seals it for me, but we don’t have time for that today. I’d suggest you do some research and learn about both and be guided by God’s Spirit and His word.

Moving on, Are there things God uses to sanctify us? Good question! The are classically called the means of Grace. The "means of grace," which are the ways in which God nurtures and sustains the believer's sanctification. These means include reading and studying Scripture, prayer, corporate worship, the sacraments (such as baptism and the Lord's Supper), and fellowship with other believers.

The SPirit of God uses the Word of God to progressively transform the people of God.

What does a sanctified life look like? another great question!! Joe says this:

Putting sin to death and pursuing righteouseness is what sanctification looks like in the life of a beliver. We believe the gospel and obey the gospel. We begin to live different lives because we have been made different by the power of God. The power that makes us new creatures in Jesus christ is the same power that moves us to pursue godliness.

he goes on to say

God sanctifies us and calls us to be active in the process.

This activity leads us to good works.

Good works

Thorn says:

In general, works are acts of obedience to the revealed will of God. But more specifically, the bible talks about two kinds of works: dead works and good works.

Hebrews 6:1 ESV

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Bad works

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Anything we do outside of faith is not accepted by God. Even my preaching, outside of faith in christ I can preach Christ and God can and will use that for his glory and our benefit, but I would be sinning against God even in my preaching of the sweetness of his love if I do not have faith in christ. Faith in christ turns our hear condition from being performative to a response of gratefulness. I could give away all my money and be the greatest philanthropist, of which there are many in this world who’s work in a horizontal reality is good, but without faith in christ, all that work and compassion do not glorify God.

Some people, even some very close to me, believe that you have to just be good enough in this world and that will earn you a place in eternity, but these works can’t. They don’t earn us forgiveness, justify us or reconcile us to God. As we uncovered earlier we, without christ, are enemies to God.

The gospel proclaims the only means by which we can be forgiven and cleansed from this particular sin: “the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, [will] purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Heb. 9:14). The death of Jesus Christ saves and cleanses self-righteous sinners from their own dead works, which have polluted their souls. His blood changes us and frees us to serve the Lord by way of good works.

Good works

Good works are obedience to God that stems from faith and a desire to glorify him above all things.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The hard part is in when we find that no matter how hard we try to do good works after we are saved, sometimes we just can’t. Paul suffered something like that.

Romans 7:15 ESV

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Galatians 5:17 ESV

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

It seems that Paul knew the struggle. That’s where we see the benefit of what we do here weekly, confession. This too is good work. a response to the holiness of God when we see his holiness before us and our lack, despite how hard we try. There is grace in confession, all is forgiven for a heart that comes in faith. We lead confession weekly, because we can never assume anyone does it at home. There is a special grace when God’s people gather for him. Where two or more are gathered. God’s Spirit does the work of healing us restoring and reconciling us in this time.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Confession is a work set before us. Like all the others, a response to the grace we have recieved.

Ephesians 2:4–6 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Something I purposely waiting to bring forth from my first point is that we are also called people reconcile and bring reconciliation to others. As we have been reconciled so we are to be a reconciling community.

2 Corinthians 5:17–20 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

This is the god work christ gave us charge of directly as believers.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, We are called to these things and more.

As God did the work to Justify, forgive, reconcile and give us new life in Jesus Christ and transform us by the work of his Spirit into the image of Jesus Christ, we now do the work of glorifying him in good works, not for gain or for our glory but as worship to the one who loved us first.

How wonderful You are How glorious and powerful is Your unfailing love I see Your sacrifice Through selfless blood You broke the vice of Death to make me see I am the rebel, I am the cause of all this trouble I am the nail that pierced You hands and pierced Your feet Yet still You love me, though I stood and mocked the Lamb above me Oh, wonderful mystery, You've given me hope.