A Righteous Dominion Protects - Discussion

What’s at the heart of entitlement that we need to be aware of?

How might we counsel someone out of a heart of entitlement?

Entitlement into Abuse

Galatians 5:13–14 NASB95

13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

—-

How do we differentiate between freedoms our brother or sister exercise that we should not burden and a freedom that is fleshly?

Galatians 5:19–21 NASB95

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

—-

There are legal protections for the least in Israel. How do we protect one another from a misuse of authority or privilege in the church?

It’s important we’re able to identify a misuse of freedom. We should recognize sin, confront it in a spirit of correction and restoration, but Paul encourages us that it is not primarily for our good. When we recognize sin we don’t deal with primarily because, “I’m entitled to retribution”. We deal with it because we have an obligation to that person to show them their sin, call them to repentance, and it’s harmful to the church and the glory of God.

Paul addresses a secondary reason to address that should be avoided. It doesn’t require faith.

1 Corinthians 6:1–8 NASB95

1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.

—-

What’s the heart of Paul’s encouragement here?

How does that work itself out for us?

1 Peter 4:8 NASB95

8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

—-

Ephesians 4:1–3 NASB95

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Entitlement into Burden

What does it mean for us today to burden someone with an undue burden? We don’t have Christians being tempted by the ceremonial law of Moses today?

Acts 15:7–11 NASB95

7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

—-

What is the evidence that the Gentiles have been welcomed into the Church?

Galatians 2:11–16 NASB95

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? 15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

The expectation we set is actually unattainable.

The expectation we set is cultural and not biblical.

2 large categories of burdens:

How are we saved?

There’s a tendency among some to turn faithfulness into the basis of our standing before God. “Jesus plus” Some use it as a motivation toward holiness

What is sin?

We need to be careful we don’t turn freedom in Christ into sins either.

I made the distinction between wise counsel and laws.

Law, prudence, and pragmatism.

What is right? What is wise? What works?

The differences.

Have you ever been burdened by a bit of wisdom?

Entitlement into Stumbling Blocks

1 Corinthians 8:1–9 NASB95

1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. 7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.