Free to (genuinely) love
Notes
Transcript
What kind of relationships do you have?
Saving Private Ryan - James Miller - “Earn this.”
Final scene - Tell me I’m a good man. I’ve worked hard every day.
Big Idea: You must be free to genuinely love others.
Big Idea: You must be free to genuinely love others.
How do you realize this?
1. Trust your life in the Spirit not the law
1. Trust your life in the Spirit not the law
Keeping circumcision means keeping the whole law
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Having one component broken on a car....System broken
the righteousness for which we hope through the Spirit
The righteousness of God - standards in love
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
The rich young ruler
What kind of world do you want to live in eternally?
Can we achieve this on our own? The Spirit is producing this in you and will produce it as we trust in Christ.
2. Understand the offense of the cross
2. Understand the offense of the cross
The offense of the cross to those who rely on the works of the law to be justified is that there is no way that you can justify yourself by substitutionary atonement.
The legalist is offended by the cross (not all acts the cross might symbolize) especially because it means Christ is our substitute. Catholics and Eastern Orthodox are offended by substitutionary atonement
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
There is nothing you can do to make yourself righteous, accepted and loved. That is terrifying for a legalist. Imagine moving to a new school and no one was ever interested in you no matter what you did.
So it doesn’t matter what we do? We are still supposed to do good!
3. Use your freedom to serve in love
3. Use your freedom to serve in love
Love based on Christ’s work for us never needs to be motivated by getting something in return.
Flesh = me getting what I want and proving I deserve to get what I want because I’m righteous
Freedom in the flesh - I can do as I please but I’m enslaved by my desires (even my desire to have good relationships)
Freedom in the Spirit - I get to love others because I have been loved so greatly
Not a “I’m superior and therefore I’m helping’
How do I know if I’m loving from freedom or from slavery? Do you criticize with condemnation? Do you demand certain behaviors in order to have any relationship? You can destroy someone’s faith in the Gospel because you who are supposed to be for them and to be righteous toward them have stepped in judgment over them. Only God can do that.
Are you free to love by faith?
Seeker, Can you see how the righteousness God has is describing a better world than we could ever make as a species?
Parents, the way you raise your kids will show how well you understand righteousness. Spend time thinking deeply on this. Be careful how you discipline your children that you don’t bite and devour them.
Leaders, how do you lead?
Members, we are called to love out of our freedom in our unconditional acceptance of grace not to self-justify. Who do you need to love today? Be a good steward of your time, talents and treasure.
What if you just called 2 people a week and asked how you could pray for them or if they need any help? Community Group Refresh
Community Group questions
Why does Paul say if someone accepts circumcision he is obligated to keep the whole law? (See James 2:10, it’s a system that you can’t pick and choose from)
Paul again in vs. 4 equates those who would rely on the works of the law with those who would be justified by the law and says they are fallen from grace. How have they fallen from grace?
Freedom is a chance to in love serve one another (rather than through selfishness or simple obligation which is slavery). Why is this true freedom?
What can you do this week to have your faith work by loving a church member?
How can you rejoice in your freedom to love this week?
