The 5G Christian: Gracious

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

J

Introduction: What should our church look like?

John 1:14

Introduction: What should our church look like?

Ballet versus Baseball Country Club versus Hospital

1.The greatness of grace

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

2.The need for grace

2. The need for grace

a. To receive grace

John 1:16 ESV

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

John 1:16

to be released from a debt

grace instead of grace (special grace not just common grace)

The Gospel of John, Volume 1 The Inexhaustible Fullness (John 1:15–17)

When a missionary came to one of the ancient Scottish kings, the king asked him what he might expect if he became a Christian. The missionary answered: ‘You will find wonder upon wonder and every one of them true.’

How many photos have you taken with your digital camera? You walk a bit further and it’s even better.

b. To give grace

Colossians 4:6 ESV

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Seasoned with salt

3.Five people who need our grace

Four people who need our grace

Colossians 3:12 ESV

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

1 Thessalonians 5:12 ESV

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

Colossians 1:13 ESV

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

1 Thessalonians 5:13 ESV

and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:12

1 Thessalonians 5:14–15 ESV

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Colossians 1:13

1 Thessalonians

The wayward, the worried, the weak, the wearisome, the wicked.

admonish, encourage, help, be patient, do good

the wayward “unruly”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 5

literally, said of soldiers who will not remain in their ranks,

Believer’s Bible Commentary F. Varied Exhortations to the Saints (5:12–22)

1. Warn those who are unruly—those who won’t keep in step but insist on disturbing the peace of the church by their irresponsible behavior. Here the unruly are those who refuse to work. They are the same as those described in 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12, walking disorderly, not working, but being busybodies.

2. Comfort the fainthearted—those who need constant exhortation to rise above their difficulties and go on steadfastly for the Lord.

Concerning the KJV rendering, Comfort the feeble-minded, Ockenga remarks: “If the word meant feeble-minded we would still comfort them. They seem to gather when the gospel is preached.” And isn’t this a tribute to the gospel and to the Christian church? At least there is one sphere where they find sympathy, love, and consideration.

3. Uphold the weak—that is, help those who are spiritually, morally, or physically weak. Spiritual and moral support of those who are weak in the faith is probably the main idea, though we should not rule out financial help as well.

4. Be patient with all—show the grace of longsuffering when others tend to irritate and provoke.

The church, by the way, is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians. It is rather a hospital for the healing of those who are imperfect. We understand that. The church is filled with people who fail. It is filled with sinners.

for the healing of those who are imperfect. We understand that. The church is filled with people who fail. It is filled with sinners.

As Charles Morrison once wrote,

fail. It is filled with sinners. As Charles Morrison once wrote,

“The Christian church is a society of sinners. It is the only society in the world where membership is available only to those who aren’t qualified.”

sinners. It is the only society in the world where membership is available only to those who aren’t

We are not qualified to name the name of Jesus Christ. We’re not qualified to be a part of His church, and that qualifies us to be in it, the recognition of that and the dependence upon Him to do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves.

qualified.” We are not qualified to name the name of Jesus Christ. We’re not qualified to be a part of

His church, and that qualifies us to be in it, the recognition of that and the dependence upon Him to

do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves.

4.How to live out grace

a. Grace to overcome

Philippians 4:19 ESV

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

b. Grace to forgive

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

c. Grace to love

1 John 4:7 ESV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

d. Grace to challenge

Proverbs 27:6 ESV

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6

Compassion and mercy

This week I will identify the people in my life that I need to be gracious with and I will choose to do one of the following: admonish, encourage, help, be patient, do good

admonish, encourage, help, be patient, do good

1 John 5:11–12 ESV

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

When a missionary came to one of the ancient Scottish kings, the king asked him what he might expect if he became a Christian.

Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of John (Rev. and updated., Vol. 1, p. 84). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.