More than Being Good Notes

Title: More than being good

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Big Idea: The gospel is about more than being a good person.

More than not “sinning” and more than doing good deeds. not really about outweighing “bad with good”

These things are important, but they are the RESULT of the gospel, the fruit. They may even be good on their own but they are not the gospel

The good news is that we can connect with God and through that connection we can be changed.

The behaviors matter, but they are not the end Goal. They are tools and results. Its more that “sin gets in the way” of the main thing. Which is being saved and transformed by the sacrifice of Christ and the work of the holy spirit

What do I want them to do?:

What it says

Paul is greatly disturbed that churches he planted are being swayed by a “Christ +” kind of gospel.

In this case a group are arguing that Jesus and the leading of the HS are not enough to really call yourself a christian (to be real) You need the law of moses, particularly Dietary and Circumcision rules (jewish nationalism). You have to become “one of us” if you are going to belong to God.

Debate is; what do you really need to be a child of God? Paul says Chirst Judizers say Christ + National Distinctives ‘the law’

Paul says nope, if you add something, anything, even GOOD things, to the gospel you kind of destroy it.

5:1-6 - The “Jesus +” Gospel requires you to REJECT Jesus, It puts a good thing, in Jesus place.

Does this mean we should just do whatever then? NO. Its much more difficult than that. Trust Jesus sacrifice and “live in step with the spirit.”

Dont do things to earn God’s favor to make it. Connect to God, and see what sprouts.

5:13-25 - Instead, Live by the Spirit and dont confuse the fruit OR the tools for the REAL thing.

5:13-25

6:1-10 - Do good, carry each other’s burdens, be humble, test your own actions, don't compare, carry your own load, Sow seeds of good, be transformed.

So what about us Big Idea

The temptation to boil faith down to a set of rules, behaviors, ideas, opinious, social identifiers, or even national identities is STRONG.

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Its much easier and more comfortable to follow rules or cultural practices than it is to worry about connecting to Jesus and living in step with the spririt.

There is a security in firmly laid out dos and donts. We all want someone to TELL US WHAT TO DO! Unfortunately that is NOT the gospel. Just like

The gospel is messier than that, because its like a relationship. Just like there is no set of rules to follow that will fix your marriage (its not enough to not cheat.)

We are called to reject “Christ +” gospel. We are offered Christ, the grace to cover our sin and our failure and the power of the holy spirit to transform our lives.

The result is good fruit like paul describes, but it is not the goal. The GOAL is accomplished in connecting to christ everything else flows out of that.

“God doesnt want to make us GOOD, he wants to make us NEW.”

Sticky Statement: Oftentimes we are hungry for the simplicity of a nice black and white something that will keep us out of trouble. The rigidity of a good law can be tremendously comforting. It can make us feel good about ourselves (especially in relation to others.) I can make us feel safe. Its easy to know where you stand with a really good law, and some firm boundaries. It keeps our kids and ourselves safe from trouble. And it saves us from the grey areas of life.

Sticky Statement:

Freedom on the other hand is scary uncomfortable. We feel exposed. doing it right? Am I doing enough? Do I really know God or not? Should i go there, do that, or NOT?

But the gospel...

Sticky Statment: “God doesn't want to make us GOOD, he wants to make us NEW.”

Nicodemus

6:14 - “neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is NEW CREATION

5:4

5:13-25

New people who FREELY serve one another. Who FREELY reflect God’s glory (not to make sure we are ok) but because God has changed us into people that do that sort of thing

What do I want them to do?:

1. Ask God to make you new - Some of you have never really accepted this grace before. You have tried living under many sets of rules. Or you have tried ignoring all of them. Making your own way and giving in to sin. Or more than likely you have done a whole lot of both.

Perhaps as you hear these words you are feeling convicted, that you need to lay down these other things and turn or turn again to Jesus and his sacrifice. Perhaps for the first time you need to say to him.

I know I fall short of what you want for me. I know I have sinned, I have hurt people, I have not loved my neighbor and I have not loved you.

For the sake of your son forgive me God and make me new.

And then live by the spirit. Take a look at or 6:1-10, not as a law, but as a way of growing closer to God.

2. Commit to this church or another community with people that will help you carry your burdens, restore you when you sin, teach you how to follow closer, help you connect to God, reflect God’s glory to you. And stay connected, keep following, and praying.

GOD make me new.

Grow in loving god, and loving others.

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Or do i do them as an end in themselves?

Its a question of Flow.