Xian Liberty: A Matter of the Heart
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Transcript
Should Xians be telling each other what to do?
Intro
Intro
Our society has lost the ability to debate!
Illus: Tennessee Temple Campus and the debate the ended in shouting and arguing, hurt feelings, and a broken relationship.
The Debate: Zetesis: dispute, debate; controversy
Meaning: Zeteo - desire; to look for; seek
Meaning: Zeteo - desire; to look for; seek
Men seeking knowledge and understanding of what God is doing in the circumstances of their life
All men seek knowledge - so debate should be normal
Men seeking knowledge and understanding of what God is doing in the circumstances of their life
Salvation by God’s grace through faith alone.
All men seek knowledge - so debate should be normal
Drama
Drama
The Debate: Over salvation. Peter is pointing out that salvation comes from God’s grace through faith alone.
Meaning: Zeteo - desire; to look for; seek
Men seeking knowledge and understanding of what God is doing in the circumstances of their life
All men seek knowledge - so debate should be normal
Salvation by God’s grace through faith alone.
Salvation: The elect made regenerate
God calls men with the gospel (7) - calls us to repentance and faith
God gives man the Holy Spirit (8) - power to overcome sin
God gives man a new heart (9) - behaviors and emotions change
God gives man the Holy Spirit (8)
God gives man freedom (10) - thinking changes
God places his elect, regenerate men, all on an equal playing field - neither Jew nor Greek
We are all saved by God’s grace through faith alone
So, if all regenerate men are made equal and given these benefits then what should we expect within the church?
Doctrine
Doctrine
Christian Liberty gives men the ability to reason from a new heart.
Heart - Kardia - one’s inner being, inclination, disposition
A regenerate person should act, think and feel differently.
WCF 20 - Xian Liberty
Freedom from the guilt of sin
Condemning wrath of God
curse of the moral law
the dominion of sin
Healthy debate in the church is good for regenerate people
forces us to turn to God’s truth (8)
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Peter turns their attention to what God had said
God’s Word is where the truth must be gleened
Illus: King Josiah - Temples renovation project
Hilkiah finds the law of Moses and gives it to Shaphan - kings secretary
Josiah reads it and “tore his clothes” He mourned Israel’s state of apathy toward God.
App: God’s word is his revealed will for mankind. Without it we cannot know God. Our covenant relationship depends an keeping his word in our heart and mind. It is more than a rule book or self help book. It is God’s grace extended to us every time we encounter it.
A Christian loves God’s Word. Debate keeps us grounded in God’s Word. Salvation gives us a desire for HIs truth, not man’s truth.
helps us understand the freedom God gives believers
Peter reminds them only God knows the heart (9)
Salvation gives us freedom to sin or not sin.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Illus: I remember a debate in a pastors office I had one time discussing the topic of sanctification and God’s grace. His point was that everything was grace. My point was that we still had a responsibility, through faith, for obedience and combating sin in our life.
Point, is that through this debate we were both reminded of the equal truths.
helps us make sure we are not being legalistic (10)
Peter reminds them to not put any stipulations on God’s truth
If we impose our truths onto men and the church then we do 2 things:
Test God
Burden our fellow man
Warning
Illlus: I remember talking with a man who shared with me that he knew he was saved because God took away his desire for string drink. This may be true. God did help him overcome a sin in his life. We must be careful drawing from this the conclusion then that drinking is a sin, and that all Christians should not drink.
Airplane ride to Italy, A woman asked if she would like a glass of wine stated that she was a Christian and did not drink. The lady a few rows back, was a Christian and she gladly took a glass.
Xian liberty: God is the binder of the conscience. It is not right for us to make a truth claim that God does not.
What did this healthy debate do? It reminded the people of God’s grace:
That they were all sinners
That they all needed a savior
And, they had a new life and had received salvation by God’s grace
Doxology
Doxology
Undedrstanding what Peter is teaching here helps us in our humility.
We are all sinners, save by grace.