The Power of Grace
Rebuild, Renew and Restore • Sermon • Submitted
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· 36 viewsThe Jerusalem council is a key turning point in the history of Christianity as they discuss what Gentile believers will abide by when they receive Jesus as Lord. Through the law of love we see we are made to live free from the law to serve one another, but it is impossible to do without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I just want to begin with saying this: if you have not been following the reading along the weeks you are missing out, because the manner in which God unfolds his story throughout history is majestic and undoubtedly proof of his presence with us.
Review up to this point:
Review up to this point:
Jesus opens the book and promises the Spirit to fulfill his mission (Acts 1:8)
The Spirit comes at Pentecost
Through his Spirit, God wants to bring about the restoration of God’s people (Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 37) through the new Temple which is not a building, but his people.
Good, right? Followers of the Way are begun to be persecuted.
Saul, later known as Paul, converts to the Way.
Peter is guided to seek out Gentiles and they receive the Spirit like the Jews
Followers of Christ are called Christians for the first time (Acts 11:26)
During Paul’s first missionary trip to the nations, which our Soldier Zayda introduced last week, there arises a debate...
Read Acts 15:1-21
Emphasis on Acts 15:9-11
We can clearly see how by grace, or as a gift of God, we can all live free from the law through faith in Jesus Christ.
To free from the law (Acts 15:9-11)
To free from the law (Acts 15:9-11)
Why the law?
Why the law?
Read Galatians 3:19-22, Galatians 5:1
The blessing for Gentiles
The blessing for Gentiles
Read Acts 15:23-29
It should be noted that these few regulations given by the elders and apostles would facilitate fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians.
The power of grace to free us from the law then is not a selfish freedom, but one meant to enable us to serve one another in love.
To enable service in love (Acts 15:30-35)
To enable service in love (Acts 15:30-35)
Because of the freedom from the law we have been blessed with we can now serve fulfill the two greatest commandments from Jesus:
Read Mark 12:29-31
Paul later writes in a letter to a church in Galatia speaking of this
Read Galatians 5:13-18
Conclusion
Conclusion
Summary
Summary
God freed us from the obligation fulfill the whole law.
God has empowered us to not only resist sin, but live completely contrary to it in the root of our being.
Application
Application
Some of us have been saved by Christ, but have been tempted to “win” our salvation or even growth in Christ by trying to fulfill the law.
Read Galatians 5:4-6
It is by faith that the righteous shall live (Hab 2.4, Romans 1.17, Gal 3.11, Heb 10.38)
God can transform us completely to live our lives entirely for him in every aspect: through our marriage, our work, our family, our friendships… everything!
Read Galatians 5:16-26
