Disciplines' Dependency

Many believers struggle with the perception that performance is the basis upon which spiritual transformation is built. However, the minute believers take their eyes off of God’s grace as the power to do good works and places it wrongfully upon their own ability to perform, that misguided focus robs them of the power God supplies that increasingly enables them to do the good works in the first place. Jerry Bridges wrote, “On a good day, as we perceive it, we tend toward self-righteous Pharisaism. On a not-so-good day we allow ourselves to wallow in a sense of failure and guilt.”[1] Pharisaism, along with the sense of failure and guilt are manifestations of pride. We pat ourselves on the back when we have had a good day spiritually and we are riddled with a sense of failure and guilt on those bad days we all have. Both indicate that we are counting on our own power to do good works rather than God’s. Instead of acknowledging God in all our ways (Prov. 3:6), we acknowledge ourselves. While it is true that the Bible teaches we are to “…lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us…” (Heb. 12:1), God does not intend for us to do that merely in our own power. As we are transformed spiritually, we do grow in our ability to be what God intends for us to be, but, who truly has the power to establish, maintain, and mature spiritual transformation in the believer? A believer must first and foremost recognize his dependence upon God as the source of spiritual formation through Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in order to escape the fallacy of spiritual performance and its consequence. Only then can he truly have confidence in his own responsibility in the process of spiritual transformation. Spiritual transformation is secured only as the believer learns to walk in the Spirit of God rather than the man’s ability to perform. From God’s Word, it is clear that walking in the Spirit means expanding awareness (spiritual transformation) not better performance.

Let’s turn to Rom. 8:4-11

[1] Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace, (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2018), 13.

Rom. 8:4-11

Walking in the Spirit means expanding awareness not better performance

When Paul wrote this to the believers in Rome he was speaking of a growing awareness of Disciplines' Dependency on God's grace and the Holy Spirit that helps the believer abandon the burden of spiritual performance and embrace God's grace as the chief personal discipline of spiritual transformation. Paul wanted these believers to know that walking in the flesh brings to bear the weight of the Law rather than freedom through walking in the Spirit. The requirement of the Law is fulfilled in us only through the condemnation Christ bore on the cross for us (v. 3). Note what vv. 4-5 say.

The flesh lives under the Law

Those who walk according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh rather than spiritual things v. 5

The mind set on the flesh is death, the only thing warranted by our own good works v. 6

The mind set on flesh is hostile toward God v. 7, does not subject itself nor can subject itself to the law of God.

The mind walks in the flesh cannot please God. v. 7

The Spirit lives under the gospel of Grace

Those who walk in the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit v. 5

The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace v. 6

Put Performance to Death and Live at Peace

v. 6

This means a growing awareness of Disciplines' Dependency on God's grace through Christ and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit helps the believer abandon the burden of spiritual performance and embrace God's grace as a disciplined education of spiritual transformation.

As a believer, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit v. 9

As a believer, the body is dead because of the Law v. 10

As a believer, the Spirit is alive because of righteousness

God has given life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, so you might put performance to death and live at peace.

Since this is emphatic and not an imperative, awareness is emphasized over performance. Increasingly walking in the Spirit (spiritual transformation) is a matter of awareness in your daily activity, not better performance. As that awareness of what God has already given you through His Spirit grows, God then simply asks the child of God to engage it in their lives, let that Spirit of God be worked out in everyday living.

Walking in the Spirit means expanding engagement not self-reliance.

Let’s turn to Titus 3:4-8 as we consider what it means to expand our engagement of the Spirit.

Titus 3:4-8

Walking in the Spirit means expanding engagement not self-reliance

This means a growing engagement of Disciplines’ Dependency on God’s mercy [kindness], through Christ’s salvation, and the Holy Spirit’s transformation that helps the believer abandon the burden of spiritual performance and engage with God’s grace as a disciplined exercise of his spiritual transformation.

Engage in Speaking God’s grace, the gospel rehearsed v. 4-8a

God’s grace is an outworking of His kindness and love v. 4

God’s salvation is a result of His mercy by regeneration and renewing off the Holy Spirit v. 5

God’s Son is the means by which His Spirit transforms and rewards us, not through our works v. 6 Our reward from God is not based on performance by on Jesus Christ’s work.

This spoken truth is trustworthy, so speak it to yourself v. 8a.

Engage in doing good deeds, God-enabled v. 8b

Be careful to engage now in good deeds based on God’s grace through the gospel, empowered by the Holy Spirit through Christ rather than your own power. Leave the success or failure of it in God’s hands rather than yours.

Notice the purpose for your good deeds at the end of v. 8. Your engaging in good deeds encourages others to do the same.

Engage in advancing transformation, Holy Spirit-directed

This means a growing engagement of Disciplines’ Dependency on God’s mercy [kindness], through Christ’s salvation, and the Holy Spirit’s transformation that helps the believer abandon the burden of spiritual performance and engage with God’s grace as a disciplined exercise of his spiritual transformation.

Note: whatever God has made you is sufficient to do what He has called you to do. When you walk in the Spirit, based on God’s grace as you engage in doing good deeds, God advances transformation in both you and those around you. Can we review Titus 2:11-15?

Titus 2:11-15 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

Speak, exhort, and reprove with all authority the good deeds God has equipped you for and called you to.

One final passage, let’s turn to Phil. 2:12-13 as we consider that walking in the Spirit means expanding God’s work not yours.

Walking in the Spirit means expanding God’s work not yours

This means that growing practice of Disciplines’ Dependency on God’s expectation, preeminence, and faithfulness helps the believer abandon the burden of spiritual performance and accomplish the purpose of God’s grace as a disciplined fulfillment of his spiritual transformation.

Expand your obedience to grow v. 12

Work out your salvation

Do it with fear phobos and trembling tromos

Expand your perspective to humbly work

It is God who works in and through you. The good deeds you do, is only God using you to do them, not your own. Your good deeds are His not yours. There is no room for a Pharisaical or failure mindset, for all that you do is not yours, it is God’s. All God asks you to do is expand your surrender to His working in and through you. Expand your surrender to God’s will and Please. Look at the last part of v. 13.

Expand your surrender to God’s will and pleasure

“To will,” thelo to desire

“To work,” energeo to function

“Good pleasure,” eudokia goodwill

This means that growing practice of Disciplines’ Dependency on God’s expectation, preeminence, and faithfulness helps the believer abandon the burden of spiritual performance and accomplish the purpose of God’s grace as a disciplined fulfillment of his spiritual transformation.