Student Conference March 5, 2011
My notes are in italics.
The Gospel Gap:
What do I do now that I’m saved
and not yet dead?
Spring Retreat
March 5, 2011
1. The gospel gap
What is the gospel in your own words?
Mankind rebelled (and rebels) against God- God sent Jesus, His Son, to die in the place of rebels- all for His glory!
Saved and forgiven - the now, redeemed and eternity secure- the future.
After hearing what the gospel is not -
(“God’s wonderful plan for your life,” “how you can have your best life now,” and any other saccharin, humanistic corruption)
- write down what the gospel is according to scripture-
Jesus bought a people for Himself with His blood. Enemies of God saved by God’s grace from God’s justice for God’s glory.
Romans 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’”
The gospel is a historically, abundantly attested fact, an event in the timeline of the universe.
What is “objective”? reality, something tangibly existing, fact
What is “subjective”? opinion, feeling, preference
The two parts of the gospel are:
a. Christ died for my sins- so I am forgiven
I could never meet God’s standards for holiness nor pay for my own crimes against God except by suffering eternal torment.
Lev. 11:45
“For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, because I am holy.”
b. Christ’s perfect righteousness is credited to me by grace alone. The key verse that illustrates this truth is Ephesians 2:8-10:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Christ never sinned once- that was the only way He could take my place and suffer the punishment I deserved- pain & separation from God- in my place.
2. Key Words
Righteousness: right standing, sinless
Credited: officially given something
Justify: declared innocent, “not guilty”
Faith: trust, taking God at His word- acting on it
Faith is trusting what cannot be measured, seen, or felt. “Convicting, assured reliance”
Faith [can be] thought of as a channel through which God pours grace and more faith into our hearts
3. John 3-
Nicodemus is the story of how the term “born again” entered the Christian vocabulary. What is being born again?
Being acted upon by God- apart from any decision on my part, for salvation. I didn’t choose when, where, and how to be born physically, neither did I have any control over my spiritual rebirth.
How does this align with Ephesians 2:8-9?
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
God does all that is needed! We never have, will, or can deserve salvation- it’s grace!!!
Returning to Romans 1:16-17, we learn that the gospel is power. What kind of power exists in the gospel?
The power of God- Dynamis Theos
the explosive, unstoppably earth-shattering power of God.
What does this verse say about how the righteous will live?
By faith!
Our next verse is 2 Peter 1:3-10-
“...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble...”
Peter says the gospel gives us all things necessary for life and godliness. This verse must be understood and believed. If it is misunderstood, what three things result?
Blindness to our own depravity, the power of indwelling sin
Blindness to God’s provision
Blindness to God’s process of growing us into the image of His Son
How Not to “Fill the Gospel Gap” (ie. Live)
1. Presuppositions- making sense of what you see.
Dictionary Definition: assumptions
We have all been steeped in the “logic” of the world when it comes to spiritual things.
Primary suppositions lead to secondary suppositions-
• Humanism-
Primary: Man is the center of the universe
Secondary: human rights, world peace, psychology
• Spiritualism-
Primary: universe = God, the worship of creation
Secondary: animal rights, ecology, reincarnation, radical environmentalism
• Monotheism-
Primary: one god (usually a judge to be feared)
Secondary: do good to appease the judge, escape punishment
There is an enemy (Satan) who does not want us to live godly and effective lives for the kingdom of God.
Our lives can fill up with counterfeit spirituality- useless religion - faith in anything other than Christ to save us.
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
We need to have our minds renewed!
2. False presuppositions lead to wrong ways to fill the gospel gap:
Activism: is a humanistic presupposition.
The wrong way to fill the gap: It fights the battles of morality, focusing on the evils in the world instead of the evil in my own heart.
John 6:28
“Therefore they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’”
“Self-helpism”: mankind-centered, self-centered, the worship of pleasure...”live your best life now”
The wrong way to fill the gap: It places personal fulfillment on a pedestal as the ultimate goal of life. The pursuit of happiness is in opposition to the reception of grace- in particular the philosophies of the world are opposed to the wisdom and the grace of God.
Colossians 2:8
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
Mysticism: Seeking “spiritual experiences,” always looking for the next spiritual high, and always discontent
The wrong way to fill the gap: insatiable, selfish hunger for perceived happiness- The truth is more important than feelings!
Luke 9:28-33
“Some eight days after these sayings, [Jesus] took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. 30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 33 And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah’ - not realizing what he was saying.”
2 Peter 1:16-19
“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’ - 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”
Here’s a shocker: We don’t deserve happiness! God never promises christians happiness in this life. We are promised persecution, trials, and loving discipline from our heavenly Father, however. (John 3:16-20, 16:8, Romans 3:23, 6:23, Matthew 5:10-12, 10:23, John 5:16, 15:20, Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, James 1, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Hebrews 12:5-11)
Legalism: do good, nice things to curry favor with God, but look out! if you don’t measure up, if you sin, you could lose your salvation. With legalism the pressure is on me to save myself or, at least, keep myself saved.
The wrong way to fill the gap: we cannot impress God or maintain our relationship with Him by our own obedience- only Christ’s obedience has weight with God.
Luke 18:18-23
“A ruler questioned Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’
19 And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.”’
21 And he said, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth.’
22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, ‘One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’
23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
Doctrine “Police-ism”: to study doctrine in detail- usually with the purpose of labeling others as saved or not saved if they agree perfectly or not; hypercritical.
The wrong way to fill the gap: secondary issues are placed in primary positions
(eg. “You, a girl, wear pants? You must not be saved/ in the Spirit.” I have experienced this type of legalism personally and I have committed another type myself: “You’ve never read through the entire Bible? How long have you been a christian?” Thankfully it never moved from thought to spoken word, but how unloving is that? Scripture says to encourage one another, not tear them down if they don’t have certain helpful habits nailed down yet.)
Don’t major on the minors! Be concerned about issues of eternal destiny like the Deity of Christ or the permanence of salvation rather than secondary issues such as dress, tattoos, or diet.
Be gospel centered!
1 Timothy 6:3-7
“If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.”
3. Why are these the wrong ways to fill the gap attractive to us?
Human focused solutions make us feel good- as though we have something to boast about, are self-sufficient, and accomplished in goodness.
The truth is that such pridefulness and self-centeredness will drive us farther and farther from Jesus Christ and the only salvation possible for us.
Only Christ’s death on the cross can pay for my sins and make peace between me and God’s justice. He bought me with His blood, and saved me from slavery to sin so that I can now serve Him and bring Him glory- through the power He supplies.
Praise God!
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said,‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,’ 6 so that we confidently say, ‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?’”
Be content; focus on God!
Properly Filling the Gospel Gap
1. The primary Christian presupposition is that God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ, He kept the requirements of His law, and He gave His life as the complete sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin for all of those who believe in Christ.
List as many as you can of the eight presuppositions that are contained in this primary presupposition:
1. God is, He is not from earth, and is not inside or limited by His creation. He is not normally human.
2. God has revealed Himself through the Bible
3. Jesus is God
4. Jesus never sinned, He is perfect
5. God is right & just to be angry over sin. He must be angry over sin.
6. Our sin was transferred to Jesus!
7. Jesus’s goodness was transferred to us!
8. The faith to believe and the desire to confess & repent of sin is a gift!
Praise God that His grace (unmerited favor) alone is the basis for our salvation & faith in Christ!
Our salvation is guaranteed by God, if we are His in Christ ;&hearts
2. What is the key lesson in Ephesians 2:8-9? GRACE!
Read Ephesians 2:3-10 again and list the things you must do to be saved according to this verse.
“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
I must not, neither can I do anything at all to effect or affect my salvation.
Glory be to God alone!
“But God...” is life to me, the sinner!
3. Five truths we learn when we look through the gospel glasses
a) The weight and gravity of our sin
Verse: Romans 3:10-12
“as it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.’”
Sin sneaks up on you. It starts small and grows and grows... sin kills.
b)The heart is central to all things
Verse: Proverbs 4:23
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Heart = battleground
Your heart= real you
Lasting change only comes through Heart-change.
c) Christ is within us!
Verse: Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
This is our hope!
There are many good systems for how to live your life. Christianity is not a system or a formula like religions that have been invented by mankind. The person of Christ is the difference. No religion or cult has Him!
d) God calls us to grow and change
Verse: 2 Peter 1:2-4
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
We all sin. We are positionally saved through Christ. God imputes His righteousness to us! Incredible.
Romans 8:29
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”
God has called us to growth so “if you’re not growing in your faith, you are dying.”
God has guaranteed our sanctification! Hallelujah!
e) A lifestyle of repentance and faith
Verse: Lamentations 3:22-24
“‘The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.’”
There is always room for improvement this side of heaven, therefore daily practice is a necessity.
Praise God- He never gives up on us!
1 John 1:8-9
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
4. God’s big picture shows us four important things.
Jeremiah 17:5-10
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.
7 ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. 8 For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.
9 ‘The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?
10 ‘I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.’”
It is hard work to put selfishness and deeds of the flesh to death.
Jeremiah describes what life is like in a fallen world. Trials are represented by the heat in our diagram (p8 of the booklet).
Who we are as fallen human beings is represented by the thorn bush in our diagram.
Who Christ is as Savior is represented by the cross in our diagram.
How He grows us into His likeness is represented by the fruitful tree in the diagram.
Homework:
Apply some real life situations to the diagram. Write down how you responded, and how your response would be different after this workshop. (will, Deo Volente)
Begin a daily commitment to prayer and Bible reading.
Just 15 minutes every day will make a difference in your life.
My notes on the diagram:
The christian begins at the cross of Christ- receiving His forgiveness.
Then life continues- along with its everyday pressures, troubles, worries, and trials.
The christian can trust and obey God through the pressure- thereby growing in sanctification...
or the christian can respond like an unbeliever by sinning in an attempt to escape troubles.
So there is a constant return to the foot of the cross to look at how bad sin is, how good Jesus is, and to again receive His patient mercy and forgiveness.
My natural response to hardship is “thorniness” ie. to take matters into my own hands, trust in myself, and/or give in to temptation.
I still have to fight sin every day. I am a saint, by the grace of God, but I’m trapped in the nature of the sinner I used to be.
Christ is fighting for and alongside of His redeemed people- helping us persevere toward His certain victory.
He’s already won the fight!
Romans 7, 8:1-4
“Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COVET.’ 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 “Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Christ in us changes our reactions to be loving toward others. We must surrender control of our lives and hearts to Him- we are His servants.
All the power is from God!
Romans 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’”
2 Peter 1:3-10
“seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;”
What Wondrous Love is This
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, O my soul!
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on.
The Gospel Gap:
What do I do now that I’m saved
and not yet dead?
Spring Retreat
March 5, 2011
1. The gospel gap
What is the gospel in your own words?
Mankind rebelled (and rebels) against God- God sent Jesus, His Son, to die in the place of rebels- all for His glory!
Saved and forgiven - the now, redeemed and eternity secure- the future.
After hearing what the gospel is not -
(“God’s wonderful plan for your life,” “how you can have your best life now,” and any other saccharin, humanistic corruption)
- write down what the gospel is according to scripture-
Jesus bought a people for Himself with His blood. Enemies of God saved by God’s grace from God’s justice for God’s glory.
Romans 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’”
The gospel is a historically, abundantly attested fact, an event in the timeline of the universe.
What is “objective”? reality, something tangibly existing, fact
What is “subjective”? opinion, feeling, preference
The two parts of the gospel are:
a. Christ died for my sins- so I am forgiven
I could never meet God’s standards for holiness nor pay for my own crimes against God except by suffering eternal torment.
Lev. 11:45
“For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, because I am holy.”
b. Christ’s perfect righteousness is credited to me by grace alone. The key verse that illustrates this truth is Ephesians 2:8-10:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Christ never sinned once- that was the only way He could take my place and suffer the punishment I deserved- pain & separation from God- in my place.
2. Key Words
Righteousness: right standing, sinless
Credited: officially given something
Justify: declared innocent, “not guilty”
Faith: trust, taking God at His word- acting on it
Faith is trusting what cannot be measured, seen, or felt. “Convicting, assured reliance”
Faith [can be] thought of as a channel through which God pours grace and more faith into our hearts
3. John 3-
Nicodemus is the story of how the term “born again” entered the Christian vocabulary. What is being born again?
Being acted upon by God- apart from any decision on my part, for salvation. I didn’t choose when, where, and how to be born physically, neither did I have any control over my spiritual rebirth.
How does this align with Ephesians 2:8-9?
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
God does all that is needed! We never have, will, or can deserve salvation- it’s grace!!!
Returning to Romans 1:16-17, we learn that the gospel is power. What kind of power exists in the gospel?
The power of God- Dynamis Theos
the explosive, unstoppably earth-shattering power of God.
What does this verse say about how the righteous will live?
By faith!
Our next verse is 2 Peter 1:3-10-
“...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble...”
Peter says the gospel gives us all things necessary for life and godliness. This verse must be understood and believed. If it is misunderstood, what three things result?
Blindness to our own depravity, the power of indwelling sin
Blindness to God’s provision
Blindness to God’s process of growing us into the image of His Son
How Not to “Fill the Gospel Gap” (ie. Live)
1. Presuppositions- making sense of what you see.
Dictionary Definition: assumptions
We have all been steeped in the “logic” of the world when it comes to spiritual things.
Primary suppositions lead to secondary suppositions-
• Humanism-
Primary: Man is the center of the universe
Secondary: human rights, world peace, psychology
• Spiritualism-
Primary: universe = God, the worship of creation
Secondary: animal rights, ecology, reincarnation, radical environmentalism
• Monotheism-
Primary: one god (usually a judge to be feared)
Secondary: do good to appease the judge, escape punishment
There is an enemy (Satan) who does not want us to live godly and effective lives for the kingdom of God.
Our lives can fill up with counterfeit spirituality- useless religion - faith in anything other than Christ to save us.
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
We need to have our minds renewed!
2. False presuppositions lead to wrong ways to fill the gospel gap:
Activism: is a humanistic presupposition.
The wrong way to fill the gap: It fights the battles of morality, focusing on the evils in the world instead of the evil in my own heart.
John 6:28
“Therefore they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’”
“Self-helpism”: mankind-centered, self-centered, the worship of pleasure...”live your best life now”
The wrong way to fill the gap: It places personal fulfillment on a pedestal as the ultimate goal of life. The pursuit of happiness is in opposition to the reception of grace- in particular the philosophies of the world are opposed to the wisdom and the grace of God.
Colossians 2:8
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
Mysticism: Seeking “spiritual experiences,” always looking for the next spiritual high, and always discontent
The wrong way to fill the gap: insatiable, selfish hunger for perceived happiness- The truth is more important than feelings!
Luke 9:28-33
“Some eight days after these sayings, [Jesus] took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. 30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 33 And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah’ - not realizing what he was saying.”
2 Peter 1:16-19
“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’ - 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”
Here’s a shocker: We don’t deserve happiness! God never promises christians happiness in this life. We are promised persecution, trials, and loving discipline from our heavenly Father, however. (John 3:16-20, 16:8, Romans 3:23, 6:23, Matthew 5:10-12, 10:23, John 5:16, 15:20, Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, James 1, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Hebrews 12:5-11)
Legalism: do good, nice things to curry favor with God, but look out! if you don’t measure up, if you sin, you could lose your salvation. With legalism the pressure is on me to save myself or, at least, keep myself saved.
The wrong way to fill the gap: we cannot impress God or maintain our relationship with Him by our own obedience- only Christ’s obedience has weight with God.
Luke 18:18-23
“A ruler questioned Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’
19 And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.”’
21 And he said, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth.’
22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, ‘One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’
23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
Doctrine “Police-ism”: to study doctrine in detail- usually with the purpose of labeling others as saved or not saved if they agree perfectly or not; hypercritical.
The wrong way to fill the gap: secondary issues are placed in primary positions
(eg. “You, a girl, wear pants? You must not be saved/ in the Spirit.” I have experienced this type of legalism personally and I have committed another type myself: “You’ve never read through the entire Bible? How long have you been a christian?” Thankfully it never moved from thought to spoken word, but how unloving is that? Scripture says to encourage one another, not tear them down if they don’t have certain helpful habits nailed down yet.)
Don’t major on the minors! Be concerned about issues of eternal destiny like the Deity of Christ or the permanence of salvation rather than secondary issues such as dress, tattoos, or diet.
Be gospel centered!
1 Timothy 6:3-7
“If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.”
3. Why are these the wrong ways to fill the gap attractive to us?
Human focused solutions make us feel good- as though we have something to boast about, are self-sufficient, and accomplished in goodness.
The truth is that such pridefulness and self-centeredness will drive us farther and farther from Jesus Christ and the only salvation possible for us.
Only Christ’s death on the cross can pay for my sins and make peace between me and God’s justice. He bought me with His blood, and saved me from slavery to sin so that I can now serve Him and bring Him glory- through the power He supplies.
Praise God!
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said,‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,’ 6 so that we confidently say, ‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?’”
Be content; focus on God!
Properly Filling the Gospel Gap
1. The primary Christian presupposition is that God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ, He kept the requirements of His law, and He gave His life as the complete sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin for all of those who believe in Christ.
List as many as you can of the eight presuppositions that are contained in this primary presupposition:
1. God is, He is not from earth, and is not inside or limited by His creation. He is not normally human.
2. God has revealed Himself through the Bible
3. Jesus is God
4. Jesus never sinned, He is perfect
5. God is right & just to be angry over sin. He must be angry over sin.
6. Our sin was transferred to Jesus!
7. Jesus’s goodness was transferred to us!
8. The faith to believe and the desire to confess & repent of sin is a gift!
Praise God that His grace (unmerited favor) alone is the basis for our salvation & faith in Christ!
Our salvation is guaranteed by God, if we are His in Christ ;&hearts
2. What is the key lesson in Ephesians 2:8-9? GRACE!
Read Ephesians 2:3-10 again and list the things you must do to be saved according to this verse.
“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
I must not, neither can I do anything at all to effect or affect my salvation.
Glory be to God alone!
“But God...” is life to me, the sinner!
3. Five truths we learn when we look through the gospel glasses
a) The weight and gravity of our sin
Verse: Romans 3:10-12
“as it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.’”
Sin sneaks up on you. It starts small and grows and grows... sin kills.
b)The heart is central to all things
Verse: Proverbs 4:23
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Heart = battleground
Your heart= real you
Lasting change only comes through Heart-change.
c) Christ is within us!
Verse: Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
This is our hope!
There are many good systems for how to live your life. Christianity is not a system or a formula like religions that have been invented by mankind. The person of Christ is the difference. No religion or cult has Him!
d) God calls us to grow and change
Verse: 2 Peter 1:2-4
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
We all sin. We are positionally saved through Christ. God imputes His righteousness to us! Incredible.
Romans 8:29
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”
God has called us to growth so “if you’re not growing in your faith, you are dying.”
God has guaranteed our sanctification! Hallelujah!
e) A lifestyle of repentance and faith
Verse: Lamentations 3:22-24
“‘The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.’”
There is always room for improvement this side of heaven, therefore daily practice is a necessity.
Praise God- He never gives up on us!
1 John 1:8-9
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
4. God’s big picture shows us four important things.
Jeremiah 17:5-10
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.
7 ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. 8 For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.
9 ‘The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?
10 ‘I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.’”
It is hard work to put selfishness and deeds of the flesh to death.
Jeremiah describes what life is like in a fallen world. Trials are represented by the heat in our diagram (p8 of the booklet).
Who we are as fallen human beings is represented by the thorn bush in our diagram.
Who Christ is as Savior is represented by the cross in our diagram.
How He grows us into His likeness is represented by the fruitful tree in the diagram.
Homework:
Apply some real life situations to the diagram. Write down how you responded, and how your response would be different after this workshop. (will, Deo Volente)
Begin a daily commitment to prayer and Bible reading.
Just 15 minutes every day will make a difference in your life.
My notes on the diagram:
The christian begins at the cross of Christ- receiving His forgiveness.
Then life continues- along with its everyday pressures, troubles, worries, and trials.
The christian can trust and obey God through the pressure- thereby growing in sanctification...
or the christian can respond like an unbeliever by sinning in an attempt to escape troubles.
So there is a constant return to the foot of the cross to look at how bad sin is, how good Jesus is, and to again receive His patient mercy and forgiveness.
My natural response to hardship is “thorniness” ie. to take matters into my own hands, trust in myself, and/or give in to temptation.
I still have to fight sin every day. I am a saint, by the grace of God, but I’m trapped in the nature of the sinner I used to be.
Christ is fighting for and alongside of His redeemed people- helping us persevere toward His certain victory.
He’s already won the fight!
Romans 7, 8:1-4
“Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COVET.’ 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 “Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Christ in us changes our reactions to be loving toward others. We must surrender control of our lives and hearts to Him- we are His servants.
All the power is from God!
Romans 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’”
2 Peter 1:3-10
“seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;”
What Wondrous Love is This
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, O my soul!
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on.