Power of the Gospel
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· 4 viewswhat happens to us when we experience the gospel? our pride is challenged. our selfishness is exposed. God does a work in us that brings us to a place of freedom and forgiveness through the power of the gospel.
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what the gospel does to you
what the gospel does to you
we know the gospel. we can say it, we can read it.....but when it hits us right in the heart, we are transformed by it.
the problem, some know it intellectually but not relationally. they can talk about it but they are unsure about what it did to them.
the test, did it change them? did it cause them to become more “Christlike”
and did it humble them?
first thing the gospel confronts. Our Pride.
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
the context. Jesus has just called a tax collector to follow Him. the Pharisees are accusing,
English Standard Version Chapter 5
30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
let’s look to see the attitude of the ones asking the question. positionally they are placing themselves above the sinners. they are OK, all good, in need of no help. they are questioning Jesus as if He were wrong to eat and drink and associate with this group of people. they think Jesus should be above these sinners, not relating with them.
how messed up a thinking when we look down on others. whoever they are. the Pharisees were no better, but they thought they were.
the words of Jesus become even more stinging, that He didn’t come to call the Pharisees. Remember we talked about calling last week. there are people that Jesus is not calling, and we see it here. the ones that have such pride that they don’t need a physician. they are all perfect on their own.
tax collectors were looked down upon in society. there is a verse that shows this clearly.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
So, Jesus knew why the Pharisees were asking the question and pointing out the tax collectors as the lowest of the low. Jesus sets them back by His answer though. this was a pride issue. the Pharisees were placing themselves above the sinners and tax collectors which was common in the day.
who would be the low today? the poor? the homeless? the drug dealer? the wicked sinner? Do we dare take the place of the Pharisees over these.....or anyone for that matter?
many may have come from this attitude of judgementalness before they were saved. and sure enough, God is faithful to put His finger on it as we read scripture....amen. may He clean us from all our wickedness.
ultimately it is a pride issue/
So, another place we have found ourselves or will find ourselves when we are confronted with the gospel is as Peter in the presence of the Lord in .
2nd thing confronted is our depravity.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
next, scene with Peter being helpless towards Christ.
the situation -
Jesus preaching, uses Peters boat.
Jesus tell Peter to go out and throw the nets.
Peter does it knowing he has caught nothing.
big catch, two boats worth.
how did Peter react? He saw the power of God and looked at himself.....at his sin and he felt the need to separate from Jesus. He felt unworthy around the Lord.
there are times we may have experienced this.
you must ask a question when you are here.
is it the Lord pushing us away, or are we trying to run from God.
Are we feeling undeserving to be in the presence of God because we are too focused on ourselves? we see many in scripture that fall as dead in the presence of the Lord. Isaiah sees himself and states he is undone.
we see by the actions of those who have been face to face with the Lord. the Israelites themselves were extremely afraid of Gods presence. was it because they knew themselves all too well?
our lives call for punishment for our sin. So, if we focus on our lives, we tend to fear God in an unhealthy way, as one who would run from the Lord.
but what has the Lord done that we can be in His presence without fearing punishment? that is the gospel message.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
this is exactly why we can go to God without the fear of punishment.....we can receive from Him a gift of grace, to be justified, meaning just as if i had never sinned and even more, just as if i had always done things perfectly! God calls His people righteous. perfect. am i going to far? states......
what a gift of grace, to be justified, meaning just as if i had never sinned and even more, just as if i had always done things perfectly! God calls His people righteous. perfect. am i going to far? states......
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
isn’t it you and I, the body of believers that are being sanctified? this is the glorious power of God! freedom from the guilt of sin.
as for righteousness....
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:
this is the great exchange. this is the good news. Jesus taking sin onto Himself is the most amazing news in the universe!
when God reveals Himself to a person, they either walk away in their pride, or they wrestle it out with the Lord and see the truth of their inability to be perfect but the gift of Jesus to forgive all their sin and to exchange His life for theirs. there is freedom that God gives.....because they are not condemned anymore!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
their sins are completely wiped out......to the point of God not even remembering them.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
I may still remember my sin, but look what God says about it.....
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.”
God lets our sin go from His mind...... completely. so why would you and I hold on to it?
He doesn’t need to ever bring it up again if it is on Jesus. it is paid for. He has done something that no one else could do and it is exactly what we needed. it changes the relationship completely. we are now called friends.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Jesus, the Son of the living God, is friends with us. there is peace between us and God because of Jesus.
maybe you have made it through these struggles as you have been walking with the Lord. Maybe God has dealt with your pride, your struggle with trying to be good enough, or the realization that you can’t be good enough. the struggle of being in the presence of God and knowing He is your friend, and there is peace.
or maybe you are some where along this path. God has you friend. God knows where you are. as you go to Him and share your life, trusting in His power, His ability, His ways, you will see His work, and know that He is your friend. you will experience peace.
these were just a few things that we experience with God. it is the power of the gospel. it has an incredible affect.
what more can we ask for than all that God has given? it is a Holy Spirit empowering place to be in when we see the power of the gospel at work in our lives.
it is glorious!