The Light of the Gospel Last Week If we are going to be “all-in” for the Gospel, we must resiliently hope in God’s promises about eternal life

The Light of the Gospel

Last Week If we are going to be “all-in” for the Gospel, we must resiliently hope in God’s promises about eternal life.

LIVING in the Light of the Gospel

Big Idea If we are going to live for Christ, the Gospel must function as the central core that informs and fuels every area of our lives.

LIVING in the Light of the Gospel1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Now, brothers

and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

The Centrality of the Gospel

The Gospel

Gospel Connections

Gospel Conduct

The Centrality of the GospelThe Gospel = Christ died for your sins and

rose again to give you new & eternal life.

Gospel Connections = The myriad of ways in which The Gospel informs & fuels specific areas of our thinking.

Gospel Conduct = The way in which our conduct/actions are transformed because of really seeing & believing the Gospel Connections.

False “Gospels”

Galatians 1:6-9 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Two Thieves of the Gospel1.Moralism/Religion = stresses truth

without grace…we must obey the truth in order to be saved. Our acceptance by God and others depends upon our attainments. Leads to either self-hatred (can’t live

up to standards) or self-inflation (think have lived up to standards)

LOSS OF JOY & POWER!

Two Thieves of the Gospel

The Gospel

Good Works

Pray

Read Bible

Two Thieves of the Gospel2.Relativism/Irreligion = stresses

grace without truth…all are accepted by God (if there is even a God). We decide what is true for us. Seem happy and tolerant until you don’t agree with them. God’s “love” costs nothing…out of

touch with own sin LOSS OF JOY & POWER!

Two Thieves of the Gospel

Two Thieves of the GospelThe unique self-image that the gospel brings us is that we are more wicked then we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope — at the very same time. (Tim Keller)

The Typical Journey

Opposed to God

Seeking

God via own

works

COME TO CHRIST

Gospel conduct

feels good, but no deep

connections

Gospel

shrinks &

growth

again about own good works

Deeper repentan

ce & rediscov

ery of Gospel

connections that

root Gospel conduct

Examples of Gospel Centrality

Issue Gospel Connection

Gospel Conduct

Love for others



Gospel Conduct

Love for others “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)



Gospel Conduct

Love for others “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Our active love for others is deepened as we reflect upon the love of God for us in Christ



Gospel Conduct

Dealing with our own weakness & inadequacy



Gospel Conduct


“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)



Gospel Conduct


“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)

We lead others in our weakness, and Christ’s power pulsates through us



Gospel Conduct

Loving your wife



Gospel Conduct

Loving your wife “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25)



Gospel Conduct

Loving your wife “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25)

Prioritize your wife’s growth in Christ & lay down your life to help her grow in grace & truth



Gospel Conduct

Cultivating Generosity



Gospel Conduct


For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9)



Gospel Conduct


For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9)

Our reception of the radically sacrificial generosity of Christ toward us in the Gospel propels us to intentionally prioritize sacrificial generosity for the Gospel’s advance.



Gospel Conduct

Affliction, Discouragement, Difficulty



Gospel Conduct


4 …we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. (2 Cor. 1:4-5)



Gospel Conduct


4 …we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. (2 Cor. 1:4-5)

Our difficulties expose our need to root our identity & joy more in the Gospel. Fighting to lay hold of this, enables us to empathetically comfort & care for others with the Gospel.



Gospel Conduct

Sexual Immorality



Gospel Conduct

Sexual Immorality

18 Flee from sexual immorality. ... 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Cor. 6:14-20)



Gospel Conduct

Sexual Immorality

18 Flee from sexual immorality. ... 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Cor. 6:14-20)

Your body is connected to Christ AND TO HIS PEOPLE. You were bought out of former slavery at a severe price, so stop going back to your old slave-master & stop living as a mere individual.



Gospel Conduct

Commitment to Intentional Fellowship



Gospel Conduct


1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God . . . 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:1-5)



Gospel Conduct


1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God . . . 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:1-5)

As a believer, you are united to and belong to other believers because of Christ. You will be most joyful and healthy when you intentionally choose to live in line with this reality.



Gospel Conduct

Becoming a Courageous Christian Leader



Gospel Conduct


1 …be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus… 8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. … 14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. (2 Timothy 2:1-2,8-10,14-15)



Gospel Conduct


1 …be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus… 8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. … 14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. (2 Timothy 2:1-2,8-10,14-15)

Because our confidence & security rest in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (The Gospel), we can boldly lead others to root their confidence & security in Christ.



Gospel Conduct

Overcoming Racism & Favoritism



Gospel Conduct


14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. (Galatians 2:11-16)



Gospel Conduct


14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. (Galatians 2:11-16)

Without the Gospel, we are hypocritical and judgmental toward others. This way of living is NOT IN LINE WITH THE GOSPEL!!! Thus we must rebuke & resist this hypocritical & judgmental attitude.

What about issues without a specific Scriptural connection?

Saturate your mind with Gospel thinking & use your Gospel-transformed mindset to make some of your own Gospel Connections!

Example Kids Activities & Achievements Is this helping them root their identity,

security, & confidence in The Gospel? What sacrifices are we making to press

them into this mold? What is the likely long-term trend-line of

this pattern of life & thinking?

How do we grow in making the Gospel the functioning central core?

Live in ongoing repentance before God and with others

Do the hard work of approaching the Bible in a Gospel-centered way & start making fresh connections

Invest time reading good books & listening to quality Bible teachings www.thegospelcoalition.org/conferences www.xenos.org/teachings/ www.newhopeks.org/audio

LIVING in the Light of the Gospel

Big Idea If we are going to live for Christ, the Gospel must function as the central core that informs and fuels every area of our lives.

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The Light of the Gospel Last Week If we are going to be “all-in” for the Gospel, we must resiliently hope in God’s promises about eternal life