Released: Breaking Free from. Introduction The Focus of Our Study. I. Six Premises About Love

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1 Looking for Love in All the Right Places Legalism and Guilt (Part 1) 1 Timothy 1:5 (Part 1 Introduction The Focus of Our Study I. Six Premises About Love 1. We all long to be loved! 2. No human relationship or material possession has the power to love us deeply, consistently, and unconditionally. 3. When we are unloved we will figure out ways to get others to love us. 4. Just because God loves us, there is no guarantee that we will experience that love. Ephesians 3: It is only when we experience being deeply loved that we have the capacity to love others deeply. John 13:34 6. Living life unlovingly is a wasted life. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1

2 Looking for Love in All the Right Places Legalism and Guilt (Part 1) 1 Timothy 1:5 (Part 1 II. The Love Test III. What Keeps Us From Experiencing God s Love? A Word Picture 1 Timothy 1:18-19 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. The Picture 2 Things That Shipwreck Our Life With God: 1) Legalism 2) Guilty feelings 2

3 Looking for Love in All the Right Places Legalism and Guilt (Part 1) 1 Timothy 1:5 (Part 1 IV. God s Promise = Romans 5:1-2 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Discussion Questions 1. On a scale of 1 to 10 how much of God s unfailing love are you experiencing? 2. What s the acid test of our spiritual growth and maturity in Christ according to 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Corinthians 13? 3. What is the proof of God s love for you according to Romans 5:6-8? What does it mean to be justified by faith? (Romans 5:1-2) 4. Discuss the word picture Paul gives concerning what shipwrecks our spiritual lives. What are the 2 things that keep us from experiencing the love of God we already possess? 3

4 Legalism and Guilt (Part 2) God s Love? Part 1 I. Understanding Grace The Basis of Our Faith Definition = Our Salvation is by Grace For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit Titus 3:5 (NIV) 1

5 Legalism and Guilt (Part 2) God s Love? Part 1 Our Spiritual Growth is by Grace I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 3:2-3 (NIV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) Getting a Grasp on Grace Romans 3:21-28 Justification = Our Legal Standing Redemption = Our Value Established 2

6 Legalism and Guilt (Part 2) God s Love? Part 1 Propitiation = Our Punishment Absorbed Adoption = Our Security Guaranteed Reconciliation = Our Acceptance Forever Summary = God s love, acceptance, forgiveness, and relationship with us is based solely on grace. Christ s finished work on the cross is the object of our trust/faith, not our personal performance. Reference: The Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll 3

7 Legalism and Guilt (Part 2) God s Love? Part 1 Conclusion Two Questions: 1. What is your faith holding onto? Grace OR Guilt 2. Do you have a good conscience? Discussion Questions 1. Why is knowing the truth so important when it comes to experiencing God s love? 2. What did you learn today about grace that could help you appreciate and enjoy God s love more fully? 3. What did you learn about how our conscience works that could help you remove barriers in your relationship with Christ? 4. If appropriate, share how you answered the questions asked in the Conclusion of the message. Why? 4

8 Legalism and Guilt (Part 3) God s Love? Part 2 Introduction Guilty Feelings I. What is a conscience? 1

9 Legalism and Guilt (Part 3) God s Love? Part 2 II. Why Do We Need A Good Conscience To Experience God s Love? III. How Is Our Conscience Defiled And What Is The Impact? To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable, and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. Titus 1:15-16 (NIV) The Process = Hebrews 3:7-15 The Impact = Titus 1:16 2

10 Legalism and Guilt (Part 3) God s Love? Part 2 IV. Our Conscience is not Foolproof Education Discernment Objectivity Discussion Questions 1. How does God s grace free us from the performance trap and becoming an approval addict? 2. What did you learn about how our conscience works that could help you remove barriers in your relationship with Christ? 3. In what ways has your conscience been defiled in recent times? Why is this so dangerous? How can you keep this from happening? 4. What impact has this series had on your awareness and experience of God s love for you? Explain. 3

11 No Condemnation Legalism and Guilt (Part 4) 2 Corinthians 7:10 I. God s Desire = That we experience His unfailing love. II. The Barriers to God s Desire = legalism and guilty feelings. The answer to legalism = faith in God s grace. The answer to guilty feelings = a good conscience. RESPONSES TO GUILTY FEELINGS Fight Flee Surrender to Guilt Surrender to God Develop defense strategies and skills Run, Hide, Escape Develop masks and disguises Become enslaved to guilt, condemnation, and self-punishment Discern source of guilt- If false: Ignore & evade If true: Respond with Godly sorrow - Conviction & Confession Forgiveness & Freedom Belief: All guilt is bad, unwanted Belief: Some guilt is bad, some good Results: Distracts us from God Results: Draws us to God *Adapted from unpublished MSS, Good Guilt, Bad Guilt, by Becca Cowan Johnson, Ph.D. 1

12 No Condemnation Legalism and Guilt (Part 4) 2 Corinthians 7:10 III. The Question = How can we experience God s love when we really fail? How do we move to Quadrant I? IV. The Answer = 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 Godly Sorrow (Constructive Guilt) Involves: A God focus Conviction concerning future relationship with God Remorse over sin and broken relationship with God Attitude Dependence, Christ Paid Motivation for change = Love RESPONSES TO OBJECTIVE GUILT 2 Corinthians 7:10 Worldly Sorrow (Psychological Guilt) Involves: A self focus. Condemnation over past misdeeds. Regret or Remorse over consequences of sin and personal pain. Attitude Autonomy, I ll Pay. Motivation for change = get rid of guilty feelings. Which lead to: Repentance Forgiveness Salvation Spiritual Life (i.e. = Peter, Matthew 26:69-75) Which lead to: Spiritual Death (i.e. = Judas, Matthew 27:1-10) 2

13 No Condemnation Legalism and Guilt (Part 4) 2 Corinthians 7:10 V. The Application = When I experience guilty feelings I will 1. Face guilty feelings. 2. Distinguish between good and bad guilt. 3. Eliminate bad guilt. 4. Respond to good guilt with Godly sorrow. Discussion Questions 1. Discuss Peter and Judas responses to failure as it relates to 2 Corinthians 7: In what ways can you identify with Peter? With Judas? 3. What do you need to understand and apply to your life to experience God s unfailing love even when you fail? 3