The Forgotten Gospel Romans 5:1-11 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Christianity differs from religion in that it is a relationship, a living, breathing, growing relationship. It is that connection to Jesus that makes all the difference. Think about these verses - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 - Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Philippians 1:6 - he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:13 - it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Salvation doesn t just give us a clean slate for the past. It also provides the energy/strength/power necessary to live the Christian life. Those two aspects of Christian living are detailed in 1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 1 He bore our sins 2 That we might live righteously 1
Romans 5:10 - For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 1 His death reconciles us once and for all 2 His life saves us every day This is not part of the gospel. This is the whole gospel. Jesus saves us wholly, yesterday, today and tomorrow. First: We are Guilty as Sinners 2 Corinthians 5:20 - Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. This makes the gospel urgent. Mental assent is insufficient. Jesus is God s ultimate word to humanity and he demands an answer. But the death of Jesus is just part of the story. It is only half the gospel. Second: We are Given the Holy Spirit God doesn t just save us and then leave us to try the Christian life on our own. He immediately imparts his Spirit to us so that God s reconciling, restoring work can continue in us. Titus 3:5-6 - he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 1 Washing of regeneration = salvation 2 Renewal of the Holy Spirit = sanctification On the third day after the crucifixion, Jesus rose from the grave and ascended to heaven. Fortyseven days later, on the day of Pentecost, he returned in the Spirit.not to be with his people but to live in his people not to be with you but to live in you. Look at it again Romans 5:10 - For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 1 We are reconciled by his death 2 We shall be saved by his life Third: Jesus is our Model John 5:19 - Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord 2
John 8:28 - I do nothing on my own authority EX: Jesus defeated Satan in his temptation by using the word. We often say that Jesus did this to set the model for us. But immediately after that temptation the Scripture says - Luke 4:14 - And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee This is how Jesus, in perfect humanity, was able to accomplish the Father s will John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. Although Jesus was Himself the Creative Deity, by whom all things were made, as man He humbled Himself set aside His divine prerogatives an walked this earth as man a perfect demonstration of what God intended man to be the whole personality yielded to and occupied by God for Himself. - Ian Thomas And it is that same relationship that enables us to keep Jesus word and live as his disciples John 15:1-5 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Fourth: Our Opportunity What keeps me from living the Christian life? Only my lack of surrender to the Holy Spirit. You have already trusted Jesus for salvation. It s simply a matter of trusting the Holy Spirit applying that same faith to the Holy Spirit You ve trusted Jesus for what he has done. Trust the Holy Spirit for what he can do. The Holy Spirit is as adequate for your sanctification as Jesus is for your salvation. It is just a matter of trusting him. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 - We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in 3
Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Respect your leaders Disrespect Whom have I disrespected? 2 Be at peace with others Discord With whom am I distant? 3 Admonish idle people Leaving people alone Whom have I given up on? 4 Encourage fainthearted people Living in isolation Who wearies me? 5 Help and be patient with the weak Not helping others With whom am I impatient? 6 Don t repay evil with evil Getting revenge ON whom do I wish evil? 7 Do good to others Being mean How have I been mean to someone? To whom? 2-7 = Engagement versus isolation The older we get the more hurt we get. The more hurt we get the easiser it is to disengage from people. But this is not Jesus model. Look how Paul encourages us Philippians 2:5-9 - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, [c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. There are exceptions. There are some people who are bettered by boundaries they can t or won t create and that you erect to offer direction to them grace? 8 Rejoice always Discouragement What am I discouraged with God about? 9 Pray without ceasing Trusting self Am I spending regular time in prayer? 10 Give thanks in all circumstances Anger, frustration, - What am I angry about? 11 Do not quench the Spirit Stopping God s life in you How am I stopping God s 12 Do not despise prophecies Rejecting truth What truth am I disobeying? 13 Test everything Accepting everything What sin do I excuse? 14 Hold fast to what is good Acting wrong What profitable habits have I stopped? 15 Abstain from every form of evil Choosing evil What evil am I entertaining? How are we supposed to do that? Is God serious? Are we to take him literally? You and I are inadequate to do these things, but Jesus is adequate. The key is verse 19 Don t quench the Spirit. 4
IMP: Repeat the list noting how we quench the Spirit If there is any situation from which you are not prepared to step back, in recognition of the total adequacy of Christ who is in you, then you are out of the will of God. You are asserting by your action and by your attitude that He has noting to give you for that situation, which you do not have in yourself. This is the very negation of dependence, and you disobey the injunction in verse 19 Quench not the Spirit. for the office of the Holy Spirit is to make known to you, and to make experiential to you, all that Christ is in you. - Ian Thomas Conclusion: ILL Wouldn t it be foolish to buy a new car and not fill the tank with gas but instead try to push the car everywhere you go? God placed the engine of a resurrected Jesus inside you. He wants you to stop pushing your attitude, your emotions, your behavior and ask him to power your life. To be in Jesus is salvation. The Holy Spirit in your is holiness. You in Jesus for salvation is the gospel we know Jesus in you for godliness is the gospel we have forgotten You in Jesus makes you fit for heaven. The Holy Spirit in your makes you fit for earth. APP: When was the last time you spoke to the Holy Spirit? When you talk to Jesus you are talking to the Holy Spirit but then again, you aren t. It s like being in the same room with a couple but never looking at or addressing one of them. When you speak to the Holy Spirit it a) Reminds you of His existence b) Points out your need for him c) Gets directly to the source of power for life Some of us need to ask God for forgiveness. We are saved because we have not ignored Jesus. But we have assumed ourselves sufficient to live the Christian life and have neglected the Holy Spirit. That is the same self-righteousness that damns sinners. Look at your life. Find those areas where you are pushing your life uphill instead of depending on the resurrection engine of the Holy Spirit to fuel your Christian life. Now take the time to confess this to God, recognize your need for the Holy Spirit and begin talking to and depending on the Holy Spirit to live the life of Jesus in you. 5