In Step With The Spirit In An Out Of Step World: A Better Way

Ego Troubles Justification by the Law Should Jews have followed the Law? Yes! Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:19

Ego Troubles Justification by the Law Should Jews have followed the Law? Should Jews have accepted Law pointing to Jesus? You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace (Gal. 5:4)

Ego Troubles Justification by the Law Should Jews have followed the Law? Should Jews have accepted Law pointing to Jesus? Pharisees demonstrated danger of ego For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:20

Ego Troubles License Belief in Christ frees from any restriction For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (5:13) Freedom in Christ means service to others (5:14)

Justification by Law License Self-Satisfaction “Works of the Flesh”

Fleshly Mind Death Hostile Cannot Please God Unrighteous Romans 8: The Choice Fleshly Mind Death Hostile Cannot Please God Unrighteous Spiritual Mind Life Peaceful Lives With God Righteous

The Better Way The flesh must be put to death And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires When?

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin – Romans 6:4-6

The Better Way Living the better way Recognition salvation is through Jesus Christ For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (5:1)  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (2:20)

The Better Way Led by the Spirit The battle is raging For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (5:17)

The Better Way Led by the Spirit Led: “Influences affecting the mind” The choice is mine How does the Spirit lead? It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look – I Peter 1:12

The Better Way Walk by the Spirit Led by the Spirit But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (5:16)

The Better Way Walk by the Spirit Led by the Spirit Walk: The conduct of my behavior Understanding works: Not to “earn” salvation Demonstration of mindset

The Better Way Led by the Spirit Walk by the Spirit If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (5:25)

The Better Way Led by the Spirit Walk by the Spirit Walk: “To keep in step with” Life lived everyday by God’s standards

The Better Way Sows to the Spirit Led by the Spirit Walk by the Spirit For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (6:8)

The Better Way Sows to the Spirit Led by the Spirit Walk by the Spirit Everyone sows something Sowing to self- bad harvest Sowing to Spirit – eternal life

Outcomes of the Better Way But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law -- Galatians 5:22-23

Outcomes of the Better Way We cannot “make” fruit Land can be cleared Soil can be prepared Seed can be planted Plant can be nurtured

Outcomes of the Better Way We cannot “make” fruit Fruit is the change God allows to occur It is the totality of our transformation

Is It Time To Being Soil Preparation?