The Gospel – Word and Spirit Biblical Tension of Grace and Works Series

I. Tensions

Scientific Tensions That Keep Us In Tune Centrifugal Force Centrifugal Force Pulled to the Sun Pulled to the Sun Fly off into space Fly off into space Balance Gravitational Force Gravitational Force

Earth's Revolution Earth's Revolution

Biblical Tensions that Keep us in Tune Truth Scripture Truth Scripture Truth Scripture Truth Scripture Extreme Error Extreme Error Extreme Error Extreme Error Balance ConflictConflict

Biblical Tensions that Keep us in Tune Grace Eph. 2:8 Saved by grace through faith not of works Grace Eph. 2:8 Saved by grace through faith not of works Works James 2:18 Show me your faith by your works Works James 2:18 Show me your faith by your works License Gal. 5:13 Using freedom to indulge sinful nature License Gal. 5:13 Using freedom to indulge sinful nature Legalism 2 Cor. 3:6 The letter kills but the Spirit gives life Legalism 2 Cor. 3:6 The letter kills but the Spirit gives life Balance ConflictConflict

Much time spent in Romans, Galatians, and James

II. The Gospel The Gospel, by the Word and by the Spirit Word without Spirit – dry up Spirit without Word – blow up Word and Spirit – grow up

Romans 1 Paul – sent to preach Good News Jesus – shown to be God’s son when raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit Privilege to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them – great sense of obligation

So… eager to come to you to preach the Good News Not ashamed of this Good News – it is the power of God at work saving everyone who believes This Good News tells us how to be right in God’s sight Accomplished from start to finish by faith  Ephesians 2:8 – by grace through faith

Not ashamed of how God makes us right with him Battle of tolerance – prevailing idea that God has made many ways The battle of inclusion The battle of imperialistic exclusivism –  God Rules Through Jesus  Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”

III. The Spirit and the Word The Word and the Law Law - Galatians 3:19-25  Temporarily added to God’s covenant with Abraham  To regulate conduct, define sin, show propensity to violate it, awaken sense of need for mercy, grace and redemption  Fulfilled in Jesus – Matthew 5:17  Love fulfills the law – Romans 13:10

The Word - 2 Timothy 3: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 Corinthians 3:2-6 Your lives are a letter - epistole �� ep-is-tol- ay‘ a written message:—”epistle”, letter. Written with the Spirit of God on human hearts The law kills, but the Spirit gives life

Romans 2:29 – one whose heart is right with God Not by obeying the letter of the law A changed heart produced by God’s Spirit Seeks praise from God, not people

IV. Conclusion Embrace Tension – understand conflict Let the Word and the Spirit work together Understand the Gospel – the power of God to make people right with himself Be unashamed of the gospel Changing your life Praise from God, not men

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