Unity and Grace The Grace Community How we relate to one another in light of being sinful and faulty.

What Grace is NOT Cheap Grace – licentiousness, permission to sin, gossip, slander, lacking conviction, comfortable, apathetic. Antinomianism - one who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation Christian Perfectionism: The idea that we as new creations in Christ are actually perfect already, and that we may simply attain to our true natures (state of perfect holiness) by rejecting the fake sinful self (which does not actually exist), and embracing the perfect sinless self.

Grace is... XARIS - – - The free gift of God of salvation, even though we do not deserve it and we were His enemies when He offered it. – - Charm, attractiveness. – - Favor, care, goodwill. – - Good deed, or unmerited gift. Grace in a Christian Community - – - The mimicking of God in His overwhelming grace toward us, in that He chose to love us and always do what is good for us despite how we act toward Him, which should lead us to treat one another with the highest respect, love, forgiveness, accountability and encouragement regardless of how we are treated, in a desire to be more like our God.

Grace is... That we be at peace with one another (Mk 9:50, Rom 12:16, 1 Pet 3:8) That we love one another (Jn 15, 1 Thes 4:9, 1 Pet 4:8) That we honor one another (Rom 12:10) That we do not pass shallow or undue judgement on one another (Rom 14) That we hold each other to a higher standard, and confess our sins to each other (Col 3:16, Matt 18, Eph 5:21, Heb 10:24-25, James 5:16, Gal 6:1) That we accept one another (Rom 15:7) That there be no divisions among us (1 Cor 1:10) That we serve one another (Gal 5:13, Gal 6:2) That we are patient and forgiving (Eph 4:32, Eph 4:2, Col 3:13) That we be encouraging (Eph 5:19, 1 Thes 5:11, Heb 3:13) That we do not gossip or slander (James 4:11, James 5:9)

Grace is... Discipleship - – - It is costly – - The cost is meant to be shared in a grace community. – - Requires us to humbly place ourselves in the hands and authority of our church and our Lord. – - Requires us to give each other grace. Accountability - – - Matthew 18: – - The goal is always reconciliation and repentance. – - Grace leads us to love each other enough to rebuke one another when it is necessary. – - Accountability requires deep selflessness.

Grace is... Forgiveness - – - Eph 4:32, Eph 4:26, Matt 18:22 – - Even when the guilty party does not deserve it, we are called to forgive. – - Pro 19:11 “A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Patience and Honesty - – - Eph 4:1-3 – - We live this way for the sake of God's glory. – - Bearing with one another in love – To put up with something or someone in a spirit of love, with a commitment to the benefit of another. – - EAGER to maintain a spirit of unity.

Grace is... Peace, Love and Honor - – - We do not have to “like” one another, but we do have to love one another. – - Col 3:12-17 – - We must choose to act in a manner that befits Grace. – - Christianity is community. – - Gentleness (Meekness) – An attitude of someone who does not demand his/her own rights or opinions. – - Patience – The capacity to bear injustice or injury without a spirit of revenge or retaliation. Love – - Love is the linchpin of grace. – - Love empowers grace, and motivates grace.

Conclusion Grace is a discipline. It does not come naturally. – - The golden rule. – - “I will treat you as you treat me” is born from the flesh and a sinful attitude. – - Treating others with grace despite how they treat you is born from God. To maintain grace, we have to choose honesty, humility, and to rebuke and accept rebuke in love and tenderness. Community is at the heart of grace. – - If we are not a community, we are not a church.