"Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
Roman 5:1
ISN'T GRACE RISK?
Sermon about salvation by grace alone often
open a can of theological worms that wriggle
their way into our minds. Isn't the gospel of
peace risky? We ask ourselves as we squirm
in our pews. Certainly it is. Martin Lloyd-Jones,
pastor of England's Noted this risk in his
commentary on Romans. It is true that where sin abounded grace has much more abounded, well then, 'shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound yet further?
First of all let me make a comment, to me a
very Important and vital comment. The true
preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace
alone always leads to the possibility of this
charge being brought against it. There is no
better text as to whether a man is really
preaching the New Testament gospel of
salvation than this, that some people might
misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean
that it really amounts of this, that because
you are saved by grace alone it does not
matter at all what you do, you can go on
sinning as much as you like because it will
rebound all the more to the glory if grace. That
is a very good test of gospel preaching. If my
preaching and presentation of the Gospel
salvation does not expose it to that
misunderstanding then it is not the gospel.
ISN'T GRACE RISK?
Sermon about salvation by grace alone often
open a can of theological worms that wriggle
their way into our minds. Isn't the gospel of
peace risky? We ask ourselves as we squirm
in our pews. Certainly it is. Martin Lloyd-Jones,
pastor of England's Noted this risk in his
commentary on Romans. It is true that where sin abounded grace has much more abounded, well then, 'shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound yet further?
First of all let me make a comment, to me a
very Important and vital comment. The true
preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace
alone always leads to the possibility of this
charge being brought against it. There is no
better text as to whether a man is really
preaching the New Testament gospel of
salvation than this, that some people might
misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean
that it really amounts of this, that because
you are saved by grace alone it does not
matter at all what you do, you can go on
sinning as much as you like because it will
rebound all the more to the glory if grace. That
is a very good test of gospel preaching. If my
preaching and presentation of the Gospel
salvation does not expose it to that
misunderstanding then it is not the gospel.
If a pastor preached legalism a message of
salvation base on the merits of one's works no
one will ever bring that charge against. But if
he preaches grace salvation by faith alone then
that is risky homietical business. In order for
anyone to stand before a just and holy God,
that person must be righteous. Hence the need
for justication.
Therefore having been justify by faith,
we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ
Justification is s theological word we often take for Granted without taking the time to define. It refer to the sovereign act of God whereby He declares righteous the believing sinner while he or she is still in a state of sin. It doesn't mean that the believing sinner stop sinning or that the believing sinner is made righteous, in the sense sod being perfected. It means the person is declared righteous. It is a judicial pronouncement made on the basis of Christ's righteousness and His substitutionary death on the cross.To believe by grace and live by grace include the reality of risk. Most people
find this uncomfortable. Most want some
moral report card that objectively measure
their progress work provide that. But if works
are not the basis of our relationship with God,
then the reality of our faith is internal. It can
be seen and judged. Only by God.
To be sure, there are those who abuse this
doctrine, saying they have truly believe when
they have not. And some live on the edge,
flirting with the world and squandering their
spiritual inheritance in prodigal indulgence.
But abuse is part of the risk that grace has
Chose to take.
The fear of its abuse is what causes many
ministers to refrain from emphasizing grace.
As a result, they emphasize works, provide
performance lists for people to live up to,
leave no room for gray areas, and cultivate
Judgmental attitudes toward those whimsy
not agree with them.
Hear this, you? Such constructing yokes
are often an attempt to keep parishioners
(worker) in line. But the line is not one
marked by scripture. It is a legalistic line
drawn more from the personal preferences
of the pastor or from the congregation itself.
That is not the yoke the Lord Jesus offers
(Matt. 11:28-30). He said, "You shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make us free..
If therefore the Son shall make you free, you
shall be free indeed" (John 8:32,36).
All newfound freedom comes to us by grace.
God gives us grace to believe a faith that is not deserved; and He gives us grace to live----
a lifestyle that is not
dictated.
salvation base on the merits of one's works no
one will ever bring that charge against. But if
he preaches grace salvation by faith alone then
that is risky homietical business. In order for
anyone to stand before a just and holy God,
that person must be righteous. Hence the need
for justication.
Therefore having been justify by faith,
we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ
Justification is s theological word we often take for Granted without taking the time to define. It refer to the sovereign act of God whereby He declares righteous the believing sinner while he or she is still in a state of sin. It doesn't mean that the believing sinner stop sinning or that the believing sinner is made righteous, in the sense sod being perfected. It means the person is declared righteous. It is a judicial pronouncement made on the basis of Christ's righteousness and His substitutionary death on the cross.To believe by grace and live by grace include the reality of risk. Most people
find this uncomfortable. Most want some
moral report card that objectively measure
their progress work provide that. But if works
are not the basis of our relationship with God,
then the reality of our faith is internal. It can
be seen and judged. Only by God.
To be sure, there are those who abuse this
doctrine, saying they have truly believe when
they have not. And some live on the edge,
flirting with the world and squandering their
spiritual inheritance in prodigal indulgence.
But abuse is part of the risk that grace has
Chose to take.
The fear of its abuse is what causes many
ministers to refrain from emphasizing grace.
As a result, they emphasize works, provide
performance lists for people to live up to,
leave no room for gray areas, and cultivate
Judgmental attitudes toward those whimsy
not agree with them.
Hear this, you? Such constructing yokes
are often an attempt to keep parishioners
(worker) in line. But the line is not one
marked by scripture. It is a legalistic line
drawn more from the personal preferences
of the pastor or from the congregation itself.
That is not the yoke the Lord Jesus offers
(Matt. 11:28-30). He said, "You shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make us free..
If therefore the Son shall make you free, you
shall be free indeed" (John 8:32,36).
All newfound freedom comes to us by grace.
God gives us grace to believe a faith that is not deserved; and He gives us grace to live----
a lifestyle that is not
dictated.
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