INTRO: We learned today God expects us to be holy [Be ye hold because I am holy].
-Holy means to be set apart, a cut above. God wants us to think and act on his level.
1.God is not a cruel God. He is not going to expect us to do something we can’t do.
2.God, when we accept Jesus in our heart, forgave us of our sins and we are justified (legally we are declared righteous).
3.There is another aspect to holiness, that we are perfecting our holiness. We are working out what God has done on the inside (sanctification).
-We are to put off the old and put on the new.
-We are to purify ourselves. We are living sacrifices - holy and pleasing.
-We are transformed by the renewing of our minds (way we think) word of God.
4.We learned tradition nullifies the word of God. Mark 7:13 – "You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you’ve handed down."
5.The Pharisees took the word of God, added their own things or took the word out of context and made it into tradition, thus losing the power of God. So, when the truth came, they rejected the living word. Jesus brought the hardest judgment on the religious leaders for taking someone who is seeking God and turning him twice as much a son of hell as they were (Matthew 22:15) (Holy on the outside, corrupt on the inside).
6.The Bible tells us without holiness we shall not see God.
7.Today, as we look in the church when holiness is evaluated, it’s no different than the world. In some cases it rates worse.
-This tells us that tradition has nullified the word of God because it’s through renewing our minds on the word that will set us free.
TONIGHT: We are going to look at the answer or the solution that will enable us to walk in holiness.
TITLE: What’s Expected – Pt. 2
TEXT: 2 Cor. 6:1
I. Apostle Paul’s warning – Paul is writing his second letter to the church at Corinth.
A. He is writing to believers – he is writing to individuals who have received Christ as the Savior and who have also been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
1.These folks were fellow workers, or laborers in Christ, who had just as much opportunity of ministry as the Apostle Paul.
2.Just like us this evening, Lord willing we all have received Jesus Christ as our Savior (born-again experience) as well as being baptized in the Holy Spirit, we are fellow workers.
IMPORTANT: That we understand this is not written to the world but to believers. B. Paul urging us – not to receive God’s grace in vain.
1.The idea here is not to use it to its full potential.
2.Have you ever tried to use something and you have not used it to its full potential?
Ex...Like a car, you’re all happy you finally got a car. Now you don’t have to walk; but a few weeks go by and your friend spots you on the street walking. He stops and asks you why you’re walking and you reply, "It’s a lot easier."
What do you mean? You reply, "Well, it was nice to sit in, but it was almost impossible to go anywhere. It took almost all day to simply go the store. It was so heavy to push and steer at the same time."
Your friend laughs and takes you back to your car and shows you how to start the engine and put it into gear. (You’re amazed!)
THOUGHT: this is as silly as a Christian not using grace to its full potential.
II. The church today does not understand grace. Its view goes like this: "Oh, I know I’m not living right. Thank God, I’m saved by grace." The church views grace as a covering for its fleshly, disobedient lifestyle.
A. An understanding of grace
1.Let’s look at it in regards to mercy.
-Mercy is not getting punished when you deserve it.
-Grace is not only not getting punished but also receiving a reward.
Illustrate: Adam throws a tantrum and breaks some of Tammy’s Precious Moments. (Mercy) is coming home and not punishing him for that.
(Grace) is coming home and, not only, not punishing him; but I reward him by giving him a new Play Station System.
TRUTH: We deserve death and hell, but by the grace of God we get to go to heaven.
2.Let’s look at grace in regards to holiness. We understand no one will see God without holiness. -There is a mistaken view today that is – "As long as I’m holy on the outside, that’s enough!"
a. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount tells folks what is expected of them, and he does this by comparing the law and grace.
1.Man’s standards 5:21 – Murder someone be condemned as murder God’s standard 5:22 – Angry with someone be condemned
2.Man’s standards 5:27 – Commit adultery by physical act God’s standard 5:28 – Anyone who looks at her lustfully has already committed adultery
b. Question – Which standard is higher God’s view of holiness or man’s view? (God’s) If you think it, you’ve done it.
B. This shoots down a view maybe we’ve had at one time.
1.When someone is justifying his or her sin, it goes like this: Thank God I’m not under the law, I’m under grace. We’re not under the Old Covenant; we’re under the new.
-This is a lie from the pit of hell! The idea that the Old Covenant was a holier standard and the New Covenant was way beneath the law. (The New Covenant under grace is not a license to sin).
2.In fact, the New Covenant under grace is so much higher it’s not only speaking of outward acts (murder, adultery) but inner thoughts of hatred and lust. Grace is so much higher than the law, it does not even compare.
a. So the next time someone implies you’re just legalistic because of your holiness (outward actions)
-No, I’m a Christian under grace (you’re living on God’s standards).
-Jesus himself says – Matt. 5:17 – "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
SIMPLY PUT: God wants us to not only obey the law (speaking of our outward actions) the letter of the law, but also the spirit of the law, that is inside our thinking (anger, hatred, lust, etc) our thoughts.
-God expects us to be holy because he is holy.
C. Let me liberate the captives – might be thinking, "Pastor, I can’t even obey the law (speaking of outward struggles). How in the world am I going to control my thought life?"
1.You’re thinking wrong – it’s the grace of God that will give you the ability to live at this standard.
2.Think of it this way – God is not a cruel God calling you to do something you can’t do. He will give you the power to meet his standards (that is the grace of God).
3.Don’t you see the grace of God gives us the power to live it (referring to God’s standard)? It is God who will sustain you.
a.Romans 12:2 – "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will."
-God will transform us renewing our mind through the world of God bringing us to his standard, a cut above (we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free!)
-The grace of God will enable me to live on the level God requires (Daddy will provide).
b.Text tonight – Paul warns not to receive grace in vain.
-Meaning these folks were not using the full potential of grace. (They were pushing the car and God wants you to start the car).
D. Tradition nullifies the word of God
1. Just as tradition nullified the word of God then, it nullifies the word of God today.
Ex...In regards to holiness, tradition – "Hey, if I am holy with my outward actions, that’s good enough." (Not what God thinks)
-God sets a standard that is a cut above. In regards to grace, tradition’s view is like a cheap grace. God gives us a license to sin. Grace covers it up.
-God’s view is grace empowers us not to sin. He gives us the ability to live on his level.
IN CONCLUSION: Friends, let us not receive God’s grace in vain. Let’s use it to our full potential.
Friends, I challenge us to see if there are any traditions in our belief system because they will nullify the word of God.
-Ask the Holy Spirit to bring any to the surface.
-We need to realize what we have – the grace of God.
