In the first part of this chapter, Jeremy decided to walk away from God
because "it just didn’t work" for him. His concept of God was partially formed
by the input he received from a legalistic church. Describe what a legalistic
church is like. What are the differences between a church built on legalism
and one built on grace?
A legalistic church has its focus on the performance of its members…it is
consumed with "ministry" and preoccupied with doing something "for" God. They
see God as a "Divine Employer" rather than a Friend. They believe that
blessings come as a result of faithfulness. They are preoccupied with
self-examination and think God is often frustrated with their lack of
progress, and their operative word is "doing"!!
A grace-oriented church understands that blessings don’t come because of
our faithfulness, but because of God’s faithfulness! We understand that we are
blessed because we are in Jesus Christ and for no other reason at all!!
Instead of believing that God will bless when our behavior improves,
we know that God will bless regardless of our behavior. We trust God to lead
our activity and provide everything He requires.
What would you say to a Christian who continues to struggle over past sins?
What Bible verses would you show to this person? How does God feel about us
when we sin?
Struggling over past sins or present sins will only happen when we fail to
understand the historical and final nature of God’s forgiveness at Calvary…the
sin issue has been dealt with, once and for all! Colossians 2:13-14 and
Hebrews 8:7-12 make it clear that all transgressions are forgiven and
remembered no more!!
Colossians 2:13-14 When you were spiritually dead because of your
sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God
made you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our sins. He canceled the debt,
which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with
its rules and nailed it to the cross.
Hebrews 8:7-12 If there had been nothing wrong with the first
agreement, there would have been no need for a second agreement. But God found
something wrong with his people. He says:
"Look, the time is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new agreement
with the people of Israel and the people of Judah. It will not be like the
agreement I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring
them out of Egypt. But they broke that agreement,
and I turned away from them, says the Lord. This is the agreement I will
make with the people of Israel at that time, says the Lord. I will put my
teachings in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God,
and they will be my people. People will no longer have to teach their
neighbors and relatives to know the Lord, because all people will know me,
from the least to the most important. I will forgive them for the wicked
things they did, and I will not remember their sins anymore." Jeremiah
31:31-34
(Brennon Manning’s story of the man who thought he was seeing Jesus in his
dreams)
Our sins have no effect on the way God feels or views His children…we are
His!
Explain the difference between the old covenant and new covenant
understanding of forgiveness. When did the new covenant begin? Why did Jesus
tell His disciples that they would not be forgiven unless they forgave
everybody who had offended them? Is that true for Christians today?
The Old Covenant concept of forgiveness is that if we forgive others their
transgressions against us, God will forgive us our transgressions against Him.
If we don’t, He won’t. (The Lord’s Prayer)
New Covenant forgiveness says that God, in Christ, forgave all the
transgressions that were, or would ever be, committed by humans at Calvary. We
played no part in the forgiveness. Our only part is to accept or reject the
gift…the pardon. The benefits only come to those who accept the payment for
their sins.
The New Covenant did not come with Jesus, it came with His death.
Hebrews 9:16-17 When there is a will, it must be proven that the
one who wrote that will is dead. A will means nothing while the person is
alive; it can be used only after the person dies.
Paraphrase Colossians 2:13-14 (REM) Long before I was born, God
forgave all the sins I would commit and completely cancelled my debt to Him
when Jesus gave His life at Calvary.
How is it possible that God could forgive sins that you haven’t even
committed yet?
God does not live in time and space…to Him all events are present. There is
no past and future, only present. Humans can only understand that concept
theoretically because we live in time where past and future
define our existence much more than present. God’s forgiveness is not
time sensitive.
If future sins are already forgiven, what keeps Christians from living a
lifestyle of continuous sins?
Future sins are forgiven and the only thing that prevents Christians
from not continually living in sin is that they have died (been crucified with
Christ) and their nature that was a slave to sin has been replaced by the
nature of Christ that naturally cannot sin. Paul says in Romans 7:20, So
if I do things I do not want to do, then I am not the one doing them. It is
sin living in me that does those things.
Describe the way you have imagined God to be. Has your understanding of
God’s personality changed any after reading this chapter? If so, how?
Until I met Jay, my view of God was very different. I saw God as a loving
Father who placed impossible demands on His children, similar to my own
earthly father (diving example), but who’s love kept drawing me to please Him.
Today, I see God as my Friend, who keeps the friendship alive and healthy by
His efforts and I feel very safe in that relationship, both now and for
eternity. Recently, I’ve realized that God’s desire is for that friendship to
blossom into a Sacred Romance…that’s even better!!!!!
Read Zephaniah 3:17 in several different translations.
The Lord your God is with you;
the mighty One will save you.
He will rejoice over you.
You will rest in his love;
he will sing and be joyful about you."(NCV)
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing." (NIV)
The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (NASB)
List three traits of God’s character given in this verse.
God is present with us.
God is a mighty warrior…a mighty savior.
God is overjoyed with us.
God is calming us with His love.
God is so excited with us that He sings!
Write a prayer to God about how He feels about you.
Dear Friend,
The knowledge that you see me as a saint, as holy and as righteous as You
are, as perfect as Jesus, without spot or blemish…is impossible to believe and
without your gift of faith, I cannot believe it. Thank you for all your gifts,
and especially for the gift of faith that allows me to feel your approval and
acceptance in spite of my behavior. Open my eyes that I may see You as clearly
as You see me so that I may live in confidence and boldness, knowing that I am
forgiven and that You are working on my behalf in every circumstance of life.
In the name of Jesus, I thank you, Amen.