The Righteousness of Christ

Transcription

1 The Cost of Discipleship The Righteousness of Christ (Ch 8) and The Woman (Ch 10) Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 4, 1906 April 9, 1945) The Righteousness of Christ Chapter Eight, Reflections on the Sermon on the Mount Bonhoeffer s Benediction Happy are they who, knowing that grace, can live in the world without being of it, who, by following Jesus Christ, are so assured of their heavenly citizenship that they are truly free to live their lives in this world. Happy are they who know that discipleship simply means the life which springs from grace, and that grace simply means discipleship. Happy are they who have become Christians in this sense of the word. For them the word grace has proved a fount of mercy. Where I d like our class to go today Analyze the biblical texts Bonhoeffer addresses -Complications, Implications and Applications Then look at Bonhoeffer s analysis and application So let s begin looking at the central text addressed in chapter 8, Jesus declaration on the Man s relationship with the Law Matthew 5:17-20 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. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Questions about Jesus Relationship with the Law 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. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. What does Jesus meanby the Law? By declaring I have come to fulfill them what is Jesus stating? What is Jesus attitude toward the Law? How is Jesus about to fulfill the Law? So in summary, how would you describe Jesus relationship with the Law? Matthew 5:17-20

2 Clarification on the categories of God s Law When we think systematically about God s Law we notice God s commands can be categorized under three distinct headings. Civil Law Ceremonial Law Moral law How might we define these categories? What does the New Testament teach regarding the observances of civil law (we could put kosher issues under this heading)? What does the New Testament teach us regarding the continuation/ (or not) of the ceremonial (ie. circumcision) law? What does the New Testament teach regarding the continuation of moral law? (Some confusion of Bonhoeffer s analysis in chapter eight could have been avoided by a brief contemplation of the nature of the Law and how that affects our responsibility today.) Questions about our relationship with the Law Matthew 5: Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. How does Jesus view a man relaxing God s commands? How does it help thinking categorically about the Law when we contemplate this injunction? (think Peter eating ham in Galatia) What do you notice about Jesus connection between doing and teaching? What are some of the implications of least or great in the kingdom of heaven? What does it mean for our righteousness to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? (active/passive) What strikes you regarding Dietrich's thoughts on the Jesus disciples view of the Law? How tempting to think that Jesus would give the old order the coup de graceby repealing the law of the Old Covenant, and pronouncing His followers free to enjoy the liberty of the Son of God! (p. 120) (An aside: What are some of the results of Jesus correction of the thought that He would abrogate the Law?) What do you think Bonhoeffer is implying in the statement: He has allowed no law to act as a barrier to His fellowship with His disciples; we saw that when dealing with Luke 9.57 (p.121) This inference complicates his analysis. The Law Jesus refers to is the old covenant, not a new law for Christians, therefore, the law is not a better law than that of the Pharisees, but one and the same; every letter of it, every jot and tittle, must remain in force and observed until the end of the world. (p 121) How do you respond to this comment? It was the error of Israel to put the law in God s place, to make the law their god and their God a law. The disciples were confronted with the opposite danger of denying the law and its divinity altogether and divorcing God from His law. Both errors lead to the same result. By imagining that God and the law could be divorced from one another, the disciples were trying to exploit God by their possession of salvation. (p.122) How does this statement impact you? Where might we be guilty of such exploitation? How does this impact the way we live in the world? The only way for Him to fulfill the Law is by dying a sinners death on the cross That is to say that Jesus Christ and He alone fulfills the Law, because He alone lives in perfect communion with God. It is Jesus Himself who comes between the disciples and the Law, not the Law which comes between Jesus and the disciples. (p.123) How does Jesus fulfilling the Law impact our lives? So how does this cast light on our relationship with the Law?

3 If men cleave to Him who fulfilled the law and follow Him, they will find themselves both teaching and fulfilling the Law. Only the doer of the Law can remain in communion with Him. (p.124) Develop the connection Dietrich makes here. So how does this cast light on our relationship with the Law? A key thought from this chapter: This is where the righteousness of the disciples exceed that of the Pharisees; it is grounded solely upon the call to fellowship with Him who alone fulfills the Law. Their righteousness is righteousness indeed, for from henceforth they do the will of God and fulfill the law themselves. Again, it is not enough to teach the law of Christ. It must be done, otherwise it is no better than the old law. In what follows the disciples are told how to practice this righteousness of Christ. In a word it means to follow Him. (p.125) How does this statement impact you? Where do you think Bonhoeffer is going with this statement? Bonhoeffer s Caution to Us Woman Chapter Ten, Reflections on the Sermon on the Mount The word of cheap grace has been the ruin of more Christians than any commandment of work To put it quite simply, we must undertake this task because we are now ready to admit that we no longer stand in the path of true discipleship. We confess that although the Church is orthodox as far her doctrine of grace is concerned, we are no longer sure that we are members of a Church that follows the Lord. So what does the Lord say regarding marriage/divorce? certificate of divorce. 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, excepton the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:27-32 Textual analysis How does Jesus clarify the nature of adultery? How does Jesus view our lasse fairreattitude toward immorality and divorce? Let s take this text into smaller pieces

4 Matthew 5:27-30 What does Jesus imply here regarding the nature of sin? How does Jesus demand we view our sin? Have you heard it said, it s better to act now and ask forgiveness later? What does Jesus feel about such attitudes? How have we become so cavalier about sexual sin? Matthew 5:27-30 What is Jesus implying here regarding easy believism? Why might Jesus speak here about going into hell? Are these idle threats? Or might there be some connection between a person s practical righteousness and positional righteousness? What will help us to see eternity and our sin like Jesus does? Does Jesus want us to mutilate our bodies? If not, what then? certificate of divorce. But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matthew 5:31-32) Some background: Deut 24:1, When a man has taken a wife, and married her, and it comes to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her; then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it her in her hand, and send her out of his house. The Pharisees had extended this toleration which God gave husbands amongst the Jews to other cases, besides that of uncleanness or adultery; so as they might put away their wives upon every slight occasion, interpreting those words, that she find no favor in his eyes, separately from the following word. certificate of divorce. But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matthew 5:31-32) W To contrast with the teaching of the Pharisees, what does Jesus imply here about the nature of marriage? What exactly does He say regarding divorce/remarriage? Calvin s take on this passage: that the woman had been loosed from her former husband, and might enter into a new marriage, the man who, unjustly and unlawfully, abandons the wife whom God had given him, is justly condemned for having prostituted his wife to others. A further commentary from Jesus in Matthew Matt 19:9 And I say unto you, Whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery: and whoever marries her who has been put away commits adultery. What is the underlying theme here regarding God s view of marriage? (We ll not take time here to discuss the guilty/innocent party issue. Suffice it to say many Protestant churches teach remarriage after divorce is allowed, others, including the R.C. church teach, where separation/ divorce may occur that doesn t automatically authorize remarriage. See I Cor 7) So we see in a nutshell, how serious God is about sexual purity of mind and body. Now onto Bonhoeffer, ch 10 Bonhoeffer s Central Ideas So far then from abolishing marriage, He sets it on a firmer basis and sanctifies it through faith. The disciples' exclusive adherence to Christ therefore extends even to his married life. Christian marriage is marked by discipline and self-denial. Christ is the Lord even of marriage. There is of course a difference between the Christian marriage and bourgeois conception of marriage, but Christianity does not therefore depreciate marriage, it sanctifies it. (p 133)

5 Bonhoeffer s Central Ideas Being concerned exclusively with the perfect purity, that is to say, the chastity of His disciples He delivers them from the dangers of any sexual irregularity inside or outside of the married life. Such irregularity is sin, not only against our own bodies,but against the Body of Christ. Even our bodies belong to Christ and have their part in the life of discipleship, for they are members of His Body. The body of Jesus was crucified for sin. St. Paul, speaking of those who belong to Christ, says that they have crucified their body with its affections and lust. (Gal 5:24). Here we have another instance of an Old Testament law finding it s truest fulfillment in the crucified body of Jesus Christ. As they contemplate this body which was given for them, and as they share its life, the disciples receive strength for the chastity which Jesus requires. (p ) How do these words strike you? Bonhoeffer s nitty gritty To follow Jesus means self-renunciation and absolute adherence to Him, and therefore a will dominated by lust can never be allowed to do what it likes. (p 131) Do you agree or disagree? What of the Christians that are committed to doing as they please then coming to Jesus again and again for forgiveness? Instead of trusting in the unseen, we prefer the tangible fruitsof desire, so we fall from the path of discipleship and lose touch with Jesus. Lust is impure because it is unbelief, and therefore it is to be shunned. No sacrifice is too great if it enables us to conquer alust which cuts us off from Jesus. (p ) Thoughts? How can we move toward this vision of discipleship? How do we stand against a culture that celebrates and promotes sexual sin of all sorts? When tempted to excuse sexual sin as acceptable, what are we to say? Class Schedule 7/5/15 Chapter 1 The Cost of Grace Dean 7/12/15 Chapter 2 The Call of Discipleship Ward 7/19/15 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 7/26/15 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 8/2/15 Chapter 8 Chapter 10 Single Minded Obedience Discipleship and the Cross Discipleship and the Individual The Beatitudes The Righteousness of Christ Woman Curt Chris Nathan 8/9/15 Chapter 17 The Simplicity of the Carefree Life Steve Bonhoeffer s Caution to Us Cheap grace has turned out to be utterly merciless to our Evangelical Church. This cheap grace has been no less disastrous to our own spiritual lives. Let s pray. 8/16/15 Chapter 29 The Body of Christ Denny 8/23/15 Chapter 30 The Visible Community Chris 8/30/15 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 The Saints The Image of Christ Dean