THE GOSPEL FOR REAL LIFE STUDY

Transcription

1 THE GOSPEL FOR REAL LIFE STUDY This eight-week study is designed to help new and growing Christians build a solid foundation on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word gospel literally means good news. The purpose of this study is to help you understand and experience this good news only to be found in the person of Jesus Christ. Most Christians can recite the basic tenets of the gospel but understand very little of the implications of this incredible news for everyday life! What practical relevance does the gospel of Jesus Christ have in your life today as a growing Christian? If you are unsure as to how to answer this question or if you struggle to live in light of the truth found in the gospel, this study should be very helpful. There are many things you take in and learn as a college student, but perhaps none of them are as important as what God wants to show you through this study. Below are five primary objectives for this study. Take a few minutes right now to ask God to soften your heart and open your eyes to these five objectives. 1. To grow in experience, as well as understanding (theology), of being a child of God. 2. To gain greater insights into how the sin of unbelief robs all joy. 3. To develop an understanding of how vital the gospel is to the growing Christian. 4. To expose the root of all sin as a misbelief of the one true gospel. 5. To gain greater burden for the lost, as a result of embracing the gospel of Christ. PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THIS STUDY 1. Commit each day to spending time alone in God s Word as you work through this study. There are suggested verses for each week that go along with each chapter of this study. 2. This study was written to go along with Jerry Bridges The Gospel for Real Life. Commit to reading this book as a part of your personal study of the gospel. 3. Pray daily, asking God to enable you to understand and apply the truth found in the above objectives. This study requires honest reflection and vulnerability with God, yourself, and your group. 4. Be intentional in conversing with other Christians over what God is teaching you from this study. 5. Read and study each week as if you were leading this study. Answer questions thoughtfully and prayerfully, resisting any tendency to just give the quick answer. Show up for your discipleship group desiring to hear from God, with your questions, comments, and study book completed. 1

2 THE GOSPEL FOR REAL LIFE TABLE OF CONTENTS THE GOSPEL LIST 3 THE GOSPEL ISSUES LIST 4 LESSON I - OUR NEED FOR THE GOSPEL 5 LESSON II - THE BEAUTY OF THE GOSPEL.9 LESSON III - CHRIST ON THE CROSS 12 LESSON IV - BOUGHT BACK AND BROUGHT BACK 16 LESSON V - RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD 19 LESSON VI - WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD! 23 LESSON VII - WHY WON T THE GOSPEL STICK? 26 LESSON VIII - SANCTIFIED AS WE ARE SENT 29 GOSPEL GROWTH CHART 32 2

3 Gospel List God as my Satisfaction n Help me grow in seeking God to be my satisfaction (Ps. 16:11; Ps. 90:14; John 6:35-36; John 17:3) Opens my eyes to His unconditional love n Opens my eyes to God s unconditional love that isn t dependent on my good works or performance helping me understand that my worth and significance are defined by Christ alone. (Deut. 7:6-8; Eph. 1:4-5; Col. 2:9-10; I Pet. 2:9; I John 4:9-10, 16; Eph. 2:4-5) Sees the root for all sin as misbelief n Reveals to me how all sins of the flesh (gossip, slander, jealousy, lust, bitterness, anxiety and discontentment) are rooted in a misbelief of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Ps. 139:23-24; John 3:19-21; 2 Co. 7:10; Titus 2:11-13) Prioritizes reaching the lost n Increase my burden for the lost while enhancing my vision of reaching the lost world (Mat. 9:36-38; Rom. 10:14-15; 2 Co. 2:14-15; Rev. 7:9-10) Enables me to understand biblical repentance n Enables me to understand and practice true Biblical repentance. (relational repentance) (Heb. 14:1-3; Phil. 3:7-9; 2 Co. 7:10; Acts 11:18) Lives by faith n Increase my understanding and practice of how to live In Dependence on Him through walking by faith (Heb. 11:1, 6; Gal. 2:20-21; Col. 2:6-7) 3

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5 WHAT MAKES OUR NEED FOR THE GOSPEL SO GREAT? We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 Read Chapters 1 & 2 in The Gospel For Real Life I. BACK TO THE GARDEN The word gospel literally means good news. In order for the gospel to be good news to the growing Christian, there must be a clear understanding of the bad news. A. THE GOODNESS OF GOD Read the following verses and make observations on how the goodness of God is displayed through His plans, provisions, and instructions. 1. Gen. 1: Gen. 2: Gen. 2:15-18 B. THE ORIGIN OF SIN Read Genesis 3 for greater understanding of the origination of sin and answer the following questions. 5

6 1. What can we learn about the serpent s strategy? What belief did Adam have about God that the serpent was ultimately challenging? (Gen.3:1-4) 2. List at least two ways Satan attempts to utilize this same strategy with you today. Be specific. 3. Describe how Adam and Eve s unbelief affected their relationship with one another as well as with God? (v.7-13) II. THE DEPTH OF OUR SIN PROBLEM 1. Describe what is meant by having Adam as our legal representative. (Rom.5:12, 18-19) 2. In Gen. 2:17, what did God say would result if Adam disobeyed Him? What affect did this have on you and me? 3. What are other consequences the Bible teaches that result from man s inherited or original sin? a. Psalm 51:5 and 58:3 6

7 b. Rom. 3:10-12 c. Isaiah 64:6 4. How good is good enough? Why is it impossible for man to be right with God apart from Christ? a. James 2:10 b. Lev. 5:17 c. Matt. 5:20 d. Gal. 3:10 III. A DISHONORING OBEDIENCE A. DOING THE RIGHT THING 1. Is it possible to do the right thing and still be dishonoring to God? If so, how? 2. What do you portray to those around you about yourself? How? What does God look at? (1 Sam. 16:7) 7

8 3. Why do you share your faith, go to church, or attend a Bible study? How could this displease God? (Mark 7:6-7) TAWG Verses for the Week Day One Read Chap. 1 in GFRL book and write out a trust God list for this semester/study. Day Two Read part of Chp. 2 in the GFRL book & begin green book lesson - Our Need for the Gospel Day Three Read the rest of Chp. 2 in the GFRL book & complete green book lesson - Our Need for the Gospel Day Four Read Gen. 2 and study v.17 Day Five Study John 6:44 Day Six Read the misbelief of self-righteousness from the Gospel Issues List and study one of the verses listed as a self-righteous gospel truth. Day Seven Spend time journaling over all that you are learning about God and about yourself. Read Ps.139 Key Gospel Terms Sin - being or doing anything that displeases God. Original Sin - the imputed guilt that man received from Adam s sin in the garden. Original sin does not refer to Adam s first sin, but to the guilt and tendency to sin with which we are born. 8

9 THE BEAUTY OF THE GOSPEL IS... JESUS CHRIST The Son is the radiance of God s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. Hebrews 1:3a Read Chapters 3 & 4 in The Gospel For Real Life I. THE HOLINESS OF GOD 1. List observations of the holiness of God and note the response to sin. (p.30-h, p.29-s) a. Ps. 5:4-5 b. Ex. 15:11 c. Hab. 1:13 2. How does a holy God think or respond toward his children when they disobey Him? How does our sin affect our position as His child and how is our fellowship with Him affected? a. Rom. 8:1 b. Heb. 12:10 c. Rev. 3:19 d. 1 John. 1:9 e. John 15:4 9

10 3. Explain how you relate to your heavenly Father after you ve sinned vs. after you ve been obedient. 4. How does your above response influence your ministry to others, positively and/or negatively? II. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED 1. What does the Bible say every man will face after death, without exception? (Heb. 9:27) 2. How is it possible to satisfy the standard of a holy God that demands perfection? a. Rom. 5:15-18 b. Heb. 10:10-14 c. Rom. 5:9 3. The Bible teaches that Jesus perfect record becomes your perfect record. How so? a. Eph.1:4 b. Rom. 4:

11 4. What hinders you from being able to enjoy the status of perfection given to you by God? 5. In what ways should your legal position with Christ bring joy, comfort, and peace to your life? TAWG Verses for the Week Day One Read Chp. 3 in the GFRL & begin green book lesson The Beauty of the Gospel Day Two Read Chp. 4 in the GFRL & complete green book lesson The Beauty of the Gospel Day Three Read Heb.10 and study v.12 Day Four Read Heb.10 and study v Day Five Read Heb.10 and study v Day Six Read the misbelief of Control from the Gospel Issues List and study one of the verses listed as a control gospel truth. Day Seven Read the account of Jesus arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection (John 18-20). Spend time reflecting, journaling, and worshiping Jesus for all He did for you. 11

12 WHAT DID CHRIST DO ON THE CROSS? And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10 Read Chapters 5 & 6 in The Gospel For Real Life I. THE WRATH OF GOD A. DRAINED TO THE LAST DROP 1. Who is the "giver" of the cup from which Jesus must drink? (Matthew 26:39, John 18:11) 2. What is in God's cup? (Jeremiah 25:15, Revelation 14:9-10) 3. What is the object of God's wrath? (Romans 1:18) 4. Why does God take sin so seriously? (p.53-h, p.51-s) B. WE RE FORGIVEN BECAUSE HE WAS Based on what we have seen in Scripture concerning the cup of God's wrath and Christ's drinking of the cup, why did Christ cry out as stated in Matthew 27:46? 2. Has there been a time where you have felt forsaken by someone or by God? When? 3. Who made Christ our representative and what did we get as a result? (Read 2 Cor.5:21) 12

13 4. Why does Bridges say that exhausted is "a word that forcefully captures the essence of Jesus' work of propitiation?" (p.56-h, p.54-s) 5. What did God demonstrate by sending Christ to exhaust such wrath? (1 John 4:9-10) 6. Now look at Approval and Insecurity on the Gospel Issues List. a. In what specific ways do you struggle with these issues? b. How should the truth of this study apply to these specific struggles? II. THE REMOVAL OF SIN A. HE TOOK ALL THE BLAME 1. On the Day of Atonement, what was the role of the first goat? (p.62-h,p.58-s) 2. What was the role of the second goat? (Leviticus 16:20-22) 3. What does God do with our sins in the following verses? a. Psalm 103:12 b. Isaiah 38:17 c. Isaiah 43:25 d. Hebrews 8:12 13

14 e. Micah 7:19 4. When do you find that it is most difficult to remember and apply these truths? B. BRINGING IT CLOSER TO HOME 1. According to Bridges, what two things were necessary for the scapegoat ritual to be meaningful to an individual Jew? (p.68-h,p s) 2. How do these two things apply to us literally today? C. OUR CONSCIENCES CONDEMN US BUT... As we grow in Christ, our consciences become more sensitive to violations of God's Law. We become increasingly aware of not only particular sins, but also of our overall sinfulness. Basically, our consciences continually accuse us. 1. Why is it then important to see Jesus as our scapegoat? (Heb. 9:14) 2. Describe what life is like for you when you are walking in full remembrance of all that Christ accomplished at the cross vs when you forget. How does this affect your joy & your influence? 14

15 TAWG Verse of the Week Day One Isaiah 53:4-5 Day Two Isaiah 53:6 Day Three Read Chp. 5 in GFRL book and begin green book lesson - What Did Christ Do on The Cross? Day Four Read Chp. 6 in GFRL book and complete green book lesson What Did Christ Do on The Cross? Day Five Hebrews 10:17-18 Day Six Hebrews 9:14 Day Seven Deut. 7:6-8; Review letter "O" on the Gospel Acrostic. Journal concerning the gospel issue of condemnation/guilt in light of God's unconditional love for us. Key Gospel Terms Wrath of God - His judgment that arises from His intense, settled hatred of all sin and His determination to punish it Propitiation - the work of Christ saving us from God s wrath by absorbing it in His own person as our substitute Expiation - the removal or putting away of our sin 15

16 BOUGHT BACK AND BROUGHT BACK For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19 Read Chapters 7, 8, & 11 in The Gospel For Real Life I. THE PRICE TAG OF REDEMPTION A. A HIGH COST 1. According to Matthew 20:28, why did Jesus come to Earth? 2. Share your thoughts on knowing that Christ paid such a severe cost to buy you out of slavery, considering those to whom you are the closest and whether or not you think they would pay such a price for you. 3. How should Christ s payment affect the way you see and treat your brothers and sisters in Christ? B. AN AMAZING RETURN 1. Colossians 1:13 says that God rescued us from the dominion of darkness, which essentially means that we were and all present unbelievers are under the rule of Satan. a. Do you tend to see lost people as being under the rule of Satan? If not, why? b. How has society and popular culture influenced the Christian s view of Satan and his work on earth? 16

17 2.Bridges says that it's not that unbelievers cannot understand the facts of the gospel but that they cannot sense their need of it and embrace it. a. What keeps unbelievers that you know from seeing their need and embracing Christ? b. How would this truth influence what you pray for them? II. BACK WHERE WE BELONG 1. What did we receive through our redemption in Christ? a. Galatians 4:4-5 b. Romans 8:23 c. 1 Peter 1:18 2. From what did Christ redeem us? (Galatians 3:13) 3. How did mankind come under the curse? (Galatians 3:10) 4. What actions and thoughts reveal that perhaps you don t believe that God through Christ has done all of this for you? 5. Would you say that this amazing work of redemption seems to good to be true? Would the world? Why? 17

18 6. So we see that we were God's enemies (Romans 5:10) and blind to the light of the gospel. Now look at Acts 16: Notice that the Lord opened Lydia's heart so that she could respond to Paul's message. What thoughts do you have concerning this important passage? 7. With what natural earthly occurrence does Jesus compare the working of the Holy Spirit in John 3:8? What is the significance of this? 8. Explain the difference Bridges speaks of between may and can on p.133-h, P.120-S in reference to our ability to enter the kingdom of God. 9. Does this differ from what you believe as to how a person gets right with God? If so, how? TAWG Verses for the Week Day One Mark 10:45 Day Two Galatians 3:10 Day Three Read Chps. 7 & 8 in the GFRL book spend some time thanking God for paying the ransom to reconcile you to Himself Day Four Read Chp. 11 in the GFRL book Day Five Complete green book lesson - Bought Back and Brought Back Day Six Titus 2:11-14 Day Seven Read the section titled "Gratitude and Worship" on p h, p s, then study Romans 11:36. Key Gospel Terms Penitence - a sincere and humble acknowledgment of one s sins Conscience - the moral compass that God has placed within our hearts, bearing witness to His Law Expiation - the act of Christ removing our sins 18

19 RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Read Chapters 9 & 10 in The Gospel For Real Life I. GOD MAKES IT POSSIBLE A. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD REQUIRES... AND PROVIDES 1. In your understanding, how can a sinful person have a right relationship with God? 2. Read Romans 3:9-12. Write down observations from these passages regarding what they say about man and righteousness. 3. Read Romans 3: What is this righteousness from God that Paul announces to us in this verse? 4. There are many ways that people attempt to be justified (declared righteous) before God. How does Romans 3:20 reveal that a person can NEVER be justified? 5. In light of the above reality, what is ultimate purpose of the scriptures? (Rom.3:20) 19

20 B. FULLY PLEASING IN GOD S EYES Two things happen when God justifies you (declares you righteous) before Him. 1. He removes all your unrighteousness (all past, present and future sin) and places it on Christ at the cross. Your Life Your Sin Cross of Christ 2. God imputes to you the righteousness of Jesus Christ, so when God looks upon His children He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ and is fully pleased. God Imputes The Righteousness of Christ Your Life 3. How then, does God view His children when they sin? 4. Look at the following examples of how we add things to the gospel. The Gospel + my performance = Significance, worth, satisfaction, acceptance The Gospel + the approval of others = Significance, worth, satisfaction, acceptance Now, look at the truth, which is as follows: The Gospel + Faith in Christ = Acceptance before God, Complete forgiveness from God, Worth, and Significance 5. What things do you add to the gospel in order to feel acceptable and valued by God? Refer to the Gospel Issues List. 20

21 II. TAKING HOLD OF GOD S GIFT A. POSSESSING BY FAITH WHAT WE COULD NOT EARN 1. Read Galatians 2: What is the role of faith in justification? 2. Read Romans 10: Where does faith come from? 3. In light of the above passage in Rom.10, what is God s method of saving men & women and how am I to take part in seeing my non-christian friends get saved? B. EXPERIENCING PEACE WITH GOD Read Romans 5:1 and answer the following questions. 1. What does it mean to have peace with God? 2. What things in your life do you need to renounce in order to experience this reality of having peace with God? (ex. Your good works, performance, seeking approval of others, etc ) Justification is a point-in-time experience that occurs the moment a person trusts in Christ as Savior... Justification, however, is not just a point-in-time event that passes into our memory bank as a pleasant experience of the past. Rather, it is a point-in-time event that has eternal ongoing benefit for us. - Jerry Bridges 21

22 TAWG Verses for the Week Day One 2 Corinthians 5:21 Day Two Chp. 9 in GFRL Day Three Chp. 10 in GFRL Day Four Green book lesson Right Standing with God Day Five Romans 5:1-2 Day Six Journal: What am I trusting right now for my righteousness before God? What things am I adding to the gospel to make me feel acceptable and worthy of God s Love? Spend time praying to God and worshiping Him for what He has done in order for you to know Him and be right before Him. Day Seven Philippians 3:7-9 Key Gospel Terms Impute - to ascribe a crime or fault to another; to charge or credit to another. Justification - God s declaration that we are righteous before Him. 22

23 WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD! Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! I John 3:1-2 Read Chapter 12 in The Gospel For Real Life I. BECOMING GOD S CHILDREN A. ADOPTION INTO GOD S FAMILY Review last week s study on justification. God did not stop there. Not only did He justify us, but He has made us members of His family as His children. The term adoption is used to describe the process of God making us members of His family. Read the following verses on what it means to be born of God into His family and answer the following questions John 3:8 I Peter 1:23 I John 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1, 5:4, 5:18 1. What does it mean to be born of God? 2. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in teaching us about our position in Christ as a child of God? (Rom.8:16) 3. Read Galatians 4:4-7. What does Paul mean when he says those in Christ have full rights as sons and daughters of God? List the rights and privileges you have being a child of God. 23

24 II. SEEING GOD AS OUR FATHER What comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you. - A.W. Tozer Many views of God come in and out of our mind every moment, but there is only one true God revealed in Scripture. God has revealed Himself to us in many ways throughout Scripture. He is our Almighty, our Provider, our Shield, our Lord, and our Refuge. But throughout the New Testament, the dominant theme revealed about the way God wants us to relate to Him is as a child to a Father. Many of us don t have a good relationship with our Father and when we think of God as our Father negative thoughts enter our minds. But God is not like our earthly Fathers. He is a perfect, loving Father and we are His children in Christ. A. LOOKING AT THE GOD OF SCRIPTURE Reflect on how you view God. Then review the following passages, making observations regarding what they say about God s role as our Father. 1. Phil. 4:19 2. Matthew 10: Corinthians 1: Hebrews 12:10 5. Hebrews 13:5 24

25 B. LOOKING AT OUR EARTHLY FATHERS All of us have many distortions in viewing God as our Father because of our relationship and experience with our earthly fathers. Again, God is not like our earthly fathers. Reflect on and answer the following questions. 1. Describe your relationship with your father. How does this relationship help you view God as a Father? 2. How does this relationship distort your view of God as Father? 3. Refer to the Gospel List and the Gospel Issues List. The S in the Gospel list shows that all sin has its root in a misbelief of the Gospel. This includes the distorted ways we view God and our struggle to embrace Him as our Father. What lies or misbeliefs do you commonly struggle with in believing God is your Father? Read the following verses and worship God through prayer as you meditate on what God says about you as His child. Isaiah 43:4 Zephaniah 3:17 Deuteronomy 7:6-9 TAWG Verses for the Week Day One Read Chp. 12 in GFRL Day Two Greenbook Lesson We are Children of God Day Three Galatians 4:4-5 Day Four Galatians 4:6-7 Day Five I John 3:1 Day Six John 1:12 Day Seven Journal: What have I learned this week about the gospel through my understanding of my position in Christ as a child of God? Key Gospel Terms Adoption - to be brought into the family of God through spiritual rebirth and given the status of a child of God with the full rights and privileges of a son or daughter of God the Father. 25

26 WHY WON T THE GOSPEL STICK? We are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 Read Chapters 13 & 14 in The Gospel For Real Life I. RECOGNIZING THE WAR Experience tells us over and over that we struggle to believe the gospel. The Bible talks about this reality as well. We are at war. A. THE BATTLE LINES HAVE BEEN DRAWN 1. How does Paul describe this war? (Gal. 5:17-18) 2. Why is it so important to be led/filled with the Spirit and how do we do this? (Eph.5:15-21) B. ENEMIES OF BELIEF 1. The Bible talks about three enemies to belief. Record what the bible teaches about each, in the following verses. (Rom. 7:15-20, Eph. 6:11, and James. 4:4) a. The Flesh - b. Satan - c. The World - 26

27 2. All three enemies are constantly active, trying to convince you that the promises of sin are more fulfilling than the promises of God. Examine each one and write out your specific challenges with both your beliefs and your behavior. a. The Flesh (Phil. 3:3-6; Gal. 1:10, 2 Cor. 12:9-10) b. Satan (1 Pt. 5:8, Gen. 3:1,5 Rom 8:1,33) c. The World (Gal. 5:19-21, 1 Pt. 2:11, Rom. 13:13-14) II. FIGHTING THE WAR A. TRAINING OUR HANDS FOR WAR 1. How does the war we are caught up in differ from an ordinary war? (2 Cor. 10:3-5) 2. Ephesians tells us that our weapon in battle is a sword. What role does the Holy Spirit play in our use of the sword and how can we live in victory? (Rom. 8:16-17, Jn 14:26, Ps.1:2-3) 3. Does the way I live my life reflect the life of a soldier on the front lines of battle or have I been lulled into complacency? What steps is God calling me to take to return to the battle? 27

28 B. THE VICTORIOUS WARRIOR RIDES IN OUR DEFENSE 1. In Lesson 1 of our study, we talked about how sin counts us dead and helpless in regard to salvation. As we see daily, that sin is still very present and disabling. When we get knocked down by sin, how does the gospel tell us to respond? (Titus 2:11-14, Col. 2:6-7) (You should not be able to answer this question without the truths on the Gospel List.) 2. Jesus has become our answer to every enemy through adopting us as His own. In Colossians 2:6, Paul tells us to continue to approach Christ in the same way that we initially came to Him, i.e. repentance and faith. Consider the sin of jealousy and write out how it would look practically to fight and turn in repentance and faith? Repentance Faith TAWG Verses for the Week Day One Read Chp. 13 & first half of the green book lesson- Why Won t the Gospel Stick Day Two Read Chp. 14 & complete the green book lesson- Why Won t the Gospel Stick Day Three Psalm 77; Journal: What would it mean for you today to recall the goodness of God in the gospel? Use the Gospel list. Day Four Ps. 33:16-22, 28:6-9; What applications can you make for war! Day Five Ps. 25:4-5; Pray through the Gospel list one letter at a time and ask God to reveal His ways and your beliefs. Write down thoughts, lies, and truths that He makes known to you through your time with Him. Day Six Rom. 7:14-25 Day Seven Journal: Where do you sense enemies of belief attacking the truth of the gospel in your heart? What truth can you apply and meditate on that will set your heart free? Key Gospel Terms Transformation - the process, beginning at conversion and continuing until heaven, of our inner being becoming more like Christ; happens from the inside out. Glorification - the event that will occur upon Christ s return for His children, where we will be for ever changed in spirit and body and freed from every hindrance to enjoy the full reality of the unsearchable riches of Christ. 28

29 SANCTIFIED AS WE ARE SENT Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. John 17:17-18 Read Chapters 15 & 16 in The Gospel For Real Life I. A. OUR CHANGING REFLECTIONS As we repent and trust moment by moment, the Spirit affects in us change. This change, Bridges points out, is a reflection of what Christ has already done by counting us dead to sin and alive to God (Rom 6:11). 1. What does it mean for you to be dead to sin? ( Dead to Sin pgs H, p s) 2. What does it mean for you to be alive to God? (Rom 6:8-10) 3. A problem that exists in progressive sanctification is that we, who were once in darkness, are still attracted to darkness. Why is darkness attractive? What would make someone want to avoid the light? (Eph 5:6-8) II. WE MUST BELIEVE IN HIM A. BELIEF LEADS TO ACTION Bridges has clearly pointed out that our death to sin and dealing with its continued presence has a much more to do with our believing than it does with our doing. 1. How does what you believe influence what you do? 29

30 2. No battle is ever fought without an objective and a strategy. The same is true of our spiritual war with sin. Last week we looked at the enemies of belief and their tactics. What should our strategy and tactics look like in combating sin? Look closely at pages (1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Thes. 5:23-24) 3. Our greatest need is the gospel. Pick two sins that you struggle with on the Issues List and identify truth from the gospel that you can use to speak specifically to these sins when they attack in order to lead you to application. Remember, we want our beliefs to lead to action. B. CHANGED FROM THE INSIDE OUT Sanctification starts in what we believe, which in turn changes how we live. Sanctification happens from the inside out. That s exactly how the Lord wants the gospel to influence the world: first in our hearts, and then outwardly, impacting others. 1. The gospel is not about God and me. The gospel is about God and the world. What do these verses say regarding the gospel being about God and the world? a. Acts 1:8 b. 2 Cor. 5:18-20 c. Matt. 9:36-38 d. Matt. 28:

31 2. What kind of outward response or action does God want the gospel to produce in you? 3. If we don t believe the gospel then we will not be compelled to reach the lost. What truths in the gospel if not believed could keep us from reaching the lost? 4. Ask God to show you where He wants to use you specifically to reach the lost. Make a list of people He has put into your life that He may be leading you to impact for Christ. TAWG Verses for the Week Day One Chp. 15 in the GFRL & begin green book lesson- Sanctified as We are Sent Day Two Chp. 16 in the GFRL & complete green book lesson- Sanctified as We are Sent Day Three Jn. 15:1-11; Meditate on the many truths, invitations, and promises found in this passage. Journal: How does God want us to view a relationship with Him? Does your relationship with Him fall short of this? How? Day Four 2 Cor. 12:9-10 Day Five Rom 6:21-22 Day Six Read Acts 5:17-42; Journal: What emotions and/or fears does this passage create in your heart? What sticks out to you from the passage? Are you this convinced of the truth of gospel and the great need for missions? Why or why not? Day Seven 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Key Gospel Terms Definitive Sanctification - an event declaring that we have been authoritatively delivered from and have died to the dominion of sin, both in its guilt and control. Progressive Sanctification - the process of Christian growth and change which is met by resistance, yet continues in a Christ-like direction. 31