By Randy Thomas
cross-posted from Randy Thomas’ personal blog
Randy posted this on his personal Facebook profile:
The following question isn’t a result of any personal situation or conversation currently going on. Truly, it isn’t. That said, why do some folks find being the sin police so energizing?
The responses I got were really good. Well, a couple were a little silly but still good. I will only include the person’s initials:
AS wrote, “Self-centeredness whether it be to deny their own sinfulness or the desire to not feel alone in failure for perfection. Too much looking inward and not enough looking upward.”
MH wrote, “there is something rooted deep in the heart…
May 9, 2013 in Blog by Grace Church
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Lets Talk About the Law (Part Three) – Announcements, Notes, Podcast
Pastor Clark Whitten April 14, 2013
V. The Holy Spirit and His Fruit
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
VI. The Allure of Rules
Colossians 2:20-23
Colossians 2:20-23
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
April 14, 2013 in About Grace, Podcast, Sermon Notes, Video, Video Announcements by Grace Church
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Most have heard it taught that Christians are not under law but under grace (refer to Romans 6:14). Grace teaching seeks to help the body of Christ understand why this is true, and why this is such incredibly good news.
Meanwhile, others point fingers reacting negatively because they believe that grace teachers are soft on sin, and serve to aid immature Christians to live lives of compromise and sin.
Since “truth sets us free” (Jn. 8:32), let’s compare the Law (Old Covenant) to the New, because the contrast is startling. Understanding this contrast will help you walk in all that Christ died to give you.
The Bible calls the Old Covenant, “the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). But, it was given by God, so why would it be classified such?
The Mosaic Law, also known in the Bible as the “law of sin and death”, was given by God to govern spiritually dead people. The Law was never given…
April 11, 2013 in Blog, Grace2U by Grace Church
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The Resurrection Saves Us
Pastor Clark Whitten
March 31, 2013
New American Standard Version Used
Romans 5:10
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
April 1, 2013 in About Grace, Podcast, Sermon Notes, Video, Video Announcements by Grace Church
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III. The Law Produces Sin
Romans 7: 5,8
5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.
IV. What About the Ten Commandments?
A. The example of coveting Romans 7:7-8
B. The ministry of condemnation
2 Corinthians 3:6-9
6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory…
March 24, 2013 in About Grace, Podcast, Sermon Notes, Uncategorized, Video, Video Announcements by Grace Church
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1 Timothy 1:8-11
I. The Purpose of the Law
A. Not for the righteous vs 9
B. For the unbeleiver Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 3:19,22 ; Galatians 3:23-24
II. The Law is Pass or Fail – Galatians 3:10
James 2:10; Romans 7:7-8; Galatians 5:2-3
March 17, 2013 in About Grace, Podcast, Sermon Notes, Video, Video Announcements by Grace Church
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“Jesus kept the law and fulfilled its requirements for us. He did for me what I could not do for myself! This New Covenant is between God and His dear Son. Our part is to believe and receive what Jesus died to give.” (Pure Grace, page 77)
Since God’s grace is freely given, there are only two possible responses. One can reject grace or receive it. Grace cannot be earned; it is a gift. Therefore, to be possessed, it must be received. Receiving grace is impossible if one doesn’t believe it. Believe and receive! The New Covenant is massively important to all Believers but the practical benefits of this magnificent covenant are missed if one doesn’t believe it and receive it. I CANNOT EARN THE BENEFITS AND BLESSINGS OF THE NEW COVENANT!! Jesus “earned” the blessings for me and I honor Him by receiving what cost Him his life to give. When any Believer receives by faith what Jesus freely gives, he is blessed indeed!
March 13, 2013 in Pure Grace, Team Grace by Grace Church
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I. A New High Priest
A. Jesus and the Old do not mix.
B. A different tribe. Hebrews 7:13-14
C. The law itself forbids Jesus’ priesthood. Hebrews 7:12 …
March 10, 2013 in About Grace, Podcast, Sermon Notes, Video, Video Announcements by Grace Church
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“Our union with Christ and our free access to our Heavenly Father begins to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. The New Covenant guarantees that God’s throne is a throne of grace and as we access His presence and continue to abide there, we are transformed into His image. If we will continue to “see” Him, we will become like Him. Human effort through law keeping will not produce Christ-likeness. The New Covenant will. ” (Pure Grace, page 75)
Maybe a better way to say it is that an understanding and belief that we (Believers) are recipients of the New Covenant by faith and that truth will produce Christ-likeness in us. Our understanding of the New Covenant is corrupted and made ineffective in our daily lives if the Old Covenant is mixed with it. THERE MUST BE NO MIXTURE OF THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW!! The New Covenant guarantees full and absolute access to our Heavenly Father and His presence is the dynamic that transforms us into His Image. “The letter kills but the Spirit brings life”.
March 6, 2013 in Pure Grace, Team Grace by Grace Church
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Good Advice and Good News
Pastor Clark Whitten February 17, 2013
New American Standard Version Used
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
2 Timothy 2:15-18
February 17, 2013 in About Grace, Podcast, Sermon Notes, Video, Video Announcements by Grace Church
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