Sanctification

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Mark 10:13-31 (Part 2)

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Mark 10:13-31 (Part 2)

“Today we are looking at our passage from Mark for a second time...(T)he story of Jesus blessing the little children is tied to the story of the Rich Young Ruler…this is very purposeful, because children come in need, with nothing to offer, while the rich young ruler comes to Jesus in independence, able to meet his own needs, yet wondering if there’s more he can do? Why are children the best symbol for how we are to approach the kingdom of God? Because they are utterly dependent. God’s kingdom is received, it can not be earned or taken. Then, why is the Rich Young Ruler so well contrasted with children? Because he will not give up what he has, in order to gain the same level of dependence that they naturally have.  He lacks nothing except Jesus, which means, even though he lacks nothing, he in fact, lacks everything.”

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Romans 13:11-14

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Romans 13:11-14

For Paul, one is either in Adam or in Christ—the old person or the new person.  But this reality must also be lived!  Although believers are in Christ, they must actively renounce sin and vigorously embrace righteousness! “Cast off” and “put on” are action words. We have a choice to make. God does not call us to simply rest in Christ - He calls us to act in light of the fact that Jesus is now our Lord. To put on the Lord Jesus Christ is a command to be what we are in Christ.  This is the morality of the NT: Be who you are!

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Romans 13:8-10

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Romans 13:8-10

Paul masterfully defends the grace alone gospel by asserting that obedience is the central demand of the gospel, in that it produces sincere love for our neighbour, and thus provides for the law’s complete fulfillment. Obedience is part and parcel of the gospel, not separate, not a balance of grace and law, but obedience comes as a result of hearing and believing the gospel…

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The Church as Christ Will Find Her (Matthew 25:31-46)

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The Church as Christ Will Find Her (Matthew 25:31-46)

“We worship God by rightly enjoying what He has provided and sharing it equally with the community. It is given to the community on God’s behalf…Will Christ return to find that we have cared for his brothers and sisters? Have we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, welcomed the stranger, visited the shut-in, and provided for the one who has been persecuted and imprisoned…No one can give anything to God. He does not need our stuff. But what we do to the least of his disciples, we do it to Jesus…”

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Romans 8:1-11

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Romans 8:1-11

“When I look upon God’s good law, which promises life to those who keep it, and death to those who don’t, it exposes me as a sinner.  Some here may even be living the experience that Paul described in chapter 7 rather than a life of freedom from slavery to sin. It is not as though we should just say: “oh there is no condemnation, it doesn’t really matter,” and then go on living just the same.  Instead, we should know that this is an untenable situation; an unacceptable position.  But it is not as though we should go back to the Law, understanding that the one who sins shall die, and then try harder to keep the commandment…Instead, the solution is to remember who we are.  I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Praise God!!! Prayerful meditation on the gospel is the solution.  It is the means for sanctification; sanctification by faith alone.”

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Divine Power for Growing Obedience (2 Peter 1:1-11)

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Divine Power for Growing Obedience (2 Peter 1:1-11)

“Obedience is the commanded and necessary consummation of our faith…But How? How do we obey? How has God availed his great power to us to give us all things we need for a life of godliness? Look at the passage this morning (v.3): It is through a knowledge of Him! Colossians 3 would supplement this passage and say that we are being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator. We must realize that partaking in life and godliness is not some mystical, secret, complicated, higher knowledge sort of process, but rather it is simply a growing and experiential knowledge of our Great God.”

ROSE CITY BAPTIST CHURCH   •   6406 44B AVENUE   •   CAMROSE, AB   •   T4V 0B6   •   780.672.4832