Showing grace to others - Mike Taylor

Mike TaylorForest Community ChurchSunday 14 October 2018

Showing grace to othersThe family likeness

Week 540 Days of Grace

Where we’ve been so far …

Where we’ve been so far …Week 1: how amazingly good the good news is


Week 2: all the reasons we don’t receive it



Week 3: how we can get drawn back into living by the law




Week 4: how grace makes us want to live good lives





Week 5: …

???





Week 5: …

Our response to God’s graceA desire to live good lives.


… but how, exactly?









What does God require of us?“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ […] Freely you have received; freely give.”

— Matthew 10:7-8.

What does God require of us?“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ […] Freely you have received; freely give.”

— Matthew 10:7-8.

Jesus tells us to give others what God has given us.

What does God require of us?God has been kind to us:we must be kind to others.

What does God require of us?God has been kind to us:we must be kind to others.● Slow to judge (Luke 6:42)

What does God require of us?God has been kind to us:we must be kind to others.● Slow to judge (Luke 6:42)● “Keeping no record of wrongs”

What does God require of us?God has been kind to us:we must be kind to others.● Slow to judge (Luke 6:42)● “Keeping no record of wrongs”● Quick to forgive

“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”— Matthew 6:12.

Many examples of “forgive as God forgave”


“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

— Matthew 6:14-15.



“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

— Matthew 6:14-15.

“When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

— Mark 11:25.


More examples of “forgive as God forgave”

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”

— Luke 6:37



— Luke 6:37

“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

— Ephesians 4:32.



— Luke 6:37

“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

— Ephesians 4:32.

“Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others”

— Colossians 3:13.


It’s not normal to forgive people.

This is amazing grace

It’s not normal to forgive people.

If you’ve nodded at everythingwe’ve said, we’ve not explainedit right.

This is amazing grace

What does God require of us?Jesus' summary of the Law and the Prophets:


1. Love God


1. Love God2. Love your neighbour


1. Love God2. Love your neighbour

Why? Because he first loved us! (1 John 4:19)

What it’s like to live this wayNot a contract.


Not that we grudgingly accept we must forgive.



More like:● Celebration of the joy we've been given



More like:● Celebration of the joy we've been given● Sharing of the nature that we've inherited



More like:● Celebration of the joy we've been given● Sharing of the nature that we've inherited● Enjoyment of the family likeness

Living this way is better for us

Living this way is better for usLetting go of unforgiveness is:● Less stressful

Living this way is better for usLetting go of unforgiveness is:● Less stressful● Less complicated

Living this way is better for usLetting go of unforgiveness is:● Less stressful● Less complicated● Less demanding

Living this way is better for usLetting go of unforgiveness is:● Less stressful● Less complicated● Less demanding● More fun

Living this way is better for us“To be forgiven is such sweetness that honey is tasteless in comparison with it. But yet there is one thing sweeter still, and that is to forgive. As it is more blessed to give than to receive, so to forgive rises a stage higher in experience than to be forgiven.”

— Charles Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit 31:287f.

Living this way is better for us“Run, John, run, the law commandsBut gives us neither feet nor hands,Far better news the gospel brings:It bids us fly and gives us wings.”

— John Bunyan.

Living this way is better for us“Run, John, run, the law commandsBut gives us neither feet nor hands,Far better news the gospel brings:It bids us fly and gives us wings.”

— John Bunyan.

Evangelism becomes“Come and see what God has done!”

But don't we have to “take a stand”?“What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?”


— Attributed to Plato, 400 BC.


— Attributed to Plato, 400 BC.

Every generation has felt this way.

But don't we have to “take a stand”?I’m not saying political and social issues aren’t important.

But don't we have to “take a stand”?“I am giving you a new commandment: Stand in judgement over the world. Just as I have stood in judgement over you, you should stand in judgement over the world. Your moral values will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

— John 13:34-35.

✕

But don't we have to “take a stand”?“I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

— John 13:34-35.

✓


— John 13:34-35.

Christians are recognised not by theirreadiness to judge society, or even bypersonal holiness, but by love and mercy.


— John 13:34-35.

We want to be known by what we’re for,not what we’re against.

Jesus is clear about what matters“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law — justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!”

— Matthew 23:23-24.

Jesus is clear about what matters“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law — justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!”

— Matthew 23:23-24.

.

Straining at gnats but swallowing camelsDistracted by politics? Feeling victimised?

The heart of the matter“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

— Matthew 7:1-2.

An unforgiving Christian is a contradiction.

The heart of the matter“Someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

— Romans 5:7b-8.

How can we reject others for their sin when God did not do the same to us?

A note on “judging”In English, we are tricked by a pun.

We use “judge” in two quite different senses:


We use “judge” in two quite different senses:● “make a judgement about” is good.

(“Think of yourself with sober judgement.”)


We use “judge” in two quite different senses:● “make a judgement about” is good.

(“Think of yourself with sober judgement.”)● “pass a judgement on” is bad.

(“Judge not lest ye be judged.”)

A note on “judging”The problem comes when we make pronouncements as though from a position that we have attained.

A note on “judging”But remember the key verse:

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

— Ephesians 2:8-9.

When we forget that “none of us can boastabout it”, that’s when we become judgemental.

Why is this so important?Individuals who forgive each other live pleasant lives.

Why is this so important?Individuals who forgive each other live pleasant lives.

Communities that forgive each other don't go to war.

What does this mean for evangelism?Judgement is never attractive.


Evangelism can't start with“Follow him more nearly!”


Evangelism can't start with“Follow him more nearly!”

It must start by helping people tosee God more clearly.

What does this mean for evangelism?Demanding moral behaviour fromnon-Christians is a hopeless strategy

— literally!

What does this mean for evangelism?Yes, great revivalist preachers startedwith the threat of damnation.

What does this mean for evangelism?Yes, great revivalist preachers startedwith the threat of damnation, but …● They were supremely gifted orators

who could hold attention.


who could hold attention.● They worked from there to the goodness

of the God who forgives.


who could hold attention.● They worked from there to the goodness

of the God who forgives.● God was supernaturally at work

at that time and place.

Why can christians be unwelcoming?

1. We're imperfect: this is one of our imperfections.



2. We're insecure: we want to feel that we’re better than other people.




3. We're suggestible: bad news makes better copy than good news, so the media reinforces the idea that Christians are under attack and have to fight back.




3. We're suggestible: bad news makes better copy than good news, so the media reinforces the idea that Christians are under attack and have to fight back.

4. We're thoughtless: we've grown up unforgiving, and stay that way due to sheer habit.


The way forwardUnderstand our relationship with God.

The way forwardUnderstand our relationship with God.● When we don't realise how great his love is,

we think we need to earn it


we think we need to earn it.● When think we need to earn his love,

we follow the law to gain his favour.


we think we need to earn it.● When think we need to earn his love,

we follow the law to gain his favour.● When we become legalistic in our own lives,

we start to judge other people by the same criteria.

The way forwardThe solution, as always, is to start with what God is like.

“When God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”

— Titus 3:4-6.

We need to:● See him more clearly

— understand his love for us.


— understand his love for us.● Love him more dearly

— respond to the one who loves us.


— understand his love for us.● Love him more dearly

— respond to the one who loves us.

● Follow him more nearly— show that same love to others.

Mike TaylorForest Community ChurchSunday 14 October 2018

Showing grace to othersThe family likeness

Week 540 Days of Grace

Showing grace to others - Mike Taylor

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