Transformative Faith: Integrating Jesus and the Kingdom

 

Summary

Paul's arrival in Rome marks a significant moment in the narrative of Acts, where he continues to preach the inseparable message of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. This dual focus is crucial because to preach Jesus adequately is to preach the Kingdom, and vice versa. The sermon explores the prevalent gospels in today's world, particularly the liberal gospel of liberation and the conservative sin management gospel. The liberal gospel, while rooted in addressing structural evils like racism and poverty, often neglects personal morality and the person of Jesus. It focuses on societal issues but can miss the transformative power of Christ in individual lives.

On the other hand, the conservative sin management gospel tends to reduce the gospel to a theory of atonement, emphasizing justification over regeneration. This perspective often leads to a stagnant faith, where believers are assured of heaven but lack the transformative power of Christ in their daily lives. The sermon challenges this view by emphasizing that the forgiveness of sins, while essential, is not the entirety of the gospel Jesus preached. The true gospel leads to personal transformation and discipleship, where faith in Jesus naturally results in a life that reflects His teachings.

The sermon calls for a gospel that leads to transformation, addressing both personal and social issues through the love and justice of God. It highlights the importance of discipleship as a bridge between faith and obedience, urging believers to live out their faith in every aspect of life. The role of faith is not merely to cope with life's challenges but to integrate our actions with the reality of God's Kingdom. By relying on Jesus, believers can experience a life that is a natural expression of their confidence in Him, leading to a transformative relationship with God.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Inseparability of Jesus and the Kingdom of God: Preaching Jesus and the Kingdom of God are inseparable tasks. To truly understand and convey the message of Jesus, one must also embrace the Kingdom He proclaimed. This dual focus ensures that our faith is not just about personal salvation but about participating in God's transformative work in the world. [20:14]

2. Critique of the Liberal Gospel of Liberation: While addressing structural evils is important, the liberal gospel often neglects personal morality and the person of Jesus. True transformation requires a balance between social justice and personal holiness, rooted in the teachings of Christ. [23:34]

3. The Limitations of the Conservative Sin Management Gospel: Reducing the gospel to a theory of atonement can lead to a stagnant faith. The gospel is not just about securing heaven but about experiencing regeneration and transformation in this life through a relationship with Jesus. [26:51]

4. The Role of Discipleship in Faith: Discipleship is the bridge between faith and obedience. It is through learning from Jesus and applying His teachings that believers can experience true transformation and live out their faith in every aspect of life. [37:48]

5. Faith as Integration with Reality: Faith is not just a coping mechanism but a means of integrating our lives with the reality of God's Kingdom. By placing our confidence in Jesus, we align our actions with His will, leading to a life that naturally reflects His presence and power. [42:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [20:00] - Paul's Arrival in Rome
- [20:14] - Preaching Jesus and the Kingdom
- [21:11] - Conservative Sin Management Gospel
- [21:22] - Liberal Gospel of Liberation
- [23:07] - Social Issues and Personal Morality
- [25:07] - Omitting Christ as Teacher
- [26:04] - Justification vs. Regeneration
- [27:24] - Stagnant Faith and Transformation
- [30:08] - Hunger for Transformation
- [31:32] - Redemption as Life in the Kingdom
- [32:18] - Love and Justice
- [34:10] - Addressing Social Issues
- [36:15] - Faith and Discipleship
- [42:23] - Faith Integrating with Reality

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 28:23-31
2. Colossians 3:17

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Observation Questions:

1. In Acts 28:23-31, what two key themes does Paul focus on in his preaching while in Rome? How are these themes interconnected according to the sermon? [20:14]

2. How does the sermon describe the liberal gospel of liberation, and what are its main focuses? [21:22]

3. What does the sermon identify as the main limitation of the conservative sin management gospel? [26:51]

4. According to Colossians 3:17, how should believers approach their daily actions and decisions?

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why does the sermon emphasize the inseparability of preaching Jesus and the Kingdom of God? How does this dual focus impact a believer's understanding of the gospel? [20:31]

2. How does the sermon suggest that the liberal gospel of liberation might fall short in addressing personal morality and the person of Jesus? [23:34]

3. What does the sermon imply about the role of discipleship in bridging the gap between faith and obedience? How does this relate to the concept of regeneration? [37:48]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of faith in integrating our lives with the reality of God's Kingdom? What does this mean for a believer's daily life? [42:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of the gospel. Do you tend to focus more on personal salvation or on participating in God's transformative work in the world? How can you achieve a balance? [20:14]

2. In what ways can you ensure that your approach to social justice is rooted in the teachings of Christ, balancing societal issues with personal holiness? [23:34]

3. Consider your current faith journey. Are there areas where your faith feels stagnant? How can you invite the transformative power of Christ into these areas? [26:51]

4. How can you actively engage in discipleship to bridge the gap between your faith and daily obedience? What steps can you take to learn from Jesus and apply His teachings? [37:48]

5. Think about a specific area of your life where you struggle to integrate your actions with the reality of God's Kingdom. What practical steps can you take to align this area with your faith in Jesus? [42:23]

6. Identify a social issue you are passionate about. How can you address this issue through the lens of love and justice, as described in the sermon? [32:18]

7. Reflect on Colossians 3:17. How can you incorporate this verse into your daily routine to ensure that all your actions are done in the name of Jesus?

Devotional

Day 1: The Unity of Jesus and His Kingdom
The message of Jesus is inseparable from the Kingdom of God. To truly understand and convey the message of Jesus, one must also embrace the Kingdom He proclaimed. This dual focus ensures that our faith is not just about personal salvation but about participating in God's transformative work in the world. The Kingdom of God is not merely a future hope but a present reality that believers are called to live out. This understanding challenges us to see our faith as a holistic journey that impacts every aspect of our lives, from personal transformation to societal change. [20:14]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek the Kingdom of God in your daily life, beyond personal salvation?


Day 2: Balancing Social Justice and Personal Holiness
The liberal gospel of liberation often focuses on addressing structural evils like racism and poverty but can neglect personal morality and the person of Jesus. True transformation requires a balance between social justice and personal holiness, rooted in the teachings of Christ. While it is important to address societal issues, it is equally crucial to allow the transformative power of Christ to work within us, shaping our character and actions. This balance ensures that our efforts for justice are grounded in the love and righteousness of God, leading to genuine and lasting change. [23:34]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: How can you ensure that your pursuit of social justice is rooted in personal holiness and the teachings of Jesus?


Day 3: Beyond Atonement: Embracing Regeneration
The conservative sin management gospel often reduces the gospel to a theory of atonement, emphasizing justification over regeneration. This perspective can lead to a stagnant faith, where believers are assured of heaven but lack the transformative power of Christ in their daily lives. The gospel is not just about securing heaven but about experiencing regeneration and transformation in this life through a relationship with Jesus. This understanding invites believers to move beyond mere forgiveness of sins to a vibrant, dynamic faith that reflects the life and teachings of Christ. [26:51]

Titus 3:5-6 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to experience the regenerative power of Christ, beyond just seeking forgiveness?


Day 4: Discipleship: The Bridge Between Faith and Obedience
Discipleship is the bridge between faith and obedience. It is through learning from Jesus and applying His teachings that believers can experience true transformation and live out their faith in every aspect of life. Discipleship involves a commitment to follow Jesus, allowing His words and actions to shape our thoughts, decisions, and behaviors. This journey of growth and obedience leads to a deeper understanding of God's will and a more profound expression of His love and grace in the world. [37:48]

Luke 6:40 (ESV): "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher."

Reflection: What steps can you take to deepen your discipleship journey and align your life more closely with the teachings of Jesus?


Day 5: Faith as a Means of Integration with God's Reality
Faith is not just a coping mechanism but a means of integrating our lives with the reality of God's Kingdom. By placing our confidence in Jesus, we align our actions with His will, leading to a life that naturally reflects His presence and power. This integration challenges us to see faith as an active, living force that shapes our decisions, relationships, and worldview. It invites us to trust in God's promises and to live in a way that demonstrates His love and justice to the world. [42:23]

Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: How can you integrate your faith into every aspect of your life, ensuring that your actions reflect the reality of God's Kingdom?

Quotes



"to preach jesus adequately is to preach the kingdom of god, and to preach the kingdom of god adequately is to preach jesus they go together and then finally right at the end of the book of acts uh paul stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him preaching the kingdom of god and teaching concerning the lord jesus see those go together if you preach jesus adequately you preach the kingdom of god if you preach the kingdom adequately you preach jesus they come together there's no way you can separate them" [00:20:14]

"the liberal gospel of liberation comes against what they call structural evils uh it is not something that we can disregard it is rooted in the prophetic strain of old testament and new testament teaching but it unfortunately is focused only on the correction of structural evils and so things like racism and poverty and the social issues are very important for this gospel as they initially understood that it has now kind of degenerated we used to call it the social gospel uh now it's not even a social gospel it's uh it's a little hard to describe it" [00:21:22]

"the feature of gospels of sin management is they always omit christ as teacher and ruler in the heart they put him somewhere else now the one i've put here on the page because i think this is the one that we most need to think about has to do with the conservatives in management gospel if you just look at this diagram i think we can quickly cover a lot that we need to say you have over on the left hand side here faith believing the right things about jesus and that secures heaven after death" [00:25:07]

"the forgiveness of sins is not the gospel that jesus preached it is not the gospel that brought the church into existence and i'm hoping that you are thinking this now as you've written these verses that we've looked at on jessie history for remaining stuck where they were because i had them sitting out there on the highway of life with their hood up waiting for the heavenly aaa to come and take them home but their engine wasn't running and so they struggled with their failures they reconciled themselves to never growing" [00:26:51]

"we have to come to a gospel that naturally leads to transformation naturally we now have a gospel on both right and left that does not it does not and it is so pathetic and given my sort of work i go i go in and out both the far left wing and the far right wing and i'm glad and i feel comfortable in all of it i don't i'm not i'm not at all i want to love the people there and do the best i can and all i have to say is there is no message of personal transformation" [00:30:08]

"god's appointed way is to recognize that redemption is life in the kingdom of god through faith in jesus christ and if we pray present jesus christ as the full person now you see so that we know we're really trusting him and not some bright idea he had about social reform or even some action that he did of giving his life for our sins both of those are essential you can't leave those out and no matter how sincerely you believe in jesus's death for your sins that will not solve the problem of social injustices which you have to deal with" [00:31:32]

"you change the dynamics of the individual life but where is the gospel that gives us that see that's that's what i'm talking to you about in this hour is a gospel that naturally see in this gospel there's no real connection if you go back to your sheet there a moment what about discipleship well it's nice but it's not necessary right you'll make the cut if you never become a disciple right you just believe the right things god will examine your mind and check that off right you believe the right things he believes jesus died for his sins check that off let him in" [00:34:10]

"faith is confidence in jesus and his present kingdom we really do count on it we have come to know it the word of the gospel has called us out and we put our feet on the path and found it to be real and when we talk about jesus being risen we're not speculating because we've been with him and that naturally leads to seeing my whole life as the place of redemption interactive relationship redemption is interactive relationship sanctification is interactive relationship and we must talk about that in the next hour too" [00:36:15]

"and to discipleship as learning from him how to lead my life as if he were i now see the gospel preached leads to a faith which naturally leads to that you see that's the natural progression and connection if you preach another gospel there will be no connection and that's what we suffer from today in our most faithful folks is there that connection is just not there we have faith over here and we have obedience over here and no bridge to get us from here to here and that bridge is discipleship but that bridge rests upon the foundation of the gospel of the kingdom of god available through jesus christ" [00:37:48]

"the real function of faith now folks is number three it integrates our action with reality that's the role of faith and especially when we come to faith in christ when we really have confidence in him then we integrate our lives into his life we do that by relying on him you can rely on jesus you can count on him and uh if you count on him what will happen is you will know him in his full reality and you will know the kingdom of god and you will learn how to act in the name of jesus and how to live in that" [00:42:23]

"you have faith in jesus the lord the king of the universe the master the king of the kings of the earth you have faith in him you have faith in the present reality of his kingdom and you walk in that faith and that naturally takes up your whole life now and you have heard a gospel that puts you who you are in position before god to become the person that he intended you to be lord give us grace to hear your word and to find those things that are true and acceptable and right and to bring them into our lives to welcome them" [00:44:43]

"the gospel then of the kingdom is to make you a student of jesus surround you in the trinitarian reality and teach you how to do all things whatsoever i have commanded you see that that teaching is another promise now that the teaching of jesus can become an integral part of our lives all the way from the inside of our spirit and heart all the way out through our body and our social setting now then the role of faith is very different from the common presentation i i want you to just look briefly here at the ideas about faith remember i said last night faith is confidence" [00:40:00]

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Transcript
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