Transformative Gospel: Navigating Identity and Social Justice

 

Summary

In today's discussion, we delved into the complex and often contentious issues surrounding sexual identity, the role of the church, and the gospel's place in addressing social justice. We began by acknowledging the challenges many churches face today as they navigate the cultural pressures to become more inclusive, particularly concerning the LGBTQ community. The church, as a redeemed community, must remain steadfast in its commitment to biblical truth while extending love and grace to all individuals. This involves recognizing that the new birth in Christ transforms lives, leaving behind old identities and embracing a new identity in Christ. However, this transformation does not negate the presence of temptations and struggles, but it does signify a shift in the dominant power in one's life.

We also discussed the importance of maintaining the purity and power of the church by ensuring that it remains a community of believers who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. While the church should welcome all to hear the gospel, it must not dilute its message by becoming a social club that accommodates unregenerate lifestyles. The church's mission is to preach the gospel, which alone has the power to change hearts and lives.

Furthermore, we explored the issue of social justice and its relationship to the gospel. While justice is a biblical concern, it must not be elevated to the same level of importance as the gospel itself. The gospel is the message of Christ's death and resurrection, and it is through this message that true transformation occurs. Social issues, while significant, are implications of the gospel and should be addressed as such. The church must be cautious not to compromise the gospel by allowing cultural trends to dictate its message.

In conclusion, the church must remain true to Scripture and the historic Orthodox faith, resisting the temptation to accommodate cultural winds that seek to redefine biblical truths. By doing so, the church can effectively minister to a world in need of the transformative power of the gospel.

Key Takeaways:

1. Transformation through New Birth: The new birth in Christ signifies a profound transformation, leaving behind old identities and embracing a new identity in Christ. This transformation does not eliminate temptations but shifts the dominant power in one's life, allowing believers to walk in newness of life. [02:59]

2. Purity and Power of the Church: The church must maintain its purity and power by being a community of believers who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. While welcoming all to hear the gospel, the church must not dilute its message by accommodating unregenerate lifestyles. [05:20]

3. The Gospel's Primacy: The gospel of Jesus Christ is of first importance, and social issues, while significant, are implications of the gospel. The church must be cautious not to elevate social issues to the same level as the gospel, as true transformation occurs through the message of Christ's death and resurrection. [16:14]

4. Justice and the Gospel: Justice is a biblical concern, but it must not be confused with the gospel itself. The church must preach the law and the gospel, holding up God's holiness and the standard of righteousness, while addressing social issues as implications of the gospel. [21:16]

5. Cultural Winds and Biblical Truth: The church must resist the temptation to accommodate cultural winds that seek to redefine biblical truths. By remaining true to Scripture and the historic Orthodox faith, the church can effectively minister to a world in need of the transformative power of the gospel. [12:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to Sexual Identity Discussion
- [00:38] - Recommended Resources on Sexual Identity
- [01:59] - Inclusivity and Theology
- [02:18] - Understanding the Church's Role
- [03:39] - Transformation in Christ
- [05:20] - Purity and Power of the Church
- [06:30] - Sin and the Gospel
- [07:39] - Criticizing All Sin Equally
- [10:21] - Cultural Challenges to the Church
- [13:56] - Social Justice and the Gospel
- [16:14] - Primacy of the Gospel
- [19:32] - Justice and Biblical Principles
- [21:16] - Preaching the Law and the Gospel
- [26:05] - Common Goals and Christian Unity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
2. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 - "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
3. Romans 1:26-27 - "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."

Observation Questions:
1. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, what does it mean to be a new creation in Christ? How does this relate to the concept of leaving behind old identities? [02:59]
2. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul lists several behaviors that prevent inheriting the kingdom of God. What transformation does he describe for those who were once engaged in these behaviors? [03:39]
3. How does Romans 1:26-27 describe the consequences of abandoning natural relations? How does this passage relate to the sermon’s discussion on cultural pressures and biblical truth? [12:23]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of new birth in Christ challenge the idea of maintaining old identities, especially in the context of sexual identity? [02:59]
2. What does it mean for the church to maintain its purity and power, and how does this relate to welcoming individuals who have not yet professed faith in Christ? [05:20]
3. How can the church balance addressing social justice issues while maintaining the primacy of the gospel message? [16:14]
4. In what ways might cultural trends attempt to redefine biblical truths, and how should the church respond to these challenges? [12:23]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there old identities or behaviors you need to leave behind to fully embrace your new identity in Christ? What steps can you take this week to walk in newness of life? [02:59]
2. How can you contribute to maintaining the purity and power of your church community? Are there specific actions you can take to support the church’s mission to preach the gospel? [05:20]
3. Consider the social justice issues you are passionate about. How can you address these issues in a way that aligns with the gospel’s message of transformation through Christ? [16:14]
4. Identify a cultural trend that challenges biblical truth. How can you equip yourself with Scripture to stand firm in your faith while engaging with this trend? [12:23]
5. Think about a time when you felt pressured to conform to cultural norms that contradict biblical teachings. How did you respond, and what would you do differently now? [12:23]
6. How can you show love and grace to individuals who see the church as an enemy, particularly those from the LGBTQ community, while remaining committed to biblical truth? [02:18]
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure that the gospel remains the central focus of your life and your church’s mission, even when addressing important social issues? [16:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing a New Identity in Christ
The new birth in Christ signifies a profound transformation, where believers leave behind their old identities and embrace a new identity in Christ. This transformation is not about the absence of temptations or struggles but rather a shift in the dominant power in one's life. As believers, we are called to walk in newness of life, empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome the challenges we face. This new identity in Christ is a journey of continual growth and renewal, where we learn to align our lives with God's will and purpose. [02:59]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: What old identity or habit do you need to leave behind today to fully embrace your new identity in Christ?


Day 2: Upholding the Church's Purity and Power
The church is called to maintain its purity and power by being a community of believers who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. While the church should welcome all to hear the gospel, it must not dilute its message by accommodating unregenerate lifestyles. The church's mission is to preach the gospel, which alone has the power to change hearts and lives. By staying true to its calling, the church can effectively minister to a world in need of the transformative power of the gospel. [05:20]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: How can you contribute to maintaining the purity and power of your church community today?


Day 3: The Gospel's Primacy in Addressing Social Issues
The gospel of Jesus Christ is of first importance, and social issues, while significant, are implications of the gospel. The church must be cautious not to elevate social issues to the same level as the gospel, as true transformation occurs through the message of Christ's death and resurrection. While justice is a biblical concern, it must not be confused with the gospel itself. The church must preach the law and the gospel, holding up God's holiness and the standard of righteousness, while addressing social issues as implications of the gospel. [16:14]

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV): "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize the gospel in your conversations about social issues today?


Day 4: Justice as an Implication of the Gospel
Justice is a biblical concern, but it must not be elevated to the same level of importance as the gospel itself. The church must preach the law and the gospel, holding up God's holiness and the standard of righteousness, while addressing social issues as implications of the gospel. By doing so, the church can effectively minister to a world in need of the transformative power of the gospel. [21:16]

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 actively pursue justice in your community while keeping the gospel at the forefront of your actions?


Day 5: Resisting Cultural Winds to Uphold Biblical Truth
The church must resist the temptation to accommodate cultural winds that seek to redefine biblical truths. By remaining true to Scripture and the historic Orthodox faith, the church can effectively minister to a world in need of the transformative power of the gospel. This involves standing firm in the truth of God's Word, even when it is counter-cultural, and trusting in the power of the gospel to bring about true transformation in people's lives. [12:23]

2 Timothy 4:2-4 (ESV): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

Reflection: What cultural pressures are you facing today that challenge your commitment to biblical truth, and how can you stand firm in your faith?

Quotes


I think it begins with understanding what the church is that the church is a redeemed community of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ along with their families and in the new birth god dramatically changes your life he takes out your heart of stone he gives you a heart of flesh he writes his word upon your heart he puts his spirit within you he causes you to walk in his statutes in the new birth If any man be in Christ he's a new creature the old things have passed away new things have come [00:02:13]

and so one who would be lets say previously a homosexual or a lesbian with the new birth that is that is left behind and you now have your new identity in Christ you have a new mind you have a new heart that is not to say that there will not be temptations and at times struggles but nevertheless that no longer is the dominant power in your life that has been crushed you have been crucified with Christ and your old life has been buried and you have been raised to newness of life [00:02:59]

and so those they are people who are unregenerate or welcome to come to church and hear the gospel we want them to come and hear the gospel because they are our mission field but the mission field is not the church and the church must be a pure bride a chaste bride for her to have the power of God upon her and so to be inclusive of those who are unregenerate is a devastating effect upon the purity and the power of the church [00:05:20]

RC used to say that the church is the only organization wherein you have to admit you're a sinner to get into it and the problem in our day is there were just not calling sins sins because as Lawson said we want to show love we want to show respect to those who are from every different background and identify in every different way they want to identify we show them love but we preach the gospel we proclaim the truth of God to them because we know that at the end of the day the only thing that's going to change hearts is the gospel [00:06:30]

I agree with everything that's been said but I think we have to be very clear as Christians that our criticism is not just of some sins but that we stand against all sin and in order to have integrity in criticizing homosexual sin we have to be just as clear in criticizing heterosexual sin and I don't generally speaking like clapping but I'm really glad you clap for that because I think it's a very important testimony that we oppose all sin [00:07:39]

the gospel of Jesus Christ and the scripture is very clear 1st Corinthians 15 that as a matter of first importance now nothing else if there can only be one first importance there cannot be two or three or four first importance that God has clearly said in his word without any equivocation that what is of first importance is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the gospel in his most succinct statement in verses 3 and 4 is that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture that he was buried and that he was raised from the dead according to the scripture [00:16:14]

my concern is that there are those who are elevating social issues to the very same level as the gospel and saying it is a gospel issue it is not a gospel issue the gospel issue is that Christ died for our sins was buried and was raised from the dead there are implications of the gospel concerning how the gospel is to be lived out in that sense every imperative in the New Testament is a gospel issue every biblical principle that runs from Genesis to Revelation is a gospel issue as it relates to application and as it relates to an implication of the gospel but it is not the gospel [00:16:14]

I think just two things as we talked about this conversation one is let's just talk about justice that we're adding this social justice let's just talk about justice this is a word that's all through the pages of scripture of course our God is a God of justice and we need to be concerned about this in some ways we're letting sort of the current conversation drive us rather than letting the Bible drive us [00:21:16]

and I think too in the Reformation one of the great stresses was that we need to preach the law and the gospel and we preach the law to hold up the holiness of God we preach the law to hold up the standard of God we preach the law to hold up the goal to which we press in our lives and we hold up the law to show us how sinful we are and just as churches perhaps have not adequately preached the gospel they sometimes have not adequately preached the law to help us see what holiness would look like and to to help us see how far short we fall [00:21:16]

and our Savior said the law says to every one of us we have to love our neighbor and in case we missed the point he talked about who is our neighbor everyone is our neighbor so that has to be a standard that we as Christians hold up and we could look at our history and say we have failed miserably in so many ways and that's a terrible thing a thing we have to resist and reject and try to get beyond but resisting and rejecting sin as important as it is as godly as it is as biblical as it is is not the gospel no matter how much success you make in social justice it won't get you to have it only a life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will get you to heaven [00:26:05]

I think another really important point that too often gets neglected in this discussion is that we as Christians should have common goals I think we should all agree I trust we do all agree that we ought to end racism that there should not be racism that right racism is fundamentally unchristian but we ought to recognize that Christians may legitimately differ on what is the right path to end racism and we ought to be able to sit and talk to one another about that the tragedy of too much political discussion in this country has been that we think the way the truth is to shout down our opponent we need to talk we need to love we need to listen maybe I should have said listen before talk we need we need to listen and then we have to be willing to agree to disagree in a loving way because we won't always agree we could agree with the goal but the means to the goal we may have honest legitimate maybe even useful disagreements but it's a it's a huge issue and a serious issue but it shouldn't compromise the gospel or divide Christians [00:26:05]

you know it's been said that the church has become more worldly in the world has become more churchy and it seems to me that not only is the church taking all of its cues from culture these days not from the Word of God but that even the world and the secular culture in which we live has begun to take sort of their religious cues from the church I mean some of these theories that are being advanced are almost like a religion in and of themselves [00:26:05]

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