Growing In Christ #6

- we're studying Basic Bible truths
- today we're going to be finishing up our study on Growing
In Christ

- last week we were studying how God's Word must be active
on our minds

- Kevin gave us a number of verses that deals with that
important aspect of growth

- we said that its one thing to talk about change (which in
and of itself is a step for some folks), but its something
else to do the hard work of examining what about my
thinking needs to change so that I can change behaviorally

- we challenged each other to look for specific thinking
habits that would need to be put off and put on in order
to be in the best position to change behaviorally

- let me ask you - have you done that? (remember - its one
thing to say we believe change involves our minds - its
something else to actually apply that truth on a daily
basis to a specific area of life)

- last week we also gave you a series of examples where folks
needed to make some behavioral changes
- let's talk about what thinking might need to be changed in
those situations

(ALREADY COVERED) 1) Person having trouble getting up in
the morning.

2) Husband who's grumpy when he comes home from work.

3) Mother who's depressed because she's home with kids all
day.

4) Mother who's depressed because she works and can't be
home with kids all day.

5) Family that’s lonely because they miss their
friends/church/family "back home."

6) Man who isn't controlling his speech at work.

- cf. Phil. 4:8 (think cards)

2. our actions

Rom. 6:12 - "Present..."

I Tim. 4:7 - "Exercise..."

Eph. 4:22, 24 - "Put off...put on"

- INPUT - (read Prov. 28:13) - what does this
passage contribute to what we're talking
about?

a. must forsake

- forsake - literally "letting go", putting off,
abandoning, quitting

includes three things:

1) a willingness to deny or say no to selfish
desires

2) an actual breaking with the past practice,
situation, or persons involved in the sin

3) setting up the structure that will make it
difficult to fall into the same sin again

b. may involve radical amputation

- Matt. 5:29-30

- Brian mentioned this last week (but we were
rushing)
- point is - We ought to be willing to take
extreme steps to prevent that sin
taking place again

- (Jay) picture yourself having to hop on
the one remaining foot in order to get
to where you can repeat a sin)

- repeat main points
- one question that sometimes comes up in this discussion
is:
- where do feelings fit into all this?

- we are not "anti-feelings" (develop)

- point is - feelings can't be used to determine
what we're going to do

- feelings are "chasers"
- good feelings will result from doing right -
but that’s not the motivation for doing right

E. It is a gradual process

Phil. 3:13
Gal. 5:16

F. Chart

- if you put together what we've been saying the last few
weeks, you'll see that the Scripture argues for a balance
of faith and effort
- that may sound contradictory, but both are a necessary part
of the process

- Paul affirmed both
cf. Phil. 2:12-13 (we'll study more fully in a minute)

- now this shouldn't be a concern to us

1) We can't fully understand the ways of God

Isa. 55:9, Deut. 29:29

(Teachers - this material is from MacArthur;s book on
sufficiency)

2) A similar "tension" exists in other critical areas of
Bible study.

a. Salvation

- on one hand - men/women are told to turn from
sin, embrace Jesus as Savior and Lord or be
eternally damned. - Acts 3:19

- on the other hand, salvation is a free gift of
God and the Lord has chosen people for
salvation before the foundation of the earth
(Eph. 1:4-5)

b. Perseverance of the saints

- on one hand - God holds us in His hand and
nothing can snatch us away (John 10:27-29)
- No one can bring an accusation against us,
nothing can separate us from his love (Rom.
8:33-35)

- on the other hand, The Bible says that those
who inherit eternal life will be faithful to
endure to the end. (Matt. 10:22, 24:13, Col.
1:22-23)

VI. Maintaining The Balance Between Faith and Works

- read Phil. 2:12-13

A. Our responsibility - "work out your salvation"

- work out - present tense imperative - "keep on
continually making the effort to work out your
salvation."

- not work for your salvation, but exercise sustained
effort and diligence in growing as a result of
salvation
- to work out practically in your life on earth
what has already taken place positionally in
heaven

- so not work for your salvation, but work on your
salvation

- many verses on this subject:
- II Cor. 7:1
- Rom. 6:19

1. understand your example - "so then"

- refers back to 5-11

- these are some of the most beautiful verses in
all the Bible

- INPUT - what do these verses have to do with
what Paul is about to say concerning working
out your salvation - i.e. - why the "so
then?" (an understanding of who Jesus is
should always motivate us to work - we've got
a long way to go)

- cf. Gal. 4:19

2. Understand that you're loved

- it's important to note that Paul addressed them
as "beloved" before giving them these commands

- this was a good church, but it surely wasn't
perfect

- INPUT - how do we know that? (cf. 4:2)

- INPUT - how does this fit into what Paul is
saying about working out salvation?
- not alone (develop - great to be part of
the body - wouldn't it be terrible to
be growing - alone)

3. Understand the place of obedience - Just as you
have always obeyed"

- John 14:15 - obedience is the mark of all who
know Jesus Christ

- obeyed literally means - "to answer the door"
- the idea is - you submitted to something
you've heard (develop)

- the Philippians have been doing some things
right and Paul reminds them of that
- to some degree you have obeyed - keep that up

4. Understand your responsibility
- it's one thing to work "when the boss is
around" (develop)

- Paul says - now its your responsibility to keep
it up after I'm gone

- cf the test of a man's character - see what he
does when no one is looking

5. Understand the consequences - w/fear and trembling

- fear - phobos/phobia
- trembling - tromos/trauma

- "healthy fear of offending God and a proper
anxiety to do what is right in His eyes"

- cf. Isa. 66:2

B. God's Part - Working In Us

1. His person: God

- all the resources of heaven available to the
person seeking to grow
- this is spiritual business, and God is
intimately interested and intimately involved
in our growth

2. His power - at work

- at work - "energo"

- the infinite power of God in action in us as
we seek to obey His word

- cf. Eph. 1:18-19

3. His presence - In you

- cf. Eph. 3:20

- God's presence within believers - a uniquely
Christian doctrine - II Cor. 6:16-17

4. His purpose - to will and to work

- to will - intent/desires
- conforming our desires to His

a. through "holy discontent"

Rom. 7:24

b. through holy aspiration

5. His pleasure