Motivated by the Gospel
Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Series: Transformed by the Gospel Scripture: John 15:10, John 14:15, 23-24
Transformed By The Gospel
Motivated By The Gospel
John 15:10 & 14:15, 23-24
“How do you love God?”
How did Jesus answer that question?
Commandment suggest two things:
- Clear Direction – not just a desire
- Authority – the right to require obedience
“to direct with authority”
Both the commandments of God and the love of God express the Character of God!
An Important Distinction:
- Under legalism we try to Earn God’s love and favor by our obedience
- Under grace, we Respond to God’s love and favor by our obedience
We obey God’s commandments not to be Loved but because we are Loved in Christ
A Pattern and Three Stories
Pattern: God – Guilt – Gospel/Grace – Gratitude
- Isaiah 6:1-8
“Here I am! Send me!” – I am Available
- Luke 7:36-50
“Your sins are forgiven”
“Consciousness of one’s own sinfulness and assurance of forgiveness are the foundation of our love for God.” Jerry Bridges
- Acts 9:1-31
Grace can be defined as: God’s blessings through Christ to people who Deserve His Curse
Q: What transforms our duty to desire? Our “ought to” to “want to”?
A: Our Response of gratitude to the Love of Christ as seen in the gospel
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
“For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” Corinthians 15:9–10)
God’s love for us manifested in the gospel provides the Motivation and Power for obedience
God’s commandments provide the Direction for our obedience
Making It Personal:
- Have I genuinely experienced the life changing power of the gospel in my life through renouncing my sin and relying totally on the finished work of Jesus Christ?
- How will I intentionally reflect on the pattern of God – Guilt- Gospel/Grace - Gratitude this week?
- How can I continue to “preach the gospel” to myself on a daily basis?
- Where specifically will you grow in your expression of love toward God and others through obedience this week?
- Who can I share these truths with?
other sermons in this series
Jun 23
2019
How Can I Know That I Am Saved?
Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: John 15:9, Series: Transformed by the Gospel
Jun 9
2019
A New Commandment
Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: John 15:12–13, John 13:34–35 Series: Transformed by the Gospel
May 26
2019
Propelled by Grace
Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: John 15:12–16 Series: Transformed by the Gospel