Chase After God – Ed Newton

Overview:

Campus Community tonight was spoken about our relationship with Christ. Dr. Ed challenged us with four different points that come out of 1 John 1-2. We are told that this faith journey is based on faith in relationship. This faith is for every man, not an elitist group. That there is freedom in forgiveness. When we continue to beat ourselves up over sin we are not truly embracing the grace of God. We need to fight for holiness. There is an enemy that will kill us so that we do not produce the fruit of righteousness. We have the fruit of righteousness, because we have salvation by grace. That is why we should want to be obedient to Christ by keeping his commandments.

1) This faith journey is based on a relationship with Christ

2) Freedom in forgiveness

3) Fight for holiness

4) Fruit of righteousness

Verses:

1 John 1-2

Psalm 103:12- as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 32:1- Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Isaiah 1:17-18- Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord “Though you sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Lamentations 3:23- They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Revelation 12:11- They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Hebrews 8:12- For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

Quotes:

The Bible should be a life book for the journey that God has called us too.

We are resource rich and commitment poor. While everyone else in the world is resource poor and commitment rich.

Jesus is asking us to be more than fans, but fanatics because we have divinely encountered him and have relationship with Him.

When we continue to beat ourselves up over sin we are not truly embracing the grace of God.

We have forgiveness in Christ, and do not have to line under the condemnation of the enemy! All of our sins are forgiven at the cross.

He is the propitiation for our sin! Propitiation means the fulfillment of the wrath of God.

God is perfect and omniscient, but in His sovereignty chooses to forget our sins!

The enemy is not trying to inconvenient the body of Christ, but he wants to destroy us because he knows we have purpose to impact this earth the kingdom of God.

God’s pleasure for us is not based off of our performance towards him. – David Platt

Questions:

1) What does this quote mean to you: “We are resource rich and commitment poor. While everyone else in the world is resource poor and commitment rich.” How do you see this reflected on our society?

2) Why is it easier for us to walk in condemnation rather then walk in forgiveness?

3) Why does fighting for holiness seem like an afterthought? Why are we not fighting for holiness?

4) What are the fruit of righteousness and how are the displayed in your life?