Sift Week 1 – David Nasser
Overview:
Tonight is the start of our new series, “Sift.” We begin this series by looking back at the Reformation.
We are all beneficiaries of the Reformation, both the good and the bad. While the Reformation provided us with the 95 Theses, it also caused a 30-year war where people were put to death for their beliefs. During this time, an important mantra was created: “In all things essential unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” Tonight, we will focus on the end of the mantra “in all things charity. First, we recognize the Word of God as our foundation. Doctrine is important to our faith. However, we must be careful not to elevate doctrine to the point where it becomes a god and we use it to feel superior and to be mean. If we hold fast to doctrine but are mean with it, we are contradicting the very doctrine we hold to. While the Word is our foundation, it is important that we put on love. We might disagree on what is essential and what is not, but we should all be able to agree that we should show charity in all things.
Verses :
Romans 1:17
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’.”
Colossians 3:1-17
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 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.”
Quotes:
“The foundation of true holiness and true Christian worship is the doctrine of the gospel, what we are to believe. So when Christian doctrine is neglected, forsaken, or corrupted, true holiness and worship will also be neglected, forsaken, and corrupted.”- John Owen
“Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.” – Matthew Henry
“Doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless; it does positive harm. Something of ‘the image of Christ’ must be seen and observed by others in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings.” – J. C. Ryle
“The Protestant Reformation recovered Biblical salvation.” – Jason Helopoulos
“In essentials Unity/ In Non-Essentials Liberty / In All things Charity” – Unknown
Questions:
1) In all things God has called us to be loving, how does this work itself out in the Christian community, even amongst those that are disagreeing? How can we prefer those we disagree with?
2) What parallels does Doctrine and practical living have? How does one doctrinally believe, but lovingly live?
3) Before accusing, slandering, and/or gossiping how can we talk as “brother to brother” with those we disagree with, with those who have varying views of theology?
4) Paul told the Colossians as “the Lord has forgiven you, forgive one another!” Who can you forgive tonight, is there someone need to ask forgiveness from?