OUTLINE:

Our Recent Curriculum
- What Is Repentance? And Who Gets To Define It?
- Who Will Separate Us From the Love Of Christ?
- The Power Of Deception
- Are You Ready?
- Why All the Complexity and Chaos?

1Jn 5:17a
All unrighteousness is sin.

Balance Statement
There are times where you do not realize that you are offending God (missing the mark = sin), so do not spend every moment worried about such things. Do the "best you can" with what you know to be right/wrong. Be encouraged (cp Ro 8:26), not religious/legalistic.

1Jn 5:17a
All unrighteousness is sin.

Balance Statement
There are times where you do not realize that you are offending God (missing the mark = sin), so do not spend every moment worried about such things. Do the "best you can" with what you know to be right/wrong. Be encouraged (cp Ro 8:26), not religious/legalistic.

Unrighteousness = Sin = Discord
What we've learned is that peace is the result of our Lord's promise to give it ("My peace I leave with you" - Jn 14:27). However, we've also learned that such promises are conditioned, experientially, upon our obedience (Ps 112:1; Pr 16:7; Jn 13:17; Jas 1:25; 2Jn 1:6).

Fair Expectations
While it's true that when we are saved, we are changed internally (we are new creatures in Christ - 2Co 5:17), all the external forces in our lives do not magically change as well.

Practical Implies Practice
This is what it means to think of these messages in a "practical" way - it means we are looking to practice that which is pleasing to our Lord (2Co 5:5-9).

What is your first priority when…
- …you think of money?
- …you engage with media?
- …you build relationships?
- …you have some free time?
- …you read your Bible, attend church, pray?

Lk 9:62
But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Unrighteousness = Sin = Discord
What we've learned is that peace is the result of our Lord's promise to give it ("My peace I leave with you" - Jn 14:27). However, we've also learned that such promises are conditioned, experientially, upon our obedience (Ps 112:1; Pr 16:7; Jn 13:17; Jas 1:25; 2Jn 1:6).

Encouraging Fruit
Fruit is a practical device that God uses to prove to us that He is actually sanctifying us. Peace is a primary fruit of righteousness. (Ps 4:8; Is 12:2; 26:3; Jn 16:33; Ro 15:13; 2Th 3:16; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 3:11)

1Jn 5:17a
All unrighteousness is sin.

What is your first priority when…
- …you think of money?
- …you engage with media?
- …you build relationships?
- …you have some free time?
- …you read your Bible, attend church, pray?

Lk 9:62
But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Flying By the Seat Of Your Pants
Feelings ought to be treated as results, not causes. The cause for spiritual living is the inerrant Truth in the Word of God. While we may experience feelings as a result, we ought NEVER trust our feelings when they contradict Holy Scripture!

Flying By the Seat Of Your Pants
We don't get to "feel" our way to understanding God. God has already revealed Himself to us through Holy Scripture, through Jesus Christ, the Word. The world says, "Follow your gut." The Bible says, "Follow Jesus."

What is your first priority when…
- …you think of money?
- …you engage with media?
- …you build relationships?
- …you have some free time?
- …you read your Bible, attend church, pray?

“according to the commandment of the eternal God”
This establishes God's will in salvation/sanctification. The Gospel is the lynchpin of all saving grace, before and after salvation, proper. The very existence of a believer is intrinsically bound to the Gospel.

“leading to obedience of faith”
God's will leads some to salvation as a direct result of being obedient to the Gospel command to believe (Ro 1:5). Obedience is always the way of salvation/sanctification/righteousness.

Peace From Obedience
If we want peace, we must obey God's commands. Obedience implies very practical lifestyle choices, not just mental assent to obedience. While we can't "fake it 'til we make it", we can at least humble ourselves, learning humility through life, itself. God gives faith (Ro 12:3) that leads to obedience that leads to peace.