#biblicalgrace

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Join Douglas Vandergraph as he dives deep into a powerful review of the New Testament, The Gospel According to Matthew, Chapter 20. This chapter is filled with lessons on grace, fairness, and the generosity of God's kingdom. Learn how the parable of the workers in the vineyard challenges our worldly views on justice and rewards. Whether you are a long-time student of the Bible or new to its teachings, this discussion will provide fresh insights into how we can embrace God's grace, trust in His timing, and live free from comparison.

Discover the deeper meaning behind the landowner's generosity, the lessons on humility, and the reminder that "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." Don’t miss this opportunity to grow spiritually and reflect on the true meaning of divine grace in your everyday life.

#Matthew20 #BibleStudy #GospelOfMatthew #Christianity #NewTestament #ParableOfTheWorkers #BiblicalGrace #GodsGenerosity #ChristianTeachings #DouglasVandergraph

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Pastor Scott’s Perspective — “The Grace to Let Others Be” October 2019

Charles Swindoll is a well-known pastor and author with impeccable conservative evangelical credentials. In his excellent book, The Grace Awakening, there is a very helpful and practical chapter, “The Grace to Let Others Be,” that is really an insightful commentary on Romans 14.

I love the title, “The Grace to Let Others Be.” It aligns so well with our core value of biblical grace and truth. Truth is not the same as law. Truth is not a weapon that we wield to intimidate or control others. Truth – as in Gospel truth – is grace-filled. Truth does not bind us up in chains of religious rigidity. Truth sets us free from the controlling power of sin and from the controlling dictates of the Law of Moses in order to grow in the likeness of Jesus who was full of grace and truth.

To be full of grace and truth will not only shape the way we respond to repentant sinners – it will also shape the way we respond to other believers who hold different convictions on secondary doctrinal matters or on lifestyle choices. In Romans 14, Paul sets forth practical guidelines as to how believers can hold to strong convictions for their own life while also giving others the freedom to live by different convictions on matters where there are no specific biblical rules.

Guideline 1: Accepting others is basic to letting them be. (Romans 14:1-4).

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.”

The specific issue Paul addresses here is that of eating meat that had been offered to idols. Much of the meat sold in marketplaces came from animals that had been sacrificed as part of pagan temple rituals (idolatry). Some Chris-tians had strong convictions that no believer should eat meat that was spiritually contaminated by its association with pagan worship. Other Christians believed that meat is meat and that Jesus had declared all foods clean and permissible to eat – wherever it came from. Of course, Chris-tians should never participate in pagan worship, but what about eating meat from the market-place that originated in a pagan sacrifice?

That is not a current controversy. But there are plenty of other similar issues concerning which different Christians have differ-ent convictions. When I was growing up there were many taboos in Baptist circles that went well beyond any biblical prohibitions: not only drinking alcohol but also going to a restaurant that served alcohol, not to mention playing cards, going to movies, going to dances, going to the beach where men and women wore bathing suits, working out in leotards, long hair (for men) or short skirts (for women), eating out in a restaurant on Sundays, playing any kind of organized sports on Sundays, etc. How did Paul settle this issue of eating meat? By instituting a rule that everyone should follow?

No. Instead, a word to those who ate meat: “Let not the one who eats despise (regard with contempt) the one who abstains.” Don’t look down on those who live by more restrictive and rigid rules than you do. No matter how strongly you believe you are free in Christ to partake of that meat, do not become proud of that freedom and look down on those with stricter scruples.

And then a word to those with scruples against eating such meat: “Let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats.” Do not judge or criticize or view negatively or talk negatively about those who choose to eat meat. No matter how strongly you feel about a certain taboo, no matter how strongly you believe every-one else should adopt your convictions, judging others who disagree with you is wrong.

Then Paul asks: “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls.” Our job is to love and accept people; it’s God’s job to direct them and shape their convictions. Calling them to repentance, yes, but this is not a situation requiring repentance. This is a difference of opinion, not a sin issue. Don’t turn disputable matters into character issues. Neither eating meat nor not eating meat makes you a more godly person. Don’t look down on someone’s Christian life simply because they don’t share your conviction about a disputable matter.

Guideline 2: Refusing to dictate to others allows the Lord freedom to direct their lives. (Romans 14:5-8)

People don’t grow into Christ-like maturity by following a bunch of rules made by others; people grow in maturity when they search the Scriptures and look to the Spirit for guidance Give people room to make up their own minds. Let people learn to be dependent on the Lord for guidance rather than becoming dependent on man-made rules.

Paul: “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” This is remarkable. Paul was an apostle who had seen the risen Christ and received revelations from the Lord. Yet he refrains from making a rule for everyone to follow. Instead of throwing his weight around to make others more like him – on disputable matters he gave these disciples room to grow. Let them grow up differently with different convictions. Let them learn at their own pace. Let them learn from their failures and mistakes. God’s grace is sufficient.

Guideline 3: Freeing others means we never assume a position we’re not qualified to fill. (Romans 14:9-12)

Bottom line: none of us is qualified to judge the convictions of another. Yes, if God’s Word clearly calls a certain behavior sin, then there can be correction leading to repentance. But judging others because they have different convictions? No. We’re not qualified.

We do not know all the facts. We do not know their heart fully. We are unable to read motives accurately. We can’t see the entire “big picture.” We have our own blind spots. We ourselves are imperfect and inconsistent. “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

Guideline 4: Loving others requires us to express our liberty wisely. (Romans 14:13-18)

One of the marks of maturity is the ability to handle liberty without flaunting it or causing others to stumble because of it. Enjoy your liberty with discretion. Exercise your liberty only with those who can enjoy it with you. That’s not hypocrisy – that’s voluntary restraint of your freedom out of love for a brother or sister who has different convictions. Adapt and limit the practice of your free-doms according to the situation and who else is present. Don’t exercise your freedom of conscience in the presence of someone who might be offended or might be tempted to violate their conscience because of your example. Don’t let others impose their convictions on you – stand firm in your convictions – but be loving and considerate and discreet in the exercise of your freedom. “For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.” 

To paraphrase Paul: Nothing that is not specifically designated as evil in Scripture is evil – but rather a matter of one’s personal preference or taste. So let it be. Let others be. Don’t turn personal convictions into character judgments. Don’t seek to impose your convictions on others – one way or the other. Let others be. Even if you personally would not do what another believer is doing, if it is not clearly prohibited in the Bible, let it be. And if you feel the freedom to do what the conscience of another does not permit, don’t flaunt it or mock those who disagree. Respect one another’s differing convictions.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit… So then let us pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding.” (Romans 14:17, 19)

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Pastor Scott’s Perspective —“Grace vs. Tolerance”

No one in today’s world wants to be considered “judgmental.” For many people today, calling certain sins “sin” is considered hate speech. Even candidates for political office or judicial appointments are being asked questions like, “Do you consider ________ to be sinful?” And of course, the politically correct answer is “No.” Regardless of what the Bible says.

The assumption is that if someone regards a certain behavior to be sinful, then that person must hate all persons committing that sin. This is especially true with regard to sinful behaviors associated with the LGBTQ lifestyle. But it applies in other areas as well. The underlying assumption is that sin means condemnation. To call a behavior sinful is to judge and condemn and hate that person.

The cultural solution to that problem is Tolerance – understood as accepting both the person and their behavior (one requires the other according to modern notions of tolerance). Disapproving of someone’s behavior is equated with condemning and hating that person. Therefore, to be a compassionate and loving and decent human being, one must convey approval of all such behavior. In many cases, such “tolerant” people are well-meaning and are trying to be kind. But they have bought into the notion that being kind to a person requires approving of their behavior.

What would happen if parents adopted that philosophy: being kind to my children means tolerating and approving of all their behavior? Would that be wise – or loving? When certain behaviors are harmful – either to that person or to others – is it loving to encourage that behavior?

Do we believe that God is wise and loving – and that behaviors He calls sinful are wrong because they are harmful – or do we know better today?

Equating tolerance with acceptance and approval of all behavior leads to a dilemma: we must choose between being kind and being truthful. The truth is: some behaviors are wrong and harmful and yes, sin. But if sin is linked to condemnation, then calling sin “sin” means condemning and hating the person committing that sin. Therefore, to be kind, one must not judge or disapprove of the behavior.

Some people call that grace. But it is not grace; it is worldly tolerance. What do we mean when we speak of the grace of God? Do we mean that God does not judge sinful behavior? Do we mean that God has changed his mind as to which behaviors are sinful? Are behaviors that are listed as sinful in both the Old and New Testaments no longer sinful because our culture now says so? Do we need to become more grace-full than God is?

Jesus said (John 16:8) the Holy Spirit (Paraclete) convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. Three taboo words in our culture: sin, righteousness, judgment. Is the Holy Spirit therefore anti-grace? Surely a God of grace would have nothing to do with judging people guilty of sin? Surely a God of grace could accept us in love without requiring righteousness on our part? Surely convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment would be antithetical to Grace?

Antithetical to Tolerance, yes; antithetical to Grace, no. Why? Because of the Gospel truth that the Cross severs the connection between sin and condemnation.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…” (Romans 8)

The God of the Old Testament – and the Mosaic Covenant – is the same God as the God of grace revealed in the New Testament – the New Covenant. What changed is the Cross. The Cross changes everything. The Cross severed the link between sin and condemnation.

What are some of the implications of that wonderful Gospel truth?

1. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. All our sin was justly condemned once and for all when Jesus bore our sins in his body on the Cross. Therefore, it would be unjust for God to punish us for sins that have already been punished at the Cross.

2. God is just in extending His mercy and forgiveness and grace to us. He does not condemn US, but He has condemned SIN at the Cross. God does not waive the penalty for sin -- the penalty was paid in the death of His Son. God does not wave a magic wand over our sin and guilt and pronounce us forgiven and righteous when in fact we have all sinned and broken His laws. The Cross was the ultimate demonstration of God's love AND God's Justice. Grace is NOT tolerance. God does not tolerate sin -- He condemns it. But Jesus' sin-bearing death absorbed that punishment so that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

3. Because the link between sin and condemnation has been broken, we can be honest about our sins. We can come clean. We can confess our sins. We can agree with God that what He calls sin, is in fact sin. Sin is still sin, but sin no longer carries with it any condemnation. There is a remedy for sin: the Cross of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can own our sin without being weighed down with shame.

4. Because the link between sin and condemnation has been broken, therefore when we call sin "sin," that does NOT mean that we are condemning those committing that sin (ourselves or others). The world connects sin with condemnation. To call a certain behavior "sin" is to condemn that person. No. The Cross severs that link.

5. Sin is still sin and is still bad for us. Sin no longer means condemnation, but there are still negative and harmful consequences for sin. God's laws are established in love and wisdom. For our good - and the good of others. When we violate His laws and break His commandments, we suffer the consequences -- and so do others. It is NOT loving to encourage people to continue in their sin. When we exhort people, we love to stop sinning -- humbly looking to ourselves and our sins first -- we are not doing so to condemn them, but rather to lead them away from self-destructive choices.

6. God no longer counts our sins against us. Sin is still sin and sin is real. But Jesus took care of our sin problem at the Cross. So now, it is not sin that separates us from God; it is our refusal to come to God through Christ that alienates us from God. ALL sins can be forgiven. ALL sin-debts have in fact already been paid in full by Jesus. There is NO sin so sinful that can keep us from experiencing the love of God. We just need to repent of our rebellious ways and accept the grace and forgiveness and righteousness that are offered to us in Jesus Christ.

7. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin – not to condemn us – but to lead us to repentance, forgiveness, cleansing, freedom, and wholeness at the Cross of Christ. That is love. Grace does not deny sin or rationalize sin or excuse sin or celebrate sin. Grace acknowledges sin as harmful and then leads us to the Cross of Christ to find forgiveness and cleansing and freedom. God doesn’t merely tolerate us when we sin. He lavish-es His heart-transforming grace upon us so that we can live as free men and women under His blessing.

Biblical grace is far superior to worldly tolerance. Biblical grace applies the truth of the Gospel to the reality of our sin. Tolerance leaves us in our sin -- lacking the assurance of God’s acceptance, whatever society may say. Grace confronts us with our sin – but then leads us to the Cross of Christ. Grace assures us that the Cross has broken the link between sin and condemnation. Grace assures us of God’s love and forgiveness and acceptance – all based on Jesus’ death and resurrection, not on our inadequate performance. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Amen.