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Jan 05, 2020

Uncondemned

Passage: Romans 8:1-4

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Romans Eight

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: righteous, forgiven, judged, free, condemned

In Christ we are un-condemned and even un-condemnable. Jesus took our sin and fully paid it’s payment on the cross while giving us his righteousness along with it’s reward: approval by and union with God. We now freely respond: loving upward in worship; loving outward in community; loving outward in missions.

Order of Worship

PRELUDE: O Brother Where Art Thou

CALL TO WORSHIP: Hebrews 10:19-23

READING: 2 Corinthians 5:21 & Romans 12:1 

MUSIC

  • Here Is Love Vast As the Ocean
  • You Alone Can Rescue
  • Before the Throne
  • Special - Free Amen
  • And Can It Be
  • Band: Lead - Courtney, Don, Adam

CONFESSION & ASSURANCE:

Confession of Sin:

ALL: Almighty God, you love us, but we have not loved you.

You call, but we have not listened.

God of grace, help us to admit our sin,

so that as you come to us in mercy,

we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness;

Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. 

Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 103:10-12

LEADER: 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.   

PRAYER / GRATITUDE / MISSIONAL LIVING: 

MESSAGE: Uncondemned

CENTRAL TEXT: Romans 8:1-4

ILLUSTRATION: Les Mis

CREED: The Apostle’s Creed

BENEDICTION: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES:

  • Hebrews 9:25
  • Hebrews 10:10
  • John 3:16
  • Matthew 20:17
  • Romans 3:23-25a

MEDIA:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

What’s it like to feel overwhelmingly condemned?

    Maybe as a kid when you did something really wrong?

    Or as a student when you got caught cheating?

    Or at your work when you failed your boss or got laid off?

    Or as a parent when you heard yourself yell at your kid?

    Or as any normal human when you got “caught”?

How do we often see God as disappointed, angry and/or mean?

    Why is it easy to see Him that way?

Are there times when it’s hard to really believe Romans 8:1?

How do you find yourself doing these ways to deal with your guilt:

    1) Deny you really did anything that bad.

    2) Penance...make it up to others (and to God and yourself).

    3) Plead for Mercy (repent / confess).

How are God’s “righteous requirements” (v.4) fully satisfied in you?

    Even when you fail miserably?

Some have explained this concept like this: “ God is as pleased with you on your worst day as He is with Jesus everyday.” Explain that.

Describe the real-life daily battle between the two things that you set your mind on (flesh and Spirit).

Describe what each “mind-set” leads to in everyday life.

QUOTES:

  • I have always believed that at the heart of Romans 8 you have the secret to really using the gospel in your heart to change yourself in a profound way. - Tim Keller
  • “Law was given that grace might be sought, grace was given that the law might be fulfilled.” - St. Augustine 
  • “Being forgiven by God and knowing we are not condemned frees us to come out of hiding. Being forgiven empowers us to face the uglier parts of our character, because Jesus has already dealt with the shame of those uglier parts. We don’t have to be crushed any more when our flaws are seen and known by God and others. We can be honest in this freedom to pursue growth as incomplete works in progress.” - Scott Sauls
  • “I regularly invite the Holy Spirit to witness to me regarding who Jesus is, what he has done, and who I am because of his work. If the thoughts or beliefs I am having do not line up, the Spirit makes that known to me as he brings to remembrance what is true of God and of me because of the gospel.” - Jeff Vanderstelt

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