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COMMUNITY!COMMUNITY!

Incarnational Incarnational Christianity:Christianity: Righteousness Righteousness

ExperiencedExperienced Together in and through the Together in and through the

Body of ChristBody of Christ

Grace Community Grace Community ChurchChurch

Romans 3:21-22Romans 3:21-22

Every believer can EXPERIENCE righteousness

through appropriating3 powerful provisions found in

the Incarnation

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting

ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Ephesians 4:16

Romans 3:21-22 Romans 3:21-22

““But now a righteousness from But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to through faith in Jesus Christ to

all who believe. There is no all who believe. There is no difference”difference”

If there is one thing the If there is one thing the church needs it is… church needs it is…

““If there is one thing the Church needs If there is one thing the Church needs today it is the republication with faith and today it is the republication with faith and passion of the presuppositions of the passion of the presuppositions of the doctrine of justification and the doctrine of justification and the reapplication of this.”reapplication of this.”

~ John Murray author and ~ John Murray author and theologian theologian

EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE RIGHTEOUSNESS RIGHTEOUSNESS

TOGETHERTOGETHER

Romans 3:22aRomans 3:22a

““But now a righteousness from God, But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made apart from law, has been made

known, to which the Law and the known, to which the Law and the Prophets testifyProphets testify..

This righteousness from God…This righteousness from God…

δικαιοσύνηδικαιοσύνη - carries the idea of - carries the idea of integrity, virtue, purity of life, integrity, virtue, purity of life,

rightness, correctness of thinking rightness, correctness of thinking

feeling, and acting.feeling, and acting.

““The Jewish term God gave us The Jewish term God gave us in the bestowment of this in the bestowment of this righteousness is Shalom, righteousness is Shalom,

the condition in which life the condition in which life is best lived.” is best lived.”

~Dr. David Jeremiah~Dr. David Jeremiah  My counsel is this: Live My counsel is this: Live

freely, animated and freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit motivated by God’s Spirit

Galatians 5:16Galatians 5:16

3 powerful provisions found in 3 powerful provisions found in the Incarnationthe Incarnation

• Provision #1: A means to live Provision #1: A means to live transparentlytransparently

Romans 3:22bRomans 3:22b

““But now a righteousness from God, But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, apart from law, has been made known,

to which the Law and the Prophets to which the Law and the Prophets testifytestify..

This righteousness from GodThis righteousness from God comes comes through faith in Christ Jesusthrough faith in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2 Philippians 2 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ

Jesus: Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be did not consider equality with God something to be

graspedgrasped,, 7 but made himself nothing, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human

likeness. likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled

himself and became obedient to death— himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in

heaven and on earth and under the earth,heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Fatherto the glory of God the Father

3 powerful provisions found 3 powerful provisions found in the Incarnationin the Incarnation

• Provision #1: A means to live Provision #1: A means to live transparentlytransparently

• Provision #2: The incarnation Provision #2: The incarnation gives me a model to follow in gives me a model to follow in

humilityhumility

““Something has happened to the Something has happened to the doctrine of justification...The doctrine of justification...The faith of Paul and Luther was a faith of Paul and Luther was a revolutionizing thing. It upset revolutionizing thing. It upset the whole life of the individual the whole life of the individual

and made him into another and made him into another person altogether. It laid hold person altogether. It laid hold on the life and brought it unto on the life and brought it unto

obedience to Christ.”obedience to Christ.”

~AW TOZER~ ~AW TOZER~

Romans 3:22cRomans 3:22c

““But now a righteousness from But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law made known, to which the Law

and the Prophets testifyand the Prophets testify..

This righteousness from GodThis righteousness from God comes through faith in Christ comes through faith in Christ

Jesus Jesus to all who believe. There is to all who believe. There is no difference.no difference.

• In 1820: A church for every 875 Americans.

• By 1900: A church for every 430 Americans

• By 1916: Over 53% of pop. attended church

• After WWI church faltered. Ceased to branch out / By late 90’s: (Could be as low as 26%)

Sad StatsSad Stats

3 powerful provisions found in 3 powerful provisions found in the Incarnationthe Incarnation

• Provision #1: A means to live Provision #1: A means to live transparentlytransparently

• Provision #2: The incarnation gives Provision #2: The incarnation gives me a model to follow in humilityme a model to follow in humility

• Provision #3: The incarnation gives Provision #3: The incarnation gives me a message to share passionatelyme a message to share passionately

Every believer can EXPERIENCE righteousness

through appropriating3 powerful provisions found in

the Incarnation

We have our provisions: – MEANS to live transparently – MODEL to follow in humility

– MESSAGE to share passionately

WILL YOU USE THEM?WILL YOU USE THEM? WITH WHOM?WITH WHOM?