Nathan is a busy man, and often the only time to pin him down is during his commute. That’s why we came up with the concept of a road trip. The format of a road trip is nothing new, but the lower resolution in the recording is real, to help mask both the road noise and hasty recording setup. The episode is designed to only last as long as the commute, but I think your driver in this episode must have got lost since it went about twice as long as intended.
Here’s a quick outline to follow, as long as you aren’t also driving.
Sin (Eph. 2:1-3)
Without grace, there’s only one end, wrath.
3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
(CSB)
Left to our own devices, no one is capable of loving God
- “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? Jer. 17:9 NASB
- For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. Rom. 7:19 NASB
- because the mindset on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, Rom. 8:7 NASB
Grace (Eph. 2:4-10)
Undeserved kindness has been shown in order to be saved by grace.
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
Human beings desperately need a Savior.
His deep love and rich mercy have turned death into life. However, the cost of sin is far more than a sinner can pay. God makes us alive with Christ, by grace. Believers are saved to a purpose. We are raised and seated in heavenly places, with Christ.
Wait, saved by grace. What about faith?
Salvation is by grace, through faith.
- Grace is a gift from God, no self-works.
- The penalty of death. Paid by Christ on the cross.
- Faith. Our response after repenting
- Faith. A gift from the Holy Spirit, or else we would never recognize sin.
We are his workmanship, his work of salvation. Created to do his good works. Not that salvation is obtained through those works.
United (Eph. 2:14-16)
Man-made social constructs no longer divide.
14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh,
(CSB)
With the price paid for salvation, outsiders are brought nearby. Jew vs Gentile. Artificial racial labels like white vs black. They all have the same differences. They are Man-made fleshly, social constructs,
- Circumcision vs non-Circumcision.
- Those who are accepted vs rejected under covenant with Abraham.
- No longer divided.
- All differences are united in Christ. Reconciled.
What are some ways we can contribute to unity in the church?
- Sacrificially love and forgive others as Christ has loved and forgiven us;
- Hold tightly to the truth that we are saved by grace through faith;
- Examine our preferences and, if necessary, lay them aside to elevate and honor someone else;
- As much as possible, eliminate barriers to the proclamation of the gospel and eliminate barriers to the full acceptance of believers in the church
Credits
consider supporting the podcast through our Patreon page.
feel free to drop us an email, use the comments on the show note page, or call our voicemail at (401)753-4844.
Follow us on social media, and join us in what we’re doing there.
Twitter: @HPNCast
Facebook Page: @LifeTruthPage
Facebook Group: HPNCast Community
NASB.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
–>
“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:18 — 47.9MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Podchaser | RSS | More