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A Fool's Guide to Following Jesus

Discover the privilege and responsibility of following Jesus through biblical teachings and practical applications. Explore topics such as diet and exercise for the soul, the birth and life of Jesus, and the role of the Holy Spirit in our journey. Gain a deeper understanding of your spiritual growth and develop a character aligned with God's purpose.

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A Fool's Guide to Following Jesus

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  1. A Fools’ Guide to Following Jesus Our birth and our life y Diet and exercise Privilege and responsibility Upward and outward Maturity and dependency

  2. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit Jesus preached by the Holy Spirit Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit

  3. Diet and Exercise Hebrews 5 11-14; 1 Tim. 4 7-12 What do you feed on? y Scripture? Caring? Prayer? Spiritual reading? Worship? Godly input grows godly character, thoughts and attitudes

  4. Diet and Exercise Hebrews 5 11-14; 1 Tim. 4 7-12 • do you belong to a gym or a viewing gallery? • what are your personal training objectives? • who is your trainer? • when did you last review? • which specific gifts are you developing? • is your understanding of the benefits clear enough for you to push through the pain barrier? • who do you want to become like? y

  5. A Fools’ Guide to Following Jesus Privilege y and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27

  6. Cenchrae • Paul’s Third Missionary Journey - letter to Romans written from Cenchrae, around 57 AD

  7. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 The reasons for Paul’s letter: • He plans to visit the Church at Rome (and wants to bless them!) • He wants to give a careful outline of the Good News to a church that has not yet had teaching from an Apostle • He wants to explain where Jews and non-Jews fit in in God’s plan of salvation • He wants to explain how faith is lived out

  8. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 The story so far … • Before we knew our need, God acted to put us back in right relationship with Himself • No-one is “right” with God apart from God’s gift in Jesus • Through Jesus’ death that we are “put right” with God; we “appropriate” this through faith • “Put right” at such great cost, we now live under the Spirit’s direction, not compelled by human nature

  9. Romans 8 12 So then, my brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to. 13For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live. 14Those who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children. For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God’s children, and by the Spirit’s power

  10. we cry out to God, “Father! my Father!” God’s Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God’s children. Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ’s suffering, we will also share his glory. 18 I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 All of creation waits

  11. with eager longing for God to reveal his children. For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope 21that creation itself would one day be set free from its slavery to decay and would share the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth. But it is not just creation alone which groans; we who have the

  12. Spirit as the first of God’s gifts also groan within ourselves, as we wait for God to make us his children and set our whole being free. 24For it was by hope that we were saved; but if we see what we hope for, then it is not really hope. For which of us hopes for something we see? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit

  13. himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. 27 And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will. • Good News Bible: Today’s English Version, American Bible Society, (1992: New York, NY)

  14. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 How do you view what has been done for you on the Cross? Your understanding of your privilege will affect your attitude to your responsibilities

  15. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 New Testament “Pictures” of our Salvation a new birth cleansed by sacrifice victory won the price paid the consequence suffered

  16. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 The specific understanding of the cross which states that “someone had to die” to “pay the penalty” of my sin was not formulated as such until the time of the Reformers … but it underlies much of our thinking today Your understanding of your privilege will affect your attitude to your responsibilities

  17. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 (this move is from Jesus, who is God, voluntarily taking upon himself our sin and death out of love … to God insisting on an execution before He can possibly forgive) Your understanding of your privilege will affect your attitude to your responsibilities

  18. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 Jesus’ death upon the cross then becomes a legal deal through which I amLet Off Your understanding of your privilege will affect your attitude to your responsibilities

  19. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 Let off! • Legal foundation • Logical decision • Intellectual faith • Obeying God • Serving dutifully • Rational gospel • (Emotions dangerous) Your understanding of your privilege will affect your attitude to your responsibilities

  20. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 Embraced and welcomed as adopted family members Your understanding of your privilege will affect your attitude to your responsibilities

  21. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 The New Testament Picture of “Adopted Children” “From Orphans to Heirs”Mark Stibbe, The Bible Reading Fellowship 1999

  22. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 The Picture of “Adopted Children” huiothesia … legal declaration of adoption “… the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God’s (adopted) children…” Romans 8 15 “We wait for God to make us his (adopted) children …” Romans 8 23 “Theirs (the people of Israel) is the adoption as sons …”Romans 9 4

  23. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 The Picture of “Adopted Children” “… when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son … to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God’s (adopted) sons and daughters”Galatians 4 5 “Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his (adopted) sons and daughters - this was his purpose and pleasure” Ephesians 1 5

  24. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 The Process • an act of kindness (not an obligation) “when we were still helpless …” 5 6 • chosen from slaves“… at one time you were slaves to sin …” 6 17 • chosen slave completely set free from oppressive life “not slaves … afraid …” 8 14 • all costs paid! “God’s free gift …” 3 24

  25. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 The Promise • becomes legally free8 2 • becomes as much a part of the family as any other member 8 15 • all past debts paid 1 Corinthians 6 20 • inherits from the head of the household 8 17 • different communication 8 26, 27

  26. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 My Privilege • simply from His great kindness • God chose me – a slave – • and set me free from all that bound me • all that this cost, He paid • I was set free – • I became a full member of His family • everything I owed, He paid • I inherit everything from Him • He now speaks to me as His child

  27. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 What is yourprivilege?

  28. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 Let off? Embraced and welcomed as an adopted family member?

  29. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 Let off? Welcomed in? • Legal foundation • Logical decision • Intellectual faith • Obeying God • Serving dutifully • Rational gospel • (Emotions dangerous) • Relational foundation • Emotional response • Intuitive faith • Pleasing Father • Celebrating joyfully • Passionate gospel • (Emotions essential)

  30. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 Slaves again? Adopted children?

  31. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 My Responsibilities? • I will honour my new Father, “relate” to Him, and live to please Him • I will live joyfully in my new family • I will not turn back to all that once bound me • I will use my inheritance wisely in ways that please my Father • Knowing that my Father wants a much larger family, I will tell (and show) everyone what He has done for me

  32. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 My Responsibilities? I will honour my new Father, “relate” to Him, and live to please Him • In all I do, I will show Him respect (a life of worship) • I will listen as He talks to me – and talk to Him, allowing His Spirit to help me in this (a life rooted in scripture reading and prayer) • I will delight to please my Father – not to win approval, but to say “thank you” (service)

  33. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 My Responsibilities? I will live joyfully in my new family • I will value each family member – because my Father does (fellowship) • I will go to family parties (Sunday worship) • I will share family possessions with other members of the family (giving) • I will help members of the family who are in trouble (aid; healing; pastoral care) • I will rejoice in suffering (faith; perseverance)

  34. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 My Responsibilities? I will not turn back to all that bound me • Because I now know how much it cost my Father to free me, I will not choose slavery again (holiness) • I will listen to His Spirit as He guides me and warns me (revelation) • I will co-operate with His Spirit in seeking to grow more like Jesus (the spiritual disciplines, leading to fruit of the Spirit)

  35. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 My Responsibilities? I will use my inheritance wisely in ways that please my Father • I will develop as best I can the ability to let God’s Spirit use me as He wills(gifts of the Spirit; ministries)

  36. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 My Responsibilities? Knowing that my Father wants a much larger family, I will tell (and show) everyone what He has done for me • I will not be ashamed to tell people how my Father rescued me (personal witness) • I will delight in people seeing how my Father has changed me (godly lifestyle) • because I was once a slave, my heart cries out for those in slavery around me (intercession)

  37. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 How do you view what has been done for you on the Cross? Your understanding of your privilege will affect your attitude to your responsibilities

  38. Privilege and Responsibility Romans 8 12-27 How do you view what has been done for you on the Cross? If your responsibilities are a duty, not a joy – turn and look at the cross … until you change

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