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At War With Grace. Introduction. There is an ongoing battle against a Biblical Perspective on Grace The war against God’s Grace has been waged for millennium This war is the result of two irreconcilable ideologies. Conspiring to Destroy Grace. Attempting to Discredit Jesus.
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Introduction • There is an ongoing battle against a Biblical Perspective on Grace • The war against God’s Grace has been waged for millennium • This war is the result of two irreconcilable ideologies
Conspiring to Destroy Grace Attempting to Discredit Jesus • Accusing Him of blasphemy (Mk 2:7) • Calling him the friend of sinners (Mk 2:16) • Accusing Him of being empowered by Satan (Mk 3:22)
Conspiring to Destroy Grace • Jesus refused to conform to their mold for the Messiah • “watching” – “as one who dogs another’s steps” (Vincent) • Jesus refused to be swayed by their hard-heartedness 1 He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. 2They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3 He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward! Mark 3:1–3 (NASB95)
Conspiring to Destroy Grace • The modern day conspiracy against grace is characterized by the same attitudes • Narrow-mindedness • An unbalanced view of Grace • Hatred of God’s true Law 5After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. Mark 3:5–6 (NASB95)
The Source of the Hatred An Unbalanced View of Righteousness 14As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. Mark 2:14 (NASB95) • Jesus demonstrated a compassionate righteousness • Casting out demons (Mk 1:23-28;32;39) • Healing the sick (Mk 1:29-34; 40-45) • Forgiving the sins of the paralytic (Mk 2:5-12)
The Source of the Hatred An Unbalanced View of Righteousness 16 …“Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” Mark 2:16 (NASB95) • The Pharisee saw these people as stained beyond cleansing • Jesus called them to follow Him • The Pharisee saw this as fellowship with sin • Jesus was saving sinners!
The Source of the Hatred Accepting the Penitent and Rejecting the Self-Righteous 17And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NASB95) • Jesus was preaching a simple message – “Repent and Believe the Gospel” • Repentance requires an initial realization followed by a determined action
The Source of the Hatred Accepting the Penitent and Rejecting the Self-Righteous 17And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NASB95) • Jesus was preaching a simple message – “Repent and Believe the Gospel” • Belief also requires an initial realization followed by determined action!
The Source of the Hatred The Pharisee 17And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NASB95) “Your sins are more sinful because my righteousness is more righteous”
The Source of the Hatred Grace Only 17And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NASB95) “Your obedience is more wicked than My sin”
Destroying Grace Tradition and Human Reasoning 18John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” Mark 2:18 (NASB95) • The fasting here refers to the Pharisees tradition of fasting 3 days a week • The disciples were being condemned based on tradition not law
Destroying Grace Tradition and Human Reasoning 23And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. Mark 2:23 (NASB95) • The Law forbade harvesting on the Sabbath • The Disciples were eating lunch • They were only guilty of violating tradition
Destroying Grace Tradition and Human Reasoning 25And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiatharthe high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” Mark 2:25–26 (NASB95) • They excused David based on circumstance • They condemned the Disciples based on tradition • They refused pardon to the tax collector based on hatred
Destroying Grace Arbitrary Prejudicial Reasoning 27Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27–28 (NASB95) • Holding the writings of men on par with Scripture deny the authority behind grace • Demanding our own terms for grace demeans the true power of grace(Jn 14:15; Lk 1:28; 1Jn 2:4-5, 5:2)
At War With Grace • The doctrines of men have always been at war with Grace • Labeling obedience as anti-grace destroys the divine notion of grace • Fortunately, the offer of grace cannot be dictated by the desires of men’s hearts not the narrowness of their minds