THE LIFE OF G.R.A.C.E.
“Right Relationship”
Sept. 4, 2005
Intro: Last week we started this series of talks on the Shepherd’s covenant. We dealt last week with the G in the GRACE acronym that stands for Genuine Accountability. Today we are going to look at the R which stands for Right Relationship.
In order to be what God has called us to be, and in order to live the life of grace that he intends we must begin by understanding that life is based on right relationships.
Life is full of relationships. God intended is to be that way. He created us as social creatures and he desires for us to live in community with him and with others.
Our society is crazy about relationships. We are a culture of relationship watchers.
***Power Point slides of celebrity relationships
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn
Charlie Brown and Snoopy
Today we want to look at how we move from the absurd relationship model of our society to the true covenant model designed by God.
I. Right Relationship to God
The first step in right relationship to God is to recognize who God is.
Scripture tells us several things about who God is. We must recognize these traits in him so that we can fully understand his uniqueness and his character.
God is holy.
Holiness means to be set apart, perfect, spiritually pure or evoking adoration and honor.
“Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain,for the Lord our God is holy.”
Psalm 99:9 (NIV)
God is completely set apart from man in his character, his attributes and his purity.
God is creator.
God is the originator of all life. It began in his Spirit and came to being in His voice.
“First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see.”
Genesis 1:1 (The Message)
The fact of all creation is that God is the originator. Everything you see did not originate from nothing. God had the thought, the power and the word to make it happen.
Charles Darwin himself recognized that his theory was flawed.
"The number of intermediate varieties which have formerly existed on earth must be truly enormous. Why then is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps, is the most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory." - Charles Darwin 1902 edition.
“…I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science….It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many flaw[s] & holes as sound parts.” Charles Darwin to Asa Gray, cited by Adrian Desmond and James Moore, Darwin, (New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1991) pp. 456, 475.
The point to understand is that if God is God, he is also the creator of all things.
“Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds; Praise, oh let them praise the name of God; he spoke the word, and there they were!”
Psalm 148:4-5 (The Message)
By recognizing God as creator we acknowledge his authority over our lives.
God is a lover.
God is the ultimate lover of man. He loves unconditionally, unprejudiced, and unfailingly.
“The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all those who keep his covenant and obey his decrees.”
Psalm 25:10 (NLT)
“But anyone who does not love does not know God—for God is love.” 1 John 4:8 (NLT)
God loves us so much that he gave us the path to reach him.
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 (NLT)
God provided Jesus to reconcile us with Him. In order to live in right relationship with God, we must acknowledge Jesus Christ as his son who died for our sins.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 (NIV)
Jesus acknowledged that he was the path to God for us.
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)
Jesus is not a way to God, He is the way. When we confess who he is, receive what he has done for us, and acknowledge our need for him, then we have right relationship to God.
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
The first part of right relationship is right relationship to God.
II. Right Relationship to Others
God has not only called us to live in right relationship with him, he has told us that it must be carried over into our relationships with others.
As Christians we are called to be models of Christ love to those who don’t believe.
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
1 Peter 2:12 (NIV)
Our lives as followers of Jesus must become a focal point for the unbelieving world.
Unfortunately what the church as a whole and Christians as individuals have modeled to the unbelieving world is not a fully functioning body but a dysfunctional family.
“Real People with real problems—your neighbors and mine—just don’t care about the things we argue and fight about. What’s more, they see all the arguing and fighting and decide they don’t want what we have.”
Bob Briner, Roaring Lambs
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 (NIV)
Jesus has called believers to be the touch point for the gospel in our society.
We are also called to live in love and unity with other Christians.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (NIV)
“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:23 (NIV)
The life we live together becomes an example to those who do not follow the gospel.
We are to live a life of love and grace toward one another to allow the world to see Jesus in us.
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)
God recognizes that we are not perfect, but he has called us to live in our imperfections and to love each other in our weakness.
Conclusion: How are you doing in living in right relationships?
1) How is your relationship with God? Have you accepted him as the one who is holy beyond all measure? Do you acknowledge his role and authority because he created you? Do you see him as a lover? Have you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus to become a child of God? If not, today is the day you can.
Dear Lord,
Today I acknowledge you as the one who is holy, who is creator, and who loves me. I confess my need for Jesus in my life and ask you to come into my life and forgive my sin. Please help me to live for you so that others may see you in me. Amen.
2)How is your relationship to others? Are you living a life that communicates Gods love to the world around you? Are you passing along grace and mercy and truth or judgment and condemnation for those who don’t believe? Are you living in unity with other believers? Are you committed to holding up the name of Christ so that he is exalted and praised by your life?
Dear Lord,
Today I ask you to help me to love others as you do. Help me to see those who don’t believe through the eyes of your grace. And help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ so that we can stand together in unity under the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.
