Key Points:

• The mystery of our faith becomes the reality of our lives by the power of God’s grace.
• Because Christ has died, we have died to sin and our old life.
• Because Christ is risen, we are raised to new life in Christ.
• Because Christ will come again, we will reign with God in his eternal kingdom, which has already begun.
• We are motivated and empowered by grace to participate in the mystery of our faith becoming reality. Grace is NOT opposed to EFFORT; but Grace IS opposed to EARNING.

Reflection Questions:

• How are we putting grace-motivated and grace-empowered effort into living out the mystery of our faith? Dying to sin and self? Living in the power of resurrection? Participating in the coming of God’s Kingdom?

Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 1:2 AMP
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 50, 52
• Romans 6:1-3, 12, 14
• Ephesians 2:1-5
• Colossians 3:1-10

Key Points:

• Not only is God speaking to and leading us, but we can grow in our confidence that we are accurately and consistently discerning God's will for our lives.
• Receiving REVELATION through God's Spirit is distinct from acquiring INFORMATION / KNOWLEDGE.
• The Holy Spirit reveals who God is in Jesus Christ.
• The Holy Spirit reveals what God has done in Jesus Christ.
• The Holy Spirit reveals who we are becoming in Jesus Christ.

Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
• Romans 12:2
• Ephesians 1:17-19

Key Points:

• The wisdom and power of the world exalts self-sufficiency, worldly wisdom, impressive power, and freedom to do whatever we want.
• The wisdom and power of the gospel is Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
• Living according to the wisdom and power of the cross is mutually exclusive with living according to the wisdom and power of the world.
• Being made righteous in Christ is mutually exclusive with earning a right relationship with God.
• Receiving the gift of holiness (ie. transformation) in Christ is mutually exclusive with pursuing self-centered happiness.
• Receiving the gift of redemption in Christ is mutually exclusive with slavery to the familiar bonds of sin and its consequences.

Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 1:26 - 2:6
• Romans 3:21-25
• Romans 8:1-4, 10-11, 28