GLORI(FIED)

Sunday, October 26, 2008

OPENING

Define/explain the following movements of our salvation:

• Petrified:

• Justified:

• Sanctified:

• Glorified:

Digging Deeper:

Read the following passages and discuss each part:

• What is being said and what does it mean for our lives?

Romans 8:18-30. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us...

19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God...

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies...

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified...

Connection Group Questions:

Glorification is the endgame of this wonderful gift of salvation. This refers to that time when, at Christ's return, all believers, both living and dead, will have the full and final redemption of their bodies and reach their final state– glorification in Jesus. The process of our regeneration, justification and sanctification will reach its final goal. We will be saved not just from the power of sin, but from the presence of sin. Even death itself will be swallowed in victory.

Glorification is the believer's hope- for the present and the future. It is a comfort in this fallen world where sin continues to wreak havoc on creation and in our lives. God is working even now to purify His children in preparation for our future glory. In a real way we are already glorified, secure in Jesus, evermore a child of God. But at Christ's return God will make all things right and keep it that way for eternity. We will live forever in the new heavens and new earth as glorified saints, enjoying all of the benefits of salvation that Christ has won for us.

• What are the potential "pitfalls" of this promise for believers?
• How can we apply the hope and promise of glorification to our world?
• How can the hope of glorification change your life now?
• Would you say you have experienced the glory of God?

SANCTI(FIED)

Opening:
It is important to differentiate between justification and sanctification. Justification is another word for salvation. Jesus gave his life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Believers are saved because of what Christ has already done. We can do nothing to earn salvation, it is the gift given to every child of God regardless of race, age, maturity, or merit.

• Would you say you have been justified through your faith in Jesus?

Digging Deeper:
Sanctification originates from the Greek word hagiazo, which means to be "separate" or to be "set apart." Sanctification relates to a sovereign act of God whereby He "sets apart" a person, place, or thing in order that His purposes may be accomplished.

When a person is sanctified he or she is being set apart by God for a specific divine purpose. The moment we are saved in Christ we are also immediately sanctified and begin the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. As God's children we are "set apart" from that moment to carry out His divine purposes unto eternity. Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."

• Are you set apart for God?

But what is the work of sanctification? What does it practically mean to be "set apart"? Sanctification can be described as an inward spiritual process whereby God brings about holiness and change in the life of a Christian by means of the Holy Spirit. The effects of living in a fallen world have harmed everybody differently. We all face different issues, struggle with sin, and past hurts of varying degrees, hindering our ability to live the life God desires for us. Once we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit enters our life to start a transformation process (progressive sanctification). He convicts us on areas that need to be changed, helping us to grow in holiness. We begin to view the world, people, and personal difficulties from a more biblical perspective. Our choices begin to be motivated by love and truth and not selfishness. For instance, we may have misplaced our confidence and security on beauty, wealth, and materialism, but God may ordain difficult circumstances to liberate us from these growth-hindering snares. The transformation process may be painful, but it is always motivated by God's love for us. Further, God promises in His Word to not give us more than we are able to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).

• How are you living a life set apart? How does this practically (or impractically) effect your life?

Sanctification is not about trying to be sinless in order to earn the favor of God. Rather, sanctification is for our own benefit. God commands us to pursue sanctification so that through it we may be blessed.

• How has God blessed you through your sanctification?

Read Romans 7:14-8:1. Discuss and consider the following questions:

1. What do you worship instead of Christ? (ie. what root sins do our surface sins point to?)
2. What does it mean to honestly repent?
3. How thankful are you to Christ for your salvation (justification)?
4. Do you struggle with moralism (trying to do it on our own)?

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Romans 7:14-8:2
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,^[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

JUSTI(FIED)

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Opening:

Last week we began to tell some of our "rebirth" stories. Continue to share where you are at in this journey of regeneration.

Digging Deeper:

While simplified, we are looking at the following trajectory of salvation

Regeneration- Repentance/Faith- Justification- Sanctification- Glorification

Now we examine our next step in the process of our salvation- Justification.

Simply defined, it means to "make just." Biblically, it is God's act of declaring us not guilty of our sins. Discuss this concept– what does it say about us, what does it say about God, what des is say God offers us, what difference does this make in our life here, what difference does it make for our eternity?

Read Romans 5: 1-11. How does this enlighten our understanding of justification? Who are the unrighteous? What does it mean that Christ died for the unrighteous?

It appears in scripture that a very real "fruit" of faith is this justification. What is the role of faith in the Christ-followers life? Read Matthew 8:5-10 and discuss this story. What would it look like to have an "astonishing" faith? What would you do with an astonishing faith?

Closing:

If you had faith, real faith in the promises of the Bible, how would that begin to effect your life? What might you attempt to God?

_____
Romans 5: 1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Matthew 8:5-10
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

PETRI(FIED)

Series: (FIED)
Sunday, October 5, 2008

Opening:
If any of you have kids, and if you feel comfortable, share some of those birth stories. Go ahead, try to impress each other- longest labor, biggest baby, etc.

Digging Deeper:

• The bible teaches that the Christian’s life in Jesus starts before we do anything- it starts with Regeneration or Rebirth.
• Read Titus 3:3-7. Without trying to go into this whole passage (there’s a lot), discuss the progression of salvation. What is the importance, place and purpose of rebirth? How does it happen
• Read John 3:1-8. We may not have time for the rest of this passage. Who is Nicodemus? What is a Pharisee and ruling council? What doe you imagine was going on in his life to bring him to Jesus? Is he trying to flatter Jesus? Is salvation a matter of knowledge, nationality or behavior?
• Discuss what it means to be born again- is this an offensive phrase? Is it helpful to understand the Christian life?
• Discuss the following definitions and feel free to expand:

1. Regeneration: the work of the Holy Spirit upon those who are spiritually dead, quickening the heart to spiritual life.
2. Repentance: To turn from sin and towards Jesus in faith.

• What is the importance of repentance and regeneration in seeing the Kingdom of God?

Closing:
Throughout the month we’ll be looking at the following “Order of Salvation.”
If you have time, before prayer, discuss:
Regeneration (Repentance/Faith)
Justification
Sanctification
Glorification

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TITUS 3:3-7
3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

JOHN 3:1-8
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.^[a]"

4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You^[c] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."