Lesson 7 Notes: Grace Comes by Faith – RockTribe Connect Center

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

Session Seven Notes: Jesus Men Base Camp Adventure
Theme: Jesus Men live by Grace activated through faith!

Key Scriptures: John 1:17; Rom. 5, 6:14; Gal. 3:1-6; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Heb. 4:15-16; Acts 15:10-11, 20:17-22; James 4:6

Key Questions:

What is grace?
Why does it take faith to activate grace?

David Crabtree’s summary points comparing traditional or “mixed grace” with New Testament new covenant grace. See post “Do We Need Another Reformation?“

THE TYPICAL OR TRADITIONAL VIEW OF GRACE – MIXED GRACE

Grace is “unmerited favor.” It is our “get out of jail card”, our free ticket to eternal life, as long as we prove it so by our behavior and law-keeping disciplines. Grace (“unmerited favor”) by itself is not good enough for living righteously; it needs to be “balanced” with truth, or Law, or behavior regulations.
Grace is good for justification (God declaring us righteous because we believe in Jesus), but insufficient for sanctification for which we need Law or at least guidelines.
Grace is something we need to be careful about because too much grace is dangerous and will allow people to sin as much as they want.
The “Grace only” message is a “hyper-grace” message which is only a license to sin. In other words, with the “grace-only” teaching it is thought that one can sin all they want because “I am under grace”.
The Law (Mosaism) is necessary to help keep us righteous.
Only part of the Law has been “done away with”. The Moral Law or Ten Commandments remain in force for Christian believers. The “Ceremonial” and “Civil” laws are the ones that have disappeared.
When Jesus is talking about Law in Matt 5:17-19, He is speaking only of the Moral Law or Ten Commandments.
Faith saves but not without works. Grace always needs “works” for validation. Therefore we are saved by faith and works together.

The points of view listed above constitute the “standard” view taught by the majority of Christians. For the most part, if these points were taught in church, hardly anyone would object. Only those who have been taught the truth of Grace will refuse to be subject to them and live a fulfilled, righteous life.

THE NEW TESTAMENT VIEW OF GRACE

Grace is given as a gift from God to all who believe in Jesus.
Grace is given as a gift from God to all who believe in Jesus.
Salvation and eternal life are given by Grace only through faith only in Jesus.
Grace is God’s empowering presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Grace empowers us to be righteous.
Justification and sanctification come by faith alone in Jesus. Jesus gives us the Spirit of Grace (Heb 10) as a guarantee of our inheritance. ie. Grace (God’s empowering presence) both justifies and sanctifies us.
Anything (particularly Law) added to Grace kills Grace and is an act of unbelief that denies the work of Jesus on the cross.
Grace keeps us in close connection with Jesus and empowers the supernatural gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit.
Trying to be righteous by observing Law alienates us from Christ and causes us to fall from Grace (Galatians 5).
When the New Testament speaks about Law, it is talking about the whole Law, all of Mosaism. Jesus includes the Psalms in the Law (John 10:34-35)
The Law is not based on faith (Gal 3:12)
“Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Rom 14:23)
Leaning on Law as an addition or balance to Grace actually causes us to sin, and it neutralizes the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.
We are saved by faith alone. Works are not necessary for salvation, but a saved believer will produce the fruit of righteousness because of the Grace they live in.

In light of these differences and in light of the prevalence of “traditional grace teaching,” it seems that we do need to advocate a radical change of thinking = repentance
The greatest obstacle to receiving and living in the power of Grace is trying to live ruled by Law. If you now think that that means ‘lawlessness’ and ‘sinfulness’, you have missed what Jesus and Paul are saying. Grace, God’s Empowering Presence through the Holy Spirit, is the only means by which we can live a righteous, overcoming life.

J3s (Jesus plus three) = Three friends of the same gender who help one another follow Christ.

Check-in: I am feeling _ and why_________. Examples: Sad, Angry, Scared, Happy, Excited, Tender. Conclude with “I’m in.” Only take 1-2 minutes per person. Avoid giving advice, correction, and fixing. Listen and attune to one another.
I am feeling gratitude for ____and why____. 1-2 minutes
Quiet, Gaze on Christ, and listen to God. Write down the impressions you received and share them with your J3 or Breakout Zoom Group.
Ask Holy Spirit to reveal any area of your life that might reveal “mixed grace” or “legalism.” Examples include a.) judging self or others, b.) toxic shame or guilt, c.) performance orientation, d.) striving or anger, e.) self-effort or soul power, f.). anxiety. You are invited to practice “fellowshipping in the light” or transparency by sharing your discoveries with your friends. 1 Jn 1:7
Ask Holy Spirit to reveal how you might access God’s Empowering Presence (grace) through faith. How is the Holy Spirit encouraging you to change your thinking i.e., “repent”? Share what the Spirit of Jesus is revealing to you.