Two Parts of the Word of the Cross - Zac Poonen - December 8, 2013
http://rlcfchurch.org/two-parts-of-the-word-of-the-cross River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The word of the cross has two parts: one for unbelievers and one for believers. For unbelievers, it is the message that salvation is free through Christ's death and resurrection, which is foolishness to them because they prefer to earn forgiveness through works. For believers, the second part is the call to a god-centered life, recognizing that true discipleship means submitting one's will entirely to God's will, rather than merely living a morally upright, man-centered life.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Salvation has three tensesSalvation encompasses past, present, and future: we are saved from the penalty of sin, we are being saved from its power, and we will be saved from its presence.
The gospel is the power of GodThe gospel is not just a message to study, but the active power of God meant to deliver believers from self-centered living.
The main principle by which Jesus livedJesus lived His entire earthly life with one purpose: never to do His own will, but always to do the will of Him who sent Him.John 6:38
Serving without expecting gratitudeTrue service to God means serving others without looking for human gratitude or reward, modeling the selfless life of Jesus.
Forgiveness versus justificationForgiveness brings a person from negative debt to zero, whereas justification takes them further by clothing them in the righteousness of Christ.
God does not remember our sins unless we harbor unforgivenessGod chooses not to remember the sins of believers, but He warns that an unforgiving spirit toward others can cause those debts to be put back upon us.
Sins of commission and omissionAs we draw closer to God, our conscience becomes more sensitive to both sins of commission and sins of omission, keeping us humble and needy of His grace.1 John 3:4
The two aspects in Galatians 2Galatians chapter 2 outlines both being justified in christ as the foundation and being crucified with christ as the daily walk of abandoning self-will.Galatians 2:17–21
Moving from the law to the Holy SpiritBelievers who are led by the Holy Spirit no longer need the external constraints of the law because God's nature changes them from the inside out.Galatians 5:18
