Christianity Explained - Study 4 Part 2

Grace v Works

Last week we reached Study 4 in our series on Christianity Explained. In the first 3 studies, we established the 3 essential foundations to being a true Christian. 

The belief that Jesus is the Son of God with all authority including final judgment over us, that his death on the Cross was the only way to forgive our sins and that after 3 days he rose back life, proving he really is the Son of God with authority even over death itself. These are the 3 foundations to the well known scripture

Romans 10:9

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Christianity answers the most important question that we can ever ask. What must I do to be saved? How can I be sure that I am going to Heaven? Today we’re going to have a group discussion on what was covered last week on grace over works.

RC Sproul gave us a lecture on justification by faith alone using passages from Genesis and Romans. 

Remember, Abraham was counted righteous on the basis of his faith. When God told Abraham that his descendants would number the stars, it says in Genesis 15:6

And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him as righteousness. 

If you did Accounting at school you will have heard of double entry. Basically every financial transaction has an equal and opposite entry in the books. RC Sproul was the son of an Accountant and he explained the double entry. On the debit side we have our sin, on the credit side we can either have Christ’s righteousness or our own, there is no possibility to mix the 2.

However, if we try to pay for our sins with our works, we can’t as we can never be good enough, the debt remains. Remember Adam and Eve got kicked out of Eden for just one sin, we commit many sins.

Romans 4:4-8

Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

RC Sproul explained the  accounting word impute very well. If we place our trust in Christ and his death on the Cross for our sins, our sins are imputed to Christ who received God’s punishment for sin on the Cross. But there is a double imputation. At the same time, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us.

Basically, it’s the deal of the century. Only a fool turns it down.

Before we have a group discussion, we’re going to listen to the story of John Newton who wrote the very well known hymn, Amazing Grace which can soften the heart of the hardest sinner. We use this on our very own PCC Logo which is on your sheets of paper. 

John Newton Testimony of Amazing Grace

1. That none should boast
2. That God would be glorified
3. That we might have peace with God through Christ
4. That we might be free from sin
5. That we might bear fruit
6. That God’s love might be poured out on us
7. That we might have eternal life 

Group Discussion

1. Luke 18:18-30 Recap of last week - How do you answer the question « what must I do to be saved? » 

We must put our faith in Christ and his death on the Cross and believe God’s promise like Abraham did. Rather than trust we are good enough for Heaven.

2. Luke 18:1-8 What was common in the salvation of Ian McCormick and John Newton? 

What they had in common was a praying Mum 😊 The scripture emphasises the need to pray for others to be saved.

3. Luke 18:9-14 What was the difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector that led to one being justified? 

The Pharisee trusted his own goodness and was unjustified but the Tax Collector asked for God’s mercy and was justified. 

4. Luke 18:15-17 What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a little child?

To have the faith of a child, to trust in the goodness of God without question like we do our parents when we were very young.

5. Discuss John Bunyan’s chart on the flip side of the paper (adapted by Time Challies).

Note that if you are on the wrong side trusting in your own goodness and heading for Hell, you can repent, receive God's Grace and go on to Heaven ! This is the Good News of the Gospel

AMAZING GRACE Sung by Glen Campbell