"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." 1 Corinthians 15:10
Mark 11:12-25
GRACE WHICH IS NOT RECEIVED IN VAIN
1. With the right expectations (v. 12-14)
• Good works are the F______ and E_______ of a true
and lively faith (Westminster Confession of Faith 16-2).
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
2. Right Worship (Mark 11:15-19)
"Their ability to do good works is not at all from themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. Also, so that they may be enabled to do good works, in addition to the graces they have already received, 'THEY NEED AN ACTUAL INFLUENCE OF THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK IN THEM TO WILL AND TO DO HIS GOOD PLEASURE. Yet are they not to grow negligent based on this, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless they receive a special motion of the Spirit; INSTEAD, THEY OUGHT TO BE DILIGENT TO STIR UP THE GRACE OF GOD THAT IS IN THEM.'" Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 16-3
• D_______to S_______, up the grace of God that is in them.
New City Catechism
Q42: How is the word of God to be read and heard?
A: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5
“[The fruit of change by the power of the Holy Spirit] will be reproduced in you because you are in the presence of Jesus Christ. You are not just becoming a nicer person or a more disciplined person or a more moral person. The life and character of Jesus - the King who ambles into Jerusalem on a donkey, then storms into the temple with the audacity to say, “This is my house” - are being reproduced in you. You are becoming a more complete person, the person you were designed to be. The person you were ransomed to be.” Timothy Keller, King’s Cross, p. 161-162
3. Right Focus (v. 20-25)
• Faith in God (not faith in my faith or family or friends or tradition).
• Metaphor in Jewish literature for doing that, which was seemingly impossible (v. 23).
• A grace orientation, which leads to a life of forgiveness.
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
“Jesus has a great deal of experience cleansing his temples, and you can trust him to overturn in order to fill with songs of gladness.” C. John Miller, The Heart of a Servant Leader
APPLICATIONS/OBSERVATIONS
1. Fruit is to be expected in the life of a believer (Matthew 7:21-23).
2. This fruit of good works is evidence of saving faith (Matthew 7:21-23).
3. Fruit bearing (good works) happens because of the overflowing of the daily empowerment/worship of the believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit.
4. Fruit bearing and the balance: dependent and diligent.
5. Fruit bearing (good works) is the result of our focus on the power of God. WHAT MOUNTAIN IN YOUR LIFE NEEDS TO BE THROWN INTO THE SEA BY THE POWER OF GOD?
6. Fruit bearing takes place as we understand the wonder and power of the grace of the cross.
“When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died.” Isaac Watts