Key Bible Passage(s):

I John 4:17 & 5:3; Ezek.18:23 & 33:11; Titus 2:11-14

Tier 1:

The hope of becoming more like Jesus is not just a hypothetical possibility. We can be so fearful of failure that we might actually never dare to aspire to what the Bible promises in terms of our experience of forgiveness and transformation. But the cross has more power to define us that our sin. This is the grounds of a careful optimism.

Tier 2:

The idea of absolution is contested in much contemporary Christianity. This is in part because the idea of someone being set apart to speak the Word of God into the life of the Church is contested. But similar to our need to be trained in the art of repentance, is our need to learn how to reflex into His grace in response to that repentance. The pronouncing of forgiveness teaches us to expect His grace, and to receive it gladly.

Tier 3:

What is our response to grace? We are confirmed and strengthened in all goodness. We begin to grow in our ability and desire to keep His commandments. Our devotional life deepens as we inevitably seek to draw others into this experience of forgiveness and cleansing.

All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works and merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood. This is necessary to believe. This cannot be otherwise acquired or grasped by any work, law or merit. Therefore, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us. ... Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls.

Martin Luther

Discussion Questions:

‘Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without repentance, baptism without Church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate’.

Bonhoeffer

What would our Christianity look like if we were merely recipients of ‘cheap grace’? 

How would that hinder our ability to grow as Christians?

What is ‘costly grace’?  How does receiving that help us grow as Christians?

and later in the session:

Read Titus 2:11-14

What is the evidence of having experienced grace? How do we know we are forgiven?

How does grace work to teach us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness, and ‘Yes’ to holiness?

What does Jesus want from us?

How does focusing on both of the comings of Jesus create a framework in which we live in a Christ-like way?

Homework

Over this half-term we have been working to memorise Matthew 7:13-20. You will have to keep refreshing Matt.5:1-26, Matt.6:5-15 and Matt.7:7-12 & 21-28 whilst you do this.

(we’ll memorise the whole of the Sermon on the Mount over the 3 years of DTP)

To Be A Christian, Q&A 149-151

How is your rule of life shaping up?