Christ Church (Moscow, ID)

Every time we say the Apostles’ Creed, we confess that we believe in the forgiveness of sins. This is reasonable we might think—isn’t forgiveness of sin the entire point? Yes, it is the entire point, but it is also part of the point that this forgiveness is entirely grace, and must never be considered an entitlement. It is not something we deserve. And remembering this is tougher than it looks.

1) How are we to understand and imitate Paul’s striving? – What is the difference between Justification and Sanctification?2) How does this represent maturity of mind for the Christian? – What does constant use look like?3) What’s so important about citizenship? – How is this linked to being “led by the Spirit of God” as sons of God?

In this famous section of Proverbs, the father exhorts his son, “forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments” (Prov. 3:1), with the promise of length of days, long life, and peace (Prov. 3:2). How can a human father, a fallen, fallible father say such a thing? We see something perhaps equally puzzling in Paul’s repeated use of the phrase “my gospel” (Rom. 2:16, 16:25, 2 Tim. 2:8). Couldn’t this be confusing? Doesn’t this seem a little arrogant?

In a recent article entitled, Shame Storm, a writer chronicles how true and false accusations of wrong doing combined with the internet and social media have mixed together to create storms of shame: One person commented on a situation, “I think nobody has quite figured out what should happen in cases like his, where you have been legally acquitted but you are still judged as undesirable in public opinion, and how far that should go, how long that should last.” The author continues: “No one has yet figured out what rules should govern the new frontiers of public shaming that the Internet has opened… Shame is now both global and permanent, to a degree unprecedented in human history. No more moving to the next town to escape your bad name. However far you go and however long you wait, your disgrace is only ever a Google search away.”We live in a world that has become shameful– literally, we have done shameful things, we feel shame, we are afraid of being exposed, and we are frequently driven by avoidance of shame. But the Bible speaks to this situation, and the gospel is good news and good courage for this.

The Glory Behind Unity (John 17:22-23)Being made perfectTestimony to the worldManifestation of God’s loveThe Mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5-8)Common purposeCommon SpiritCommon humility and sufferingThe Road to Like-mindedness (Gal. 2:20, Phil. 2:12-13)New identity in ChristWorking out our salvation in fear and tremblingGod working out my salvationThe Outcome of Belief and Obedience (Phil. 2:9-11, 2:14-15)Shine as lightsChrist’s gloryOur glory in Christ

Hospitality is one of the basic Christian duties. It is a central duty because it embodies the gospel of Jesus. At the same time, because it ought to embody the gospel, it is worth thinking through carefully so that we are not thoughtlessly embodying a false or distorted gospel.