Reflection
- Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Discussion
Jesus came eating and drinking with sinners, tax collectors and those detestable to the Jews of His day. For this, they denounced Jesus. John the Baptist came in the highest order of sanctification following the strict requirements of the Nazarite vow that very few Jews even attempted to follow, yet he too was rejected by the leaders of the Jewish religion. In that system, the Jews worked hard to follow all of the rules of the law, but they too realized that such a rigorous effort was doomed to failure.
Martin Luther, the 16th century month, and father of the reformation found the same struggle. The more he tried to make sure he had it all together, the more he realized he could not get it all together.
That struggle is where each of us encounters the offer of grace for God. In our weakness we see His strength. In our falleness we see His glory. In this contrast we recognize our need for a Savior and run to His grace with nothing to lose – and everything to gain both now and in eternity. For us the verse becomes true: To live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Connection
Tell the story of when Christ saved you?
What led up to that event in your life?
What were the days following that like?
How has your life changed since coming to Christ?
How has your family changed since then?
Expansion
God saves people by their faith in Him alone according to His grace alone through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone, not on the basis of any human work. All of the redeemed are immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit and justified before God beginning the transforming sanctification of the whole person the fruit of which is shown by their attitude and conduct. Having been saved by faith, we are justified in Christ before God, forgiven of our sins, and held eternally secure by Christ alone forever where we will one day assume a glorified condition with Him forever. From beginning to end the salvation of people is entirely a work of God to bring glory to His name.
Acts 8:27-30, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:1-10, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, John 1:12-13, Romans 6:16-18, Romans 9:10-24, John 6:43-45, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Ezra 18:23, Romans 10:10-21, 2 Peter 3:9, John 12:32, Romans 14:10-12