Important Things: a study series by Wayne DeWaay

Important Things: Worship, Work, Marriage, Bible Study, Life by the Spirit...

Important Things: Christian Liberty.

Liberty in the Exodus. An Old Testament Example: The Israelites as slaves in Egypt and the freedom given them by God through Moses.

Christian Liberty, Part 2: Liberty in Salvation Liberty Proclaimed by Jesus Luke 4:17-21 Liberty from Sin John 8:31-36 Freedom From the Results of Sin Romans 8:1-3 Freedom is In Jesus!

Christian Liberty, Part 3: Liberty in Sanctification License? Legalism? Life!

Liberty = License to Sin? Galatians 5:13 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. I Peter 2:16 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Romans 6:1,15a 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?...

Paul's Answer to the Two Questions: Romans 6:2, 15b May it never be! John MacArthur: “...this expression is the strongest greek idiom for repudiating a statement and it contains a sense of outrage that anyone would ever think that the statement was true.”

Legalism, definition: A reliance on extra-biblical rules and regulations for holiness and sanctification.

Principle Verses on Legalism: Galatians 3:3 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Colossians 2:20 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees,...

The Resurrected Christ: Life Romans 6: so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.. Colossians 3:1 3 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

An Easy Yoke, A Light Burden (yet real): Matthew 11: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Paul's Exhortations to the Colossians: Colossians 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

Paul's Exhortations to the Colossians: Colossians 3:8-9 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

Paul's Exhortations to the Colossians: Colossians 3: So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone;

Paul's Exhortations to the Colossians: Colossians 3: Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Christian Perfection? Philippians 3:12 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Progressive Sanctification: 2 Corinthians 3: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. “This verse describes progressive sanctification. The more believers grow in their knowledge of Christ, the more He is revealed in their lives.” John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible

A Renewed Mind: Romans 12:2 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. “That kind of transformation can occur only as the Holy Spirit changes our thinking through consistent study and meditation of scripture. The renewed mind is one saturated with and controlled by the word of God” John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible

Working It Out, Working It In. Philippians 2: So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. “The greek word rendered 'work out' means 'to continually work to bring something to fulfilment or completion'. It cannot refer to salvation by works, but it does refer to the believer's responsibility for active pursuit of obedience in the process of sanctification.” John MacArthur

The Gymnasium of Godliness 1 Timothy 4:7b discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

The Grace of God Titus 2: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.