II. The Garden Concept Problem—The Misunderstanding of Grace: “God’s Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.” (Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy) Grace Defined: “God’s empowering presence enabling us to be all we were created to be and enabling us to do all we were created to do.” (James Ryle)

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self- controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2: What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 1 Cor. 3:5-9

A. The Seed of God (God’s Job) No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 …one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. Hebrews 7:16

B. The Watering & Weeding (Our Job) 1.Watering (nourishment) “What are the habits? Who are the people? Where are the places? …that nourish the Seed of God? 2.Weeding (removing the hindrances)  Stop Blame shifting  Stop Rationalizing COME OUT OF DENIAL Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:1-2