Two Stages in Gospel
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The Gospel of Jesus Christ, has two stages in it—
Justification and
Sanctification
—these two provides a holistic view of the Christian message to address both our standing before God (justification) and our state of transformation in God (sanctification).
Relationship Between the Two
Sequential: Justification often marks the entry point into faith, while the Sanctification represents the ongoing walk with Christ.
Complementary: Justification provides the foundation for Sanctification. Without grace, striving for Sanctification would be futile, and without growth toward Sanctification, the fullness of Salvation might not be fully realized.
Integrated in Scripture: Many passages (e.g., Romans 6:1-2, James 2:14-26) illustrate the balance between being saved by faith and living out that faith through holiness and good works.
This ministry is dedicated to maintaining a balanced emphasis on both aspects of the Gospel, ensuring that neither is diminished at the expense of the other. Unfortunately, many churches today focus solely on the Justification, which often results in spiritual immaturity, while an exclusive focus on the Sanctification can lead to legalism.
What is Justification?
Justification: The act of being declared righteous by faith.
The free gift of grace through faith.
Deliverance from Sin's Penalty: Jesus' death and resurrection paid the price for humanity's sins.
The starting point of the Christian journey: repentance, belief, and the assurance of eternal life.
What is Sanctification?
Sanctification: The process of being made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit.
The process of becoming more like Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Deliverance from Sin's Power: Through the Holy Spirit, believers overcome sin and grow in righteousness and holiness.
A lifelong journey of spiritual growth, and deeper communion with God.
Who is Not a Disciple?
Not a Disciple - 3 Conditions to Examine: Luke 14: 25,27
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:
Loving one's own family over God: - Caring Circle
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters
Loving one's own life over God: - Being Circle
— yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
Loving one's own will over God's Will: - Innermost Being Circle
27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Are you His Disciple? If you believe Disciples are spiritually superior to Christians, keep reading — there's a surprise in store for you.
Who is a Disciple?
According to John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
A disciple is student of Christ - Someone who spends time with the Word of God & Prayer in order to obey His teachings & to know Him better and love to walk with Him more closely.
Disciples are Christians: Acts 11:26
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Aren't we now witnessing that not all Christians are truly Disciples. Are you a Christian or Disciple?
What Discipleship is Not?
Discipleship is not a program, course, or book to be completed within a set period. Instead, it is a lifelong journey of commitment and continuous submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives—emotional, spiritual, financial, social, and professional etc.
Discipleship is not driven by a pastor, mentor, leader, or church. Rather, it is self-driven through the work of the Holy Spirit, characterized by a renewed mind and a regenerated heart.
Discipleship is not a checklist of common tasks to be trained on. Instead, it is a continuous and progressive experience of walking with God.
Discipleship is not about achieving spiritual milestones, accomplishments, or comparing ourselves with others. Rather, it involves:
Humbly examining ourselves through the Word of God.
Joyfully experiencing Him through the power of God.
Radiantly impacting others through the presence of God.
Cost of Discipleship
Ground Reality is
Ground Reality is
True Disciples will find & enter into the Narrow Gates: Mathew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
True Disciples will do the Will of God: Mathew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
True Disciples will practice Jesus Teachings: Mathew 7:24-27
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Sermons to Meditate:
The Narrow Gate & the Narrow Way - Paul Washer
It will cost you everything - Paul Washer
Cost of Not Following Christ - Paul Washer
Only few will find the Life - Zac Poonen
Not Seeking Kingdom of God?
3 Priorities to Examine: The Parable of the Great Banquet - Luke 14: 15-20
15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
Prioritizing Possession over Time with God
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
Prioritizing Profession over Time with God
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
Prioritizing Family over Time with God
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
Seeking Kingdom of God?
Stages of seeking Kingdom of God is beautifully explained in Mathew 13.
Click here Kingdom of Heaven
Seeking Kingdom of God has 3 Levels of Faith to Grow
Spiritual Birth
Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Maturity
Discipleship Framework
Discipleship is all about
Examine through the Word of God
Experience through the Power of God
Effect through the Presence of God
Engage with the Love of God
Engaging with a community in a meaningful and transformative way requires intentional preparation and alignment of our inner lives, our relationship with God, and the outward effects of this transformation. The process can be broken down into three essential steps, each of which builds upon the other. Skipping any of these steps risks engaging in a way that is shallow, ineffective, or even hypocritical. Let us delve into each step and its implications:
1. Examine Ourselves:
Before we can authentically contribute to our community, we must first look inward. This step is about introspection, repentance, and self-awareness.
Why It Matters: True engagement begins with integrity. We must confront our motivations, biases, and shortcomings to ensure our actions are not driven by ego, self-interest, or unresolved issues.
2. Experience God
Having examined ourselves, the next step is to turn to God for renewal and guidance. This is where we deepen our relationship with Him, drawing strength, purpose, and clarity from His presence.
Why It Matters: Without experiencing God's transformative power, our efforts may lack the spiritual depth needed to make a lasting impact. God’s presence ensures our actions are rooted in His love and truth.
3. Confirm the Effects:
The effects of our inner transformation must be evident in three interconnected spheres:
Being Circle: Our identity and character. Are we living as people shaped by God’s truth and grace?
Caring Circle: Our relationships with those close to us. Are we expressing God’s love and care in our immediate spheres of influence?
Sharing Circle: Our broader community impact. Are we using our gifts, resources, and opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways?
Why It Matters: Authentic transformation leads to observable changes. If our faith does not produce fruit in these circles, our engagement risks being hollow or performative.
4. Engage the Community:
Only after completing these preparatory steps is it time to step into community engagement. At this stage, we are equipped to serve with authenticity, humility, and a God-centered focus.
Why It Matters: Engaging prematurely, without self-examination, divine renewal, and visible transformation, risks hypocrisy. True engagement comes from an overflow of what God has done in and through us.
Avoiding Hypocrisy:
Skipping any of these steps undermines the process:
Without self-examination, we may act out of pride or ignorance.
Without experiencing God, our efforts may lack spiritual depth and guidance.
Without confirming the effects, we risk presenting a false or incomplete witness to others.
Engaging the community without these foundational steps can lead to actions that are disconnected from our true selves and from God’s purpose. Hypocrisy not only diminishes our witness but also harms the very community we aim to serve.
1. Examine
A call to Integrity:
True Faith is not merely a sure knowledge by which we hold as truth all that God has revealed to us through His Word, but it is also characterized by a heartfelt trust. We hope that everyone will be challenged to read and reread the scriptures to examine whether what we believe aligns with what is written in the Holy scriptures.
Click to Examine
2. Experience
A call to Reality:
Ask yourself 2 pretty serious questions:
Do you genuinely experience the Kingdom of God?
Has your life been transformed by the power of the Gospel?
Knowing the right answers or knowing what we should say is not the same thing as really believing or experiencing the things being preached. As disciples, we diligently seek from God what he has freely given. In addition to believing the essential truths about the gospel, disciples experience the transforming power of God's grace.
Click to Experience
3. Effect
A call to Causality:
After experiencing enough personal spiritual growth, Lets examine interplay of effect between the
Being Circle,
Caring Circle, and
Sharing Circle.
These 3 highlights the holistic approach to spiritual and relational well-being as modeled in Scripture. These circles interact to reflect the comprehensive transformation that faith brings to every dimension of life: the inner self, family dynamics, and community relationships.
Click to see the Effect
4. Engage
A call to Authenticity:
Engaging within community is a sacred responsibility. By following this progression—examining ourselves, experiencing God, and confirming the effects—we ensure that our actions are genuine and impactful. This process reflects the heart of true discipleship: to be transformed by God and to share that transformation with others in love and humility. We can't make a difference when we're alone; it's God's plan for us to work together as a group. The idea of coming together to impact others and glorify God reflects a strong sense of community and shared purpose. Working together despite our differences can lead to powerful outcomes, especially when unified by Holy Spirit and a common goal to Glorify God. When true followers of Christ fellowship in one spirit and mind, the effect is powerful and transformative.
Click to Engage others
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