Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 31 October 2021
We can't buy Grace
Scripture References: Romans 1:16-17, Psalms 31:1-24, Romans 3:21-26
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CloseThe world of the Middle Ages (we are talking the 1400s-1500s) was a world gripped by fear and uncertainty. In the midst of this fear, the growing corruption and authoritarianism of the Church was questioned and people were looking for some security, some assurance. Does that sound familiar? Martin Luther, a monk in Germany, was gripped by the same fears as the wider world. Driven back to his Bible, through reading Psalm 31 and Romans 1:16-17 (amongst many other parts of the Bible), Luther was brought to know God as he is – revealed in Jesus. God was not capricious, violent or of unmitigated judgement. God was just and gracious and merciful. His righteousness was not his wrath to be appeased by deeds, but his salvation to be received by faith alone, through Christ alone, because of God’s grace alone, revealed in the Scriptures alone. Does that sound familiar?
Scripture References: Romans 1:16-17, Psalms 31:1-24, Romans 3:21-26
From Series: Service - Sunday Morning, Miscellaneous | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
Our Dysfunction and God's GraceBernard Gabbott - Sunday, 5 November 2023Genesis 38:1-30 |
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We can't buy GraceBernard Gabbott - Sunday, 31 October 2021Romans 1:16-17 |
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God's outrageous graceBen Connelly - Sunday, 22 August 2021Isaiah 53:1-6 |
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God's Faithful GraceBernard Gabbott - Sunday, 2 May 2021Genesis 21:1-34 |
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Staying Saved: Continuing as we began with the only Gospel of GraceBrent Weightman - Sunday, 20 January 2019 |
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A Model of Mercy, Grace and ForgivenessAndrew McClenaghan - Sunday, 23 September 2018 |
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Esther is such an exciting story! There are evil plots. There are interesting yet flawed characters. There is risk and sacrifice. There is heroism and villainy. Today, we are introduced to the villain of the plot, and what an evil scheming villain he is! He spins lies and concocts murderous plans to do away with the Jews, God’s covenant people. How will the people respond? Will he get away with his evil plan? Will God, who is not mentioned at all, intervene to protect His people, to live up to the promises He made to Abraham, the people at Mt Sinai, and to David?
There is so much that sounds familiar in these first two chapters of Esther: the world is dominated by loud and brash and imposing and degraded power, the people of God are small and struggling and faced with ambiguous decisions and actions and God seems so far away he is almost absent (at least to our minds and hearts). As we read this book, we will need God’s revelation to help us navigate its strangeness, its ambiguity, and its confrontational narrative. In this, we have the key to the book—the lack of God’s name in letters does not mean the lack of God’s presence.
He is risen! This morning we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The tomb is empty, the power of sin and death has been defeated. It is fitting that if Jesus’ last words were “it is finished” than His first words to His followers are “peace be with you”. But this is no ordinary greeting. The work of Jesus, His life, death, burial and resurrection is the grounds on which our relationship with God can be restored. The brokenness and rebellion that once plagued our lives has been dealt with. It’s no wonder that Jesus’ words are “peace be with you”. Jesus doesn’t give peace as the world does, nor does He promise a life free from trouble. But He does promise life to the full. God promises Shalom, complete wholeness in relationship with Himself through Jesus. That is something to celebrate!
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