Mt 22:37 Jesus said to him: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind

Loyally Living vs Legalism (see Heb 10:1 Law and Legalism Part II)

Legalism = deriving a sense of temporal worth and value from external conformity to laws, doing or not doing what others do.

Living Biblically= Drawing on God’s grace to Know Feel/Value Do in relationship with God & His authenticated revealed will for my life

Intellectually: develop a Biblical lens, embracing God’s general perspective about life1 & His specific purpose for my life2

     1This world is not all there is; it’s the proving ground for the next. 2I can give God/myself grief or glory by my response to Him

Emotionally: my greatest good and delight is found in valuing unreserved heart, mind, soul, and body obedience to Truth

                Volitionally: training my self to habitually desire and do what God has revealed is in my highest interest, regardless of…

     If we’re seeking and doing God’s objective will, we will be able to know and do His subjective will. Jn 7:17; Phil 2:13

I. Learn the Truth

Dt 10:12 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Mt 15:9 in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commands/traditions of men

Eph 4:21…taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22  that you put off…23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25…for we are members of one another

II. Live the Truth

Since self-centered independence is the essence of sin, submissive interdependent service is the quintessential quality of holiness

Phil 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind. 3  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. BODY

1Cor 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Eph 5:21submit…in fear of God

Contented reactions to disappointments hallmark saints 1Thess 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

III. Love others with the Truth

We help folks move from self-centered lust to other-centered love  Rm 14:18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Loving others involves understanding the what and why of another’s “obstacles” and overcoming them with grace and truth.

Rom 10:2 I bear them witness that they have a  zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response

1. How does living Biblically differ from legalism? What gives someone the desire to live Biblically? What sidetracks them?

2. Can one be a believer in Christ and not live Biblically? Do most Christians think they live Biblically? How can one be deceived?

3. Is living Biblically an all or nothing proposition? How can we be living according to Truth in one area and not another? Motivation?

4. What are some of the most difficult Truths to embrace for someone seeking to live Biblically?

5. What can you do to ensure that you start and continue to live more Biblically in one area this week?