The Gospel Changes How We View Others

It's great to be back.

It is, this is a great place.

We had heard good things about it, but now we know they're true.

I think it was Yeats that said, there's no strangers here,

there's just friends you hadn't met.

And I think the truth of that really is in the body of Christ,

that it really is true, that the body of Christ,

that Christ breaks down the barriers between us.

So last week we were talking about, thank you very much, Ralph.

Last week we were talking about this good news about the gospel,

what Jesus has done for us, and how that impacts our view of ourselves.

We looked at how it really gives us perspective,

that it shows us who we are in relation to God,

that we are very small and sinful,

and yes, we are extremely loved by God and secure in Him.

But also how the gospel shows us that our guilt is removed,

it frees us from the power of sin,

that it removes our guilt,

and also that it fills us with the fullness of God.

And that gives us the strength to,

that even the desires for sin start to wither,

because we have full satisfaction in Christ.

And finally, we also saw that the confidence that we have in the future,

that we can trust God because He's proven Himself.

He's proven that His promises are good.

He's proven that He really does want what's best for us,

and is really willing to do what is best for us,

whatever the cost.

So because of the gospel, we have hope for the future.

We're just going to start with the same verse that we,

a few verses that we read at the beginning of last week,

2 Corinthians, chapter 5.

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

In the Church Bible, it's page 1161.

So 2 Corinthians 5, starting in verse 14.

He says,

For Christ's love compels us,

because we are convinced that one died for all,

and therefore all died.

And He died for all,

that those who live should no longer live for themselves,

but for Him who died and was raised again.

From now on, we know,

from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view.

Though we once regarded Christ in this way,

we do so no longer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creation.

The old has gone.

The new has come.

We talked last week how the gospel changes everything.

It really literally changes everything.

And if you look particularly at verse 16,

it says,

From now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view.

What we want to focus on this week

is how the gospel changes our view of others,

how the gospel changes our relationships with others.

How does it impact the way that we relate to the people around us?

So,

what we'll start with,

maybe recognize some common themes.

What we'll start with is,

what we saw last week is that the gospel gives us a new perspective on ourselves.

It shows us who we are in comparison to God.

And we talked about how the gospel kills our pride.

That there's really just no room for pride in the gospel.

It shows us that we're not the center of the universe,

as much as we like to pretend to be.

That we really are not the ones that are most worthy of even our own love and devotion.

That God is the one that is worthy of that.

That God really is the center of everything.

It shows us that other people, then,

are not rivals to our pretended throne.

Instead of other people being competition,

like,

you know,

if we're all trying to be the center of the universe,

then that's not going to work very well, is it?

We're all going to be bumping up against each other,

all trying to pull everybody else into orbit around us.

And,

we're always going to be pulling and fighting against each other,

if we're all trying to be the center of the universe.

But,

the gospel frees us from that,

because it shows us that instead of other people being rivals,

other people being a threat to us,

it shows us that they are fellow creatures,

made in the image of God,

just like we are.

That he is the center,

and that we all should be relating to him.

Paul says this.

Well,

let me just say,

it affects all kinds of things in our relationships with others.

And,

let me just take a couple of specific examples,

but it's not going to be exhaustive by any means.

But,

maybe the first one we'll look at is,

how does it affect our relationship with people

when they think well of us?

When they admire us?

When they see something that's good?

When they compliment us?

Paul says,

by the grace of God,

I am what I am.

And,

his grace to me was not without effect.

No,

I worked harder than all of them,

yet not I,

but the grace of God that was in me.

So,

basically,

if people notice anything good in us,

it's not like we can really even claim the credit.

Paul says,

by the grace of God,

I am what I am.

Even though he says,

I worked harder than anyone,

and yet not I,

but the grace of God

that was working in me.

So,

that frees us from the burden of trying to impress people.

It frees us from the burden of trying to bring people into our orbit

and make them recognize us

as the center of the universe.

It frees us

not to have to point to ourselves anymore.

Not to have to try to build ourselves up anymore.

It frees us from this charade of trying to convince everyone that we are the main thing,

that we are the greatest.

And that's a huge freedom.

But what about when we make mistakes?

What about when those things that are not pretty about us,

those things that are not nice about us,

come out,

and people see them,

and they criticize us?

I mean, we can't do the same thing then.

We can't say,

deflect the credit to God then.

We have to own that.

But once again,

what we see is that the gospel,

it kills our pride.

The gospel proclaims to everyone,

from the rooftops,

quite loudly,

if we claim the gospel

in our own lives,

what we're claiming is

that we are so sinful,

that we are so,

we were so wrong,

that what it took to forgive us

was the death of Jesus Christ.

This is what we're claiming as Christians.

We're claiming that

our sin was so bad

and so serious

that Jesus had to die

in order to forgive us.

And once we've admitted that,

then it shouldn't be,

we shouldn't be surprised

by the sin in our lives.

We shouldn't be surprised

when it shows up.

We've already admitted

that we're sinners.

We've already admitted

that it took the death of Christ

to forgive us.

So that means that

if anyone is criticizing us,

that means that if anyone tells us

how bad we are,

we don't have to disagree.

We don't have to defend ourselves.

In fact,

we can agree wholeheartedly.

We can even,

I mean,

if somebody wants to tell us

how rotten we are,

we can tell them,

look,

you don't even know

the half of it.

I'm much, much, much worse

than you think I am.

I'm much worse

than I think I am.

But that's a freeing thing

because it frees us

from having to actually

defend ourselves

or from having to pretend

to be something

that we're not.

Paul said to Timothy,

he said,

this is a trustworthy saying

that deserves full acceptance.

Christ Jesus came into the world

to save sinners

of whom I am the worst.

He didn't beat around the bush.

He just said,

I'm the worst.

My sin is terrible.

He puts it plainly out there.

And it sounds,

it sounds awful

to say something like that,

but it's actually

wonderfully freeing.

And it gives glory to God

because he's the one

that's forgiving us.

He's the one

that's changing us.

Now I have lots of practice

defending myself

when people come at me

with criticisms.

I've told my wife

many, many times

why she was so wrong

about the things

that she was saying

that I had done wrong.

But I tell you,

we need to realize

that the gospel

means that my sin

is already on display.

And that when my sin

is on display,

God's grace and mercy

is on display as well.

We don't have to try to hide.

We don't have to try

to cover it up.

We need to rest

in the forgiveness

that we've received

from Christ.

So we don't have to pretend.

We don't have to defend.

Now I realize

that if we're wrongly accused

of something

that's slightly different.

But still,

even when people

are wrongly accusing us

of things,

well now oftentimes

there's more truth

in their accusations

than we like to admit.

But even if it's wrong,

even if the accusation

isn't even true at all,

we can still say

that no matter what

people could bring against us,

no matter what the accusation

they could come at us with,

the truth of our rebellion

against God

and the seriousness of that

and what it caused Christ

to forgive us

is actually worse

than anything

people could accuse us of.

And yes,

his forgiveness

is bigger.

Now it's not that

we resign ourselves

and we just say to people,

well, yeah,

I'm a sinner,

that's it,

you're going to have to deal with it.

That's the way it is, buddy.

It's not that we resign ourselves

to just live in sin.

The Bible doesn't present that at all.

In fact,

what the Bible says

is that if we confess our sins,

he is faithful to forgive us,

but it doesn't stop there.

It says,

and cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

So we can come to people,

when they come to us

and say,

you're wrong,

you've done this wrong,

you've failed here

and here and here,

we can say yes,

we can own that,

we can say,

yes,

that's a problem,

but I have hope,

not because I'm going to try harder,

I have hope

because the blood of Jesus

forgives me

and the power of Jesus

cleanses me

from all unrighteousness.

My hope is not

in turning over a new leaf

and trying again

and trying to do it better.

My hope is the power of Christ

to change me

and to cleanse me

from all unrighteousness.

And we need to share that

with other people

when they come to us

with criticism.

We can own

the things that we've done

and yet we can own them

with hope

because the gospel

does something

that nothing else can do.

The gospel

kills our pride

and yet at the same time

gives us

supreme confidence.

Now usually

we put those two things together.

Usually if somebody

is very confident

that's because

they're very proud

of their own abilities.

But the gospel

separates those things

in a way

nothing else can.

The gospel

completely kills,

destroys

any hope

of our having pride

in ourselves

because it shows us

who we really are.

And yet at the same time

the gospel

gives us

the supreme confidence

that is greater

than any confidence

we could have

in anything else

because it's in Christ.

we have a secure

hope in Christ

that's better

than anything

we could have

in ourselves.

There's no condemnation

from God

so why would we need

to fear

condemnation from people?

Our security

as God's children

gives us confidence

to live

without needing

to seek the approval

of other people.

I mean,

everybody wants approval.

Most of us seek it

from other people.

But when we have

the approval

of our creator

secure

in Christ

we're free

from that

never-ending treadmill

of trying to win

people's approval

trying to keep

people's approval

which just

just goes on

and on and on.

But when we have

our creator's approval

secure

then that

puts an end to that.

We don't need

people's approval

so much anymore.

So the gospel

gives us

perspective.

It shows us

that the praises

and criticisms

it shows us

that the approval

or disapproval

of other people

are not ultimate.

It shows us

that we don't have

to pretend

to be something

that we're not.

We don't have

to defend ourselves.

We can own our sin

and yet we don't

have to try

to hide it

or anything

because it's

covered in Christ.

And we have

the power

to change

because we have

of him as well.

So the gospel

shows us

that God's

perspective

really is what

matters

and that God's

perspective on us

is that he's

loved us so much

that he's been

willing to die

for us

to give us

life

to give us

new life

in him.

He's loved us

beyond anything

that we can imagine.

So really

it's not just

perspective

that the gospel

gives us now

it's this huge

amount of freedom

as well

because all of a sudden

we don't need

people the way

that we used to.

We talked about

we don't need

their approval

so much.

We've looked to

people to fill

our need

for approval

that we crave

but God's approval

makes the approval

of people

seem pretty small.

We've looked to

people

to fill us

with the love

that we long

for

and yet God

gives us this

showers us

just dumps

this huge

amount of love

that is just

unimaginable

unconditional

amazing love

and he pours

it on us

freely.

It makes

any kind

of human

love

seem pretty

pale in comparison.

We've looked

to people

to give us

an identity.

We've looked

to people

to recognize

that we're

something great.

We've looked

to people

to recognize

that our

accomplishments

are something

significant

but when

the God

of the universe

is willing

to give

his life

to save

us

then our

significance

is not

in question

anymore.

And our

identity

as his

children

is secure

and people

can't change

that.

So we

don't need

people

the way

that we

used to

need people.

And once

again I think

here's the

unique ability

of the gospel

to separate

things that

the world

can't separate.

Because

we already

saw how the

gospel can

kill pride

on the one

hand while

at the same

time giving

us the

supreme

confidence

which usually

you couldn't

separate.

But the

gospel also

does this.

It frees

us from

needing

people

while at

the same

time giving

us the

new ability

to love

them like

we've never

loved them

before.

Now in

the world

those things

usually go

together.

If you listen

to love songs

and things

a lot of

times it's

you know

I need you

so much

I can't

live without

you.

A lot

of love

is love

of necessity.

Basically

I feel like

I really

need you

so you

fill that

need so

I love

you.

But the

gospel

completely

changes that.

That kind

of love

when it

comes down

to it

if you

love somebody

because they're

filling the

empty places

in you

then that

kind of

love is

ultimately

selfish.

Because it's

really about

the empty

places in

me.

It's not

about you.

And if

you're not

filling the

empty places

in me like

I expected

you to

well there's

a whole lot

of love

songs about

that too.

Those are

the sad

kind.

The breakup

ones.

But the

gospel transforms

that whole

dynamic.

Because what

it does is

it fills

our emptiness

with God's

love.

It fills

us so

much that

David can

say you

anoint my

head with

oil my

cup

overflows.

It fills

us so

much that

it fills

us to

overflowing.

So this

security that

we have in

God means

that we

don't have

to seek

our security

in other

people.

We don't

have to

seek,

try to get

from other

people the

things to

fill us.

But that

doesn't mean

that we

don't love

them.

In fact

what it

means is

quite the

opposite.

Because it

actually gives

us the

freedom to

love others

without needing

to put a

list of

conditions on

what they

need to

do for

us.

We're free

to love

others without

needing them

to fill us

up at the

same time.

In other

words,

basically,

we are free

to love

others the

way Christ

loved us.

Because when

he loved us,

it certainly

wasn't because

we could give

something back

to him.

Ephesians 5

says,

follow God's

example,

therefore,

as dearly

loved children.

Walk in the

way of love,

just as Christ

loved us and

gave himself up

for us as a

fragrant offering

and sacrifice

to God.

He gave out

of his

fullness to

people that

were completely

empty,

who had

nothing to

give in

return.

And now,

if we are

filled with

his fullness,

we can give

to others out

of his

fullness,

not out of

our own,

but out of

his fullness

as well.

I mean,

Jesus told us

to love our

enemies.

Now,

that command

doesn't even

make sense

unless you

see it in

this context.

Because the

way Christ

loved us

was that he

loved even

when we were

his enemies.

Enemies don't

have anything

to give us

except pain

and heartache,

really.

I mean,

that's what we

expect from

enemies.

And yet,

God gave

out of his

fullness even

while we were

his enemies.

So,

now we are

free to

love others

as well

without needing

a return

on our

investment.

So,

the gospel

gives us

perspective.

It shows us

who we are

and it shows

us that we

don't have to

hide,

that we

don't have

to pretend,

we don't have

to pretend

to be something

that we're not,

we don't have

to defend

ourselves even.

we don't have

to try to

win people's

approval

because God

already loves

us.

He's already

paid the price

for our sin

and he's

given us

the strength

to follow

him.

And the

gospel frees

us to love

other people

freely out of

the overflow

of what God

has given

us.

But I think

there's a bit

more.

Last week we

talked about

the hope

that we have

in what

God has

done that

it gives us

hope for the

future as well.

and that

hope affects

the way

that we

relate to

others as

well.

If you read

through Romans

you see

Paul spend

chapter after

chapter after

chapter developing

the gospel.

And what

exactly is the

gospel?

That we're all

guilty before

God but

that God

has given

Christ and

that he's

paid for

our sin and

that he's

provided a way

to come back

and to be

his children.

And Romans

Romans 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8 is

kind of the

climax of all

of this.

And it's full

of amazing

things.

That we're

adopted into

God's family

that there's

no condemnation

for those who

are in Christ.

He talks

about, you

know,

just,

he just,

it's full,

that there's

nothing that can

separate us

from the love

of God.

Do you know

this chapter,

Romans 8,

is one of the

most popular

because it's

so full of

just these

amazing things

that the

gospel,

the promise

that the

gospel holds

for us.

So then,

what does

Paul say

directly after

Romans chapter

Romans 8 · chapter mention

8?

The first

verse of

Romans chapter

Romans 9 · chapter mention

9,

the first

two verses,

he says,

I speak the

truth in

Christ,

I am not

lying,

my conscience

confirms it

through the

Holy Spirit,

I have great

sorrow and

unceasing

anguish in

my heart.

What?

I mean,

he's just

said,

like some of

the most

amazing

truth,

that there's

no condemnation

in Christ,

that we're

adopted into

Christ,

into God's

family,

that nothing

can separate

us from

the love

of Christ.

And now

he's saying

there's great

sorrow and

unceasing

anguish in

my heart,

like how

does this

follow?

But he

explains why.

He explains

why in

verse 3.

He says,

for I wish

that I

myself were

cursed and

cut off from

Christ for

the sake of

my people,

those of

my own

race.

The reason

he's upset,

the reason

that he has

sorrow,

is because he

sees the

people around

him.

He sees that

they don't

have the

same hope

that he

has.

He's just

been dwelling

on how

amazing,

how wonderful

the gospel

is in his

life,

in those who

believe,

and the great

promise that

it has for

us,

and this

awesome

security that

it gives

us.

And what

it leads

him to

is to

say,

I have

sorrow and

unceasing

anguish.

Yes,

there's great

joy in

the gospel,

and yet at

the same

time,

he has this

sorrow in

his heart

that not

everyone is

experiencing

these same

benefits that

he is.

So,

it caused

him constant

grief,

and the

more he

dwelt on

the gospel

in his

own life,

the greatness

of it,

the more

he wanted

other people

to experience

it as well.

In other

words,

really,

the hope

that we

have in

the gospel

is the

foundation

of evangelism,

that we

want other

people to

experience that,

whether they

are here,

whether they're

in Kosovo,

whether they're

in Derby,

or wherever

they are,

we want

other people

to see

Christ for

who he really

is,

and to

experience the

hope that we

have in

him.

And it

also,

you know,

the gospel

gives us

hope that

no matter

who we're

talking to,

that no

matter where

we go,

the gospel

can reach

those people.

And no

one is

beyond the

reach of

God's mercy

because of

the greatness

of what

Christ has

done.

No one

is actually

beyond the

reach,

and that we

can never

give up on

anyone,

but we can

rest in the

fact that

the gospel

is not just

words that

we say,

but the

Bible says

it's the

power of

God for

salvation to

all who

believe.

And I

think Paul

himself is

a great

example that

the gospel

has no limits

on who,

there's no

limits on who

can be saved.

Paul himself

had done

horrible things

persecuting

Christians,

and yet God

saved him.

We never

give up hope

on anyone

because the

gospel is the

power of God

for salvation.

It's not just

the power of

God for salvation

for others.

It's the

power of God

that is at

work in us,

in our

salvation,

constantly

making us

more and

more in

our day-to-day

life like

Christ.

Every attitude,

every decision,

every interaction

with others,

everything that

we are,

everything that

we do,

everything is

impacted by

the gospel.

Everything

should be

founded on

the gospel.

people.

And so

what I'd

really like

to encourage

you,

like there's

a lot of

other areas

that we

could have

gone into

and how

the gospel

impacts our

relationship with

others.

I mean,

we could have

talked about

how the gospel

breaks down

barriers within

the body of

Christ,

that all the

things that

used to divide

us,

you know,

Paul talks

about there's

neither Jew

nor Gentile,

slave nor free,

male nor female,

they're all one

in Christ,

how the gospel

brings us

together and

unites us.

Or we could

have talked

about how

the gospel

gives us

the ability

to forgive

others.

The gospel

has implications

for everything.

But what I

really encourage

you to do

is just to

constantly,

daily,

remind yourself

of what

Christ has

done for us

and whatever

we're doing

and whoever

we're relating

to,

that we should

relate to them

on the foundation

of the gospel

and when we

think about

ourselves,

we should

think about

ourselves

on the

foundation

of the gospel

and when we

do things

and when we

think things,

whatever it is,

everything should

be built

on the foundation

of what Christ

has done for us,

of who he is

and what he's

done on the cross

and what the

gospel means

in our lives.

So I would just

encourage you,

please,

you know,

take time

and not just,

I'm not going to

just say this week,

but every day

we constantly need

to be reminded

of what Jesus

has done for us

and we need

to build our lives

on that foundation

and that will

impact how we

view ourselves

but it will

also impact

how we relate

to others

and how we

do everything.

So that's

what I want

to leave you

with today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.