Timothy Keller Sermon- Justified by Faith

Timothy Keller- Justified Faith

"Justification is not merely an abstract theological concept. It is the sense of approval and belonging that every person desires. Justification is more than having our sins forgiven. It means that in God’s eyes, we are given Jesus’ perfect record. We are treated as if we had lived the perfect life that Jesus lived. We are given the love that Jesus deserved. We have the same access to the Father that Jesus has. The good news is that all of this comes, not from us doing anything, but simply by faith." -From the sermon page.

Romans 3:21-28 : 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

I wanted to find a Timothy Keller sermon on Galatians to listen to today because I have been going through his book with my small group.  I found this sermon which was somewhat similar to the word of Galatians and I loved it.  It talks about the freedom that comes with the gospel.  That no works that we can do will ever get us right with God.  Jesus has already done that for us.  That if we do works of service to get closer to God we're only doing them for ourselves.  They are selfish in nature.  They must come from a place of gratitude toward Jesus because of what he has done for us.  I love these messages because I think that it is something I need to work on, something I need to get through my head.  It's a learning process that I can certainly see growth in over the last 6 months.  It's great to be able to look back and see the changes God has made in my heart. 

LW

I always love the sunrise, although it's way better on the beach...

Today we had an ice cream social at work.  Not exactly sure what for but I don't ask questions when there is Graeter's ice cream, caramel and cherries involved.  Yum.

There's a storm rolling in!

I almost didn't go to Last Wednesday service at Crossroads tonight.  I had a few erronds to run, had to run home and shower but I made it right at the end of the beginning music.  I snuck in the back and sat all the way in the last row in the corner and I kind of loved it.  It was nice to just sit back by myself and enjoy the service.  No distractions.  I'm going to have to start doing that every once and a while.  Maybe just for LW services.  Great Service!

Starting Point: Sea of Glass

Click here to hear the message

I decided not to summarize these anymore because that makes me miss half the message.  I loved this sermon.  What if, like Abraham, all we have to do is trust God to be righteous in His eyes?

Genesis 15:6  Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Bridging the Gap

I've found myself in a funk recently.  Just feeling very tired and lethargic.  I made too many plans, ran myself too thin.  So at work I decided to pop in my headphones and listen to sermons all day.  I think it's needed to stay focused.  So I've already listened to 4 today this one is my 5th and I thought I'd share them on here and share a couple of my thoughts, what it helped me with to maybe revisit one day or to share with others.  This sermon is from North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia where one of my favorite pastors, Andy Stanley, preaches.  He has a way of putting the bible into very simple terms and finds ways to really apply it to your life in a way that is easy to relate to.

Click here to get to the video message.

This is more of encouragement to people to get into a small group.  It explores how important it is to be in community to be able to follow through with what we learn in church.

Matthew 7: 24 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. 

If you just sit in a church and hear words and gain knowledge and don't do anything with it even if you believe it and feel convicted it does no good if you don't put it into practice.  No real improvements are made just by listening or having these grand feelings of God in church, they are only made, God's faithfulness is only truly given when you are following through with what you hear.

James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

If you look in the mirror in the morning after getting out of bed, most of the time you will not leave the house unless you've done something to improve your physical appearance.  Why do we spend so much time everyday fixing what we look like out the outside but we don't do the same to fix what is going on inside. 

Stop sitting in rows and get in a circle, in community, life change happens within the context of relationships.