Spiritual Form Exam #3

Spiritual formation defined in EGS

The process of allowing God/Holy Spirit to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ

Definition of salvation

Totality of what God has done in Christ to rescue us from sin and Satan

Have been saved from the penalty of sin

Are being saved from the power of sin

Will be saved from the presence of sin

Definition of conversion

Receive Jesus & Spirit, our response to God’s work

Observations about conversion

Dynamic encounter with Jesus Involves repentance & faith - Believe, trust, & act

Not just to get to heaven & avoid hell

Involves the whole person, not just the soul

God saves what God created

Conversion is complex

A closer look at Ephesians 2 8-10

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do

• God’s gift is the source of salvation

• Faith is not a human work - it is the means by which we receive salvation

• No one can boast because salvation is a gift

• Workmanship shows that we are God’s new creation & His masterpiece

• Goal/result of being created in Christ is good works

• God designed us to “walk in” good works

Relationship of Galatians 2 16 and James 2 24

We can be justified only by relying on the work of Christ and not by trusting in our own abilities. Real faith results in good works or it is not real faith. We trust God & live it out by our actions

Relationship between faith and works

We can do nothing to save ourselves, but we are to be active & involved in allowing God to do His mighty work in us

Sailing as an illustration of trusting and acting

When sailing a boat you are not passive but have a role to play, but are dependent on the wind. The Holy Spirit is like the wind, the sanctifying work He does is powerful & mysterious - we can’t control Him. Our job is to discern where the wind of the Spirit is blowing and know how to catch it

Three dimensions of biblical faith

Intellectual (Believe)

Emotional (Trust)

Volitional (Action)

God’s presence throughout the OT, the promise of the Spirit, & fulfillment at Pentecost

• In the OT, people were accustomed to God living in a tabernacle -> temple (Where God allowed people to experience His presence)

• In Ezekial & Joel, God promised there would be a time when He would pour out His Spirit on His people so they could know Him more intimately

• The fulfillment of His promise came at Pentecost when God began to speak & live among His people in power -> Holy Spirit lives in people

Series of “firsts” in Acts 2, 8, 10 and coming of Spirit, but Acts 19 not really a “first”

• Acts 2 - Spirit comes to live within Christians who are ethnically Jews

• Acts 8 - Spirit comes to live within Christians who are Samaritans (Jew/Gent) (Disliked)

• Acts 10 - Spirit comes within Christians who are gentiles

• Church is unified & connected in Christ by the Holy Spirit!

How Ephesians 5 helps us understand a Christian’s relationship to the Spirit

“Instead, be filled with the Spirit” The Spirit gets more of us.

Present tense - Ongoing/repeated filling

Imperative mood - Command to be carried out

Passive voice - Allowing God to fill us

Plural - For all believers

Single-stage conversion – baptized once, filled repeatedly*

Receive/sealed with the Holy Spirit once at conversion -> lifelong “filling”

Filling of Spirit in Ephesians 5

What is the problem that Paul addresses in Galatians and what is the essence of his advice in Galatians 5-6? (trace Paul’s line of thought in Galatians 5-6 as outlined in EGS)

Problem - New converts feel attracted to rule-oriented religion - it brings spiritual slavery rather than real freedom

Advice - Continue with the true Gospel, trusting Christ & following the Holy Spirit

• Jesus set us free from following the law

• We are not free to indulge in our flesh

• We are free to love one another - Love fulfills the law

• Follow the Holy Spirit who creates love

“Flesh”

Human nature in its fallen state

Stands in opposition to Spirit (Self-reliant humans against God)

Tendency to do life apart from God (Legalism[rules] or Libertinism[abandon rules])

How to translate Eph. 5:18

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit

-> “Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit right now as the Lord has commanded you. The Lord will continue to fill me each day as I follow Him.”;

Works of flesh and fruit of Spirit

Works of Flesh - Chaotic & disjointed nature of evil

Fruit of the Spirit - Unity & harmony of God’s work in our lives

Nature of the church according to the New Testament

“Called out ones”

Community of every tribe tongue & language that belongs to Jesus

A congregation called together by God

Body of Christ, Bride of Christ, Temple of the Spirit, Household/Family of God

Focal passages on service (Philippians 2 and Jesus’s humiliation)

Mark 10:35-45 & Philippians 2:12-23

What are three reasons service is important to God

Pride & humility

Humility Def - Having a healthy, realistic view of ourselves, of others, & of God. Focusing on others rather than ourselves

High Pride - Thinking you’re better than everyone else

Low Pride - Thinking that you’re nothing - not thinking of others

Parable of Pharisee and Tax Collector as illustration of pride and humility (Luke 18)

The Pharisee thinks he is better than those who are sinful, because he does all the right things(pride). But, the tax collector was humble enough to know his need for God. The Pharisee relies on himself to do the right things. But, Jesus teaches us that the humble are the ones who will be exalted

How service helps to cultivate humility

“When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of others and is, for the most part, a hidden work, a deep change occurs in our spirits”

Four main biblical images of the church in the NT

Body of Christ

Bride of Christ

Temple of the Spirit

Household/Family of God

Seven Essentials to Spiritual Growth

Must have a belief system (Truth, Convictions, Biblical worldview)

People that show you what it looks like in real life (teachers, mentors, examples)

Community (people you’re journeying with) (Church)

Habits, practices, traditions regardless of how you feel (realistic, not effort)

We can control our responses to our circumstances

Humility/teachability/self-denial/submission to Spirit(Giving God space)

Time - it takes time for God to work!