Sorry, but the audio is not available for this sermon. So you'll have to read the following notes out loud to each other doing your best Matt Broadway impression.
Righteousness
1. Positional Righteousness
If you are a Christian (one who trusts Jesus alone for salvation and follows him as Lord), you are righteous. Read Ephesians 1:7-8 if you don't believe me. God adopted you and lavished the riches of redemption and forgiveness upon you. You were moved from the unrighteous column to the righteous column in his book. When God looks at you, he no longer sees your unrighteousness but Jesus' righteousness.
You might be saying, "Nay. If you knew me, you would know that I am not righteous. I get angry. I get greedy. I get selfish. Etc." That's because you're still growing in practical righteousness.
2. Practical Righteousness
You are righteous in position (in Christ); but not yet in practice. For the rest of your life, you'll be growing into your new identity in Christ. Read Ephesians 4:40-32 for Paul's admonition here.
Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)
So what does it mean to put on the breastplate or righteousness?
1. Recognize, embrace, and rejoice in your new identity in Jesus. Satan wants you to feel unacceptable to God, overwhelmed with false guilt, shackled to rules, and ashamed of yourself; but you must remember that God has given you the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
2. Put off the old unrighteous self and put on the new righteous self. In other words, become what you are. Seek God. Repent when convicted of sin. Read the Bible and be renewed in your thinking. Grow into your new identity.
Discussion Starters
· Why would God, who doesn’t need us, adopt us? (See Ephesians 1:3-6 after you discuss your thoughts)
· In what ways does this study of heavenly adoption affect your views of earthy adoption?
· Which is harder, to accept your positional righteousness (Eph 1:7-8), or to grow in practical righteousness (Eph 4:22-24)? Why?
· Read Romans 5:19. If we are already deemed righteous in Jesus, why should we work so hard to stop sinning? (See Romans 6:1-7)
· Read Ephesians 4:22-24. What do you think it means practically to lay aside the old self and put on the new?
· Paul lists traits of the old self in Ephesians 4:25-32. Which ones resonate most with you? Why?
· How can we as individuals put on the breastplate of righteousness? As a church?
· How can you serve each other as a group in light of this passage?
· How can your group pray for you this week? Pray together.
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