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HOW HAVE WE HELPED SOMEONE BELONG AND BE REAL IN CHRIST?

WHAT DID GOD SAY IN HIS WORD?

20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

Recall from Sunday:

As we acknowledge our sin and realize our need for rescue (Rom 3:20), we see God’s salvation through Jesus and place our faith in him (Rom 3:21-25a), and we are filled with the love of God for us and enabled to love others in the same way.

Reflect:

What are the most significant notes you took during the sermon?

What did you learn about God and his plans for us from the Bible passage?

WHAT DID GOD SAY TO ME THROUGH HIS WORD?

Have you yourself been saved? Do you trust in the unearned gift of Jesus’s death on the cross on your behalf? How do you know you are saved?

Can you explain the gospel easily, clearly, and winsomely to someone who has no church background? How often do you have the chance to do this? How often do you take the opportunities?

Being so deeply forgiven by God should change the way we relate to each other. This should especially make us into people who forgive and reconcile easily and often. How easily do you forgive others for their faults and harms against you? Does the forgiveness you’ve received from Christ impact the way you process injuries from others?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO ABOUT IT?

Pray for and look for an opportunity to share the gospel, or even part of the gospel, with someone who doesn’t know it yet. Ask God to bring particular people to mind to be especially attentive towards this week. People can only belong and be real in Christ if they are first “in Christ” after all.

If you are holding on to a grudge or injury, God wants to help you forgive. Bring that injury to God in prayer, asking him to help you forgive as you’ve been forgiven. As he enables you, take the opportunity to offer that forgiveness to the person who has hurt you. If possible, share that Jesus helped you forgive because he’s forgiven you.