110116-0830-Loran Livingston - The Free Gift of Righteousness

2011-01-16-0830 Pastor Loran Livingston is the speaker this morning January 16th, 2011 in the 8:30 service.

Scripture: Mark 11:15-18; Romans 5:14-18; John 1:14-18

Topic: Grace

Notes:

- To young parents busy with children, etc... Feeling condemned, haven’t done enough.- To people who’ve been to the courtroom, doctor, fought with family... human beings with emotions indescribably bad- Jesus is as close to you now as He can possibly be; with you in all these moments- Jesus drove people from the temple, turned tables, moneychangers... lame and blind came to Him; 35 acres of holy ground held hostage by Jesus- False ideas: God loves good people, do religious things and God will respond, be faithful to God and He’ll be faithful to you- God does because He is holy, righteous and good- You can know church doctrine and go to hell; you first need a touch from Jesus- By grace we’ve been saved; nothing we’ve done deserves it- More people follow Christianity than follow Jesus- Prodigal son; older brother didn’t wander away but wasn’t any closer to his father- Perhaps repentance is a route rather than a requirement (for God’s love and blessing)- Story: garage floor epoxy, A & B.  Many people operating with A (truth) and not B (grace).  We need both truth and grace.