Scriptural Recovery : The Only Cure for Spirtual and Moral Deformation

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

TEXT: Matthew 5:1-2
THEME: Reformation
TITLE: Scriptural Recovery : The Only Cure for Spirtual and Moral Deformation
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The Goal of Reformation

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Moral Deformation
• Morality must not be based on human standard but must be based on God’s standard (Isaiah 64:6)
• Morality is not what other people say to an individual but what God says about the individual
B. Spiritual Deformation is the Cause of Moral Deformation
• The problem in morality is not about our relationship with others but our relationship with God.
• If the problem in our relationship with God will be settled our problem in our neighbors will be settled also.
o That is the reason why Jesus, Stephen and all true Christians can pray to God “Father forgive them”
o The only way we can love our enemies is because we have the right relationship to God.
C. The History of Moral Deformation of Israel caused by Spiritual Deformation
• Time of Judges
• Time of Divided Kingdom
• Time of During the Exile
• Time of 400 Years of Silence
Emphasis : The Casue of Spiritual Deformation that Leads to Moral Deforamation is Departing from the Scripture
• Joshua lived according to the Word of God
• God sent His message through the prophets for restoration of Israel – This is Reformation
• God use Ezra to study the law for restoration of Israe l(Ezra 7:9-10) – This is Reformation
• Jesus sent by God not only for restoration – This is Reformation

II. BODY
A. The Purpose of Jesus – TO TEACH
• Most probably Jesus popularity arises that time
• The crowd was composed of common people in Galilee as well as different denomination of Judaism
• These groups (Zealots, Pharisees and Saducees) have their own theology in so many ways
B. The Reformed Teaching of Jesus
The way of salvation is by grace The way of salvation is through law
The people of God are those who are spiritually bankrupt The people of God who are spiritually rich
The assessment of the law is from inside to outside The assessment of the law is only outside
Righteousness is from within and manifests outside Righteousness is showmanship

Emphasis: The teachings of Jesus were totally different from the Judaisers

C. The Postmodernism – The Same History of Old and New Testament
• The Philosophy of Postmodernism
o Relativism – truth for you is not truth for me
o Subjectivism – truth depends on me (opinion and experience)
o Perspectivism – your truth and my truth is part of the whole truth
o Pragmatism – it works therefore it is the truth
o Skepticism – there is truth but I do not know how to prove it
o Objectivism – truth will stand from ages to ages no matter what
• History of Postmodernism
o From Premodernism to Modernism to Postmodernism

Note : THERE IS NO TRUTH or ABSOLUTE TRUTH

D. The Goals of Reformation

1) to bring back the AUTHORITY of the SCRIPTURE
• time of Judges Israel did what they they thought is right
• tradition and other philosophies are authoritative during the time of Jesus
• during the reformation – the authority is philosophies and traditions also
• postmodern time – experience is the authority

2) to bring back the ACCURACY of the INTERPRETATION
• God sent His message to the prophet
• Jesus led the people to the right interpretation and understanding of the Scripture
• During the reformation they battled with the accuracy of the Scripture
• Postmodern time – there is an ongoing battle for accuracy of the Scripture against to those who do not believe and to those who manipulate the Scripture

3) to bring back the APPLICATION of the THEOLOGY
• During the time of Joshua, He believed that the right application of theology comes from meditating the Word of God
• During the time of Ezra, he believed that understanding of the law will lead to right application
• Jesus practically applied what the Scripture says.


III. CONCLUSION

Observe Christianity today, their view of truth is their experiences. Most of Christians today including the pastors misinterpret the Scripture and that is the great threat in worshiping God. Wrong interpretation leads to wrong application. Wrong application will lead to dishonoring the God of the Scripture. The Goals of Reformation will achieve its purpose: TO GLORIFY GOD.
Go back to the Scripture. Do what Joshua did. He listened to the instruction. Do what Ezra did. He devoted himself in studying the Scripture. Do what Jesus did. He exalted the authority of the Scripture. He exposed the meaning of the Scripture. He exercised the application of theology.
Every generation the Scripture is being misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misused.
Listen to what Paul said to Timothy 4:3-4

For God’s Glory
04/10/11