It’s good to be a Christian & you should be really thankful because:

1.    ____________________________________ (v.12)  

It’s good to be a Christian & you should be really thankful because:

2.    ___________________________________ (v.13)  

It’s good to be a Christian & you should be really thankful because:

3.    ____________________________________ (v.14)    

     

Dr.  Mike  Fabarez    •    Focal  Point  Radio  Ministries    •    July  22  &  23,  2017    •    Msg.  17-­24    •    Social  Media:  #ItsGoodToBeAChristian  

Colossians 1:12 giving

thanks to the Father, who

has qualified you to

share in the inheritance

of the saints in light.

13 He has delivered us

from the domain of

darkness and transferred

us to the kingdom of his

beloved Son, 14 in whom

we have redemption, the

forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

Application  Questions  These  questions  are  provided  for  your  further  study  and  application  of  today’s  sermon.  Thoughtfully  writing  out  the  answers  to  these  questions  will  help  to  drive  home  the  point  of  today’s  study.  It  is  also  helpful  when  you  are  able  to  discuss  your  answers  with  others.    

1.   Read  Psalm  5:4-­7  and  130:2-­4.    Why  is  a  biblical  understanding  of  sin  so  important  to  truly  appreciating  God’s  

grace  and  forgiveness?    What  is  lacking  in  most  people’s  view  of  sin?  

2.   Read  Isaiah  53:5-­6  and  John  1:29.    How  does  a  reflection  on  the  death  of  Christ  and  what  it  accomplished  for  you  change  the  way  you  view  sin,  obedience,  service,  and  worship?  

3.   Read  1  John  5:19-­21.    Describe  some  of  the  implications  of  thinking  in  terms  of  the  two  categories  of  people  distinguished  in  this  passage?  

4.   Read  Psalm  103:10-­12  and  Isaiah  1:18.    What  counsel  would  you  give  a  Christian  who  struggles  to  accept  the  completeness  of  these  descriptions  of  forgiveness?    How  would  you  biblically  help  him  or  her  cope  with  feelings  of  guilt?  

5.   Read  Colossians  3:1-­4.    What  practical  steps  can  you  take  to  ensure  that  any  present   circumstances  do  not  eclipse   the  anticipation  you  are  directed   to  have  about  your  purchased  and  promised  future?  

This  Week’s  Bible  Reading  Schedule    

July 23rd Ps.38-40 & Ac.23:12-35 July 24th Ps.41-43 & Ac.24 July 25th Ps.44-46 & Ac.25 July 26th Ps.47-49 & Ac.26 July 27th Ps.50-52 & Ac.27:1-25 July 28th Ps.53-55 & Ac.27:26-44 July 29th Ps.56-58 & Ac.28:1-15 July 30th Ps.59-61 & Ac.28:16-31

Here are some books which may assist you in a deeper study of the truths presented in today’s sermon. While Pastor Mike cannot endorse every concept presented in each book, he does believe these resources will be helpful in profitably thinking through today’s topic.

Alcorn,  Randy.  Heaven.  Tyndale  House  Publishers,  2004.  Bunyan,  John.  Grace  Abounding  to  the  Chief  of  Sinners.  Reprint.  Baker  Books,  1986.  Carson,  D.  A.  &  Jeff  Robinson,  eds.,  Coming  Home:  Essays  on  the  New  Heaven  &  New  Earth.  Crossway,  2017.  Edwards,  Jonathan.  Justification  by  Faith  Alone.  Reprint.  Soli  Deo  Gloria,  2000.  MacArthur,  John.  The  Truth  About  Forgiveness.  Thomas  Nelson,  2012.  Morris,  Leon.  The  Atonement:  Its  Meaning  and  Significance.  InterVarsity,  1984.  Pao,  David  W.  Thanksgiving:  An  Investigation  of  a  Pauline  Theme.  InterVarsity  Press,  2003.  Schaeffer,  Francis  A.  The  Finished  Work  of  Christ:  The  Truth  of  Romans  1  –  8.  Crossway  Books,  1998.  Sproul,  R.  C.  Faith  Alone:  The  Evangelical  Doctrine  of  Justification.  Baker  Books,  1995.  Spurgeon,  C.  H.  All  of  Grace.  Whitaker  House,  1985.  Stott,  John  R.  W.  The  Cross  of  Christ.  InterVarsity  Press,  1986.  Tada,  Joni  Eareckson.  Heaven:  Your  Real  Home.  Zondervan,  1997.  Viars,  Stephen.  Putting  Your  Past  in  Its  Place:  Moving  Forward  in  Freedom  and  Forgiveness.  Harvest  House,  2011.  White,  James.  The  God  Who  Justifies.  Bethany  House,  2001.    

This Sermon’s Social Media Hashtag

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The  following  related  sermons  are  also  available  for  downloading  or  streaming  on  the  Focal  Point  Website  (FocalPointMinistries.org).  Msg.  10-­24  –  Exploring  the  Riches  of  Unearned  Forgiveness  Msg.  13-­08  –  Indebted  to  a  Forgiving  God  Msg.  07-­08  –  Taking  Hold  of  the  Hope  of  a  New  Start  Msg.  07-­10  –  Reaching  Forward  with  the  Hope  of  a  New  World  Msg.  12-­18  –  Guilt  &  Forgiveness    Msg.  13-­30  –  Apostasy  &  Stumbling  Saints  Msg.  09-­19  –  09-­23  –  The  Gospel  According  to  Abraham  (a  five-­part  series)