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Transforming Grace
Discussion Guide, Chapter 4: Compelled by Love
Central Idea: When we understand God's magnificent and boundless grace, we become
motivated by gratitude and love to respond with a life devoted to Him.
Warm-Up Question
Think about some of the people you come in contact regularly (neighbors, workmates,
family, friends, acquantances). What appear to be the basic motives behind why they live
and act the way they do, and why they make the decisions they make?
- Why does grace force us to examine our motives
?
- Because we know there has to be a reason for every action, and that man inherently seeks
meaning in life. We tend to be motivated out of duty, obligation, or simply a desire for
self-worth.
- Quote (John Wesley): "If we take grace too seriously … it would undermine our
only basis for pursuing a holy life: fear of punishment and hope of rewards."
- Why do you think a misunderstanding of grace can lead to a sense of despair
?
- Because it puts pressure on me to perform, and I will never know if I’m good
enough.
- We’re trying to climb up a slippery slope blind-folded.
- Why do you think a misunderstanding of grace can lead to a license for immorality
?
- Read Jude 4. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have
secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into
a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
- Because of a misunderstanding of Rom 5:20. The law was added so that the trespass
might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
- Read Rom 6:1-2. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
- Why was Paul asking this rhetorical question
?
- What was Paul’s basis for saying "No"
?
- Read Gal 6:13. You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom
to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Why do we confuse
freedom to obey with freedom to sin?
- SG #1.a: Does God care about our motives? Why
?
- Read 1 Chr 28:9a. And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and
serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every
heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
- What does this verse tell you about the link between our motives and our total devotion
and commitment
?
- Read Pr 16:2. All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the
LORD.
- What does this verse tell you about the difference between what man considers important,
and what God considers important
?
- Read 1 Cor 4:5. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord
comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of
men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- What does this verse tell you about the link between motives and our tendency to judge
others
?
- Why does God care about our motives more than our actions and deeds
?
- Because our motives form the very core of our being. God wants us, not our
actions.
- Read Ps 51:16-17. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not
take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken
and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
- SG #2: How does an understanding of God’s grace help give us the right motives
for the way we live?
- Understanding grace totally removes any sense of entitlement to blessings or any
obligation of God’s favor toward us.
- Since God made man with the search for meaning and self-worth, and since grace
"knocks the wind out of our own sails," we are forced to find another
reason to obey God: Gratitude in past grace and faith in future grace.
- SG #3.a: How do our motives affect the outcome of what we do?
- When we obey out duty, obligation, or "payment" for blessings, we are obeying
for our own glory. We put "hooks" or "conditions" in our actions that
actually end up glorifying ourselves in the long run. We seek reciprocity ("return
receipt requested"), and with this attitude, we tend to ask ourselves
"What’s in it for me?"
- SG #3.b: Does anybody have an example of a situation where a person did something
good, but with the wrong motives, and it eventually undermined the entire action?
- SG #7: Seriously think about the answers to the following questions. Examine yourself.
- Why do you pray?
- Why do you read and study the Bible?
- Why do you praise and worship God in church?
- Why do you memorize Scripture?
- Why do you build relationships with nonChristians?
- Why do you help younger Christians grow?
- Why do you fellowship with other believers?
- Why do you serve others?
- Why do you give financially to God?
- SG #4.a: What are some bad motives to obeying God?
- Read Jn 12:42-43. Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.
But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put
out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
- Read Gal 6:12-13. Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to
compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted
for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want
you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.
- Read Eph 2:8-9. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
- Col 2:20-23. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why,
as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do
not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they
are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance
of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment
of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
- SG #5.a: What are some Godly motives that should be driving our actions?
- Read Rom 12:1. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of
worship.
- Read 2 Cor 5:14-15. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one
died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should
no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
- Read 2 Cor 7:1. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves
from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence
for God.
- Read Col 3:12-14, 23-24. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear
with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive
as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working
for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the
Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Read Rev 4:11. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and
power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their
being.
- SG #6: Do you think it’s possible to keep your motives pure at all times?
- No. I think in our fallen human state, our motives will always be tarnished with at
least a hint of selfishness.
- How, then, can we stand daily in the presence of a holy God
?
- Quote (Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace): "The concept of the
believer’s union with Christ is especially important in the teaching of Paul. His
usual shorthand expressions for union with Christ are ‘in Christ,’ ‘in
Him,’ and ‘in the Lord.’ British author John Stott says those three
expressions occur no less than 164 times in Paul’s letters…. For … [the
concern] that too much emphasis on God’s grace may lead to irresponsible, sinful
behavior, the … believer’s union with Christ is the basis upon which Paul
refuted that charge in Romans 6."
- Because it was Christ who daily obeyed with perfect motives at all times, and we
are united to Him by grace through faith (Jn 8:29). The one who sent me is with me; he
has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.
- SGD #2.a: If a person does something even though he doesn’t feel like doing it,
does that mean that his motives are wrong?
- How are our feelings and motives related
?
- Read Lam 3:19-26. He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver. 14 I became the
laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long. 15 He has filled me
with bitter herbs and sated me with gall. 16 He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has
trampled me in the dust. 17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what
prosperity is. 18 So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the
LORD." 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and
therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his
compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I
say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." 25 The
LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to
wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
- Read Ps 42:5-11. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put
your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and 6 my God. My soul is downcast
within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of
Hermon--from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your
waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his
song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, "Why have
you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" 10 My bones
suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your
God?" 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope
in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
- The basis of our motives is in God’s grace—that is, what God has done, and
what He has promised to do—not our feelings. Fact is followed by faith is followed by
feeling.
- Key Verse: 2 Cor 5:14-15. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that
one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
- Quote (Kenneth Wuest): "For the love which Christ has [for me] presses on me from
all sides, holding me to one end and prohibiting me from considering any other, wrapping
itself around me in tenderness, giving me an impelling motive."
- What are some practical ways we can turn our motives to be more Godly
?
- How do proper motives affect our relationship with God
?
- How do proper motives affect our relationship with other people
?
- Increase in the knowledge of God.
- Col 1:10-12. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the
knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so
that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the
Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of
light.
- Think upon the greatness and goodness of God compared to anything the world has to
offer. Ps 73:25. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides
you.
- Increase in the knowledge of ourselves.
- Rom 9:20a. But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?
- Ps 139:2-10. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before
a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in--behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for
me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If
I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If
I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there
your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
- Jn 3:30. He must become greater; I must become less.
- Preaching the Gospel to ourselves every day.
- Quote (Michael Horton, Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude): "Since the law, though
good in and of itself, can never give us the power to perform what it commands, the Gospel
not only reconciles us to God in the first place, it’s the only fuel we have in the
process of sanctification. Therefore, gratitude, not fear of punishment or hope of reward,
is the only proper basis for pursuing a holy and God-glorifying existence."
- Quote (Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace): "The Gospel is not only the
most important message in all of history; it is the only essential message in all of
history. Yet we allow thousands of professing Christians to live their entire lives
without clearly understanding it and experiencing the joy of living by it. I believe part
of the problem is our tendency to give an unbeliever just enough of the Gospel to get him
or her to pray a prayer to receive Christ. Then we immediately put the Gospel on the
shelf, so to speak, and go on to the duties of discipleship. As a result, Christians are
not instructed in the Gospel. And because they do not fully understand the riches and
glory of the Gospel, they cannot preach it to themselves, nor live by it in their daily
lives…. But the Gospel is for believers also, and we must pursue holiness, or any
other aspect of disipleship, in the atmosphere of the Gospel."
- You cannot separate the gospel from the ethic. The ethic is based on the gospel. If
there is no good basis for the gospel, then there is no good basis for the ethic. If there
is a good basis for the gospel, then there must follow a good ethic.
- Live each day as if I was just saved! Preach the Gospel to yourself daily. It's
impossible to be a Christian and get completely bored with the Gospel!
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Prayer: Our prayer life is driven at its core by the simple Gospel. If it is not, then
we need to ask ourselves if we are praying to the one true God. Conversely, a greater
understanding of the Gospel can be sought in prayer.
- Scripture memory and meditation: Get the Word of God in our hearts (Ps 40:8)
- Witnessing: When we share the Gospel, we are forced to recall the message of Christ.
This also reminds us of our own salvation, and gives us more motivation to continue.
- Fellowship: We need to uphold and support each other in the atmosphere of the Gospel.
Fellowship is the sweetest in the midst of a great mutual problem (law and sin) and a
great mutual solution (gospel and grace).
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