From Kim Winters:
Here is an awesome sermon by Ray Ortlund, Jr. which clearly explains the importance of gospel culture and how it is not enough to have gospel doctrine – we must have a culture that matches our doctrine, or we are sunk.
You can listen to the audio here.
Short URL: http://tinyurl.com/3k8jnnu
great sermon! I needed to listen to it twice- and could probably stand to listen to it a few more times again! I was so convicted on how I am drawn to efforts of self-justification and I really appreciated how Ray “brought to light” the sinful tendency to rely on my own efforts to make myself holy and right before God rather than resting on the work of Jesus. Ironically, self-justification is all about SELF, and the way to “break free” of that is through Christ and fellowship with others. You can’t establish a true gospel culture unless “everyone is in” and you are Christ focused and therefore “others” focused. Tough stuff! (But good stuff!)
I love when he talked about Paul and his pleasing men and God. When it came between himself and others, he pleased others (1 Corin 9 & 10); when it came between others and God, he pleased God (Galatians 1:10). This was an excellent point and one to be imitated.
Thanks!
I’ve had to listen to this sermon a couple of times to really digest it, but found it to be powerful. It’s a strong call for us (as believers) to see if the kind of “culture” and relationships we’re participating in match the depths of the theology we say we believe. His description of what it is live in a Gospel culture and the freedom there is in that kind of community is extremely motivating – I’ll be the first to say I WANT to be a part of THAT, but I am also a bit sobered by how far short I fall on my part of helping to create that kind of “culture”. Let’s pray that Christ would help us be a more Gospel-centered community of believers.