What is the Law of God (HC 92-93)

What is a Good Work (HC 91)

A good work is one which meets the right standard, for the right goal, with the right motive.

I.    THE RIGHT STANDARD
    A.    The Threat of Relativism
    B.    The Demand for Autonomy
    C.    Man or God? (Acts 4:19-20; 1 John 3:4)

II.    THE RIGHT GOAL
    A.    The Right thing for the Wrong Reason
    B.    All for the Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)

III.    THE RIGHT MOTIVATION
    A.    Anything not of Faith, is Sin (Romans 14:23)
    B.    Delight in God
 

Invigorating the New Man (HC 90)

HC Q. 90. What is the making alive of the new man?
Heartfelt joy in God through Christ, causing us to take delight in living according to the will of God in all good works.

Invigorating the New Man, means taking joy in the things of God, so that we obey him more and more.

I.    WHAT AN INVIGORATED NEW MAN LOOKS LIKE
    A.    Would the New Man Please Stand Up
    B.    Made Alive Together with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-7)
    C.    Walking in Good Works Prepared Beforehand (Ephesians 2:8-10)

II.    THE POWER BEHIND THE GOOD WORKS
    A.    The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24; Romans 8:13)
    B.    The Renewal of the Mind (Ephesians 4:19-24; Romans 12:1-2)
    C.    Learning to Take Joy in the Things of God (Colossians 3:1-8)

Killing the Old Man (HC 88-89)

To be united to Jesus is to break ties with Adam.

I.       Would the Old Man Please Stand Up?
        A.     The Typical Understanding (Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9)
        B.     Not Self, but Man (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49)

II.     The Living Dead (Ephesians 2:1-3)
        A.     Dead by Nature (Ephesians 2:1-3; cf. Romans 5:12-21)
        B.     Doing What is Evil (Ephesians 2:2-3; 4:19-21)

III.    Killing the Old Man
        A.     The Challenge (Romans 8:13)
        B.     At War with Adam (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:5-8)

Repenting into the Kingdom (HC 87)

Repentance is a necessary work of God in us to bring us into his kingdom.

I.       The Work of Repentance
         A.      Defining Repentance
         B.     Repentance is a Work of God
         C.     Repentance is our Work, too (cf. Phil. 2:12-13)

II.     The Necessity of Repentance
         A.     Faith and Repentance (cf. James 2:14, 18-20; Acts 11:18)
         B.     Struggling with Repentance (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

The Necessity of Good Works (HC 86)

Because God is the one who begins and completes salvation, good works are a necessary consequence of his work in us.

I.       A Necessary Consequence
         A.     Not Necessary to Save (a Condition) (Romans 3:28; Galatians 5:3)
         B.     Necessary if Saved (a Consequence) (Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29-30)

II.     Also Necessary for….
         A.     Assurance of Salvation (Luke 6:43-45; cf. James 2:14-26)
         B.     A Faithful Testimony (John 13:35; Matthew 5:16)

Closing the Kingdom (HC 85)

Discipline is loving correction through which sinners are called to repentance and others are warned against falling into sinful patterns.

I.       What Discipline Addresses
         A.     Conduct (1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2:1-7; 3:1-6; Titus 3:10-11; 2 Peter 2:1-2; Acts 20:28-31)
         B.     Doctrine (Titus 3:10-11; 2 Peter 2:1-2; Acts 20:28-31; Revelation 2:12-17; 3:14-22)
         C.     Private (Matthew 18:15-20)
         D.     Public (1 Timothy 5:20; 1 Corinthians 5)
         E.     Those Inside the Church (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

II.     What Discipline Looks Like
         A.     Different “Kinds” of Discipline
                  1.      Instruction / Training
                  2.      Self-Discipline (1 Timothy 4:7; Titus 2: 6; Proverbs 12:1)
                  3.      Corrective Discipline (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13)
         B.     Goals of Discipline
                  1.      Correction of the Sinner (Matthew 18:15; 1 Corinthians 5:5)
                  2.      Protection of the Congregation (1 Timothy 5:20)
                  3.      Protection of God’s Honor (Romans 2:23-24)