Sin Conscious or Grace Conscious

Preached by Ps Jude Blayney

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Matthew 9:9-13

There are two types of people that exist when it comes to belief in God. Those that are Sin Conscious and Those that are Grace Conscious.

Definitions
Sin Conscious = Focuses on escaping from sin.
Grace Conscious = Focused on rescued from sin and its fruit

Sin Consciousness
Matthew 9:9-13: the Pharisees and Sadducees lived life with a consciousness of sin.

• They lived life according to law and its legal requirements.
• Their life was governed by a set of rules and regulations.
• They see life from what you shouldn't do.
• They believe that the adherence to this code brings them the necessary satisfaction or wholeness.
• To appease their own souls they place the weight of their beliefs on others demanding that they follow the same steps.

Their struggle shows in their inability to follow through with their own beliefs. Jesus said to them that they put loads onto others they are not willing to carry or are even able to carry themselves.

This brings with it some tenets.

1. They seek signs for satisfaction. Matthew 16:1-4
   - They want some outward action
2. They are only able to see the sin nature Mathew 10:34 - They said Jesus could only cast out demons with demonic power.
3. They will challenge your faith and attempt to trap you. Matthew 21:35
4. They look for faults Mark 7:1-3
5. They demand everyone else to meet the conditions as well as themselves.

When we get locked in on this path we leave out the power of God. Some of the statements we can make that shows we are caught in this web of deceit are

1. 'Where have I missed it?'
2. 'Where did I go wrong?'
3. 'What have I done to loose God's favour?'

The main Greek word for sin is the word 'harmantano' (ham-ar-tan-o), which means to miss the mark. If god dealt with your sin then your missing the mark is dealt with. If we head down the line of 'were am I missing it we move headlong into law. Don't let the enemy fool you into thinking that God's favour has stopped because you missed the mark. We don't focus on sin we focus on god's grace.

Romans 4:5-7 we see that God imputes righteousness to us not sin.

Impute = to apply to your account. When God looks at us he no longer sees sin he sees His Son's righteousness applied. We are free to serve God because He applies to our life His life. He applies to our life, His strength, He applies to our trouble His peace, to our sin His righteousness.

Righteousness and sin cant co-exist.

We are blessed because we are forgiven. We are not blessed because we try to keep the law. His righteousness in us is what makes us blessed.

Each of these has at its root an over consciousness of Sin. You don't have to worry about your sin because the enemy will accuse you quick enough. Where you mind needs to be is how big, how wonderful, how all encompassing is the grace of God through Jesus.

Grace Consciousness

• We don't seek a sign we seek the sign writer.
• We don't connect through condemnation we connect through acceptance.
• We look outside of our ability to god's ability – ALL THE TIME.
• We don't look for faults we have favour.

Ephesians 2:8 for by grace have you been saved.

Romans 5:1-2 we have access by grace right now. We stand in grace right now.

Romans 8:5 for those who live according to the flesh set there minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according tot he spirit, the things of the spirit.

The Flesh here is the nature of sin. We can be Sin conscious and live according to that mindset. As Christians we can lie always looking for Sin in our lives.

The Spirit works in us and thus here means the grace of God. When we live according to the spirit we set our minds on the things of the spirit. God wants us to be Grace conscious. He wants us to live in and out of Grace.

Lets look at verse 6 for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Sin Consciousness leads to death. Grace consciousness leads to life and peace. Stop thinking about sin and start thinking about grace.

Verse 7 because the canal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be. So then those who are I the flesh cant please God.

We are unable to please God. Our lives are in conflict with the word or law of God. We sin. We break the law of God. Our earthly nature is at war with God. Every time we sin the law shows us our faults.

The enemy wants us to remain conscious of our sin. He wants us thinking about our mistakes all the time. He wants us focused on the law of God.

But the more we focus on or think about the law the less we are able to do it. We are totally incapable of meeting the demands of the law. That's why God did what he did through Jesus.

When you receive Christ as your lord and saviour God dwells in you.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.

And verse 10 and if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness.

Life comes through righteousness. If you want life to fill your being then ask God for help to be grace conscious not law conscious.