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READ: Romans 5:3-5

Let’s reaffirm this position of holiness is given to us by grace, not by works. There is a coach from Alabama named Nick Saban. He is a proclaimed Christian. Many Christians gave him a hard time cursing on the sidelines when his team was not performing adequately.

Followers of Christ bashed him and tried to claim he was not a Christian. We should not question this man’s position as a Child of God only because he did not practice it well. I’m not condoning cursing, but this man was not at his best practice. Does that mean he compromised his salvation? No! He is in the garden if he is still fervently seeking after Jesus. God does not rip the holy label off him because he made a mistake.

Remember, Jesus conferred the title of holiness on you, not your practice.

If I had cameras following me around all day, some Christians would try to strip that title away from me, too! I am a rough-around-the-edges Navy veteran from Boston. I grew up in an Irish Catholic home with an abusive father, eight brothers, and one sister. I went through a period of my life of drug dealing. I slept around. I’m divorced. There is a vulgar substance to my life.

Had I not been through what I have, my evangelism opportunity would have been handicapped. If I had not given over my divorce's ugliness into God's hands, I would not have my oldest daughter, Dawn. I would not have the beautiful marriage I have today. I position my past, mistakes, and harsh temperament under the authority of Christ, who can make all things new.

No one can take the title of “God’s child” away from you. Not even your imperfections. God can use all pasts and all flaws for holiness. Before we continue, we must understand that we should not condemn another person’s fruit or tear them down when they fail. God can take the icky substance of your life and form something holy because of Jesus. God is a master of rearranging our lives into garden living.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How do you feel knowing that Christ conferred the holy title on you and not your works?
2. How can we idolize our works as Christians?
3. What is something icky in your life that Jesus has transformed?