The Hole in Our Holiness
In 2013, a popular evangelical pastor wrote a book titled, “One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World.” He argued that God’s grace is one-directional without any precondition, merit, or reciprocal obligation on our part. He was concerned about legalistic “performancism,” and his solution was to free people from the weight of “doing” by emphasizing “who we are in Christ” already.
His critics warned, however, that his emphasis on the gospel of free grace undermined the law of God. That is, by only emphasizing the gospel of radical grace, he denied the gospel’s demand (the law) for an obedience that leads to holiness. This tension between law and gospel in the Christian life is not new.
The key question we have to consider is, “Does the gospel of radical grace free us from us from obeying the commands of God – the law?” And the clear answer Jesus gives in Luke 16:17-18, is an emphatic NO! Though we are no longer under the law of Moses (circumcision, dietary restrictions, festivals), we are under the law of Christ. But we still relate to the Old Testament law as Scripture. Our guide for how to apply it to ourselves as Christians is Jesus. And that is what Jesus does in Luke 16:18.
There is a great danger in preaching a gospel that does not also demand righteousness. On June 21, 2015, the author of “One-Way Love” resigned from his pastorate after admitting to an extramarital affair. The author’s critics argued that such an antinomian-leaning emphasis on unconditional grace, with an underemphasis on the law’s sanctifying role, was not unrelated to his moral fall. In other words, what we believe matters; our theology guides our actions.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org.
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
The Hole in Our Holiness – book by Kevin DeYoung
Preach the Good News of Guilt and Justification – a sermon by Kevin DeYoung
He Bore Our Sins that We Might Life to Righteousness – a sermon by John Piper
Life at High Pointe
Spring Life Classes
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. Our spring classes are from January 25th - May 31th. Click here to see which Life Classes are being offered!
Sunday AM Preaching Schedule: Pray regularly for the ministry of the Word at High Pointe. Also, prepare for our gatherings by reading the sermon text, thinking it through, and asking questions about the text before Sunday. Here is our (tentative) preaching schedule designed to help you prepare for Sundays:
April 19 | Isaiah 53 | The Atoning Servant Who Suffers and Rises Again | Pastor Robert Cline
April 26 | Isaiah 59:14-21 | The Only Feasible Option: Yahweh Himself will Accomplish It | Pastor Robert Cline
May 3 | Luke 17:1-10 | Our Life Together | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 10 | Luke 17:11-19 | A Thankful Heart | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 17 | Luke 17:20-37 | When Will the Kingdom Come? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Immanuel Church, Fujairah, UAE
We have the privilege of partnering with pastor Jesse Brannen and Immanuel Church of Fujairah. Jesse and his wife, Delaine, are from the United States and came to Immanuel Church in 2021 along with their four children. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Jesse served as an Assistant Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he previously completed a pastoral internship. He holds an MA in Biblical & Theological Studies from Gulf Theological Seminary.
Immanuel Fujairah is A Church Proclaiming and Displaying the Gospel of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ - Immanuel - God with Us. To learn more, visit Immanuel Fujairah online
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
