The Rest of the Gospel: Temptation, a Faith Opportunity (Chapter 18)

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The Rest of the Gospel: Temptation, a Faith Opportunity (Chapter 18)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:2-5 ESV

Key Question:

How do temptation and faith interact?

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The Rest of the Gospel: The Holy But (Chapter 17)

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The Rest of the Gospel: The Holy But (Chapter 17)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 ESV

Key Question:

How does the "holy but" cause us to see our circumstances, good and bad?

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The Rest of the Gospel: Who Does What? (Chapter 14)

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The Rest of the Gospel: Who Does What? (Chapter 14)

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV

Key Question:

Is Jesus living His life through you, or are you trying to live it with His help?

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The Rest of the Gospel: The Rule of Grace (chapter 13)

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The Rest of the Gospel: The Rule of Grace (chapter 13)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2: 8-10 ESV

Key Question:

Do you live under works (the law) or by grace through faith?

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The Rest of the Gospel: The Single Eye (Chapter 12)

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The Rest of the Gospel: The Single Eye (Chapter 12)

The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:22-23 ESV

Key Question:

What does it mean to "see with a single eye?"

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The Rest of the Gospel: God's Process of Growth (Chapter 15)

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The Rest of the Gospel: God's Process of Growth (Chapter 15)

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…. 1 John 2:12-14

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The Rest of the Gospel: Revelation -- God's Way of Knowing (chapter 11)

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The Rest of the Gospel: Revelation -- God's Way of Knowing (chapter 11)

...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe... Ephesians 1:17-19a ESV

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The Rest of the Gospel: One Nature (chapter 8)

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The Rest of the Gospel: One Nature (chapter 8)

Key Verse

 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. Galatians 2:20-21  NASB

Key Question

Am I one person or two?  Have I one nature or two?

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The Rest of the Gospel: Union with Christ {a summary}

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The Rest of the Gospel: Union with Christ {a summary}

When I walk through the “gate” of salvation, I am thrilled with the revelation that my sins are forgiven through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I am now reconciled to (at peace with) God my Creator. Not only that, I am His child, born into His family (John 1:12).

But it doesn’t take long before an important question/problem comes up:  how do I live the Christian life? 

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The Rest of the Gospel: the Swing (chapter 7)

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The Rest of the Gospel: the Swing (chapter 7)

Dear Book Club friends, This week we will be reading and studying chapter 7 (The Swing). Toward the end of the week, I will post a summary of section 1: Union with Christ. What a glorious mystery is this mystical union of Christ with us His loved ones!  Thank you for following along in amazement with us!

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The Rest of the Gospel: Doublecross {what you died to}, chapter 4

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The Rest of the Gospel: Doublecross {what you died to}, chapter 4

Chapter 4  Doublecross {what you died to}
Key verse: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God... 2Cor 5:17-18a NKJV

Key question: What did I die to?

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The Rest of the Gospel: The Line (chapter 2)

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The Rest of the Gospel: The Line (chapter 2)

Brothers and sisters, do you realize that we live in two realms simultaneously? Right now?
We live in both the temporal realm, and also in the eternal realm right here, right now.

And what is true about you in the fixed eternal realm affects you right now in the fluctuating temporal realm. How? Read along with us… 

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The Rest of the Gospel: Welcome to the Fall Book Club & the Gates (chapter 1)

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The Rest of the Gospel: Welcome to the Fall Book Club & the Gates (chapter 1)

Welcome to our Fall book club here at A Branch in the Vine! Thank you for joining us in the study of The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel has Worn You Out, by Dan Stone and David Gregory.

My prayer is that we will all come to experience to a greater depth the truth of the key verse of our study: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)...that is, our only hope that the glory of God will be manifest in our lives right now on this earth...not just when we get to heaven!

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