be Non-Dual; Full of Grace & Truth

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – February 21, 2021

Series Title: “Understand, (be) Non-Dual, Include, Forgive, Yearn

Today’s Title: “Be Non-Dual; Full of Grace & Truth"

Today’s Text: John 1:1-18

 

The overwhelming, incomprehendable vastness of space & time

• Psalm 8:3, John 1:1, John 1:14

 

“dualistic” is to see morality, ethics, politics, and religious beliefs through exclusive either/or options. It is to see the world through an overly simplistic right/wrong, black/white, good/bad lens that never allows for gray areas, let alone grace.

 

“non-dual” still sees how basic moral structures and belief systems are necessary for order, but also sees how they are insufficient when it comes to the deepest truths of the universe, of human life, of suffering, of love, and of mystery. Not everything is explainable or understandable; and that’s okay.

 

DUALISTIC LIFE                                           NON-DUAL LIFE

-NO COMPROMISE                                         - FINDS COMMON GROUND

-WHO’S “IN” & “OUT”                                    - UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE

- NOT W/US YOU’RE AGAINST US                 - IF YOU’RE NOT AGAINST US, YOU’RE FOR US

- CREATES ENEMIES                                        - CREATES FRIENDSHIPS

- PRODUCES FEAR                                           - PRODUCES HOPE

- DIVIDES                                                         - UNITES

 

Where is “non-dual” in the Bible?

People are created both in God’s image & sinners from birth Genesis 1:27 & Psalm 51:5)

Jacob’s family (Genesis 25-50)                        God forgives David’s scandalous sin (2 Samuel 11 & 12, Psalm 51)

Ecclesiastes (the whole book)                         Mary is both virgin and mother (Luke 1:26-38)

Jesus’ Sermon of the Mount – (Matt. 5-7)      Jesus is both God & man - (John 1:1-8)

 

FULL OF GRACE (non-dual) & TRUTH (dualistic)

Truth                                     Grace

LAW                                        FORGIVENESS

ORDER                                    OPENNESS

STRUCTURE                             INCLUSION

ANSWERS                               MYSTERY

BASED UPON OBEDIENCE      BASED UPON LOVE

 

Truth is where we all need to begin, but it’s also where we all need to fail. TRUTH SHOWS ME I’M BROKEN

 

Grace is Unconditional, Unearned, Undeserved, Unexplainable, but still Understandable GRACE IS A GIFT

 

The Creator came into His creation full of both grace and truth

• Romans 8:19-21 & 8:38-39

 

The depths of Space & Time, Life & Death, Joy & Suffering, Hope & Fear, Light & Darkness, Grace & Truth: are all well beyond what our minds can conceive. Don’t stress because you cannot understand;  just stand in awe of the One who does…