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Romans 4-5: Faith, Grace and Justification

10/29/2017

"What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a] Romans 4:1-3

Abraham believed.

The simplicity of the gospel. Believe and you're saved.

"Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." Romans 4:16

Faith is your receipt to receive God's grace.

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God," Romans 4:20

He didn't waver no matter what.

23 "The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Romans 4:23-24

God honors belief.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b]boast in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2

If you believe you'll have God's peace.

Now what? The following verses are the "now what?".

"Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Romans 5:3-5

This is the next step.

Character=maturity

The Holy Spirit will take care of the hope. There's no hope without Christ.

Without God what is there?

With us we do know where we are going. A funeral is a celebration for a Christian.

God is God. He doesn't change.

Just at the right time Jesus came.

When we were completely lost we were found.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8

We didn't earn it. We don't deserve it.

14 "Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come." Romans 5:14

The first man opened the door to sin. Through one man we were given salvation.

If I don't get it how can I explain it?

How are you going to defend your faith?

So much pain, suffering and misery. We can't assume people have any basis for faith and Jesus Christ.

The Roman road....

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The Gospel: Romans 1-3

10/22/2017

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The uncomfortable truth of the world and the message of grace and salvation.

Hell is a reality -- always has been (before and after Jesus's time on earth).

The Gospel is Good news.

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20

Everyone has seen God's handiwork.

21 "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles." Romans 1:21-23

"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done." Romans 1:28

"Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:32

God says okay, I'll step out of your life and you can have what you want.

Usually, the worst of the worst are the celebrities.

I want to be famous. I don't care why (so many people say).

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans 2:1

We are also accountable.

Are you judging someone for something you yourself do? We cannot take our grace for granted.

"All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law." Romans 2:12

You'll get what you gave.

There is no one without sin.

There is no one who can follow the Law perfectly.

We all want to be graded in a curve.

That's not how it is.

Pass or fail.

You're with me or against me (Jesus says).

"No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God." Romans 2:29

People like to make rules. That isn't worship.

3"What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar.As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”[a] Romans 3:3-4

God's faithfulness is constant.

God never changes.

He doesn't have to change for us.

God didn't change with the gospel.

God is a just God.

We are His or we aren't.

Are you His?

10 "As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”[a]
13 “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”[b]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[c]
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[d]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[e]
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[f] Romans 3:10-18

There is no one who is sinless (except Jesus Christ).

None of us are equal to God.

We cannot survive without Him.

The law doesn't save. It condemns.

"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousnessis given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:21-23

Here's the other side of it.

We can overcome who we are through Jesus Christ. You have to accept Christ to get there.

He didn't create it to be a fallen world.

We've trashed His creation.

Perfect justice, perfect Love.

"and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—" Romans 3:24-25

This is wonderfful news if you accept it.

It is heartbreaking if people reject it.

"Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law." Romans 3:31

Jesus helps us to uphold the law.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17

Paul gets to the good news in chapter 3!

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Romans: The Reasons

10/15/2017

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Romans is Paul's masterpiece of the gospel.

It is the most extensive explanation of the gospel in the entire Bible.

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 1:1-4

Rome was the cultural and political center of the world.

"Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentilesto the obedience that comes from[a] faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 1:5-7

Right away he is inclusive. We're all in this together.

The overarching theme of the book is the following verses:

16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of Godthat brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[b]
Romans 1:16-17

This is daily bread for us.

It explains the gospel.

The gospel is the manifestation of God's power.

Salvation has three tenses: past, present and future.

Salvation saves us from what we deserve.

Past:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—" Ephesians 2:8. This is called Justification.

Present:

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18. This is called Sanctification.

Future:

"who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:5. This is called glorification.

Our conversion is just the beginning.

Getting started as a Christian might seem easy. But it isn't a sprint. It is a marathon.

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The What and the Why: The writings of Apostle Paul

10/8/2017

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There is no recording today -- I neglected to charge the recording device. So, we have notes. See below:

Who was Paul?

Born in Tarsus

Born as a Roman Citizen.

Studied under Gamaliel at age of 13.

Diatribe scholar.

Became a Jewish Lawyer.

Extremely intelligent.

He was also Saul the terrorist:

Held the cloaks while Stephen was stoned.

Became a religious zealot.

Saul sought to eradicate Christians.

This was who he was when he encountered Christ. Saul is confronted by Jesus. Converts and becomes Paul the apostle.

"For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas[a] and stayed with him fifteen days." Galatians 1:13-18

Paul's future. Acts 20 and 28. He speaks with humility and boldness. Barnabas asks Paul for help with the church in Antioch, a church founded by Christians who had fled from Saul.

12 "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[a] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[b] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear." Philippians 1:12-14

God is working everywhere (and reaching out to everyone).

The New Testament books -- 13 of the 27 books were written by Paul. All are letters, very little narrative. They fall into two categories: letters to churches and letters to individuals. They are conversations.

Style & Theme:

Doctrine -- what Christians should know.
Application -- what to do with that doctrine.
Logistics -- special instructions and greetings to individuals.

Romans: 1-11 chapters explanation of the gospel; 12-15 explains what it means to be a living sacrifice; End plants to visit, greetings by name.

1 Corinthians: to a church that went astray.

2 Corinthians: a letter of reconciliation and forgiveness.

Galatians: aggressive letter to correct false doctrine.

Ephesians: outlines grace, peace and salvation.

Philippians: witness from prison about joy and having a Christ-like attitude.

(While Paul is writing these, he's growing spiritually too.)

Colossians: explains who they are in Christ.

1 Thessalonians: exhorts the church for being an example to all other churches, even during heavy persecution.

2 Thessalonians: coaches church about standing strong as persecution persists.

Paul put it into terms we could understand.

Pastoral Epistles:

1 Timothy: guide to godliness and sound teaching to a new pastor in Ephesus.

2 Timothy: written as Paul is close to death. Paul charges Timothy to carry on his work.

Titus: instructs Titus, who he left in Crete, on how to build a countercultural church.

Philemon: open letter to be read in front of the wole church; addresses the issue of a certain escaped slave to his master, but also addresses the church in which Philemon is a member.

Mission of letters: focuses on the why and the what, not the how.

How= rules We aren't called to make rules.

Get reading the Bible. The understanding of our faith is laid out in these letters from Paul. Choosing not to read the Bible is willful ignorance. Be willfully knowledgeable.

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Paul's prayer for all of us

10/1/2017

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We have a Father who listens and answers prayer.

Christianity is the only faith with a living God and a God who is listening to us.

Pray according to God's will.

14"For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a]in heaven and on earth derives its name." Ephesians 3:14-15

2 ways to learn how to pray: taught or caught

20 "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." Ephesians 2:20

9"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

We aren't given faith to get things. Get your feet wet.

What we're asking for should glorify God.

He won't give us something that won't glorify God.

Be strengthened within.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,"
Ephesians 3:16

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

If we focus on the problem the problem becomes who we are.

Put your heart and mind on the other side. If not where's our witness?

Our inner strength will grow when we focus on Christ.

If you don't push yourself beyond your capability you won't grow.

To do this we must be rooted in Christ.

"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,"
Ephesians 3:17

Be rooted in Christ. Power to Serve God. Ask to fully grasp the love of Christ.

"may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:18-19

Be filled every day.

Be loving toward all all the time.

Without the love we cannot be who we are meant to be.

God is more than we can comprehend. We are to be filled for His glory daily. Don't be overwhelmed with life. Be overwhelmed with God.

Desire for us to have this.He loves to see joy in His children. He loves to see His children living to their fullest potential.

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Romans 4-5: Faith, Grace and Justification

The Gospel: Romans 1-3

Romans: The Reasons

The What and the Why: The writings of Apostle Paul

Paul's prayer for all of us

Shannon Hinrichs

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