What do we have to brag about?

The following message was recorded by downtown community fellowship of Athens, GA.
The text is Romans 3:27-4:8
What do we have to brag about?  Abraham and David tell us the answer.

Audio Message – approx. 40 minutes.  dcf-podcast-romans-3-part-3

 

All are Under Sin – audio and outline

romans-3-part-2 click for sermon audio.  Recorded Sunday Feb. 15, 2009 during downtown community fellowship worship service.

Outline of Romans 3:9-22 (Conclusion of Section One: All have sinned and are accountable to God, Transition to God’s Salvation made available through faith.)

I.   All are under sin (3:9)

A.  Proof from OT Scriptures (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Eccl. 7:20)

1. There is none righteous, no, not one (3:10)
2. There is none who seeks after God? (3:10)
3. They have all turned aside and become unprofitable (3:12)
4. There is no one who does good, no not one (3:12)

B.   Proof from OT Scriptures Continued

1. Poisoned Lips (3:13) Psalm 5:9
2. Mouth full of cursing and bitterness (3:14) Psalm 10:7
3. Quick to kill, destruction and misery are in their ways (3:15-17) Isaiah 59:7-8
4. Way of peace they have not known
5. There is no fear of God before their eyes (3:18) Psalm 36:1

II.  What the law does (3:19-20)

1. Condemns those under the law
2. By it every mouth is stopped
3. Gives guilt to the whole world before God
4. The law cannot justify man before God
5. The law gives knowledge of sin (informs man he is lost)

III.  The Righteousness of God is available (3:19-22)

A.  Apart from the Law

B.  Witnessed by:

1. The Law
2. Prophets

C.  Through Jesus Christ

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Is God’s Name blasphemed because of me? you?

Romans 2:17-3:8 – Part 2

Romans 2:24. “As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’” (The previous post provides the needed foundation for this one, please read it first.)

The results of people claiming to know God and yet living apart from God are devastating. As the Apostle Paul states here the name of God is then blasphemed.  Looking through the Old Testament we can easily see how the Gentiles would often be persuaded that God’s own people did not follow Yahweh.  So why should they in turn have faith in Him?

I believe there is a powerful lesson here for the church. I have had many experiences where people will tell me that they like Jesus just fine but cannot stand the church.  Many people who say this are using their dislike for the church as a smokescreen.  In reality many have not and do not want to come to grips with the teachings of Jesus and the reality of their own spiritual failings.  But for others, “the church” has become a huge stumbling block that has kept them from Jesus.

Since the word church means so many different things to so many different people let me break this down into a few categories to make it easier to talk about:

Big Picture:

• the Universal Church: all true believers in Jesus all over the world, the bride of Christ*
• the false church: people who think or claim they are part of the Universal church but are not

Local Picture:

• Beautiful: churches that are made up primarily of true believers who are following Jesus and being a light to the people around them.
• False: churches that are made up primarily of unbelievers (false teaching and sinful living abound)
• Worldly: churches with mostly believers in Jesus but who have their hearts set on things of the world

These last two categories of local churches hinder people from coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.  We must take care both on a communal and personal level that we live in a way that causes people to “praise our Father in heaven.”  Jesus gave us this standard for conduct and purpose, and we must consistently evaluate our lives in relation to this.

It is interesting to note that the Apostle Paul uses the singular Greek word for “you” in Romans 2:17-24.  So the individual Jew was instructed not to just look at the whole community but to examine his own life. For our application, it is not enough to say, “Oh the church does this or that, isn’t that bad!?.”  No, each person who claims to be a follower of Jesus must on a regular basis look inwardly and evaluate whether he/she is giving light to others to see Jesus or hindering others from seeing the Light.

*  Many people have problems with the church because they do not realize a couple of things:

1. If you are a true believer you are part of the church, you cannot say that you don’t want to be a part of it because you already are.  The question is whether you will be a good participant by being actively involved and committed in a local church or be willfully disobedient to God and try to do a lone ranger thing, or do the church hopper thing, or do the, “I’ll participate when I feel like it thing”.
2. For someone to say that they love Jesus but can’t stand the church is like someone saying to me that he wants to be my best friend but then says all sorts of terrible things about my wife.  After picking him up off the floor, I would gently explain that it does not work like that, since my wife and I are now one flesh, to trash my wife is to trash me .  Be careful what you say about the true bride of Christ, she has a very protective Man.  Now as part of the true bride of Christ I do believe it is perfectly fine to do the following:

• to distinguish ourselves from the false church who says she is the Bride of Christ when she is not.  Primarily this distinguishing should happen by conduct and when necessary by word.
• to correct ourselves by calling ourselves out when we are doing things we should not, or when we have a terrible attitude.  When symbolically our make up is whack, or when we are wearing an ugly dress, we need to repent and get back on track.  We want to bring honor to the Bridegroom Jesus.  He plays a huge role in the beautification of His church, and for this we should be very thankful (Ephesians 5:25-27).

What is your perspective of church?  Does your view line up with the New Testament teaching on the subject or has your understanding been made cloudy by a lack of studying the subject and poor models?

 

If you thought you were good…notes 3

I.  The judgment of God:
C. through Jesus Christ (Romans 2:12-16)

“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. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.”

Hearing the law or not hearing the law (the Mosiac Law) does not make a person guilty of innocent. Judgment is according to how you have kept the law whether you have heard it or not.  Even though the Jews read the Mosaic Law as part of each synagogue service, they did not all live by it.  Even though Gentiles did not hear the Mosaic Law some of them lived by a higher standard…”their conscience bearing witness”.

God has given humans a conscience to help them discern right and wrong.  For everyone who listens to their conscience and does not suppress it will see himself as a sinner and ask God for help.  An honest person with a well functioning conscience will always see himself as guilty.  All people need to have their conscience cleared by coming to faith in Jesus (Heb. 9:14). “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?“ Jesus Christ knows the intent of every heart whether right or wrong and He will judge according to Himself.

Lesson – Jesus is the righteous Judge and nothing is hidden from Him!

This brings us back to the question about those who have never heard about Jesus, yet attempt to please God.

First, we can be assured that God will do justly, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Options –

1. they will be judged according to what they know and if worthy their faith will be accounted to them as righteousness (like Abraham).
2. Someone will be sent to them to tell them the Gospel of Jesus (ex. Macedonian man in Acts 16:6-10), or God will reveal the truth of Jesus to them in some other way.

Lesson – Since this is not the normal course of events (because most humans suppress the knowledge of God in their hearts), God in His mercy has called us to go and preach the Good News about Jesus to all the people groups of the world.

 

If you thought you were good…notes 2

I.  The judgment of God
B.  Without Favortism (Romans 2:6-11)

“God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’ 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.”

God will judge the just and the ungodly without favoritism. As the Jews had the power of the Gospel given to them first, so shall they be first in line to receive the judgment of God.  As the Gentiles still received the Gospel so will the Gentiles still receive judgment.  There is no favoritism with God.

These verses are not teaching a work based salvation.  Paul has already made clear in chapter 1 that the Gospel of Christ is the power of salvation.  There is no power in the moralist attempting to live a pure live.  Simply trying to get by with “clean living” is not going to cut it.  Please note that Scripture passages must be taken in context – and the disregard for context has led to many false ideas.

You can know with confidence the state of your salvation by knowing the pattern of your life. If you have turned from what you used to trust in for your salvation and turned from your sinful life and turned to the living God by asking forgiveness of your sins and trusting Jesus as your Savior, and you live a life that is characterized by good, then you can have significant confidence in your eternal state. You can be confident that you have been regenerated and have been made a new creation in God’s sight.

Likewise, regardless of what you have professed or claimed to believe, you cannot have much confidence if your life is characterized (a consistent pattern) by evil. If you have little regard for God, little regard for His Name, if you are living to fulfill your selfish desires, then you cannot have such confidence.

The emphasis of Paul’s teaching here is that all will be judged.  At this point he is not attempting to go into any real detail of what this judging by God looks like, when it will happen, everyone at once or different groups at different times.  We would need to look at other passages of Scriptures to come to conclusions about such things, and we will not be endeavoring to teach all of that in this lesson.
At the end of verse 11, Paul makes clear that there is no partiality with God!  To the Jewish part of Paul’s readership this may have come as quite a shock because some of them thought they were in good standing with God based solely on their genes.

Lesson: God is just in all his judgments and does not play favorites!

 

If you thought you were good…notes 1

I.  The judgment of God (Romans 2:1-16)
A. according to truth (1-5)

Romans 2:1-5 “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

When the moralist sees the sin of others it should cause him to examine his own heart, see his own sins, and lead him to repentance. (Repentance:  making a 180 degree turn from self-justification to faith in Jesus Christ; turning from sin with godly sorrow to Jesus as Savior and Lord) Instead he sees only the sins of his neighbors, friends, business associates, and government.  The moralist has deceived himself into thinking he will escape the judgment of God while others will be punished.  He does not realize that the stubbornness of his heart will bring God’s wrath.

Example: Suzy hears about how Jessica has talked about her behind her back, and she is livid.  Later that day she is talking with Laura and says, “Did you hear about Julie?…”  Suzy knows what she is doing is wrong because she has already judged the same sin in Jessica, yet through the hardness of her heart she thinks she is a moral and good person who has nothing to fear from God.

Lesson: Our first and foremost concern about sin should be our own sin!

 

Contest Results

A special thanks to all who participated in the contest.  It was tough to decide on a winner.  So here is what I decided:

2 first place winners:  John F. and Kayla M. (both will receive $25 gift certificates)

2 second place winners:  Melissa P. and Matt V. (both will receive $10 gift certificates)

If you want to see how you would have done read the previous post and give it a shot before reading the rest of this post.

Here are all 8 ways God judges according to Romans 2:1-16:

1. As one judges another (verse 1)
2. According to truth (verse 2)
3. According to righteousness (verse 5)
4. According to a person’s deeds (verse 6)
5. Without favoritism  (verse 11)
6. According to the law
The Jews & the written law (verses 12b, 13) (but all fail but One)
7. According to law
The Gentiles & the law within (verses 12a, 14)
The work of the law in their hearts in conjunction with conscience 15
8. Through Jesus Christ (verse 16)

 

If you thought you were good…

Here is the outline for Romans 2:1-16

Outline of Romans 2:1-16:

I.  The Judgment of God:

A.  According to truth (2:1-5)

B.  Without favoritism (2:6-11)

C.  Through Jesus Christ (2:12-16)

Here we have the three main categories of how God judges; however if you look closely in the 16 verses you will find 8.  Be the first to reply in the comment section with the other 5, and I’ll give you a $25 gift certificate from restaurant.com! Sorry dad, you are not eligible since you emailed me the list to begin with! 🙂

Check back for the notes tomorrow!

Romans 2:1, “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”^[a]7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.

12All 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. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.”

 

Why is God wrathful? (Romans 1:18-32, part 1)

From Romans chapter one verse eighteen through chapter three Paul makes his case for the sinfulness of man and God’s righteousness in condemning sin.  He begins with showing the guilt of those who blatantly deny God and then he shows the guilt of the moralists and religious people.  Remember that Paul has already claimed that they only way to be made just in God’s sight is by having faith in the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16-17).

Romans 1:18-23

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Romans 1:1-18-32  The wrath of God against ungodliness

I.  The reasons for God’s wrath against humans (1:18-23)

A.  Humans suppress the truth about God (1:18-20)

1. the knowledge of God is within humans
2. the evidence of God’s design is all around us

Paul makes the claim that the general truth about God is obvious to humans but that most humans do not want to know about God. Therefore, they suppress what they know in their hearts and what they perceive with their minds.  The denial of God must be fortified on two fronts – the heart and the head. Human’s selfishness (the desire to do one’s own thing) is of great use is suppressing what the heart knows about God.  On an intellectual level the truth of being accountable to one’s creator is slapped down by denying anything was created in the first place.  If we are here by chance then at most I have to answer to my society, but in all reality my goal is to please myself.  Despite the abundant evidence all around us of God’s design the reality is rejected and the self-blinding goes deeper and deeper.

B.  Humans alter the truth about God (1:21-23)

1. Professing to be wise they became fools
2. Made God into an image – depicted by corruptible things

The fool has said in his hear there is no God (Psalm 53:1).  In particular the fool denies the true and living God.  He makes his own god(s) to his own specifications.  He often worships the creation or even himself via humanism and materialism.  He sets the rules of his life to his own liking and he makes or picks god(s) to match.

God is rightly angry at such things, but we should be so thankful that while God’s holiness demands the condemnation of sin, God’s love desires the redemption of you and me!

(In Part 2, we will look at God’s response to human’s suppression of the truth.)

 

Outline of Romans 1:18-32

Outline of Romans 1:18-32  The wrath of God against ungodliness

I.  The reasons for God’s wrath against humans (1:18-23)

A.  Humans suppress the truth about God (1:18-23)

1. the knowledge of God is within humans
2. the evidence of God’s design is all around us

B.  Humans alter the truth about God (1:21-23)

1. Professing to be wise they became fools
2. Made God into an image – depicted by corruptible things

II.  The results of humans rejection of God – God gave them up: (1:24-31)

A.  to dishonor their bodies (1:24-25)

B.  to vile passions (1:26-27)

C.  to a debased mind (1:28-31)

III.  The righteous judgment of God against ungodliness is death (1:32)

 

I Am Not Ashamed – Romans 1:1-17 Notes – Part 3

Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

III.  Paul not ashamed of the gospel of Christ 1:16-17)

The Greek word Paul uses here for “ashamed” is a very strong word.  It does not mean timid.  It is not unusual for a follower of Jesus to be timid or even intimidated in a spiritual conversation.  In those times we need to agree with God that He “has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and sound mind.”  To be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, means that a person does not want to be associated with Jesus or His message, particularly His claim that He is the only access point to the Father and eternal life.   A person who is ashamed of Jesus and His message is either:

1.  not a believer – (we do not expect unbelievers to be all about the Gospel).
2.  a believer in a spiritually unhealthy condition.  If we ever find ourselves in this place, it should be an immediate red flag.  We should confess our sinful heart and ask God for help.

A.  For it is the power of salvation (1:16)
Paul is not ashamed because he is convinced that the Gospel of Christ is what people need for salvation.  He knows that salvation is found in no other source.  Remember that Paul lived in a very pluralistic society just as we do.  We do not do anyone any favors by hiding the truth of God’s message from them. We have a responsibility to share the message of hope.

People are often taken back by Paul’s statement, “for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”   The reality is that through God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s sons the Israelites are God’s chosen people who were entrusted with the OT Scriptures, they were also the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, and the Apostles who gave us the NT Scriptures.  Paul was a Jew and though he was called to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles he had a distinct pattern of evangelism when he would go to into a city.  First, he would go to the synagogue and preach there to his countrymen and then He would go to the Gentiles and preach to them.  We who are Gentiles should be thankful for the Jewish people of God – particularly the Prophets, Jesus Himself, and the Apostles.
I believe that God still has a plan for the Israelites, though we are not obligated to speak to one race before another.  As far as sharing the Gospel goes, we should look to share with our sphere of influence, and whoever God puts on our hearts…our next door neighbors and people across the world.  We should be actively praying for people near and far.

B.  The just shall live by faith (1:17)

In closing, let me give you something to stick in your noodle to consider.  I find that at many points in life those who have been made ‘just” by God through faith are not living with much faith.  It seems that many of us are prone to trust God for our eternal souls and yet not trust Him for today and the few short years we have on the earth. When we get to the heart of the matter, it is an issue of kingship.  Am I the king of my life or is God?  If He is King then I must live by faith!  Is God truly your King?

 

Outline of Romans 1:1-17

Outline of Romans 1:1-17 (Paul introduces himself and the Gospel of God.)

I.  Paul’s introduction (1:1-7)
A.  Paul is a bondservant of Jesus Christ  (1:1)
1.  called to be an Apostle
2.  separated to the Gospel
B.  Jesus Christ is the main point of the Scriptures (1:1-4)
C.  Jesus Christ is the source of grace (1:5-7)
D.  We are called by Jesus Christ for obedience to the faith (1:5-7)

II.  Paul’s heart for the believers in Rome (1:8-15)
A.  Paul’s thankfulness for the testimony of the believers in Rome (1:8)
B.  Paul’s prayer life for the believers in Rome (1:9-10)
C.  Paul’s desire for mutual encouragement (1:11-12)
D.  Paul’s desire to preach the Gospel in Rome (1:13-15)

III.  Paul is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (1:16-17)
A.  For it is the power of salvation (1:16)
1.  Jew
2.  Greek
B.  The just shall live by faith (1:17)

 

General Outline of Romans

General Outline of Romans

I.  1:1 – Paul introduces himself and the Gospel of God

II.  Doctrine

A. God’s righteousness in condemning sin
1:18 – The wrath of God against ungodliness (failure of man)
2:1 – The judgment of God by truth and Jesus Christ
2:17 –  failure of Israel to keep the law
3:8 – No one is righteous; law gives knowledge of sin

B.  God’s salvation for humans is by grace through faith
3:21 – Justification is by faith
4:1 – Abraham as proof that justification is by faith
5:1 – Jesus provided justification therefore grace reigns

C.  God’s power in sanctification
6:1 – Free from sin to live in righteousness
7:1 – The law is to show sin – we are dead to the law and alive to Jesus
8:1 – Because of Jesus we can be spiritually minded – God’s redemptive plan explained

D. God’s sovereignty in saving Jew and Gentile
9:1 – Israel’s unique place in God’s plan
9:30 – Whoever (Jew or Gentile) calls on God will be saved
11:1 – Remnant of Israel will be saved

III.  God’s glory the object of service

12:1 – Be a living sacrifice – serve the body
12:9 – Love is the rule
13:1 – Be respectful of authority
14:1 – Be mindful of the weaker brother

IV. Conclusion:
15:14 – Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles
16:1 – Closing words