Month: July 2010

THE JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING–ROMANS 15:1-14

Art Davison ROMANS 0 Comment
THE JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING

ROMANS 15:1-14

Key verse: v. 13, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Introduction:

Paul writes in chapter 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” So many Christians do not have joy and peace in their life. The Apostle reminds us in verse 13 of our text that God wants us to have these things in our lives as believers.

Consider what the Scripture says about The Joy of God’s Mercy and The Peace of God in Believing.

I. THE JOY OF GOD’S MERCY

A. We were guilty sinners before God, Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

B. We were without Christ, Ephesians 2:12, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”

1. That means that we were aliens from God’s chosen people, Ephesians 4:18, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

2. We had no hope because we knew not Christ who is the hope of glory, Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

3. We were without God, Romans 1:28-32, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

C. But now in Jesus Christ we are made near, Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

1. Formerly unbelieving gentiles, Ephesians 2:11, “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;”

2. Formerly far away, Ephesians 2:17, “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

B. Now have been brought near through the blood of Christ, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

II. THE PEACE OF GOD IN BELIEVING

A. We abound in God’s grace, 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

1. Life has meaning, 2 Corinthians 9:11,“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”

2. Life has purpose, 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

a. We can be steadfast and unmovable in the work of God, Psalm 62:2, 6, “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”

b. We can abound in the work of God, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

B. We are full of God’s GOODNESS, v. 14; Philippians 1:11, “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

1. The Lord prunes our lives that we might bring more fruit, John 15:2, 8, 16, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

2. And bring glory and praise to God, Ephesians 1:12, 14, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

CONCLUSION

We have joy and peace when we are bringing glory and praise to our Savior. The Palmist said in Psalm 5:11, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

With that joy comes hope in the Lord, Psalm 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

THE GREAT NEED IS NOT TO DO, BUT TO BELIEVE–ROMANS 6:12-23

Art Davison ROMANS 0 Comment
THE GREAT NEED IS NOT TO DO, BUT TO BELIEVE
ROMANS 6:12-23
Introduction:

Key verse: vv. 17-18; Ephesians 1:13

Much of Christianity today is based on experience rather than faith in Jesus Christ. That is the basis for the modern day charismatic movement. Emotions play a big part of our lives and those emotions can get in the way of knowing and serving God in a manner that is Scriptural.

Satan is very subtle and uses emotion to accomplish his purposes among mankind. He is no fool, but rather, an accomplished deceiver who knows man’s weaknesses.

I. THE REPEMPTION OF CHRIST IS NOT JUST AN EXPERIENCE

A. It is the Great Work of God, which He has been done through Christ, John 6:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

1. The Scriptures testify of the work of Jesus Christ, John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

2. This the Prophet that Moses spoke of, Deuteronomy 18:18-19, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”

3. This is the Beloved Son of God, Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

4. This is the Christ, the Savior of the world, John 11:27, “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

B. I have to build my faith upon God’s work,1 Corinthians 3:10-11, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11- For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

1. Gold, silver and precious stones are the building materials that will stand the test of fire, 1 Corinthians 3:12-14, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13- Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14- If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

2. Wood, hay, stubble are materials based on personal experience that will be burnt up, 1 Corinthians 3:15, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

C. It requires me to measure every type of experience by our Lord Himself, John 13:15, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

II. IF I CONSTRUCT MY FAITH ON MY EXPERIENCE

A. It produces the most UNSCRIPTURAL type of faith…

1. That DENIES the Word of God, 2 Timothy 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

a. The works of that person denies the Lord, Titus 1:16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

b. They show a reprobate worldly mind, Romans 1:28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”

2. That makes God a LIAR, 1 John 5:10, “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”

B. It produces an ISOLATED LIFE,

1. My eyes are fixed on my OWN WHITENESS, Matthew 23:27, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

2. That IMPLIES salvation by works, Romans 4:2-5, “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

C. It produces a SECLUDED WASTED LIFE.

1. It is USELESS to God, Jeremiah 13:10, “This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination [stubbornness] of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.”

2. It is a life blind to truth, Acts 7:51, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did , so do ye.”

III. IF I CONSTRUCT MY FAITH ON WHAT GOD HAS DONE

A. We believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

1. The Philippian jailer believed and was saved, Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

2. John the Baptist’s preaching of Jesus caused many to believe, John 10:40-42, “And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42 And many believed on him there.”

B. We trust in His Word, 2 Corinthians 1:9, “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:”

1. They are blessed, Psalm 2:12, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

2. They remember the name of the Lord, Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

3. They have put their trust in the Lord, Psalm 56:4, “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”

CONCLUSION

THE GRACE OF OUR LORD–I TIMOTHY 1:12-17

Art Davison I TIMOTHY 0 Comment
THE GRACE OF OUR LORD
I TIMOTHY 1:12-17

Introduction:

The Grace of our Lord has done so much for us. In these verses addressed to the young preacher Timothy, the Apostle Paul shows the exceedingly abundant grace of God in his own life. He writes to admonish Timothy to trust and rely on God’s grace.

The life of the Apostle Paul is a demonstration of how he depended completely on God’s grace. He suffered many things in his missionary journeys at the hands of unbelievers while trusting God’s grace to get him through.

I. WAS EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT WITH MERCY IN CHRIST JESUS

A. The Apostle Paul looks at his past, v. 13.

1. He was a blasphemer, Acts 26:9-11, “Verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10- Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11-And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”

2. He was a persecutor of God’s people, Galatians 1:13, “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:”

3. Paul was injurious to the Lord’s church, Acts 22:4, “And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.”

4. Paul did all of this in ignorant unbelief.

a. Ignorance is not an excuse, Numbers 15:30, “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”

b. Unbelief was the problem, Hebrews 3:17-19, “But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

B. Paul had trusted Christ as his Savior and secured his future, 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

II. WAS EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT WITH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS

A. By Faith Paul had the forgiveness of sins, Ephesians 1:7-8, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8- Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;”

B. Paul considered himself the chief of sinners, v. 15.

1. He needed an abundance of grace, Romans 5:19-20, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20-Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”

2. Christ came into the world to save sinners, Matthew 9:13, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

III. WAS EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT WITH LOVE IN CHRIST JESUS

A. The Love that God had for Paul changed his life, 1 John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

B. God’s love changed Paul’s heart as well as his attitude, Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

1. God’s love makes a dedicated servant, Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood,”

2. God’s love makes it easy to love one another, 1 John 4:11, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

C. It takes the Grace of God to save a soul that God might have the glory of it, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast,”

CONCLUSION

Now the Lord offers that same Grace to you for your spiritual needs today. Trust in His grace right now.