http://www.viddler.com/file/d/e96fed5e.mp4?vfid=70840c5d4327d1d849e43ce96748fdcd
ROM-17-140622 - length: 66:31 - taught on Jun, 22 2014
Class Outline:
Welcome To
BARAH MINISTRIES
a Christian Church
Rory Clark
Pastor-Teacher
Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church…my name is Pastor Rory Clark. Does God accept you? It’s a question that must be settled in the soul of a Christian. To be accepted is to be looked upon with favor…to be approved of. Does God accept you? Does God look upon you with favor?
Quickly after considering this question, you’d have to ask yourself another question, “What would make God look upon you with favor?”
Answering these questions is even critical in the human realm. As human beings, we wonder if the people we love accept us for who we are and for what we do, no matter what. Quite often, the answer is, “No. They don’t.” Is it the same with God? Does God accept you for who you are and for what you do no matter what?
We turn to the Word of God for the answers. Does God accept us? Yes, He does! He accepted us believers in Christ before He created us…Ephesians, Chapter 1, Verses 5 and 6 say…
God the Father predestined us believers in Christ to adoption as sons through the Lord Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which adoption He freely bestowed on us in union with the Beloved One…the Lord Jesus Christ.
God the Father elected believers in Christ to the privilege of being members of His family, giving us the same rights and privileges of His actual Son, through His Son’s work on the Cross. Therefore, we believers in Christ are fully accepted by God the Father just as if we had been the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! Yes! You are accepted by God. Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 1…
Therefore, having been justified (announced as possessing absolute righteousness) by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, we believers in Christ have peace with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ…
God not only accepts us, He has nothing against us. We are at peace with Him. On what basis does God the Father accept us? Colossians, Chapter 1, Verses 19 and 20 say…
For it was God the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness of deity to dwell in Jesus Christ in human form, and through the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father decided to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Cross; through the Lord, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
God the Father made us His adopted children on the basis of the blood His Son, which was shed for us at the Cross. God the Father took us, while unbelievers, ungodly and unrighteous, and made us both acceptable and accepted through the Lord Jesus Christ. God the Father reconciled us to Himself while we were sinners, and tore down any barrier that existed between Him and us as a result of sin. You are accepted! Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8 says…
God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ died as a substitute for us.
The Lord Jesus Christ died instead of us dying…proof that we have always been acceptable to God the Father, even when we were sinners. Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 6 says…
…knowing this, that our old self was crucified with the Lord Jesus Christ, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin…
God the Father is transforming us believers in Christ…He is separating us from the harmful effects of sin, and He is moving us to a lifestyle in line with our holiness and our blamelessness which He gave us at salvation. Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 31…
What shall we say then, when we come face to face with these things? If God the Father is for us believers in Christ, and He is, who is successful against us?
God does not want us to be in a quandary, confused in our souls about how He sees us, how He feels about us, how much He accepts us, and on what basis He accepts us. If God’s view of us is unclear to us, it has a negative affect on us. First Corinthians, Chapter 14, Verse 8 says…
For if the bugle (calling us to war) produces an indistinct sound (if it is unclear), who will prepare himself for battle?
No one would! God’s viewpoint must be clear and distinct in our souls, not fuzzy and unclear. Have you ever been in a hotel, and the fire alarm sounds, and you’re not sure whether it is a fire drill or an actual fire? If you think it’s a fire drill, you’ll be slow to leave. When I was in college, a friend of mine treated this situation with a lack of clarity and he was killed in the fire. It wasn’t a drill.
God accepts you. You are acceptable to God on the basis of your union with His Son. This must be settled in your soul in such a way that you never bring it up again, not even to yourself. Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 17 says…
Therefore if anyone is in union with Christ, and all believers are, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
If you are in a quandary about it, be clear…God accepts you. Second Thessalonians, Chapter 2, Verses 16 and 17 say…
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us unconditionally and has given us eternal comfort and good hope by means of His grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
Relax in your relationship with God. He is not like humans. The people in our lives, especially and often other believers, don’t accept us at all. IN fact, they often reject us for who we are or for things we have done, either real or imagined on their parts. God the Father, on the other hand, has made you acceptable to Him once and for all time, and He will never change His mind about you. He looks on you with favor. He accepts you for who you are and for what you do, no matter what. You are His child. You are His possession. You will dwell in His house forever. Rest in this.
MUSIC AND REFLECTION
Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ
Enjoy the Singing of His Praises
God is Walking Me Through
We begin our service today by worshipping the Lord in song. The opening song encourages us to keep our eyes on the one who is holding our hand. Please stand and join June Murphy in singing GOD IS WALKING ME THROUGH.
GOD IS WALKING ME THROUGH
Always comes down as expected
In the most obvious ways
How my heavenly Father surrounds me
Goes before me
He is there in each moment unfolding
He is there in each step that I take
As He lights my day
GOD IS WALKING ME THROUGH
God is walking me through
And making me sing
He’s turning my whole world around
With the joy that He brings
He’s breaking my fall
Lifting me up
Changing my heart’s point of view
God is walking me through
GOD IS WALKING ME THROUGH
Peace at the height of confusion
Calm in the worst of my fears
Not a victim to life's circumstances
All the wayward chances
There’s a reason for each disappointment
And a rainbow above every cloud
I will say out loud
GOD IS WALKING ME THROUGH
God is walking me through
And making me sing
He’s turning my whole world around
With the joy that He brings
He’s breaking my fall
Lifting me up
Changing my heart’s point of view
God is walking me through
GOD IS WALKING ME THROUGH
It’s ever the same
The pleasure and pain in every life
But count mine as gain to walk in His light
GOD IS WALKING ME THROUGH
God is walking me through
And making me sing
He’s turning my whole world around
With the joy that He brings
He’s breaking my fall
Lifting me up
Changing my heart’s point of view
God is walking me through
GOD IS WALKING ME THROUGH
God is walking me through
And making me sing
He’s turning my whole world around
With the joy that He brings
He’s breaking my fall
Lifting me up
Changing my heart’s point of view
God is walking me through
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray...
We’re grateful Heavenly Father for the privilege of studying the absolute
truth...the Word of God…
Thank you for accepting us just as we are even though there is nothing in us that is worthy of any praise…thank you for helping us relax in the face of our total depravity…in the face of our desperate sickness…
Through this lesson, help us to get as comfortable with who we really are as You are with us, and to realize, when we learn who we really are, how much You love us anyway, how much you guide us, and how you are perfecting us…
We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit...in Christ’s name... Amen.
TODAY’S STUDY
Romans 3
Nothing Good Dwells in Us
To the resident and non-resident members of Barah Ministries, and to our guests who join us from time to time…welcome. Grace to you and peace.
Turn in your bibles to Romans, Chapter 3…we are the studying The Consequences of Sin section in Romans, a passage that extends from Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 18 to Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 20.
THE BOOK OF ROMANS
The Consequences of Sin
Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20
And we’re in the home stretch of our study of this passage. Let’s read the next passage of study together, Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 9 to 18.
<READ ROMANS, CHAPTER 3, VERSES 9 TO 18>
Paul says the same thing a different way in Romans Chapter 7, Verse 18…
For I (Paul) know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh (in the sin nature); for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not present in me.
“Nothing good dwells in me.” Paul is saying that he has the will to do what is good, but he is not able to carry it out. Do you believe him? Does what Paul is saying apply to you? Does anything good dwell in you? Do you cling to the hope that someday you are going to do something from the source of yourself that is acceptable to God? If you confess your sins, are you going to be accepted by God? If you clean up your life, are you going to be accepted by God? If you go to church, are you acceptable to God? If you study more bible lessons than everyone else, are you acceptable to God? If you pick the right Pastor, are you acceptable to God? If you pick the right partner, are you acceptable to God? Often, believers think that if they discard certain sinful activities from their lives, they will be acceptable to God, only to find themselves back in the same sinful activities a week later. It’s rather depressing, isn’t it? It’s sad when you realize you aren’t a human version of the garage. When you clean the garage, it can be clean for up to a week before it gets messy again. With us as human beings, the same is not so easy. When we try to clean up our acts, we always fail and everything is messy again in minutes. Nothing good dwells in us. That’s what this passage in Romans 3 tells us. Whether Jew or Greek…whether advantaged or disadvantaged…nothing good dwells in us.
In Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 18 to Romans, Chapter 2, Verse 16, Paul indicts the Gentiles…the lascivious ones, the religious ones, the self-righteous ones. In Romans Chapter 2, Verse 17 to Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 8, Paul indicts the “allegedly privileged ones,” the Jews. Now Paul asks, “What are we to think about the Gentiles and the Jews now that we have heard these verses?” In Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 9…Paul summarizes with a fourteen count indictment against the human race…
What are we to conclude then? Are we Jews better than the Gentiles (the Greeks)? Not at all…for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are all under sin…
If this verse, which transitions us into the conclusions of The Consequences of Sin passage, and specifically if the expression “all are under sin” were simplified, it would be said this way to us…every one of you has broken the law at some time in your life. Because of this, you are not lawful. You are lawless, every one of you. You are not good. Anyone who breaks the law is not good. By saying this, Paul rejects the contention of the Jews that they are special because they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Here is the fourteen count indictment against the human race…beginning at Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 10…
(1)
…as it is written, “THERE IS NONE (no creature who is) RIGHTEOUS (before God), NOT EVEN ONE…”
Many religions, many philosophies, many learned men will tell us that this is not true…but God tells us that it is…we have no special privileges before God…none of us…not before salvation…not after salvation…because God is fair to ALL His creatures…Galatians, Chapter 3, Verse 28 says…
There is neither Jew nor Greek (no racial distinction), there is neither slave nor free man (no social distinction), there is neither male nor female (no gender distinction); for you are all one in (union with) Christ Jesus.
Romans, Chapter 2, Verse 11…
For there is no partiality with God.
We hear similar words in the Unites States Declaration of Independence…
“We hold these truths to be self evident…that all men are created equal (before the eyes of God).”
Take a five-minute break and we’ll look at the rest of the indictment.
BREAK
Everlasting God
When I Think About Home
Welcome back. What is the condition of every creature at physical birth , and throughout the unregenerate days of their lives? Romans, Chapter 3, continuing at Verse 11…
(2)
“THERE IS NONE (no creature) WHO UNDERSTANDS (God, or any divine thing)”
What is it that makes you think you are special? Your bank account? Your car? Your profession? Your placing yourself above others? Your “holiness?” (I’m a good girl). Your generosity? Your race? Your nationality? Everything in this world is designed to encourage you to think there is something inherently good about you. The bible strikes this thought down with a vengeance.
(3)
THERE IS NONE (no creature) WHO SEEKS FOR (a relationship with) GOD…”
How can this be in light of all the religious people in the world with their paganism and ritualistic diligence? First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 20…
I (Paul) say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.
The religious worship demons! They pray to demons! Many don’t want a relationship with God…they want a relationship with idols. No human being has ever sought God. If God did not seek a relationship with us, we’d be in big trouble.
(4)
“ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE (from God)…
Every human being has abandoned the way of God. How could it be otherwise? Every angelic creature did the same thing. How about your friends? Have they done the same thing to you? How about your family? Have they done the same thing to you? When these things happen in our lives, we think we are crazy. We think there must be something inherent in us that is deficient. There are spiritual things being illustrated in our souls by these things.
(5)
“TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS…”
All of us have become like rotten fruit. We have become like salt that is tasteless. We have become like coffee without cream and sugar. We are unprofitable in God’s eyes.
(6)
“THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
When we see people as they are, it is discouraging. We don’t have to look any further than the news on television or into a newspaper, or in a magazine to see people as they are. All we see is corruption, deception, selfishness, cruelty, apostasy. I found myself this week doing something that I never do…longing for eternity…the time when these are not the conditions we are surrounded by, and wondering if that day will actually ever come. Well of course it is to come. God’s kingdom will come. But God designed us to be content regardless of circumstances. He is equipping us to be fine with every situation we are in. I see myself growing in this way, and not because of anything I am doing.
(7)
“THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE…”
Out of the unregenerate throat come the sounds of death. Discouragement. Ever attempt anything wonderful only to have everyone around you and everything around you sound off against it? Try losing weight. Announce any goal you have. Watch the throats come against you.
(8)
“WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP (on) DECEIVING…”
Lies are a continual part of our experience.
(9)
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS…”
There are fangs ready to bite you at every turn…set to wound you with their poison.
(10)
“WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS(blasphemy)…”
Mention the Lord Jesus Christ to some one and watch the venom come pouring forth against Him. Watch the lies pour forth. Jesus Christ is not God. I’m not religious. I’m against organized religion. Psalm 10, Verse 7…
His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
(11)
“THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD…”
If it were not for the small and courageous force of police officers and military who provide restraint, we would be overrun with murder. We would destroy ourselves.
(12)
“DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS…”
We build up…we tear down…we build up …we tear down…we never seem to get ahead.
(13)
“AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
There is no real desire for wisdom among the unregenerate. There is no real desire for growth. I think here of the legacy that human beings hope will move from generation to generation to generation. Then we see the likes of Absalom, David’s favorite son, who ruined the family legacy and set his family back by generations.
(14)
“THERE IS NO FEAR OF (respect for) GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
What God says to the regenerate , they disregard. Because the wrath of God is stored up…rather than executed immediately…men are comfortable with doing evil and with disrespecting God.
God accepts us. Do we accept Him and what He says? This passage says no one does. We don’t afford God the same courtesy He affords us. Acceptance. He accepts us. We don’t accept Him. Nothing good dwells in us.
The Consequences of Sin passage in Romans can easily leave us discouraged if it were not for the knowledge that God accepts us just as we are. It was no surprise to omniscient God who creatures are and what creature would do, yet He accepts us in our horrible condition nonetheless. Isn’t that great?
Be encouraged. More importantly…Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 3a…
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think…
Instead fix your mind on the greatness of God.
The Promises of the Lord Jesus Christ
Trust in the Lord and do good…
Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord…and He will do it.
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in (union with) Christ Jesus.
CLOSING SONG
How Great You Are
CLOSING PRAYER
Let us pray...
THANKS
INTERCESSION
PETITION
And we pray that You continue to shape the messages from this pulpit that are a reflection of Your unconditional love, Your Magnificent Person, Your perfect thinking, Your impeccable work, and Your indescribable essence...we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit, in Christ’s name, Amen.
Thanks for coming!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for listening!
www.barahministries.com
| April 2024 | ||||||
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| 31 | 1 Mon | 2 Tue | 3 Wed | 4 Thu | 5 Fri | 6 Sat |
| 7 Sun | 8 Mon | 9 Tue | 10 Wed | 11 Thu | 12 Fri | 13 Sat |
| 14 Sun | 15 Mon | 16 Tue | 17 Wed | 18 Thu | 19 Fri | 20 Sat |
| 21 Sun | 22 Mon | 23 Tue | 24 Wed | 25 Thu | 26 Fri | 27 Sat |
| 28 Sun | 29 Mon | 30 Tue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
 |
1220 S. Alma School Rd. Suite 201 Mesa, AZ 85210 |
 |
(480) 237-9903 |
 |
info@barahministries.com |
