Romans 2: What is God's Message to Hypocrites?

Class Outline:

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None above, none below, no exceptions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re in the resident congregation turn off your electronic devices and put them away. Let this be a place where you aren’t distracted by the world.

 

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

 

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with a worldwide impact.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  Thanks for listening to this Bible lesson!

 

OPENING AGENDA

 

You may be wondering some things about Barah Ministries…

 

Who is the God we worship?

What is our source of truth?

Who is our enemy?

 

Westudy the Bible together for a simple reason…John, Chapter 17, Verse 3 tells us in the Lord’s prayer…

 

JOHN 17:3

This is the resurrection life (eternal life)…that all may know You God the Father…the only true God…and that all may know Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah)…whom You Father have sent.

 

As believers in Christ, we study the Bible to grow in the sphere of grace into which we are placed by God…and to gain knowledge from God about our Lord Jesus Christ who saved us as a free gift.

 

Who is the God We Worship?

 

We worship a Triune Godhead.  There is One God who expresses Himself to

mankind as three separate, distinct, co-equal, co-infinite, co-eternal Persons…God the Father…God the Son…and God the Holy Spirit.

 

GOD THE FATHER is the author of the Triune Godhead’s plan for all creatures.  He hears billions and billions of prayers every day.  In Matthew, Chapter 6, Verse 6the Lord says…

 

MATTHEW 6:6

…when you pray…go into your inner room (into a sacred sanctuary of your own choosing)…close your door…and pray to your God and Father who hears you in the secret place…and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

 

God the Father is the rewarder of those who do good...of those who seek no praise for themselves but credit Him with all success.

 

GOD THE SON (the Lord) volunteered to execute God the Father’s plan.  He came to earth and did a job He volunteered for so all of us could be offered the resurrection life, according to First John, Chapter 5, Verse 20…

 

FIRST JOHN 5:20

And we know that the Son of God has come…and He has given us understanding… so we may know God the Father...who is true…and we are in union with Him who is true…in union with God the Father’s Son…Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah).  He is the true God and He is the resurrection life (eternal life).

 

There is ONE AND ONLY ONE WAY to heaven.  You invest your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, asking Him to save you…and by believing in Him you instantly have the resurrection life…eternal life…in His name.

 

We worship GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.  He is known as a paraclete…a helper…who brings His divine power to assist others in times of trouble…John, Chapter 14, Verse 26…

 

JOHN 14:26

But the Helper (the parakletos)…God the Holy Spirit…whom God the Father will send in My name (the name of Jesus)…He will teach you all things…and He will bring to your remembrance all that I (the Lord Jesus Christ) said to you.

God the Holy Spirit is the One who keeps on mentoring us and who keeps on teaching us…a guide who is the rudder of a Christian’s life.

 

What is Our Source of Truth?

 

As Christians, we can develop a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the

entire Godhead through the study of the Word of God…THE BIBLE.  Proverbs 30, Verse 5 says…

 

PROVERBS 30:5a

Every word of God is tested (proven to be true)…

 

When we study the Bible…we learn God’s viewpoint not man’s viewpoint.  We reject those teachers with teachings that are proposing as doctrines the precepts of men.  We care about God’s viewpoint as being the perfect guide for our decisions and our lives.

 

Who is Our Enemy?

 

GOD HAS AN ENEMY…Satan…whom God made ‘the ruler of this world’ for a finite period.  He is the enemy of believers in Christ as well.  He is the tempter…like the bad kid at school who is always inviting others to the road of trouble.  Some adopt his lifestyle of trouble as a practice according to First John, Chapter 3, Verse 8…

 

FIRST JOHN 3:8a

…the one who practices sin is of the devil…for the devil has sinned from the beginning.

 

Believers in Christ sin, but not as a practice.  First John, Chapter 3, Verse 8 continues…

 

FIRST JOHN 3:8b

The Son of God appeared for this purpose…to destroy the works of the devil.

 

…and He succeeded.  Those of us who follow the Lord are free from sin as a practice and hold onto the righteousness gifted to us by the Lord.  As a result, we reject Satan’s temptations and look at them as they are…false promises that always lead to destruction.

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is God’s Message to Hypocrites?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

We know what a hypocrite is because we all keep on being hypocrites!  We have times when we know the truth deep inside, but on the outside, we cover the truth with lies and half-truths designed to make us look good…even to make ourselves look better than others.  As hypocrites, we become actors who talk from behind a mask.

 

RomansChapter 2 is God’s message to unbeliever hypocrites.  In today’s lesson we’ll learn that whether you are an immoral sinner or a moral sinner, you will be judged in fairness and impartiality by a righteous God…and no matter how highly you think of yourselves…you are no better than anyone else.

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s hear some music!  On a righteous day in the future the Lord will do what none of us want anyone to do to us…He will judge.  Knowing this, what is so special about the Lord?  What is so different about Him?  It’s His love…His unconditional love.  All we need is His love, and He gives it in great abundance.

 

Here’s Mike McClure to sing about the man that was hung as a common criminal to pay for our sins with His blood…the God-man…Jesus…who was crucified BETWEEN TWO THIEVES.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

BETWEEN TWO THIEVES

Mike McClure

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father, thank you for keeping us aware of who we are…that no matter what we think of ourselves, Your righteous judgment is completely true…when we delude ourselves into thinking we are more special than others, thank you for bringing us back into the reality of how depraved we really are…thank you for being willing to let us sin so that we see again and again how much we want to rebel against You and Your thoughts and against Your Word…and thank you for always welcoming us back…always forgiving us…always loving us unconditionally…always treating us in grace…

 

…let God the Holy Spirit make the message of this lesson penetrate to the depths of our souls and to the depths of our hearts…and let it inspire compassion for others rather than promoting attitudes of self-righteous superiority toward others…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is God’s Message to Hypocrites?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

The second chapter of Paul’s letter to the Christian churches of first-century Rome deals with those who do not believe the immoral sins of Romans, Chapter 1 refers to them.The chapter spotlights two sets of self-appointed “judges” of others.

 

First, there are those judges who consider themselves “better” than immoral sinners for any of many reasons…race, nationality, personal affluence, education, or culture.Second, there are those judges who consider themselves “better” because they choose to hide in a religion.  In the apostle Paul’s day, this was the Jews.

 

The legalistic self-righteous sinners consider themselves to be “respectable.”  In God’s eyes, there is no distinction between sinners…whether moral or immoral sinners.  Each sinner will be treated with the same fairness by God.  So, Romans Chapter 2 is an indictment against moralistic people…moral sinners…and especially those who think being religious makes them special.

 

At a family wedding, and one of my cousins was poking fun because I am divorced twice, while being a Pastor.  A penetrating question was like a cold glass of water in her face…“Aren't you divorced twice?”  Evidently, she forgot.  All those who judge others conveniently forget their sins…and when their sins come up, they forget even faster!

 

Let’s take a look and have a listen to the first passage in Romans, Chapter 2…Verses 1 to 16…as God send His message to hypocrites…

 

ROMANS 2:1

Therefore, you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that way you judge another, you simultaneously condemn yourself…for you who judge practice the same sins.

 

God says none of us are “basically good people” regardless of what we think of ourselves.  Moral sinners sin, even though they may do it a different way!

 

ROMANS 2:2

And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such sins.

 

ROMANS 2:3

But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such sins (immoral ones)…and then you do the same sins yourself…do you suppose that you will escape the judgment of God?

 

Of course, they think they will escape judgment…proposing that God is a hypocrite as well.  He is not.

 

ROMANS 2:4

Or do you think lightly of the riches of God’s kindness and tolerance and patience…not knowing…(actually forgetting)…that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

 

ROMANS 2:5

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and in the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God…

 

ROMANS 2:6

…the God who will render to each person according to his deeds…

 

What are the two groups God will be judging?  Here’s the first group…Romans, Chapter 2, Verse 7…

 

ROMANS 2:7

…those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality…eternal life…

 

Here’s the second group…Romans, Chapter 2, Verse 8…

 

ROMANS 2:8

…but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and indignation.

 

ROMANS 2:9

There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first (chronologically) and also of the Greek (Gentiles)…

 

ROMANS 2:10

…but glory and honor and peace will come to everyone who does good, to the Jew first (chronologically) and also of the Greek (Gentiles)…

 

ROMANS 2:11

For there is no partiality with God.

 

Amen?

 

ROMANS 2:12

For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law…and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law…

 

ROMANS 2:13

…for it is not the hearers of the Law who are justified before God…but the doers of the Law will be justified.

 

Does that mean you can work your way to heaven?  Don’t be silly!

 

 

 

ROMANS 2:14

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law…these Gentiles…not having the Law, are a law unto themselves…

 

ROMANS 2:15

…in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts…their conscience bears witness and their thoughts alternately accuse them or defend them…

 

ROMANS 2:16

…on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

 

God’s scathing indictment of the entire Roman world continues.  In Romans, Chapter 1…an indictment of the immoral sinner.  In Romans, Chapter 2…an indictment of the moral sinner.  One is not better than the other.

 

Legalistic, self-righteous unbelievers are sinners, too, and they need a Savior.  Legalistic self-righteousness is mean-spirited.  Legalistic self-righteousness is a delusional death chamber.  People who think they are better than others wake up in the Lake of Fire and they can’t even imagine how they got there since they are so “good.”  They found out they are not the judge of what is good…God is…and what is good to God is His own righteousness that He gifts to believers in Christ at the moment of salvation.

 

God has a holy standard…ABSOLUTE righteousness.  Nice people have the same spiritual problem as those who are flagrantly sinning.  What is God’s message to moral sinners in Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 1 to 5?

 

MATTHEW 7:1

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”

 

MATTHEW 7:2

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged…and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”

 

MATTHEW 7:3

“Why do you (who practice legalistic self-righteousness) look at the speck that is

in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

 

MATTHEW 7:4

“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?”

 

MATTHEW 7:5

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

 

What is judging?  The kind of judging the Lord is speaking of in this passage is…

 

JUDGING

Self-righteousness…a hypocritical condemnation of someone…accusing them of things you do as well.

 

Discernment is NOT judging.

 

Believers in Christ would do well to heed the advice in Second Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verse 5…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 13:5

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith…examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves…that Jesus Christ is indwelling you—unless indeed you fail the test?

 

Legalistically self-righteous unbelievers would do well to make self-examination a practice as well.  Self-examination…not self-lenience is a key to growth.Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 3…

 

GALATIANS 6:3

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

How are you deceiving yourself about you?

 

When we return from the break, we’ll take the offering and then we’ll begin our verse-by-verse, in-depth look at the first passage of Romans, Chapter 2.

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is God’s Message to Hypocrites?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

 

God the Father loves all of His creatures unconditionally…and He loves us so

much…that He GAVE His Son to save us.  God the Father is not conflicted about giving.  Are you?  First John, Chapter 3, Verses 17 and 18 say this…

 

FIRST JOHN 3:17

…whoever has the world’s goods…and sees his brother in need…and closes his heart against him…how does the unconditional love of God abide in this person?

 

FIRST JOHN 3:18

Little children (believers in Christ)…let us not love unconditionally with word or with tongue (love is not talk) …but let us love unconditionally with deeds and in truth.

 

Let this be a time in your life when you realize what God the Father can do with what you give.  Realize how important giving is, as it makes life an amazing experience for those in need.  Be generous with the gifts your God has given you…our time gifts…our talent gifts…AND our treasure gifts.

 

Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with one of his always inspiring offering messages.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

SECOND TIMOTHY 1:7

For God the Father has not given us a spirit of timidity…He has given us a spirit of divine power and unconditional love and sound judgment.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is God’s Message to Hypocrites?

 

LESSON PART TWO

 

Let’s see what we can learn from the first passage of RomansChapter 2 by examining it verse-by verse.

 

ROMANS 2:1a

Therefore you (who practice legalistic self-righteousness and religion) have no defense (no escape from judgment)…everyone of you who passes judgment on others…for in those things for which you judge others (like those practicing immoral sinning)…

 

ROMANS 2:1b

…you condemn yourself (with moral sinning)…for you who judge (those who practice immoral sinning) practice the same things (immoral sinning practiced “in the closet” and out of sight...immoral things which are just as bad, perhaps worse).

 

ROMANS 2:2

And we know that the judgment of God alwaysis righteous (because He tells the TRUTH)…a judgment falling (not only on those who practice immoral sinning but also) upon those who practice (moral sinning which is legalistic self-righteousness and religion).

 

Legalists choose to be intentionally blind to their own faults.  For example, the Jews of this day thought they were better than the Gentiles (whom they called goyim…which is an insult).

 

While legalists are phony judges, an omnipresent God who is everywhere at the same time…an omniscient God who knows everything knowable including our motives…will judge all people fairly based solely on the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, to coin a judicial expression.  To God, sin is sin…whether it is immoral or moral.  And a sinner is a sinner.

 

ROMANS 2:3

But do you suppose this, O men and women (who practice legalistic self-righteousness and religion)…thatwhen you pass judgment on those who practice (immoral sinning) and do the same thingsyourself (perhaps worse…your own brand of immoral sinning)…that you will escape the judgment of God?

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is sin-free, thus He is qualified to judge.  A sinful man is not qualified to judge.Once a person sins once, he is never qualified to judge again.  Remember what the Lord said to the legalistic and hypocritical Pharisees about the woman caught in the very act of adultery in John, Chapter 8, Verse 7?

 

JOHN 8:7b

“…he who is without sin among you…let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

 

Only Jesus was qualified to throw a stone…and He didn’t.  Romans, Chapter 2, Verse 4…

 

ROMANS 2:4

Or do you (who practice legalistic self-righteousness and religion) think lightly of the riches of God the Father’skindness and tolerance and patience…not knowing (meaning ignorant of the fact)…that the kindness of God the Father is whatleads people to repentance (a change of mind about having a relationship with Christ)?

 

Those who appear to be nice aren’t.

 

People who practice legalistic self-righteousness really don’t think they need anything from God.  They do.  They are unrighteous and they need God’s righteousness as their admission ticket to heaven.  They are sinners.  Sinners need a Savior.

 

Because the Lord’s judgments are always right and always true…He has the right to strike anyone down the moment they sin.  He’s not like that.  He is patient and He is longsuffering…giving all creatures chance after chance after chance to admit to themselves and to the Lord that they are sinners and need a Savior.  He withholds His wrath until the day of judgment.

 

ROMANS 2:5

But because of your obstinate and unrepentant heart…you (unbelievers who practice legalistic self-righteousness and religion) are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of the revelation of God the Father’s wrath and in the day of the righteous judgment of God the Father...

 

Those who practice legalistic self-righteousness as a lifestyle are filling a Gatorade cooler of “treasure” that will be dumped on their heads, but not as a celebration.  The “treasure” they are collecting is the wrath of God the Father that will be poured on them at the Great White Throne Judgment…and they will experience God the Father's wrath every moment for all eternity.  They are accumulating count after count of GUILT against themselves.

 

ROMANS 2:6

...for God the Father WILL COMPENSATE EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS (whether they are a righteous WORK or an unrighteous WORK)…

 

A righteous work is believing in Christ…anunrighteous work involves rejecting a relationship with Christ.

 

ROMANS 2:7

…and God the Father will compensate believers in Christ who by perseverance keep on doing good and keep on seeking for glory and honor and immortality...God the Father will compensate them with the resurrection life (eternal life)...

 

ROMANS 2:8

...but to unbelieverswho are unpersuadable and do not obey the truth…but keep on obeying unrighteousness (with evil deeds…both moral and immoral deeds)…God the Father will compensate themwith His wrath and indignation.

 

What is wrath?  Simply stated it is…

 

WRATH

God’s mindset toward unbelievers

 

ROMANS 2:9

There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of all mankindwho does evil (unbelievers)…men and womenof the Jews first (chronologically) and also of the Greeks (the Gentiles...in other words, tribulation and distress is reserved for the whole human race…the only way out is through believing in Christ)...

 

ROMANS 2:10

...but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good (believers in Christ...the regenerate ones)…to the Jew first (chronologically who are believers in Christ) and also to the Greek (Gentiles who are believers in Christ).

ROMANS 2:11

For there is no partiality in the presence of God.

 

We live in a world filled with hierarchy.  The upper class…the middle class…the lower class.  The majority and the minorities.  The white and the black.  The rich and the poor.  The smart and the dumb.  The strong and the weak.  Jeff Bezos…Bill Gates…Warren Buffet…Oprah Winfrey…Steve Ballmer…Mark Zuckerberg…the uber rich.  Are they exempt from God’s judgment?  Will they stand proud before the Lord as if they deserve the same special treatment they get here on earth?

 

They won't.  God does not see as man sees.  First Samuel, Chapter 16, Verse 7 says…

 

FIRST SAMUEL 16:7

…the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at Eliab’s appearance nor the height of his stature…because I have rejected him…for God sees not as man sees…for man looks at the outward appearance…but the Lord looks at the heart.”

 

With the Lord, there is no distinction between sinners.  A sinner (an unbeliever) is a sinner and a sin is a sin.  God works in ones!  There is only one sin that matters…that’s ANY sin…and there is one way to salvation…that’s the Christ…through believing in the Jewish Messiah…and there is one way to damnation, eternal residence in the Lake of Fire after death…that’s the rejection of a relationship with Christwhich He offers to WHOSOEVER.  Can God’s program be any easier to understand?

 

ROMANS 2:12

For all who have sinned without the MosaicLaw (a reference to the Gentiles who were not under the Mosaic Law)…without the Mosaic Law, they will also perish (being evaluatedby their rejection of a relationship with Christ)…and all who have sinned under the MosaicLaw will be judged by the MosaicLaw...

 

ROMANS 2:13

...for it is not those instructed in the knowledge of the MosaicLaw who are justifiedbefore God the Father (not those who cling to academic knowledge)…but it’s the doers of the Mosaic Law who will be justified (before God the Father).

 

It’s not enough to know there is a God…your faith must be invested in Him by

choice to be saved.“Doing”in this passage IS NOT WORKS.No one is saved because of works.  Doing is obedience to God’s commands.

 

Why are we believers in Christ righteous?  Because God MADE us righteous as a free gift…not because of anything we have done.

 

ROMANS 2:14

For when Gentiles who do not have the MosaicLaw do habitually, by nature, the things of the MosaicLaw…these (Gentiles), not having the Mosaic Law, are a law unto themselves...

 

ROMANS 2:15

...in that (the Gentiles) show the work of the MosaicLaw written in their hearts… their conscience (that part of them that knows right from wrong) bearing witness… and their thoughts alternately accusing them or else defending them...

 

Red light!  We may never have taken a driving course that had a booklet describing the law of traffic lights…but through mere observation of what others are doing, we know that red is stop and green is go!

 

ROMANS 2:16

...there will be a day when, according to my gospel, God the Father will judge the hidden things of men through the Christ (the Jewish Messiah)…Jesus.

 

If the Lord shows you all you have done…yet counts none of it against you…is He being cruel or unfair?A terrible day is coming when we will be introduced to who we really have been…a version of us quite different from the delusional paragon we have made ourselves to be in our own minds.  God will introduce us to reality.

 

Unbelievers, whether immoral or moral, all make a life choice to keep on practicing sin without regard for the coming judgment.  Even the religious hide in a delusion providing NO SECURITY.

 

What is God’s message to hypocrites who are sinners?  God is true…you are not…you are guilty…your works always “out you” as hypocrites…and this applies to ALL Y’ALL…the immoral and the moral.  God judges all.  Yet God gives ALL a chance to be cleansed by His blood.  Will you accept the gift, oh hypocrite?

 

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race

 

The closing moments of this lesson could be the ten most important minutes of your life.  You’ll be introduced to the good news concerning how you can spend all eternity in heaven when you close your eyes in this life.  We want you to know that…

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

There is a Person who IS Christianity…Jesus Christ…the most important Being in the universe…the Sovereign God...the preeminent God…the ONE and ONLY God.  He created you…He loves you unconditionally…and He wants a relationship with you.  That’s good news for you!

 

The bad news is that you were born with a problem.  From the moment of your physical birth, God considered you a sinner.  Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 10…

 

ROMANS 3:10

…it is written, “There is no creature who is righteous, not even one…”

 

Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 23…

 

ROMANS 3:23

…all creatures have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

 

These verses are a formal accusation from God about YOU…an indictment.

 

It’s not your fault that you’re a sinner from physical birth, but it is your circumstance.

 

Unfortunately, being a sinner has a penalty.  Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 23…

 

ROMANS 6:23

For the payment earned for being a sinner is both spiritual death and physical death…

 

You were born with Adam’s first sin credited to you and to all members of the human race.  In addition, you commit your own set of personal sins.  God requires perfection for you to get into heaven.  Those who sin don’t meet God’s perfect standards.  Trying to make up for your sins by “being a good person” or by trying to work your way into heaven with imperfect deeds, doesn’t impress God at all.

 

This gospel message is the good news concerning what the Lord did to fix the bad news for sinners.  Jesus Christ paid a price with His blood on the Cross so that sinners could be saved.  Responding to His gospel message is the chance to have a personal relationship with Jesus.  Here's what the Lord said to a self-righteous Pharisee, Nicodemus, in John, Chapter 3, Verse 3…

 

JOHN 3:3

“Truly, truly, I say to you, Nicodemus…unless you are BORN AGAIN (the spiritual birth)…you cannot see the kingdom of God the Father in heaven.”

 

Fortunately for you, God the Father wants you in heaven.  Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8 says…

 

ROMANS 5:8

God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all mankind…in that while we were yet sinners (while we were unrighteous, ungodly, unbelievers) …Christ died (a sacrificial death) for us.

 

Who is this God who saves you?  The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ…in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (Paul) delivered to you as of primary importance the gospel message I also received from God…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

Absolute righteousness is the admission ticket to heaven.  It is the key to eternal life…the resurrection life…and it is yours FREE OF CHARGE… RIGHT NOW…if you want it.  Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 to 11 say this…

ROMANS 10:9

…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (that He is God)…and if you believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead…you will be saved…

 

ROMANS 10:10

…for with the heart a person believes…resulting in the imputation of absolute righteousness (your admission ticket to heaven)…and with the mouth a person confesses (choosing faith in Christ alone)…resulting in salvation.

 

ROMANS 10:11

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will not be disappointed.”

 

So, accept the invitation and heed the warning of John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment…but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”

 

There is a hell…a very real place…and it is described this way in the Bible…Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 41 to 42…

 

MATTHEW 13:41

The Son of Man (the Lord Jesus Christ) will send forth His elect angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks (unbelievers)…and those who commit lawlessness (unbelievers)…

 

MATTHEW 13:42

…andthe elect angelswill throw unbelievers into the furnace of fire (the Lake of Fire)…in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

For those without a relationship with Christ, He’ll just ask them to step to the left and to take the “HELLIVATOR” … just press down.

 

Believers in Christ have a different fate…Matthew, Chapter 13, Verse 43…

 

 

MATTHEW 13:43

Then the righteous (believers in Christ) will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father…

 

Getting to heaven is easy…Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

ACTS 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

Sinners need a Savior.  That Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Believe in Him and you will be saved!

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s close with music!  As believers in Christ, when we are subjected to the judging of the legalistic, self-righteous crowd…at times we believe them.  June Murphy reminds us in her song I AM BEAUTIFUL to see ourselves as God sees us.

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

I AM BEAUTIFUL

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

…we thank you for opening our eyes to the truth of how awful we are in judging others and forgetting our own flaws…

 

…as we go into the week, help us to conductmoment-by-moment self-evaluation that shocks us so much it keeps us from judging others…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Please make it a habit to listen to the announcements.  They are posted separately.  Keep current on the things going on in Barah Ministries.

 

DISCUSSING THE LESSON AND PRAYER CIRCLE

 

Join us Live or on ZoomImmediately Following the Lesson

 

GOT BIBLICAL QUESTIONS?

 

Ask the Pastor

pastor@barahministries.com

 

KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

 

www.barahministries.com