Romans 2: Are Believers in Christ Exempt from the Indictments in Romans Chapters 1 to 3?

Class Outline:

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The perfect payment erases the old self; attempting to wear it again is futile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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?

 

A reminder concerning the One we worship…a reminder concerning why we worship…in Hebrews, Chapter 12, Verse 28…

 

HEBREWS 12:28

Therefore, since we believers in Christ receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken…let us show gratitude (through worship)…by which we may offer to God the Father acceptable service with (an attitude of) reverence and awe…

 

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.

 

God the Father makes believers in His Son eternally secure in our “so great” salvation according to the Lord in John, Chapter 10, Verse 29…

 

JOHN 10:29

“My God and Father…who has given believers in Christ (the sheep) as a permanent gift to Me (the Lord Jesus Christ) … He is greater than everyone…and no one can snatch believers in Christ (the sheep) out of God the Father’s hand (either).”

 

GOD THE SON (the Lord) volunteered to execute God the Father’s plan…taking on human form as Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah)…He is the ONE AND ONLY ONE WAY to heaven.  John, Chapter 10, Verse 9…

 

JOHN 10:9

I (the Lord Jesus Christ) alone am the door…if (3) anyone enters through Me (maybe you will and maybe you won’t…you have a choice)… this one will be saved…and he will go in and out of My pasture and will find spiritual food.

 

When you invest your faith in the Lord Jesus…the Christ…the Jewish Messiah… asking Him to save you…by believing in Him you instantly have the resurrection life…eternal life…in His name.

 

We worship GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.  He is our Mentor and Teacher, a guide who is the rudder of a Christian’s life.  In John, Chapter 14, Verse 26, Jesus is talking to His disciples…

 

JOHN 14:26

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

 

What is Our Source of Truth?

 

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

entire Godhead through the study of the Word of God…THE BIBLE.  At Barah Ministries, we teach the Bible from God’s viewpoint not man’s viewpoint…we refuse to teach as doctrinal truth the precepts of men.The Word of God is

stability.  In Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 24 to 27 the Lord speaks about His Word…

 

MATTHEW 7:24

“…everyone who hears these words of Mine (in the Bible…the Word of God)… and acts on them…may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

 

MATTHEW 7:25

“And the rain fell…and the floods came…and the winds blew…and slammed against that house…and yet it did not fall…for it had been founded on the rock.”

 

MATTHEW 7:26

“Everyone who hears these words of Mine (in the Bible…the Word of God) and does not act on themwill be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”

 

MATTHEW 7:27

“The rain fell…and the floods came…and the winds blew…and slammed against that house…and it fell…and great was its fall.”

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is the ROCK!

 

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.  The devil is a coward…so as believers in Christ, we follow the suggestion of the Lord's half-brother in James, Chapter 4, Verse 7…

 

JAMES 4:7

Submit therefore to God (by obeying Him). Resist the devil (stand immovable against Him) and he will flee from you.

 

We don’t fear Satan, nor do we worry about the things he is perpetrating on planet earth at this time...because as believers in Christ we already have the victory according to First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 57…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:57

…thanks be to God the Father who gives us believers in Christ the victory through

our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Are Believers in Christ Exempt from the Indictments in Romans Chapters 1 to 3?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

The answer is NO!  Fortunately, these indictments are talking about how things were when we were unbelievers!  In today’s lesson, we’ll clear up how believers should hear the lessons in Romans, Chapters 1 to 3.  And as we do every month, we’ll celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  We’ll remind ourselves that the Lord is the PROPITIATION for our sins.

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s hear some music!Colossians, Chapter 1, Verse 20 tells us what was done for usthrough the Cross…

 

COLOSSIANS 1:20

…through the Lord, God the Father reconciled ALL THINGS to Himself…having made peace through the blood of the Lord’s Cross…through Jesus, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

 

The great thing about the Lord is that He never changes…and nothing He does can be changed.  He is the Sovereign God of the Universe…no one is more powerful…

and nothing happens anywhere without His permission. June Murphy reminds us of the power of the Cross in her song…YOU CAN’T UNDO THE CROSS.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

YOU CAN’T UNDO THE CROSS

June Murphy

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

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

 

Father, you have all the power…as believers in Christ we love doing things in our own power and this is always a mistake…we have access to the same divine power that resurrected Christ from the dead and we need to know and to remember constantly that this power is a lot more effective than human power…remind us to trust you…

 

…as we learn today, help us to see and to enjoy with spiritual eyes all the things all three members of the Godhead do for us…and let us keep on expressing our gratitude daily as we see Your hand in everything we do…

 

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

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Are Believers in Christ Exempt from the Indictments in Romans Chapters 1 to 3?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

After teaching the first passage of Romans, Chapter 2 (Verses 1 to 16) quite of few of the believers in the non-resident congregation were confused.  Perhaps it was because of poor teaching on my part, but I don’t think so.  For those of you who were “confused” … which really means concerned…now you know what I go through every week when preparing to teach.

 

The first three chapters of Romans are directed to unbelievers…those unbelievers with a lifestyle of immoral sinning…like most of the people in first century Rome;  those unbelievers with a lifestyle of moral sinning…the legalistic and self-righteous unbelievers who were “looking down their noses” at those who were engaged in immoral sinning…as if moral sinning makes them superior; and the legalistic and self-righteous unbelievers who were hiding behind religion as if being part of a religion made then superior.

 

When believers in Christ start thinking things in Romans, Chapters 1 to 3 refer to believers…it is quite concerning.  As believers in Christ, we see ourselves as exempt from the wrath of God.  We are!   But if we take parts of the Bible out of context, it’s easy for Satan to use the flesh to cast doubts on our salvation.  Satan would want us to wonder if Romans, Chapters 1 to 3 refer to believers in Christ.  They don’t.

 

So if you know you are a believer in Christ, the best thing for you to do as we study Romans, Chapters 1 to 3 is to get a box of popcorn…to sit in the reviewing stand…and to sing the Barbra Streisand song The Way We Were.  Here’s your reassurance…Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 1 to 10…

 

EPHESIANS 2:1

And you believers in Christ WERE spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins (you were born that way just like every member of the human race)…

 

EPHESIANS 2:2

…sins in which you formerly walked (as a lifestyle when you were an unbeliever) according to the curriculum of this world…according to the (direction of the) prince of the power of the air (the god of the first heaven…the atmosphere around the earth…Satan)…the (source of the) spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience (unbelievers).

 

EPHESIANS 2:3

Among these unbelievers, all believers in Christ formerly lived (lifestyles) in the lusts of our flesh…we kept on indulging the desires of the flesh and indulging the desiresof the mind…and we were by nature children of wrath…even as the rest of the unbelievers were.

 

EPHESIANS 2:4

BUT…God the Father…being rich in mercy (His attitude toward us when we were unbelievers)… because of His great unconditional love with which He loved us believers in Christ…

 

EPHESIANS 2:5

…(loving us) even when we were spiritually dead in our transgressions…made us spiritually alive (saved in the past with the result we are saved forever) together with the Christ (the Jewish Messiah…by grace you believers in Christ have been saved)…

 

EPHESIANS 2:6

…and God the Father raised us up with the Christ…and God the Father seated us with Jesus Christ in the heavenly places…in union with Christ Jesus…

 

EPHESIANS 2:7

…so that in the ages that will keep on coming…God the Father might show everyone the surpassing spiritual wealthcreated from the source of His grace in kindness toward those of us in union with Christ Jesus.

 

EPHESIANS 2:8

For by grace you believers in Christ have been saved completely through your faith in Christ…and that grace and that faith and that salvation is not from the source of yourselves…it is a gift from the source of God the Father…

 

EPHESIANS 2:9

…it is not as a result of your works…so that no one may boast (before God as having saved himself).

 

EPHESIANS 2:10

For we believers in Christ are God the Father’s workmanship…created by God the Father to be in union with Christ Jesus for divine good works…which good works God the Father prepared beforehand so that we believers in Christ would walk in them.

 

We were as the rest…unbelievers…before we made our commitment to a relationship with the Lord.  Now we are exempt from God’s wrath.  Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 23…

 

ROMANS 6:23

For the earned wages of sin (the compensation paid for your spiritual death resulting from sin) is the second death in the Lake of Fire (the wrath of God the Father); but the free and gracious gift of God the Father is the resurrection life (eternal life for those) in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

So believers…eat your popcorn and watch for a while!  Let’s review the first passage of Romans, Chapter 2, Verses 1 to 16…and let’s look for the lessons.

 

ROMANS 2:1a

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

 

ROMANS 2:1b

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

 

ROMANS 2:2

And we know that the judgment of God always is 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).

 

ROMANS 2:3

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

 

ROMANS 2:4

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

 

ROMANS 2:5

But because of your obstinate and unrepentant (unbelieving) heart…you (unbelievers who practice legalistic self-righteousness and religion as a lifestyle) 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...

 

ROMANS 2:6

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

ROMANS 2:9

There will be tribulation and distress for every soul among all mankind who does evil (unbelievers)…men and women of 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.

 

ROMANS 2:12

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

 

ROMANS 2:13

...for it is not those instructed in the knowledge of the Mosaic Law who are justified before 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).

 

ROMANS 2:14

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

 

ROMANS 2:15

...in that (the Gentiles) show the work of the Mosaic Law 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...

 

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.

 

The lessons of the first passage of Romans, Chapter 2…

 

1

We have to admit that even as Christians we engage in immoral sinning and moral sinning…so we don’t have the right to judge others as if we don’t do the same things or worse.  If we do judge, and we do, it is hypocrisy.  We become “actors talking from behind masks” which is what hypocrisy is.  We forget our own sins while pointing out the sins of others.  Do you think you are better than others?  God says you’re not.

 

2

Believers in Christ sin after salvation…but we do not practice sinning as a LIFESTYLE…we practice sinning by sinning over and over and over again…yet because God has made us a new creation, we are NOT the same as when we were unbelievers.  All of our sins…past, present, and future were paid for by Christ’s blood at the Cross.

 

3

In Romans, Chapter 2, Verses 6 to 8, a righteous work is believing in Christ for salvation…

 

4

…an unrighteous work is rejecting a relationship with Christ.  Many Jews of the day assumed that they were saved simply because they were racial Jews.  Not so.  Romans, Chapter 9, Verses 6 to 8 tell us the truth about that…

 

ROMANS 9:6b

…they are not all (spiritual) Israel…(Jews in the eyes of God)…who are descended from Israel (as racial Jews)…

 

ROMANS 9:7

…nor are they all children of God (in His eyes) simply because they are Abraham’s (blood) descendants (racial Jews)…but the Lord says, “Through Isaac (a believer in Christ) Abraham’s descendants will be named.”

 

ROMANS 9:8

…so it is not the children of the flesh…(not Ishmael’s seed…the Ishmaelites, the Midianites, the Edomites) who are children of God…but it is the children of the promise (the born again ones of God) who are regarded by God as descendants of Abraham (Abraham’s seed).

 

5

God is just.  He treats everyone equally (Romans, Chapter 2, Verse 11).  He judges the thoughts and intent of the heart. So no matter how people are regarded by man…and many are regarded as better than others because of race, creed, culture, wealth, or family background…God sees everyone the same.  Human beings don’t impress God because of outward appearances.

 

6

In Romans, Chapter 2, Verses 12 to 16, one could make the argument that God is NOT impartial.  After all, He gave the Mosaic Law to the Jews and He didn’t give it to the Gentiles.  Paul puts this argument to rest in Romans, Chapter 2, Verses 12 to 16.  Some sin without the Law (the Gentiles).  Some sin with the Law (the Jews).  They are judged by God equally.

 

7

The same argument is asserted when people say, “In the United States we have much better access to information about God than those little children in the middle of Africa.”  This is partially true.  Yet God will judge those who have preferential access and those who don’t have preferential access the same.

 

8

With the Law or without the Law, what we do will be judged.  We will each be judged on the truth we have.  God the Holy Spirit's job is to make sure we have enough truth to decide for Christ.  Quite simply then, what everyone who comes to earth must do is accept or reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

9

Only those who have access to the Law of Moses will be judged by the Law of

Moses.  For those who don’t have access to the Law, God wrote the Law on their hearts through the conscience.   They know right from wrong.  They live the law by nature.

 

10

Everyone, simply through God’s grace, whether we have the Law or whether we don’t have the Law…has the law of God stamped in their hearts by God.  Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 20…

 

ROMANS 1:20a

For since the creation of the world the Lord Jesus Christ’sinvisible attributes…His eternal power…and His Deity…have been clearly seen by all mankind…

 

ROMANS 1:20b

…being understood through everything that has been made in the entire created universe…so that all mankind (especially those practicing ungodliness and unrighteousness) are without excuse in the matter of knowing God.

 

All of us are accountable to God and will be without excuse on judgment day.  God's standard of judgment is fixed, and despite our desire to do so, human beings can't undo what God has done.

 

All of these things have an interesting implication for believers in Christ.  Everyone you evangelize to has enough truth stamped on their souls by God to know there is a God…and to know the issue of salvation (accept or reject Christ).  So by this passage we can now put down the speculation, “Yeah but what if they didn’t know?”  God says they know.

 

So for believers in Christ, let’s relax in our study of Romans, Chapters 1 to 3.  Let’s know that these chapters refer to the way were were…not how we are now.  Let’s remember that God made us what we are…righteous, holy, and blameless in His eyes.  And let’s pass this good news through the gospel message along to others at every opportunity.

 

When we return from the break we’ll take the offering and then we’ll celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Are Believers in Christ Exempt from the Indictments in Romans Chapters 1 to 3?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

 

When you’re giving, what’s important to God is your attitude.  Second Corinthians, Chapter 9, Verse 7…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 9:7

Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart…not grudgingly or under compulsion…for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

When we give, God wants us to give voluntarily, thoughtfully, cheerfully, prayerfully, generously, and enthusiastically.  I urge you believers in Christ to check your attitude as you give.  Make sure your attitude is an EXACT reflection of the voluntary, thoughtful, cheerful, prayerful, generous, and enthusiastic sacrifice that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, made on your behalf at the Cross to provide for you a “so great” salvation.

 

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

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

PHILIPPIANS 4:8

…brethren…whatsoever things are true…whatsoever things are honorable… whatsoever things are righteous…whatsoever things are pure…whatsoever things are lovely…whatsoever things are attractive…if there is any excellence…and there is…and if there is anything worthy of praise…and there is…let your mind reflect on these things.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION

At the Cross, the Lord Jesus Christ Made a Propitiatory Sacrifice

 

LORD’S SUPPER LESSON

 

Welcome to the Lord’s Supper Celebration!

 

As we remember the Lord, let’s relax…enjoying the memories of the things the Lord has done for us…especially His work on the Cross on our behalf.  The Lord’s Supper gives you a chance to direct your focus to the Lord alone.

 

Concerning the Lord’s Supper, our God commands in Luke, Chapter 22, Verse 19…

 

LUKE 22:19c

“…keep on doing this Lord’s Supper Celebrationin remembrance of Me.”

 

In celebrating the Lord’s Supper, He wants you to make time to think about everything special in your life…especially the most important relationship in your life…whether you are a believer in Christ…or even more for unbelievers…your relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Yet the Lord’s Supper is for the born-again ones…for spiritually alive people who

were placed into union with Christ through the baptism of God the Holy Spirit at the moment of their salvation.  God the Holy Spirit turned us into eternal companions of Christ.

 

It is not wise to do this celebration on the move.  It’s a chance to be still and to reflect on the blessings the Lord directs to you.

 

Take a moment to think of something repugnant to you.  Let it be something that when you see it or hear of it, you get sick at the stomach.  For me?  Buttermilk.

For some strange reason my mother wanted me to like buttermilk.  I didn’t.  To me, drinking buttermilk was the equivalent of drinking a glass of vomit.  It was awful.  I refused to do it.

 

Whatever is most repugnant to you, multiply the feeling of repugnancy by a billion.  That’s how repugnant one sin is to the members of the Godhead…God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Genesis, Chapter 6, Verses 5 and 6 say this…

 

GENESIS 6:5

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth…and that every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil CONTINUALLY.

 

GENESIS 6:6

The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

 

It is not at all pleasing to God when we sin.

 

When Satan sinned for the first time, although it was no surprise to the omniscient members of the Godhead who know all that is knowable, they were repulsed by it.  Satan’s sin caused the fall of all angelic creatures.

 

When Adam sinned for the first time, although it was no surprise to the omniscient members of the Godhead who know all that is knowable, they were repulsed by it.  Adam’s sin caused the fall of all creatures in the human race.  Psalm 5, Verse 4…

 

PSALM 5:4

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness…no evil dwells with You.

 

Sin put enmity in the relationship between God and His creatures...a hostility and an antagonism that could not be negated by human power.  Sin is so repulsive to the members of the Godhead that God the Father has made sin the target of His wrath.  There are many things you may want to do in this life, but being at the wrong end of the wrath of God the Father is not one of those things.

 

Christians are pretty casual about this.  If you askabout their Christianity, Christians will say things like this … “I invited Christ into my heart” or “Jesus died for my sins.”  Yes…Jesus died to pay for your sins.  More than that, Jesus died on the Cross to bear God the Father’s wrath so you wouldn’t have to bear it.  Do you have any idea how amazing that is for you?

 

It’s worth repeating.  God the Father’s wrath toward sin fell on Christ at the Cross.  If not, it would fall on you.

 

Recently, I was evangelizing to a young lady who had a pretty casual attitude about being saved.  In reflection, I realized that simply inviting her to be on the Lord’s team was not enough.  She needed to understand how serious it is to be at the wrong end of the wrath of God the Father.  Living in the Lake of Fire for all eternity is an absolutely repulsive thought.

 

Unfortunately, creatures don’t have the power to solve their own sin problem.

Knowing this, God the Father provided a solution for our sin problem.  Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8…

 

ROMANS 5:8

God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all mankindin that while we were sinners (while we were unbelieving…unrighteous…ungodly ones)…the Lord Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father to die a sacrificial death for us.

 

God the Father sent His Son, our Lord, to bear the wrath of God the Father in payment for our sins.  In celebrating this Lord’s Supper, we stop to remember this jaw-dropping sacrifice the Lord made on our behalf.  John, Chapter 15, Verse 3 reminds us…

 

JOHN 15:3

Greater love has no one than this…that one lay down his life for his friends.

 

Today, we celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ by reflecting on one of the many things

He did for us at the Cross.  The sacrifice the Lord made was propitiatory.  First John, Chapter 2, Verses 1 and 2 say…

 

FIRST JOHN 2:1

My little children, I (John) am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, and of course we do, we have an Advocate with God the Father…Jesus Christ the ONLY righteous One…

FIRST JOHN 2:2

…and Jesus Christ Himself is the PROPITIATION for our sins…and not for our sins only (as believers in Christ) … but also for the sins of the whole world (for unbelievers as well).

 

Propitiation.  What a great word.  What is propitiation?

 

PROPITIATION

A satisfactory payment in the eyes of God the Father for the sins of all mankind.

 

The only sacrifice acceptable to God the Father for sin is the shed blood of Christ at the Cross.

 

Sin deserves condemnation.  Condemnation is the wrath of God the Father.  Those who sin deserve His wrath.  Through propitiation, the burden of sin lands on a substitute, our Lord Jesus Christ.  He volunteered to go to the Cross to pay for our sins.  Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 25…

 

ROMANS 3:25

…God the Father put Jesus Christ forward publicly as a PROPITIATION through the sacrifice of His blood for the benefit of all who have faith (in Christ…His believers).  This was to show God the Father’s righteousness…and because of the patience of God the Father…He passed over the sins previously committed…

 

No sin goes unpunished.  Yet the punishment for our sins was placed on the back of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He incurred the wrath of God the Father in payment for our sins.  And now, especially for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who place our confidence in Jesus for our salvation, the enmity between God the Father and us has been removed.  Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 9…

 

ROMANS 5:9

…having now been justified by the Lord Jesus Christ’s blood…we believers in Christ shall be saved from the wrath of God the Father through our union with Christ.

 

Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 1…

 

ROMANS 8:1

Therefore (all these things at the end of ROMANS 7 being the case, we need to

remember that...) there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are IN

UNION WITH CHRIST JESUS.

 

Colossians, Chapter 2, Verses 13 and 14…

 

COLOSSIANS 2:13

When you were spiritually dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh…God the Father made you spiritually alive together with Christ (we are born again)…having forgiven us ALL our transgressions…

 

COLOSSIANS 2:14

…having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us…

which was hostile to us (enmity)…and God the Father has taken the debt out of the way…having nailed it to the Cross.

 

Propitiation describeshow we are allowed to approach God the Father.  God’s holiness can never be in the presence of sin.  Those with sin incur God the Father’s wrath. The Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross not only removed the stain of sin…it also removed the personal offense of sin…and the repugnance of sin.  Now God the Father has nothing against us believers in Christ.

 

For unbelievers, God the Father is willing to withhold His judgment until the proper time…giving every human being chance after chance after chance to choose a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  God does not hate sinners.  He hates sin.  It is repugnant to His holiness.  For those who reject a relationship with Christ…WRATH.Colossians, Chapter 1, Verses 20 to 22…

 

COLOSSIANS 1:20

…and through the Lord, God the Father reconciled ALL THINGS to Himself…

having made peace through the blood of the Lord’s Cross…through Jesus, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

 

COLOSSIANS 1:21

And although all of you believers in Christ were formerly alienated and hostile in mind (when you were unbelievers) … doers of evil deeds…

 

COLOSSIANS 1:22

…yet the Lord has now RECONCILED all of you believers in Christ in His physical body through His death on a Cross…in order to present all of you

before God the Father as holy in His sight…blameless (no longer targets of WRATH)…and beyond reproach (people without blemish) …

 

Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verses 18 and 19…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:18

Now all these things are from God the Father…who reconciled us believers to Himself through Christ…andGod the Father gave us believersin Christ the ministry whose work is proclaiming the message of reconciliation…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:19

…namely, that God the Father was…through the agency of Christ…reconciling the world to Himself…not counting their trespasses against them…and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 

Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 10…

 

ROMANS 5:10

For if, for the sake of argument…while we were the enemies of God the Father… we were reconciled to God the Father through the death of His Son…much more, having been reconciled…we shall be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ’s life.

 

Thanks be to our Lord for His propitiatory sacrifice on our behalf, and on behalf of the whole world.

 

Let’s pray that the unbelievers in our periphery respond positively to the gospel message so as to be saved.  Let’s pray that we believers in Christ understand how horrible being the target of wrath is…so we present the gospel message…to free unbelievers from being the targets of God the Father’s wrath.

 

THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION

Enjoying the Elements

 

Bread and wine.

 

The Lord gave us these things to remember Him.  We will enjoy the elements together in a few moments as we listen to The Lord’s Supper Song.

 

Matthew, Chapter 26, Verses 26 to 28 tells us the reason the Lord wants us to celebrate this meal together…

 

MATTHEW 26:26

While the apostles were eating, Jesus took some bread…and after a blessing…He

broke the bread, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take…eat…this is My body which is being broken for you.”

 

MATTHEW 26:27

And when Jesus had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it…all of you…”

 

MATTHEW 26:28

“…for this is My blood…the blood of a new covenant…My blood…poured out for WHOSOEVER…for the forgiveness of sins.”

 

We celebrate to remember.

 

Jesus Christ died as our sin substitute…Jesus Christ is risen from the dead to prove His Deity…Jesus Christ loves us unconditionally…Jesus Christ forgives us once and for all time through His work on the Cross…Jesus Christ’s BLOOD paid for our sins…Jesus Christ saved us from the wrath of God the Father…Jesus Christ will come again to gather us unto Himself.  As believers in Christ, we celebrate and we are grateful.

 

Enjoy the elements as wehear about the power of Christ’s blood.

 

THE LORD’S SUPPER SONG

 

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Modern Version

 

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

 

You are one of God’s creatures!  If you choose, you can be a child of God.  John, Chapter 1, Verse 12 says…

 

JOHN 1:12

But as many as received the invitation from Jesus to be saved…to them He gave the right to become children of God the Father…even to those who believe in Jesus’ name…

 

The problem is you may think the Lord is like our human parents…

emotional, arbitrary, and sentimental.  Our parents tell us what to do…we do the opposite…and they let us off the hook.  Your Divine Parent, the Lord Jesus Christ, does not operate that way.  Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 24 to 27…

 

MATTHEW 24:24

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on themmay be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

 

MATTHEW 24:25

“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house…and yet the house did not fallfor it had been founded on the rock.”

 

MATTHEW 24:26

“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on themwill be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”

 

MATTHEW 24:27

“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house…and the house fell…and great was its fall.”

 

God is inviting you to be saved, and He tells you EXACTLY what you must do to be saved.  God says there is ONE WAY to heaven in John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

 

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said … “I am the way (to salvation) … and I am the truth (through the

gospel message in the Word of God) … and I am the resurrection life…and no one comes to God the Father (in heaven) but through believing in Me.”

 

God has a plan for your salvation.  In Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 21, the Lord says…

 

MATTHEW 7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven...but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

 

What IS the will of God the Father for your salvation?  It’s simple…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.”

 

It takes about thirty seconds of your time to be saved.  You simply turn to the God who saves you and ask for salvation.  You can do it RIGHT THIS MINUTE.  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…

 

If you ignore God’s offer of salvation, there are consequences…Revelation, Chapter 21, Verse 8…

 

REVELATION 21:8

But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars (all references to unbelievers)…their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

There’s spiritual death and there is the second death in the Lake of Fire…the eternal home of those who reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We encourage you to 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.”

 

When you believe, you simply take God’s word for it concerning what it takes to be saved!  Do it RIGHT NOW and you’ll be saved for all time!

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s close with music!  Unbelievers think Christians are crazy…that we are weak…that we need a crutch…that we believe in myths.  The funny thing is they weren’t born believing that…First Corinthians, Chapter 1, Verse 18 says…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:18

For the Word…especially the Word of the Cross…is foolishness to those who are perishing (unbelievers)…but to usbelievers in Christwho are being saved…the Word of the Cross is the power of God the Father (divine omnipotence in action).

 

Let’s see what unbelievers do when there is a crisis in the world…let’s listen to the song THOSE CRAZY CHRISTIANS by Brad Paisley.

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

THOSE CRAZY CHRISTIANS

Brad Paisley

 

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

…thank you for making us Christians crazy about You…help us to infect the world with our craziness…

 

…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, especially on the dates when we will not have face-to-face service.

 

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

 

LYRICS

THOSE CRAZY CHRISTIANS

Brad Paisley

 

Those crazy Christians, I was gonna sleep in today

But the church bells woke me up and they're a half a mile away

Those crazy Christians, dressed up drivin’ down my street

Get their weekly dose of guilt before they head to Applebee’s

 

They pray before they eat and they pray before they snore

They pray before a football game and every time they score

Every untimely passing, every dear departed soul

Is just another good excuse to bake a casserole

 

Those crazy Christians, go and jump on some airplane

And fly to Africa or Haiti, risk their lives in Jesus’ name

No, they ain’t the late-night party kind

They curse the devil’s whiskey while they drink the Savior’s wine

 

A famous TV preacher has a big affair and then

One tearful confession and he’s born again…again

Someone yells hallelujah and they shout and clap and sing

It’s like they can’t wait to forgive someone for just about anything

Those crazy Christians

 

Instead of being outside on this sunny afternoon

They’re by the bedside of a stranger in a cold hospital room

And every now and then they meet a poor lost soul like me

Who’s not quite sure just who or what or how he ought to be

They march him down the aisle and then the next thing that you know

They dunk him in the water and here comes another one of those crazy Christians

 

They look to heaven their whole life

And I think what if they’re wrong but what if they’re right

You know it’s funny…as much as I’m baffled by it all

If I ever really needed help, well you know who I’d call

It’s those crazy Christians