Romans 7: Why is it So Hard to Believe God Still Loves You When You Make Mistakes?

Class Outline:

---

You've got divine reviews.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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, like…

 

Who is the God we worship?

What is our source of truth?

Who is our enemy?

 

We’re always happy to begin each lesson by answering these questions after a short, thought-provoking introduction.

 

Strength.

 

Real strength…divine strength…comes from God.

 

The apostle Paul prayed for the strength of believers in Christ in Ephesians, Chapter 3, Verses 14 to 16….

 

EPHESIANS 3:14

…I (Paul) bow my knees before God the Father…

 

EPHESIANS 3:15

…from which Father every family in heaven and on earth derives its name…

 

EPHESIANS 3:16

…that God the Father would grant you believers in Christ…according to His glorious riches…to be strengthened with divine power through God the Holy Spirit indwelling the inner man…

 

When we reflect on divine promises and the plans God has for us, it revives our spirit and fills us with hope. God’s Word strengthens us to keep going and encourages us not to give up.  The Word warns us not to give in to temptation. We need God’s strength to do the right things and we come to Bible study to get strength through the study of the Word of God.

 

Who is the God We Worshipat Barah Ministries?

 

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

mankind as three beings who are 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 IS our strength according to Isaiah, Chapter 41, Verse 10 where the Father says…

 

ISAIAH 41:10

“Do not fear, for I am with you…do not anxiously look about youfor I am your

God.  I will strengthen you…surely I will help you…surely I will uphold you with

the right hand of My righteousness.”

 

GOD THE SON (the Lord) volunteered to execute God the Father’s plan…taking on human form as Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah).  Believing in Him is the ONE AND ONLY WAY to get to heaven.  The Lord is our strength as well…in Philippians, Chapter 4, Verse 13, Paul says for all of us believers in Christ…

 

PHILIPPIANS 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 

When you invest your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ…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…the guide

who is the rudder of a Christian’s life.  We are strengthened daily by God the Holy Spirit’s power.  In Acts. Chapter 1, Verse 8 the Lord said to His disciples…

 

ACTS 1:8

…you believers in Christ will receive enabling power when God the Holy Spirit has come upon you…

 

Has God the Holy Spirit come upon us believers in Christ?  First Corinthians, Chapter 6, Verse 19 says YES! and asks believers in Christ…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 6:19a

…do you believers in Christ not know that your body is a temple of God the Holy Spirit who is indwelling you…whom you have as a gift from God the Father…?

 

In God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit…believers in Christ have a power team that is always on their side…a team specializing in the impossible.  Are you calling on them for help in times of trouble?

 

What is Our Source of Truthat Barah Ministries?

 

The Bible is the Word of God.  It's our source of absolute truth.  As Christians, we develop a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the Godhead…and the way we get to know God as a Personis through studying the Word of God.

 

The Word of God brings comfort and hope and strength and encouragement to all the situations in our lives, especially when we are sorrowful and suffering.  In Psalm 138, Verse 7King David says…

 

PSALM 138:7

Though I walk amid trouble, You will revive me Lord…You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies and Your right hand will save me.

 

We are strengthened by the truth.  Your source of truth is not an insignificant thing because it has eternal consequences.  The Bible is a supernatural work…breathed into human writers by God…to provide us with the only source of absolute truth.

 

Because God is right all the time, the Bible is right all the time.  It contains no

errors or contradictions.  You can trust the Bible as your source of truth.  At Barah Ministries, the Bible is our source of truth, and we teach the Bible from God's perspective, not man's perspective.  We refuse to teach as doctrinal truth the very fallible precepts of men.

 

Who is Our Enemyat Barah Ministries?

 

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.  Is Satan EVER a source of strength?  First Peter, Chapter 5, Verse 8 says NO!

 

FIRST PETER 5:8b

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.

 

Satan is a user who saps your strength.  He tempts you to do evil, and when you do, he abandons you and leaves you to pay for everything he tempted you to do.

Please don't listen to his temptations.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Why is it So Hard to Believe God Still Loves You When You Make Mistakes?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

It’s because people don’t love us when we make mistakes.  We attribute to God feelings that He doesn’t have about us because of how people treat us.  We refuse to accept UNconditional love because we’re used to conditional love from people.  We forget about Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8…

 

ROMANS 5:8

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

 

God loves us when we are at our worst.  We’re not used to real love, and UNconditional love is real love.  In today’s lesson, we continue our study of the second passage of Romans, Chapter 7 as we work through the acceptance of God’s UNconditional love for us even when we make mistakes.

 

 

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s hear some music!  As Christians we long to avoid sinning…we long to keep God’s laws perfectly…and in our continuing experience we are completely unable to do either…and this troubles us.  But why does it bother us?  Second Thessalonians, Chapter 3, Verse 3 says…

 

SECOND THESSALONIANS 3:3

…the Lord is faithful…and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

 

When you find out how imperfect you are, it’s important to know how faithful God is to you.  Matthew West says in his song, we believers in Christ have THE GOD WHO STAYS.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

THE GOD WHO STAYS

Matthew West

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

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

 

Thank you for the gift of faith…when we fall short of Your standards, as we often do, thank you for showing us examples of believers who have fallen short, who had to place their trust in You for the solution to their human problems…

 

…as we learn from the lesson today, emblazon the confidence of faith on our hearts…sear the assurance of faith into our minds…activate the power of faith in our experience so that we always trust in You, especially when we fail…help us remember that You have already given us the victory…help us live in it…show us how to keep on having faith in Your power…

 

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

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Why is it So Hard to Believe God Still Loves You When You Make Mistakes?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

Bible lessons are for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We are the “born-again” ones.  We heard the gospel message from God and we decided it is true.  Here’s what the gospel message taught us in Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 1.  It told us…

 

EPHESIANS 2:1

…you believers in Christ were born spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins…

 

This wasn’t our fault, but it was our circumstance.  Was this a problem?  Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 2 and 3 say YES…

 

EPHESIANS 2:2

…(you were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins) in which you formerly walked (as a lifestyle) according to the curriculum of Satan's world system…according to the direction of (Satan…the ruler of this world)…this prince of the power of the air (the first heaven…the atmosphere surrounding the earth)…according to the spirit that is now operating in the sons of disobedience (unbelievers)…

 

EPHESIANS 2:3

Among these (unbelievers) we too all formerly lived (when we were unbelievers) dominated by the lusts of our flesh…practicing the desires of the flesh and the mind…and we kept on being, by nature, children (who are the targets) of (the) wrath (of God the Father)…

 

When we heard the gospel message, we realized we were ungodly,unrighteous unbelievers…we realized we were not savedand our fate was sealedas revealed in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 22, which says…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:22a

…all in union with Adam at physical birth (and that is every human being who comes to earth) are set to die the second death in the Lake of Fire…

 

The feeling of helplessness and hopelessness to save ourselves was quite scary, and we wondered what could be done about it.

 

Romans, Chapter 1 taught us that if we are immoral, we’re doomed.  Romans, Chapter 2 taught us that if we are moral, we’re doomed.  Romans, Chapter 2 taught us that if we are religious, we’re doomed.  Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 10 to 18 educated us about who weare in our very nature.  Doomed!

 

Realizing through the gospel message that we have a gift from God called faith, we invested our faith in Jesus Christ, asking Him to save us.  In the last part of Romans, Chapter 3we were promised that we could have a righteousness that comes from God as an admission ticket to heaven.  We were informed that there is nothing we can do to work for salvation.  We could only be saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

 

We believed, followingGod’s instructions inActs, 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.”

 

We are saved!  In Romans, Chapter 4 we learned that Abraham did the same thing we did to be saved…Genesis, Chapter 15, Verse 6…

 

GENESIS 15:6

Abraham believed in the Lord (his gift of faith expressed)…and THE LORD CREDITED Abraham’s account with absolute righteousness.

 

We learned that at the moment we are saved, the Lord Jesus Christ justified us by faith.  He made us legally righteous, and as a result we are saved once and for all time.  We are not saved because of what we do…we are saved because of what the Lord did for us according to Titus, Chapter 3, Verse 5…

 

TITUS 3:5

The Lord Jesus Christ saved believers in Christ…not based on deeds which we have done in self-righteousness…but according to His mercy (in not giving us the wrath of God the Father that spiritual death deserves)…by the washing of regeneration and through renewing by God the Holy Spirit…

 

In Romans, Chapter 5 we learned that being saved is the first phase in the divine plan for all mankind, and being saved comes with a host of gifts.  We learned that at the moment of salvation, we shifted to a new Federal Head.  We moved from under the Federal Headship of the First Adam…the one in the Garden of Eden…to the Federal Headship under the Last Adam, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Romans, Chapter 6 taught us that we are DEAD TO SIN.  Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 14…

 

ROMANS 6:14a

For sin shall not any longer be a master over you (believers in Christ)…

 

Another part of Romans, Chapter 6, and the first part of Romans, Chapter 7 taught us that we are dead to the law.

 

ROMANS 6:14b

…for you believers in Christ are not under law…you are inthe sphere of grace.

 

We have a new mission in the second phase of the divine plan for all mankind…Romans, Chapter 7, Verse 4…

 

ROMANS 7:4

Therefore, believers in Christ, you also were made to die to your marriage to the Mosaic Law through an entrance into the Body of Christ…so that you might be married to another…to Lord Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead so that believers in Christ might bear fruit for God the Father.

 

Sanctificationis the second phase of God’s divine plan for all mankind.  In the sanctification phase of our walk with Christ, we are instructed in Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 18 to…

 

SECOND PETER 3:18a

…grow within the sphere of grace (our new home as believers in Christ)…in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

As we grow...as we learn about the Lord through studying the Word of God, and through the testing of experience…we learn we have a dilemma.  There is a spiritual tug-of-war going on within us.  We expect to be perfect, yet we keep on sinning and we wonder why.  Galatians, Chapter 5, Verse 17 tells us why…

GALATIANS 5:17

For the flesh sets its desire against God the Holy Spirit…and God the Holy Spirit sets His desire against the flesh…for these two are in opposition to one another… so that you believers in Christ may not do whatever you please.

 

There is a part of us that was not removed from us at the moment of salvation…the flesh…some call it the sinful nature.  So with enough experience as Christians, we learn that we don’t stop sinning…we can’t stop sinning…and the kingdom of death and darkness assures us that we were probably never saved in the first place…but if we were saved, God is completely disappointed with us.

 

We believe these lies.

 

In the second part of Romans, Chapter 7 we learn why we have this dilemma.  As we study this passage over the next few lessons, we will address the lies you have resting in your soul.  The lies are the equivalent of spiritual plaque.  In the dental realm, plaque is a sticky substance that adheres to your teeth, causing bacteria to proliferate.  Spiritual plaque is a set of sticky lies that attach to your soul causing you to doubt the Lord and His Word.  Mental instability proliferates...mental serenity is stolen.

 

There is a valuable lesson to learn by studying this passage.  Here’s the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD translation of the passage…Romans, Chapter 7, Verses 14 to 25 and Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 1 and 2…

 

ROMANS 7:14

For we know that the Law is spiritual…but I (Paul) am of flesh…sold into bondage to sin.

 

ROMANS 7:15

For what I am doing, I do not understand…for I am not practicing what I would like to do…but I am doing the very thing I hate.

 

ROMANS 7:16

But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Mosaic Law, confessing that the Mosaic Law is good.

 

ROMANS 7:17

So now, no longer am I the one doing it…but sin which indwells me (is doing it).

 

ROMANS 7:18

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh…for the willingness to do good is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

 

ROMANS 7:19

For the good that I want, I do not do…but I PRACTICE the very evil that I do not want.

 

ROMANS 7:20

But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

 

ROMANS 7:21

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

 

ROMANS 7:22

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man…

 

ROMANS 7:23

…but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law

of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

 

ROMANS 7:24

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

 

ROMANS 7:25

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand, I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

 

ROMANS 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

ROMANS 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin

and of death.

 

Is this your experience, too?  Are you trapped in a situation where you want to obey God but you find you can’t?  Of course, you are…ALL OF US believers in Christ are in this dilemma.

 

Unfortunately, some Pastors take advantage of you amid the dilemma.  They tell you that if you don't repent of your sins, whatever that means, God won't like you very much.  They sell a conditional God who depends on us to clean up our acts before He can like us.

 

How can this be?

 

We did NOTHING to be saved…we did NOTHING to be justified by faith…then we’re led to believe, now that we are saved, now that we are in a permanent union with the Lord Jesus Christ, that He won’t like us very much if we don’t clean up our acts.

 

The next lessons have a dual purpose.  One purpose is to cleanse the spiritual plaque from your soul that is placed there by false teachers you have believed.

 

The other purpose is to do what the current generation calls “calling out” or putting “on blast” the false Pastors who teach Christians to feel bad about themselves.   They need to be publicly exposed by Scripture, bringing attention to their completely unacceptable teachings.

 

When we return from the break we’ll take the offering, and then we’ll study the second passage in Romans, Chapter 7 verse-by-verse.

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Why is it So Hard to Believe God Still Loves You When You Make Mistakes?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

 

In Philippians, Chapter 4, Verses 15 to 17, here’s what the apostle Paul has to say about giving…

 

PHILIPPIANS 4:15

As you know…Philippian believers…at the first preaching of the gospel (in my first

missionary journey)…after I (Paul) left Macedonia…no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone…

 

PHILIPPIANS 4:16

…for even in Thessalonica (in my second missionary journey)…you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

 

PHILIPPIANS 4:17

Not that I seek the gift (for myself…even though I appreciate it)…but I seekthe profit that increases to your account (from God when you give).

 

One of the great pleasures of life is GIVING…especially to this ministry…so that anyone who wants to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ can do so free of charge.  In addition, it’s a privilege to see how God blesses you for your giving.

 

Barah Ministries is listened to all over the world.  None of us have the slightest idea how God uses the internet to disseminate the messages taught at Barah Ministries.  Rest assured that your giving makes a difference to people you don't even know.

 

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

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST JOHN 4:4

You born-again ones (you believers in Christ) are from God the Father…His little children…and you keep on having the victory over those who do not confess that Jesus Christ is God…because greater are the Ones who are indwelling you (the indwelling Trinity…God the Father…God the Son…and God the Holy Spirit)…than he who is influencing the world (Satan).

 

 

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Why is it So Hard to Believe God Still Loves You When You Make Mistakes?

 

LESSON PART TWO

 

Imagine me playing golf with Tiger Woods in his prime.  The result would be that I would ALWAYS lose.  He’s more powerful than me in golf.  Honestly…I would NEVER win.  If I were competing with him, eventually…probably quickly…I would learn to stop competing with him and instead, just enjoy his company.

 

So it is with Christians and the flesh…the sin nature…indwelling sin.  This enemy is the Tiger Woods equivalent in the story.   No matter how much Christians try, they will never be more powerful than the flesh.  Even though enjoying your enemy is not always possible, certainly learning to live with the enemy while being comfortable in your own skin is what the Lord would have us do.

 

So let’s study the next passage of Romans verse-by-verse…Romans, Chapter 7, Verses 14 to 25 and Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 1 and 2…to see what there is for Christians to learn that puts us at ease in the Sanctification phase of our Christian experience.  Here’s what we’ll see…

 

In Romans 7, Verses 14 to 17, Paul notices he is practicing what he wishes not to do, and he isn’t able to change it.

 

In Romans 7, Verses 18 to 21, Paul notices he is failing to accomplish the desired good…he is unable to do the right thing despite his wishes.

 

In Romans 7, Verses 22 to 24, Paul expresses a deep frustration with himself.

 

In Romans 7, Verse 25, Paul realizes the solution is not from the source of himself.

 

In Romans 8, Verses 1 and 2, Paul realizes God’s viewpoint about the situation and God’s attitude toward him.

 

Let’s get to it…Romans, Chapter 7, Verse 14…

 

 

ROMANS 7:14

For we now know that the Mosaic Law is spiritual, but I (Paul) am of flesh…(I am in a body with indwelling sin and I am not spiritual)…I am sold into bondage to sin.

 

The Mosaic Law is spiritual because of the Person who wrote it.  It comes from the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Paul is saying even though the Law is spiritual he is not…he is carnal.  A Christian in a state of carnality is immature and is allowing himself to be guided by the flesh instead of being guided by God the Holy Spirit.  It’s a return to the old self way of life instead of transitioning faster to the new creation way of life.  Paul is living in the very core of his nature.  Romans, Chapter 7, Verse 15…

 

ROMANS 7:15

For what I am doing (in my outer game)I do not understand…for I am not practicing (in my outer game) what I would like to do…but I am doing the very thing I hate (to do…I am not living the REAL inner game…the spiritual inner game…which is what I want to do).

 

When we know we have done the wrong thing, we know there is a right thing.  Paul has found he is unable to change what he is doing.  The education?  We are not rid of the influence of our very nature after salvation…the indwelling sin nature…the flesh…and we are unable to deliver ourselves.

 

Doesn’t that sound EXACTLY like our situation before salvation?

 

Human power doesn’t help in the Sanctification phase of the Christian experience any more than it did in the Salvation phase of the Christian experience.  Yet some Pastors insist that even though we did nothing to save ourselves, now that we are saved we have to help God perfect us.  Nonsense!  Romans, Chapter 7, Verse 16…

 

ROMANS 7:16

But if I do the very thing I do not want to do…and I do…I agree with the Mosaic Law, confessing that the Mosaic Law is good (the Law is holy…it is righteous… and it is from God).

 

There is nothing wrong with the Law.  The INABILITY to overcome the evil in the flesh with human power is why we practice what we hate. In Romans, Chapter 7, Verse 17, the truth hits Paul like a ton of bricks.  Here is Paul’s “A-HA!”

 

ROMANS 7:17

So now my insight is no longer am I the one doing the sinning…but indwelling sin in me (the flesh) is doing the sinning.

 

Paul now realizes that a different principle is in play in his spiritual life, one that his power can’t control.  THE FLESH…INDWELLING SIN…is more powerful than Paul’s human power.  Romans, Chapter 7, Verses 18 to 21…

 

ROMANS 7:18

For I (Paul) know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh…for the willingness to do good…the wish to do good…IS present in me…but the actual doing of the good is not present in me.

 

ROMANS 7:19

For the good that I want, I do not do, but I PRACTICE the very evil that I do not want to do.

 

ROMANS 7:20

But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it…but sin which indwells me (the flesh) is doing it.

 

ROMANS 7:21

I find then the principle that evil is present in me…the one who wants to do good.

 

One of my least favorite expressions is… “There’s a part of me.”  Unfortunately, it is true!  What’s the struggle?  We’re not doing the right things even though we want to, but it’s not our new creation nature that is doing the sinning.  We wonder why we are still a slave to sin when God has freed us from sin by making us DEAD TO SIN.  Paul realizes it is because the flesh is still in him…in us…and although the flesh is dead, it is still active and powerful.  There’s a part of us that hates us and hates God.  And we listen to it.

 

Our will can’t defeat the flesh.  When we realize this truth, it is SOOOO frustrating for those of us who want to help God with our sanctification.This truth could be liberating.  Romans, Chapter 7, Verses 22 to 24…

 

ROMANS 7:22

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man…

 

ROMANS 7:23

…but I see a different law in the members of my body…waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

 

ROMANS 7:24

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

 

In his losing battle with the flesh, Paul asks, “Who will free me from the flesh?”

The flesh is the body of death.  We need outside help to do what we want to do.

 

The ownness is on Christ for salvation.

 

The ownness is on God the Holy Spirit for sanctification.

 

However, many Christians and many religions and many Pastors are convinced that, “We need God to be saved, but once we’re saved, we don’t need God anymore.  We’re on our own.  We must repent of our sins!”  Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Paul asks, “Who will deliver me?”  God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ say, “I WILL!”  God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit put the flesh out of business.  We need to stay out of their way.

 

So what has God really done for us?  Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 1 and 2…

 

ROMANS 8:1

Therefore…there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with Christ Jesus.

 

That’s true for ALL believers in Christ.  NO CONDEMNATION from a God who loves you UNconditionally…from a God who paid for your sins with His blood.

 

ROMANS 8:2

For the law of God the Holy Spirit who directs the resurrection life for those in union with Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and the law of death.

 

Thanks be to the God who is on our side.  We’ll continue our study of this passage next week to see what insights we can draw from what we are learning.Why is it hard to believe that God still loves us when we make mistakes?  We listen to people.  Let’s listen to God’s point of view.

 

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!

He Wants You Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

The Lord Jesus Christ gave you a powerful weapon and a perfect gift from the moment of your physical birth…CHOICE.  You get to choose the life you want to live.  The life you are living right now is the sum of all the decisions you have made so far.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Sovereign God of the Universe and the Savior of all mankind says there are only two choices for your eternal future…either heaven (the small gate and the narrow way) or the Lake of Fire (the wide gate and the broad way) … described in Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 13 and 14…

 

MATTHEW 7:13

“Enter through the narrow gate…for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction…and there are many who enter through the wide gate (into the Lake of Fire).”

 

MATTHEW 7:14

“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to the resurrection life (into heaven)…and there are FEW who find the small gate.”

 

Most people choose THE BROAD WAY according to the Lord.  Which road will you choose for your eternal life?  You have the chance to be the eternal hero of your own life by making the right choice.

 

Those who are on the broad way that leads to destruction believe there is safety in numbers.  It is not true.  Believing what everyone else believes does not save you.  Learning the truth saves you.  Place your confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ and He will save you.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is 100% God…that’s why we call Him Lord…and He is 100% Man…true humanity like you and me…that’s why we call Him Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah).  Jesus says HE is the small gate, which makes Him your guide to heaven,  In John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

 

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said to the doubting apostle, Thomas, “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 (eternal life) …and no one comes to God the Father (in heaven) but through believing in Me.”

 

God the Father’s plan for your life is simple…BELIEVE in His Son and it is your ticket to eternal life.  Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31 says…

 

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.”

 

Those on the broad way that leads to destruction place their confidence in liars.  The Lord Jesus Christ warns about them in Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 15…

 

MATTHEW 7:15

“Beware of the false prophets (false teachers) … who come to you in sheep’s clothing (appearing harmless)… who inwardly are ravenous wolves (out to destroy your eternal future).”

 

As ravenous wolves, false teachers choose to teach a false gospel message.  Proverbs, Chapter 14, Verse 12 illuminates the issue…

 

PROVERBS 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man (saving yourself by thinking good

deeds will earn your salvation)…but its end is the way of death (the second death in the Lake of Fire).

 

The Lord Jesus Christ offers the true gospel message and an invitation to be saved in John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life (eternal 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.”

 

RIGHT WHERE YOU SIT…RIGHT NOW…you can tell God the Father that you are believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, and that is the moment of eternal life for you.

 

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…

 

God’s enemy…Satan…is the sponsor of false teachers, false teaching, and a

false gospel message.  You have to be able to discern the difference between

God’s truth and Satan’s lies…John, Chapter 8, Verses 31 and 32…

 

JOHN 8:31

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word (the Word of God from a true teacher), then you are truly disciples of Mine…”

 

JOHN 8:32

“…and you will know the truth (the true gospel message)…and the truth will make you free.”

 

Another warning for those who choose the broad way is Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 21 to 23…

 

 

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 (by obeying the gospel message) will enter heaven.”

 

MATTHEW 7:22

“Many will say to Me on that day (of judgment), ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name…and in Your name did we not cast out demons…and in Your name did we not perform many miracles?’”

 

MATTHEW 7:23

“And then I (the Lord Jesus Christ) will declare to them, ‘I never knew you…depart from Me (into the Lake of Fire) …you who kept on practicing (a lifestyle of) lawlessness.’”

 

Don’t wait until it’s too late to consider what road you are on!  Mark, Chapter 1, Verse 15 says…

 

MARK 1:15

“The time is fulfilled…and the kingdom of God is at hand…so repent

(changeyour mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ)…and believe in HIS gospel message.”

 

The will of God the Father is that you believe in His Son so you can have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who choose the narrow way have decided that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the ONLY ticket to heaven.  Get yourself on the narrow way that leads to eternal life in heaven right this minute.  Choose Jesus.

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

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

 

 

 

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s close with music!  Second Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verses 3 to 5 encourage us amid the spiritual warfare that rages inside of us…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 10:3

For though we believers in Christ walk in the flesh…we do not war according to the flesh (we wage war according to the Spirit)…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 10:4

…for the weapons of our warfare are not human…our weapons are divinely powerful for the demolition of (Satan’s) fortresses.

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 10:5

We believers in Christ are destroying (futile) speculations (about God and things spiritual) and we are destroying every lofty thing raised up against the experiential knowledge of God the Father…and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…

 

Sarah Reeves encourages us never to worry because we can say with confidence to a faithful God, “I KNOW you have me RIGHT WHERE YOU WANT ME!”

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

RIGHT WHERE YOU WANT ME

Sarah Reeves

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

Thank you for making it clear that You are for us and never against us…thank you for freeing us from the flesh and its body of death…thank you for teaching us to count on You and to listen to You…may we take heed of the lesson of Romans, Chapter 7…help us to recognize that You love us no matter what, and You consider our problems to be Your responsibility…help us know that when we fall, You will ALWAYS be there to pick us up because You are faithful and You will never abandon Your children…all of us believers in Christ…

 

…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 and coming up 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

 

WANT US TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE?

 

Send your request to pastor@barahministries.com

 

 

KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

 

www.barahministries.com