Romans 8: What Kind of Relationship Do Christians Have with God?

Class Outline:

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Royalty runs in our veins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Trust.

 

At the foundation of every relationshipis a concern,often mentioned in a negative context.  We’ll say, “I don’t trust.”  But seldom when we reflect on a great relationship do we say, “The reason the relationship is so good is because there is trust.”  Yet trust is a critical aspect of great relationships.

 

The foundation of our relationship with God is trust.  It’s even on our money.  “In God We Trust.”

 

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we trust who He is, and we trust what He says in His Word.  We come to these Bible lessons to hear the thoughts of someone we trust.

 

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.

We can trust God the Father.  In Isaiah, Chapter 41, Verse 10, God encourages us with these words…

 

ISAIAH 41:10

“Do not fear, for I am with you…do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you…surely I will help you…surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

 

GOD THE SON (the Lord) volunteered to execute God the Father’s plan…taking on human form as Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah).  Jesus Christ is God.

We trust the Lord for our salvation…Proverbs, Chapter 3, Verses 5 and 6…

 

PROVERBS 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Jesus…and He will direct your paths straight.

 

There is ONE AND ONLY ONE WAY to heaven.  If you invest your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, asking Him to save you…you WILL be saved.  When you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ 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.  He is fully God, equal in every way to God the Father and God the Son.He is a Person.  He is not a “ghost” as some like to call Him.  God the Holy Spirit is the power behind every Christian…Romans, Chapter 15, Verse 13…

 

ROMANS 15:13

Now may the God and Father of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…

so that you will abound in hope by means of the enabling power of God the Holy

Spirit.

 

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, and it’s our source of absolute truth.  As Christians, the way we develop a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the Godhead…the way we get to know God as a Person…is through studying the Word of God.  The Word of God implanted is our constant companion…Joshua, Chapter 1, Verse 9…

 

JOSHUA 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

 

When we study the Word of God, we have His thoughts and His promises as our guide.

 

Your source of truth for eternal matters is not an insignificant thing.  It has eternal consequences.  The Bible is a supernatural work…breathed into the human writers by God.  It does not come from man, and it provides us with the only source of absolute truth, especially about eternal things.

 

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, we teach the Bible from God’s perspective, not from man’s perspective.  We refuse to teach as doctrinal truth the very fallible precepts of men.

 

The best thing you can do for yourself every day is to spend time reading, studying, and reflecting on God’s Word.  Schedule time EVERY DAY to study God’s Word and to let it set the direction for your day.  The Bible changes your mind!

 

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.   Satan is a snake…Genesis, Chapter 3, Verse 1…

 

GENESIS 3:1

Now the serpent was craftier than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.

 

The Lord wants us to beware of Satan’s handshake Because it hides a snake.  Satan’s true character is deceiver, tyrant, dictator, andhater of everyone who is not worshippingHe doesn’t even care about those who do worship him.  While Satan is formidable, the biggest enemy of believers in Christ is IGNORANCE OF THIS ENEMY.  Don’t be ignorant!  Satan is real.  Resist him and like the coward he is he will flee from you.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What Kind of Relationship Do Christians Have with God?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

When asked, “What is Christianity?” or when told that “Christianity is religion,” Christians must have a ready response.  Christianity IS NOT a religion, it’s a relationship with the Supreme God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

In today’s lesson, as we continue our study of the apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Christ in first-century Rome.We’ll learn what kind of relationship we have with Christ.

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s hear some music!What kind of relationship do believers in Christ have with God?  June Murphy sings we are GOD’S PROPERTY.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

GOD’S PROPERTY

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, thank you for converting us from unrighteous and ungodly enemies to Your righteous and godly children with no work or no help on our part…thank you for making us Your sons and Your heirs and co-heirs with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…thank you for an indescribable and eternal inheritance which is set aside for us...imperishable…undefiled…an inheritance that will not fade away…reserved for us in heaven…what a glorious future we have thanks to You!

 

Keep us aware of the truth that we have access to the same divine power that resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead…let us use the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit on our problems…help us to remember that the Holy Spirit’s power is a lot more effective than our human power…remind us to trust You for everything in every moment of every day…

 

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

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What Kind of Relationship Do Christians Have with God?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

We continue our study of Romans Chapter 8 in the second passage of the chapter…let’s think back on what we learned in the first passage.  Here’s the NEW LIVING TRANSLATION of the passage we studied last week…Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 1 to 11…

 

ROMANS 8:1

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (believers who are in union with Christ).

 

ROMANS 8:2

And because you belong to Jesus, the power of the life-giving God…the Holy Spirit…has freed you from the power of the sin that leads to death.

 

What is the sin that leads to death?  Unbelief!

 

ROMANS 8:3

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.  So God the Father did what the law could not do.He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we had as sinners.And in that body, God the Father declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

 

ROMANS 8:4

God the Father did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow God the Holy Spirit.

 

ROMANS 8:5

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature (unbelievers) think about sinful things…but those who are controlled by God the Holy Spirit (believers in Christ) think about things that please God the Holy Spirit.

 

ROMANS 8:6

So letting your sinful nature control your mind (as unbelievers do) leads to death. But letting God the Holy Spirit control your mind leads to the resurrection life and peace.

 

ROMANS 8:7

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

 

ROMANS 8:8

That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature (unbelievers) can never please God.

 

ROMANS 8:9

But you (believers in Christ) are not controlled by your sinful nature.You are controlled by God the Holy Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you(and of course you do).And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all (that’s unbelievers).

 

 

ROMANS 8:10

And Christ lives within you believers…so even though your body will die because of sin…God the Spirit Holy gives you the resurrection lifebecause you have been made right with God.

 

ROMANS 8:11

The Holy Spirit of God…who raised Jesus from the dead…lives indwelling you. And just as God the Father raised Christ Jesus from the dead, the Father will give the resurrection life to your mortal bodies by this same Holy Spirit living within you.

 

Wow!

 

Romans Chapter 8 is the culmination of the foundation of Christianity, and what amazing gifts it reveals to believers in Christ.  We are…

 

BELIEVERS IN CHRIST ARE…

 

Dead to Sin

Dead to the Law

Indwelled by the Entire Trinity

 

BELIEVERS IN CHRIST ARE…

 

IN PATER                       In union with God the Father

IN KRISTO IESU           In union with Jesus Christ

IN PNEUMATI               In union with God the Holy Spirit

 

Believers in Christ are not…

 

BELIEVERS IN CHRIST ARE NOT…

 

IN SARX                         In the Flesh

Controlled by Sin

Under the Law

 

 

 

 

BELIEVERS IN CHRIST ARE NOT…

 

Condemned

Targets of the Wrath of God the Father

In Union with the First Adam

 

Let’s look at today’s passage of study from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD TRANSLATION…Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 12 to 17…

 

ROMANS 8:12

So then, brethren (believers in Christ), we are not under obligation (we are not debtors) to the flesh…to live according to the flesh—

 

ROMANS 8:13

…for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die…but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

 

ROMANS 8:14

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

 

ROMANS 8:15

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again…but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba!” which is Hebrew for Father.

 

ROMANS 8:16

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God…

 

ROMANS 8:17

…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

 

From the looks of this passage, there are more gifts we have as a result of being justified by our faith in Christ.  When we return from the break, we’ll take the offering, and then we’ll study the second passage of Romans, Chapter 8 verse-by-verse to see what else the Lord has gifted to His believers.

 

 

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What Kind of Relationship Do Christians Have with God?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

 

Christians are to follow the Lord’s example in everything, especially in giving.  John, Chapter 3, Verse 16 says…

 

JOHN 3:16

“God the Father loved the world unconditionally…and He loved the world so much…that He GAVE His uniquely born Son…”

 

What are you willing to give to the God who gave His Son’s life for you?

 

Giving is a form of worship.  Giving expresses your faith in God.  Giving communicates your gratitude to God for all He does for you.

 

What’s the best time for Christians to give?  There must never be a time when we don’t give!Everything we have comes from God.  When we give, we redirect the resources God has given us to His purposes.  Don’t worry about the amount you give.  God will return it to you abundantly.  Let your giving rival God’s giving and watch what flows to your life.  Give something…give anything…give now…and keep on giving.

 

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

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

PHILIPPIANS 4:19

And my God and Father will satisfy to the fullest your every need from His glorious riches for those of you in union with Christ Jesus.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What Kind of Relationship Do Christians Have with God?

 

LESSON PART TWO

 

Let’s begin our verse-by-verse study of the second passage in Romans, Chapter 8, at Verse 12….

 

ROMANS 8:12

So then, brethren (believers in Christ)…we are not under obligation to the flesh (as unbelievers are) to live the resurrection life according to the flesh—

 

As believers in Christ we are in union with Christ.  Our bond with Adam is broken by God.  We are divorced from Adam.  We have been crucified with Christ. Therefore we are dead to the sovereignty of sin…we are dead to the Law…we are a new creation.

 

We are part of the “newness of life” because of our union with Christ.  We are indwelled by the entire Trinity.  The indwelling God the Holy Spirit is the One who sets us free from the law of sin and death.  But our body is still dead as we learned in Romans, Chapter 7, Verse 24 where the apostle Paul exclaims…

 

ROMANS 7:24

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

 

The work of salvation will be completed when the Lord comes back for us.  We will get a resurrection body and it will be alive.  It is then when we will be fully redeemed.  It is then that we will experience the glory of our amazing God.  We have the sealing ministry of God the Holy Spirit as a signature guarantee that this is true.

 

All of us are spirit beings living in a body with a soul.  With our first sin, the flesh took complete control of all three.  At the spiritual birth…when we believe in Christ and are born again, the spirit comes alive again and has a new master…the

Last Adam…the Lord Jesus Christ.  After salvation, the flesh in the body…though dead…keeps making demands.  Unfortunately, sometimes as believers in Christ, we listen to bad influences.  Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 12 and 13…

 

ROMANS 8:12

So then, brethren (believers in Christ)…we are not under obligation to the flesh (as unbelievers are) to live the resurrection life according to the flesh—

 

ROMANS 8:13

...for if you are living according to the flesh (as unbelievers do) you must die (the second death in the Lake of Fire)…but if you (believers in Christ) are living the resurrection life by the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit…who is putting to death the deeds of the body…and you are…you live the resurrection life.

 

Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 12 warns believers in Christ not to obey the lusts of the flesh…

 

ROMANS 6:12

Therefore…do not keep on letting sin reign (as king) in your mortal body…obeying its lusts...

 

In other words, as believers in Christ, we don’t let the flesh control our decisions.  Ever wonder why the Lord left the flesh in us believers after salvation?  It seems the unredeemed body is a teacher.  What does it teach?  It teaches, “Here’s how the old self life was…can you see there is no good thing in it?  Therefore, hate sin (which is disobedience to God), and completely rely on God the Holy Spirit since you can’t rely on yourselves.”  Great lessons.

 

So by the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit, we put to death the deeds of the body.  The fruit of the Spirit called “self-control” … an aspect of our relationship with God … involves calling on God the Holy Spirit to do a job you can’t do and don’t want to do.

 

In Galatians, Chapter 5, Verse 16, believers in Christ are encouraged…

 

GALATIANS 5:16

But I (Paul) say…walk by the Spirit…and you cannot (ouk)…not no way…not no how…carry out the desire of the flesh.

 

What does it mean to walk by the Spirit?

 

When a believer in Christ lets himself sin, God the Holy Spirit and the believer’s conscience take him to task.  This does not happen to unbelievers.  But God is not a tyrant.  He does not force us to comply with His wishes.  He shows us the wisdom of surrendering our willvoluntarily.  Obeying God only has positive consequences.  When we walk by the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit, we experience the result.  We live a lifestyle of truth, free from self-sabotage.

 

Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 14 and 15…

 

ROMANS 8:14

For all who are being led by the Holy Spirit of God, and all believers in Christ are, these are the adult sons of God.

 

ROMANS 8:15

For you believers in Christ have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption…adult sonship as a gift from God by which God we cry out, “Abba!”  which is Hebrew for Father.

 

Believers in Christ are sons of God.  We are adult sons sealed by God the Holy Spirit.  We are not baby sons.  The New Testament Greek says we are sons “who have come of age”… adult sons.

 

As adult sons of God, we are led by God the Holy Spirit.  During the sanctification portion of our believership, we are in the sphere of God the Holy Spirit’s control.

We are born of the Spirit…we are living by the Spirit…we are indwelled the Spirit.

 

Nothing in the Christin Way of Life or the Christian Way of Living is based on us.

 

The result of the spirit of bondage we came from as unbelievers is fear.  Can you imagine the unbeliever today who knows he is in the last moments of his life?  He is in hospice care and he knows the end is near.  What are the thoughts that dominate his soul?  Likely, there are not thoughts…only feelings…feelings of fear.  What's next as eternity looms?  Believers in Christ…and sons of the Living God…have no reason to fear anything, especially not death.  We know our eternal future is going to be spent with God in heaven.

 

Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 16…

 

ROMANS 8:16

The Holy Spirit Himself testifies with our human spirit that we are children of God the Father (the “born again ones”)...

 

How can we be certain that we are sons of God…children of God?  We have a witness!  He is God the Holy Spirit.  But in a court of law, more than one witness is required…Matthew, Chapter 18, Verse 16…

 

MATTHEW 18:16

…take one or two more with you so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.

 

God the Holy Spirit doesn’t witness alone.  He testifies with our human spirit that we are children of God.  There is a certainty in this…Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 17…

 

ROMANS 8:17

...and if we believers in Christ are the born-again children of God the Father, and we are…we are heirs also…heirs of God the Father and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ…if indeed we suffer with Him (and we do) so that we may also be glorified…

 

Just think of it for a moment…believers in Christ…you are sons of God…children of God…heirs of God…co-heirs with Christ.  As heirs, we have an inheritance from a God who owns everything.  Psalm 24, Verse 1…

 

PSALM 24:1

The earth is the Lord’s…and all the earth contains is the Lord’s…the world is the Lord’s…and all those who dwell in the world belong to the Lord.

 

That’s a big WOW!

 

However…the route to this inheritance is suffering.  Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 17…

 

ROMANS 8:17

...and if we believers in Christ are the born-again children of God the Father, and we are…we are heirs also…heirs of God the Father and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ…if indeed we suffer with Him (and we do) so that we may also be glorified…

 

The great thing about suffering is that it is a teacher…we learn that when we are suffering there is only one Person to trust…our God.  When you suffer you have a choice.  You can allow it to strengthen your faith because you allow suffering to bring you closer to Him.  Or, you can let suffering threaten your faith, inciting doubt in Him.

 

Acts, Chapter 14, Verse 22 says…

 

ACTS 14:22b

“Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

 

The apostle Paul offers this wisdom in Second Corinthians, Chapter 1, Verses 8 and 9…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 1:8

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia…that we were burdened excessively…beyond our strength…so that we despaired even of life…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 1:9

…indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves…but we would trust in the God who raises the dead…

 

Wise.  Trust God.

 

As believers in Christ, we don't mind tribulation and suffering…Romans, Chapter 5, Verses 3 to 5…

 

ROMANS 5:3

And we believers in Christ not only exult in all these things (from our past… righteousness and justification…in our present…peace…in our future…glory)… but we also exult in our tribulations that are given to us by God the Father, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance…

 

 

 

ROMANS 5:4

…and perseverance brings about proven character…and proven character brings about hope…

 

ROMANS 5:5

…and hope does not disappoint…because the unconditional love of God the Father has been poured out within our hearts through God the Holy Spirit who was given to us by God the Father (as a pledge of our inheritance).

 

So let’s look at the NEW LIVING TRANSLATION of this passage…Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 12 to 17…

 

ROMANS 8:12

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

 

ROMANS 8:13

For if you live by its dictates (as unbelievers do)…you will die. But if through the power of God the Holy Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live the resurrection life.

 

ROMANS 8:14

For all who are led by the Holy Spirit of God are children of God.

 

ROMANS 8:15

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.Instead, you received God the Father’s Holy Spirit when he adopted you as His own children.  Now we call him, “Abba!” which is Hebrew for Father.”

 

ROMANS 8:16

For God the Father’s Holy Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God the Father’s children.

 

ROMANS 8:17

And since we are God the Father’s children, we are His heirs.In fact, together with Christ we are co-heirs of God the Father’s glory.But if we are to share God the Father’s glory, we must also share in Christ’s suffering.

 

To what conclusions are we forced when we believers in Christ reflect on this passage?  We have a relationship with God…we are gifted with His thoughts in the Word of God…in the future we will have a resurrection body…we are gifted with opposition from those we love which causes suffering…yet we are heirs, so one day we will own everything that God owns.  God gives us suffering to make us tough and to make us appreciate.  WE HAVE IT ALL.

 

Thank you, God, for continuing to perfect a divine work in the creation of us.  Thank you for conforming us, through the power of God the Holy Spirit, to the image of Your Son.  Thank you for allowing us to wake up today, and through this lesson to take in Your goodness.

 

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

 

Where you spend eternity matters to God because YOU matter to God.  He wants you to be saved!  In John, Chapter 4, Verses 13 and 14, the Lord Jesus Christ is talking to a woman at a well…a Samaritan woman whom the Jews wanted nothing to do with.  After a brief introduction, the Lord says to the woman…

 

JOHN 4:13

“Everyone who drinks of the water in this well will thirst again…”

 

JOHN 4:14

“…but whoever drinks of the water that I (the Lord Jesus Christ) will give him (the water of the Word…the gospel message) shall never thirst…but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to the resurrection life (eternal life).”

 

It is the Lord’s will for you to live with Him in heaven forever when you close your eyes in this life.  First Timothy, Chapter 2, Verses 3 and 4 say…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:3

This is what is good and acceptable in the sight of the God who is our Savior…the Lord Jesus Christ…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:4

…who desires all men to be saved and who desires for all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

Unfortunately, most people think religion shows the way to be saved.  Is religion the truth?  Billions of people in this world think so, believing religion and its rituals are their tickets into heaven. They embrace religious beliefs that tell them how to live, but the religions never tell them how to have a personal relationship with the Lord.

 

Religions propose that if you don’t do everything their god expects that he will be disappointed.  And regardless of your best efforts to follow religious rituals…which you CAN’T and DON’T do…even IF you do them all, the religion does not GUARANTEE you will get to heaven.

 

Christianity is NOT a religion.  It’s a relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ…a relationship GUARANTEED to save you.

 

The Bible tells you how to get to heaven when you close your eyes in this life.  It’s as simple as a nine-word conversation with God the Father…like the one in Luke, Chapter 23, Verses 42 and 43…

 

LUKE 23:42

And a thief being crucified next to Jesus was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

 

LUKE 23:43

And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you…today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

 

A nine-word conversation with God can get you to heaven…Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.  Or if you prefer…a couple of five-word conversations with God the Father … “Father…I believe in Christ” …  or as a man said to Jesus when He was on the earth…“I believe…help my unbelief!”  Believe!  Simply take God’s word for what it takes to be saved, and that is the moment of eternal life for you.

 

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.”

 

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 believers in Christ…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 reject the relationship offer the Lord Jesus Christ makes to you, He will honor your rejection…Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 49 and 50…

 

MATTHEW 13:49

So it will be at the end of the age…the elect angels will come forth and take out the wicked (a description of unbelievers) from among the righteous (believers in Christ)...

 

MATTHEW 13:50

…and will throw the wicked into the furnace of fire (The Lake of Fire) … and in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

On the other hand, once the Lord saves you, no matter how hard you try, you cannot lose your salvation…John, Chapter 10, Verse 28 says…

 

JOHN 10:28

“…I (the Lord Jesus Christ) give eternal life to believers in Christ, and they will never perish…and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

Anyone who says you can lose your salvation is lying to you.  So, follow the advice in 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.”

 

It’s not religion that gets you to heaven…it’s RELATIONSHIP with the

one and only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Have that conversation with God the Father right now and you will be saved!

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

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

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s close with music!  Suffering is the route to spiritual maturity for those of us in union with Christ.  We live in Satan’s kingdom, and he loves persecuting believers in Christ.  The Lord reminds us that because the kingdom of darkness persecuted Him, they will persecute all of us who are in union with Him.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ’s half-brother James tells us to enjoy the suffering in James, Chapter 1, Verses 2 to 4…

 

JAMES 1:2

Consider it all joy…my brethren…when you encounter various trials…

 

JAMES 1:3

…knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

 

JAMES 1:4

And let endurance have its perfect result…so that you may be perfect and complete…lacking in nothing.

 

Here's June Murphy to remind you in a song what happens WHEN YOU SUFFER.

 

 

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

WHEN YOU SUFFER

June Murphy

 

DOXOLOGY

 

PROVERBS 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Jesus, and He will make your paths straight.

 

DEUTERONOMY 31:8

“For the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you…He will be with you…He will not fail you or forsake you…so do not fear or be dismayed.”

 

ISAIAH 30:18

The Lord longs to be gracious to you…He waits on high to have compassion

on you…for the Lord is a God of justice…blessed are those who wait for Him.

 

FIRST PETER 5:6-7

Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may promote you at the proper time……slamming all your cares on His back, because He cares for you.

 

God considers your problems to be His responsibility.

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

Thank you for reminding us over and over again in Your Word who we really are…we are Your precious children…sons of the living God…we are Your heirs… and You have an inheritance set aside for all of us who believe in Your Son…Jesus…the Christ…

 

…thank you for the tests, the trials, the tribulations, and the suffering you allow in our lives make it clear to us that we are not good enough in our own power…yet in Your hands…and in union with Your Son… through the guidance and the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit, we can bear fruit and display it to a lost and dying world in the kingdom of death and darkness…

 

…as we go forth into the week, help us to take advantage of Your grace…keep us from engaging in evil at the prompting of the flesh in us…help us keep on presenting our bodies to You as a living and holy sacrifice ready to do all that You would have us do…

 

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

 

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KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!

 

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