Romans 13: What are Christians to Think and Do When the Bible Isn’t Explicit?

Class Outline:

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All for one and one for all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What are Christians to Think and Do When the Bible Isn’t Explicit?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

The Bible is crystal clear on many issues…don’t steal…don’t be sexually promiscuous…don’t commit homicide…don’t covet are just a few of the explicit things.  These principles are easy to interpret even if they aren’t easy to follow.

 

Some matters, God expects us to use wisdom and discernment and gained from studying the Word of God to determine the right course of action.  Actually, that’s not what happens.  What most humans do is turn discernment opportunities into legalism.  “What I’m doing is right and what you are doing is wrong.”  It’s the opportunity to judge others.  The Lord frowns on this approach.  In Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 1 to 5 the Lord says…

 

MATTHEW 7:1

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

 

MATTHEW 7:2

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

 

 

MATTHEW 7:3

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?”

 

MATTHEW 7:4

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

 

MATTHEW 7:5

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

 

In today’s lesson, the Lord gives us guidelines for how to handle the implicit things in the matter of living that are not made explicit in the Word of God.

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s hear some music!  You’ve heard the expression “live and let live.”  It’s a way of saying let other people behave the way they want and don’t criticize them for behaving differently from you.  A word that captures this sentiment is acceptance.  It’s the way Godrelates to all of His creatures.  Here’s David Trevor to sing about it in the song I AM ACCEPTED.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

I AM ACCEPTED

David Trevor

 

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 giving each of us free will…the ability to make righteous judgments about life matters…thank you that sometimes we judge well and sometimes we don’t….and when we don’t judge well, thank you for God the Holy Spirit who gets us back on the righteous path with His expert instruction…

 

...as we learn today, teach us how to accept where other members of the Body of Christ are on their spiritual journeys with You…

 

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

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What are Christians to Think and Do When the Bible Isn’t Explicit?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

We continue our study of the apostle Paul's letter to the believers in Christ in first-century Rome in Chapter 14.  It’s a long passage with a simple message.

 

Unity is a theme in the passage.  At the moment of salvation, all believers in Christ are placed into union with Christ through the baptism of God the Holy Spirit, and it’s a unity from which we cannot escape.  We are also united asmembers of The Body of Christ, another unity from which we cannot escape.

 

Think about the implications of unity.  Should Christians in unity ever have a different opinion about who God is?  NEVER!  God doesn’t change.  Should Christians in unity ever have a dispute about any principle in the Word of God?  NEVER!  Why?  Because the Bible is not subject to interpretation.  God means one thing with everything He teaches us, and it is up to us to learn what HE is teaching…FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE.

 

Truth?  Christians do have different opinions about God and about what the Word of God says.  Why?  Each Christian is at a different point in the spiritual journey.

 

Problems arise when we think our perspectives and our interpretations of Biblical principles at a moment in time are more accurate that God's.  It's pretty ridiculous when you think about it, but that's what we do.  We form "opinions" about Biblical principles and then we think we are right and everyone who disagrees with us is wrong.  Often, we hold these viewpoints tenaciously, and that’s legalism.  That’s turning Christianity into a set of rules, considering yourself to be the perfect keeper of the rules and making yourselfthe enforcer of the rules, which amounts to looking down your noses at others.

 

Satan is the mastermind behind this disunity.  He loves legalism.  He loves judging.  He loves when Christians get in disputes about spiritual things.  He fans the flames of the fire of disunity to keep us apart.  He encourages us to reject each other.

 

Throughout my spiritual journey, I have held personal viewpoints about God and Biblical things that were absolutely wrong.

 

<GOD WANTS TO COME DOWN ON ME>

 

When I think I’m right, I’ve stopped learning.  How about you?  Have you changed your viewpoint about God and Biblical things as you have matured?

 

I love listening to things television teaches us about God.  Most of the teachings  are wrong.  As a student of Scripture, I can see wrong things clearly with spiritual eyes.

 

<CHRISTIANS vs. THE RELIGIOUS:  I HAVE MY OPINION AND YOU HAVE YOURS>

 

Let’s outline today’s passage.  It teaches us three things.  When there is no explicit statement concerning what to think and what to do in the Bible…when wisdom and discernment is called for…

 

1

ACCEPT that other Christians may be in a different part of their spiritual journey than you.  Thus, they may think about things differently than you.  There is room for multiple viewpoints on the journey to the truth.

 

<MAD AT GOD>

 

<PURSUING TRUTH FROM THE WORD OF GOD>

 

2

Keep your focus on the Lord and not on others in the spiritual journey.  God the

Holy Spirit will clarify the truth, especially when you ask Him.  He makes the truth clear to others as well.  God the Holy Spirit is very good at His job.

 

3

Remember a Judgment Day is coming, and each of us will beasked to give an account of how we handled the gift of the resurrection life, our spiritual life on earth.

 

Let’s hear the passage…Romans, Chapter 14, Verses 1 to 12…

 

ROMANS 14:1

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

 

ROMANS 14:2

One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

 

ROMANS 14:3

The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

 

ROMANS 14:4

Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls…and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

 

ROMANS 14:5

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

 

ROMANS 14:6

He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God…and he who eats not, it’s for the Lord he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God.

 

ROMANS 14:7

For not one of us lives for himself, and not one of us dies for himself…

 

 

ROMANS 14:8

…for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord…therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

 

ROMANS 14:9

To this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

 

ROMANS 14:10

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you regard your brother with

contempt? For we believers in Christ will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

 

ROMANS 14:11

For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”

 

ROMANS 14:12

So each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

 

Now that you have heard the passage let’s be clearer about what we will learn from it.  There are some things in the Bible that are explicit.  What does explicit mean?

 

EXPLICIT

Things stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.

 

You heard some of these things in the introduction…and some of them last week during the Lord's Supper…like in First Corinthians, Chapter 6, Verses 9 and 10…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 6:9

Or do you not know that the unrighteous (unbelievers) will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived…neither fornicators…nor idolaters…nor adulterers…nor effeminate (males sexually penetrated by other males)…norhomosexuals (who penetrate effeminate males)…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 6:10

…nor thieves…nor the greedy…nor drunkards…nor revilers…nor swindlers…will inherit the kingdom of God.

 

There is no room for interpretation with explicit things.  In these explicit things, God is saying, “Don’t live these lifestyles.”

 

Right after a person becomes a Christian, during the period of their Christianity which Paul describes in this passage as the “weak” time, the explicit things are critical.  A Christian ought to ask, as they make decisions about how to think and how to act, “Where does it say that in the Bible?”  This is a way we live our Christian lives initially.  We search Scripture for the explicit things God has to say.

 

When Christians have been studying the Word of God for a significant period of time, they should add the IMPLICIT to their repertoire. What things in the Bible are IMPLICIT?

 

IMPLICIT

Things that are not plainly expressed.

 

The implicit things require wisdom and discernment.  As we grow in the sphere of grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we become mature when we can handle both the explicit things AND the implicit things of the Bible.  It’s especially important to learn to handle the things that are not clearly expressed.  We use the wisdom gained from God to make righteous judgments.  Luckily, we don’t have to do this on our own.  We have God the Holy Spirit as a guide.

 

Let's examine the passage verse by verse to see what we can learn.Romans, Chapter 14, Verses 1 and 2…

 

ROMANS 14:1

Now accept the one who is weak in faith...but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his viewpoint concerning things.

 

ROMANS 14:2

One person has faith that he may eat anything (the strong)...but the one who is weak eats vegetables only.

 

Paul is making a distinction.  He calls some believers in Christ “strong.”  He calls some believers in Christ “weak.”  One way to look at the distinction is mature believer (strong) versus immature believer (weak)…but often calling someone immature has some judging attached.

If you think about the group Paul was writing to, first-century believers in Rome, new to Christianity, they came from many backgrounds.  Some were rich.  Some were poor.  Some were in cults. Some engaged in idolatry.  Some were pagans.  Some were polytheistic.  Some were monotheistic.  Some were criminals

Some were prostitutes.  Some were stoics.

 

This mixed bag of unbelievers came together as believers, yet in their “weak” stage they didn’t know Christianity yet, so they mixed their old lifestyles with the new creation.  That doesn’t work at all.  It’s like mixing oil and water.  People don’t understand liberty at first.  Liberty for the “weak” is perverted into, “I can’t do this…I can’t do that…and neither can anyone else.”

 

For the strong, it’s easy to judge as well.  First Corinthians, Chapter 8, Verse 1…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 8:1

NOW CONCERNING things sacrificed to idols (which are things sacrificed to images)…we know that as Christians we all have knowledge (from the source of God the Holy Spirit).  On the other hand, human knowledge feeds arrogance (it puffs us up with an attitude of legalistic pride)…unconditionallove (knowledge) edifies others.

 

Paul encourages Christians to accommodate different viewpoints, especially in implicit matters. When the Bible is clear, there is no issue. When the Bible expects you to use wisdom, “I have a different opinion” is a lot better than “I agree” or “I disagree” with what others are doing.

 

In the matter of food or days celebrated, or any other things that are not explicit in the Bible, we are to accept our brother’s viewpoint.Romans, Chapter 14, Verse 3…

 

ROMANS 14:3

The one who eats (the weak) is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat (the strong)...(contempt is the Greek word krino)…and the one who does not eat (the strong) is not to judge the one who eats (the weak)...for God has accepted both of them.

 

KRINO is a Greek word that means to separate…to look down on…to regard with contempt…to devalue another person.  It’s clear God is not interested in us doing that with each other.

 

People with strong legalistic convictions twist Scripture to make a point.

 

<FIRST JOHN 1:9>

 

<WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRISTIANS HANG OUT WITH “CORRUPT” PEOPLE>

 

We judge others and distance ourselves.  Is that the way the Lord handled things?  Hardly!  Matthew, Chapter 9, Verses 9 to 13…

 

MATTHEW 9:9

As Jesus went on from His own city, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth…and Jesus said to him, “Follow Me!” And Matthew got up and followed Jesus.”

 

MATTHEW 9:10

Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners (unbelievers…presumably prostitutes) came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.

 

MATTHEW 9:11

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus’s disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”

 

MATTHEW 9:12

But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick need a physician.”

 

MATTHEW 9:13

But (you Pharisees need to) go and learn what this means: ‘I (the Lord) desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I (the Lord Jesus Christ) did not come to call the righteous (believers in Christ who need no repentance)…but I came to call sinners (unbelievers to salvation).”

 

So in Romans, Chapter 14, Verse 4, the Lord asks…

 

ROMANS 14:4

Who are you to keep on judging the servant of another? To his own master a

servant stands or falls...and the servant will be made to stand by God...for the Lord is able to make him stand.

 

Self-imposed restrictions and judgmental comparisons aren’t Christianity.  A Southern Baptist friend’s evaluation of others sounds like this, “Nowhere in my Bible does it say…”. He’s commenting on the explicit.  What about the implicit?  Does explicit work for implicit things?  It doesn’t.  But somewhere in your Bible it says accept your brother when he is “weak” … when he has yet to figure everything out.  We don’t have the right to evaluate others.

 

When we return from the break, we’ll take the offering and then we’ll continue our study of this long passage with a simple message.

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What are Christians to Think and Do When the Bible Isn’t Explicit?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

 

Deacon Denny Goodall is on vacation this week, so it’s a good time to express a few heartfelt feelings about this amazing man.

 

Deacon Denny creates every offering message. They are amazingly accurate and spiritually deeper with every message. We don't consult each other on his messages; we trust each other. I can remember when he was afraid to get in front of the congregation to speak.

 

Also, as if it were yesterday, I remember the day Deacon Denny walked into a spare bedroom in my home to learn from me.  I was actually intimidated, because I knew he was studying with the same Pastor I was studying with, so I figured he would be judging me.  Boy was I wrong.

 

Through all the ups and downs of this ministry, Deacon Denny has been my right-hand man.  Aside from me, he is the most loyal person I've ever met.  I think we've been together for over twenty years, and having him by my side has been a pleasure.

 

It’s inspiring to see how he has grown as a husband, as a father, as an employee,

and as a man, and I couldn’t be prouder of him if he were my own son.

 

When people have walked out of the ministry, including people close to him, often

foisting an undue burden on him, he stayed.

 

There aren’t enough superlatives in the English language either to describe him as a person, or to describe how I feel about him.  But to capture the feelings in two words?  LOVE and GRATITUDE.  I love Deacon Denny and I am grateful for him.  This is a relationship created by a God who knew exactly who I would need in my life and gave him to me.

 

Thank you, Lord, for this man…and thank you Deacon Denny for your love and your faithfulness.

 

Let the contributions you make today be in honor of a man whom anyone would be proud to know and proud to call a friend.

 

The title couldn't be better when we listen to the offering song.  Deacon Denny…THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU!

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What are Christians to Think and Do When the Bible Isn’t Explicit?

 

LESSON PART TWO

 

Now onto the final two sections of the passage beginning at Romans, Chapter 14, Verse 5…

 

ROMANS 14:5

One person regards one day above another...another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind he is doing what God would want him to do.

 

What days did the Jewish people who became believers in Christ (the Jewish Messiah) observe?  They observed the Sabbath (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday)…the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur)…and holidays like Passover, Sukkot, Hanukkah, and Purim.  Can you imagine the family pressure for a Jewish person who becomes a believer in Christ?  Initially, they probably just wanted to keep celebrating those days even though they knew that Christ and the Cross changed everything.

 

Since it’s not explicit in Scripture, each Jewish person had to decide what was best for his situation.  Romans, Chapter 14, Verses 6 to 9…

 

ROMANS 14:6

He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord...and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God...and he who eats not, it is for the Lord he does not eat...and he gives thanks to God.

 

ROMANS 14:7

For not one of us lives for himself...and not one of us dies for himself...

 

ROMANS 14:8

...for if we believers in Christ live...and we do...we live for the Lord...or if we

die...and we do...we die for the Lord...therefore whether we live or die, we are the

Lord’s possession.

 

ROMANS 14:9

For to this end Christ died and lived again...that He might be the Lordboth of the dead and of the living.

 

So what is God asking us to do when things are implicit?  He wants us to live and let live.  If you want to eat a steak while your “weaker” Christian brother eats vegetables…if you want to see every day as the same while your “weaker” brothers continue to observe certain days, so be it.

 

Uh oh!  What are you saying Pastor?  Does this mean I can take my kids on an easter egg hunt?  Isn't a verse saying, "Thou shall not have an easter egg hunt?”

 

Does this mean I don’t have to consider Halloween as the devil’s holiday, and

Instead, I can just see it as a great time to get free candy?  Isn't there a verse

saying, "Thou shall not celebrate Halloween?”

 

Does this mean I don’t have to feel bad about having a Christmas tree?  Isn't there a verse saying, "Thou shall not have a Christmas tree?"

 

I was teaching at a Bible conference here in Phoenix…some of you may remember the God’s Men Conference…and someone wrote on the dust of my car, “Would Jesus drive a Lexus?”  And then, of course, they keyed the car.  I wrote, “Of course not.  He would drive a Mercedes!"  I was thinking that Jesus would be much more spiritual if He drove a Chevy Vega (he said sarcastically).

 

Know what’s funny?  A Chevy Suburban is much more expensive that most Mercedes Benz’s.  Of course,I’d be more “godly” if I drive a Chevy.  People are funny.

 

Here’s the truth…Romans, Chapter 14, Verses 10 to 12…

 

ROMANS 14:10

Why do you judge (krino) your brother? Why do you regard your brother with contempt (krino)? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

 

ROMANS 14:11

For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me...and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

 

ROMANS 14:12

So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

 

God's judgment matters, and He does it at the end of our days.  Second Corinthians, Chapter 2, Verse 10…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 2:10

For we believers in Christ must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be compensated for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 

This judgment is not about sins…it’s about our acceptance of things on the path God the Father created for us believers.  Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 10…

 

EPHESIANS 2:10

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

 

Often, Christians are a laughing stock to unbelievers because we judge each other so harshly...because of obvious legalism…and our hypocrisy is entirely transparent to unbelievers.

 

The first two words of the passage of study today say it all…Romans, Chapter 14, Verse 1…

 

ROMANS 14:1a

Now accept…

 

Accept means to recognize differing opinions as valid in implicit matters.A long passage with a simple message.

 

Instead of working so hard to change others, how about changing yourself?  As Michael Jackson said in song, “I’m starting with the man in the mirror.”  The Lord says the same thing.

 

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 to Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

…and what He wants for you is that you make the most important decision of your life.

 

Even if you don’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you matter to God.  The Lord’s enemies matter to Him as much or more than His friends matter to Him.  The Lord created you and He wants the best for you.

 

While sharing this truth recently, a friend asked, “How do I get right with God?”

 

When we are born, we are not right with God.  Everyone is born in a state of unrighteousness, physically alive and spiritually dead as ungodly, unrighteous unbelievers in God’s eyes.  We were born sinners and we need a Savior.

 

It’s not our fault we were born this way, but it is our circumstance.

 

In First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 22, the Bible says…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:22a

For 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…

 

To God’s enemy, Satan…the ruler of this world…you don’t matter at all.  First Peter, Chapter 5, Verse 8 says…

 

FIRST PETER 5:8

Be of sober spirit…be on the alert! Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

 

You are the “someone” on Satan’s list.  Satan does not want you to be right with God.  He’s hasn’t been right with God since the day he declared God to be his enemy.  Here’s what the Lord says about that fateful day when Satan gave up his privileges...Ezekiel., Chapter 28, Verse 15…

 

EZEKIEL 28:15

“You (Satan) were blameless in your ways from the day you were created

until unrighteousness was found in you.”

 

Satan wants followers.  He doesn’t want you to be with God in heaven when you close your eyes in this life.  He wants you to be with him in the Lake of Fire, and he wants you so badly that he sends false teachers with false teachings to deceive you.  In Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 15…the Lord warns us about this…

 

MATTHEW 7:15

“Beware of the false teachers…who come to you in sheep’s clothing…but

inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

 

A ravenous animal has an insatiable desire to tear you apart.  Ravenous teachers pretend to be for you, yet they want you to be twice the sons of hell that they are.

 

This gospel message offers GOOD NEWS concerning how to get right with God.  John, Chapter 3, Verses 16 and 17 reveal what God wants for you…

 

JOHN 3:16

“For God the Father loved the world unconditionally…and He loved the world so much…that He gave His uniquely born Son (the God-man…the Lord Jesus Christ…to be crucified on a Cross) … so that WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall not perish, but haseternal life.”

 

JOHN 3:17

For God the Father did not send God the Son (the Lord) into the world to judge the world…but the Father sent the Son into the world that the world might be saved through Him.

 

God wants you to respond positively to the good news of this gospel message so you can be right with Him.

 

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 (the apostle 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…

 

Getting right with God is easy.  There is no work involved.  Anyone who says you have work to get right with God is a false teacher giving you a false gospel message.  Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 6 says you don’t have to work to be saved…

 

 

 

ROMANS 11:6

…if salvation is by grace (a free gift from God) … and of course it is…it is no longer on the basis of your works…otherwise, grace (as a free gift) is no longer grace (it is not free).

 

Romans, Chapter 4, Verse 4 says you CAN'T work for salvation…

 

ROMANS 4:4

Now to the one who works for salvation, his wage for his workis not credited to

his accountas a favor from the grace of God, but his wage is creditedas what is

due for the work.

 

Your hardest work is not perfect enough to get you right with God.  So relax!  You can get to heaven when you close your eyes in this life free of charge and free of work.  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.”

 

John, Chapter 3, Verse 36 warns you and invites you…

 

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.”

 

You have a choice.

 

You can spend eternity with God’s enemy, Satan, in the Lake of Fire…OR…you can have the free gift of eternal life right this minute!  RIGHT WHERE YOU SIT, RIGHT NOW God can make you right with Him.  You can tell God the Father that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and that is the moment of eternal life for you.

 

Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 and 10 encourages you…

 

 

 

 

 

ROMANS 10:9

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

 

ROMANS 10:10

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

 

You are right with God the moment He gifts you with His righteousness.  There is a consequence for rejecting the righteousness gift from the Lord Jesus Christ…in Matthew, Chapter 8, Verse 12, the Lord says…

 

MATTHEW 8:12

“…the sons of (Satan’s) kingdom (unbelievers) will be cast out into the outer darkness…in that place (The Lake of Fire) there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 

Many parents are false teachers leading their children to an eternity in the Lake of Fire.  Do you want to know if you’re a good parent?  Just ask yourself a simple question.  Are you influencing your children to get right with God by having a relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Sovereign God of the Universe?

 

He is the ONLY WAY to get to heaven according to 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…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.”

 

You are either right with God or you aren't right with God.  There's no time to waste!  GOD WANTS YOU.  If you want to be right with God, simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!  Take His word for it concerning salvation, and the resurrection life is yours free of charge!  You'll be right with God for all eternity.

 

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

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

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s close with music!What the Lord wants us to do is live His way…THE JESUS WAY.  It’s always a good idea to take Jesus’s advice.  Here’s Phil Wickham to sing about how to do things the Lord’s way.

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

THE JESUS WAY

Phil Wickham

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

…thank you for teaching us to use what You teach us…wisdom and discernment…thank you for teaching us to accept others as You accept them…unconditionally…thanks for teaching us to relax our “standards” and instead to learn Yours…because Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light…

 

…as we go out into the week amidst the wolves in Satan’s kingdom, help us to see every situation that calls for wisdom, so we exercise it just as You do…

 

…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 Zoom Immediately Following the Lesson

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KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!

 

Thanks for coming!

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www.barahministries.com