(#483) Romans 16 - Seeing the Victory is More Fun Than Having the Victory

The anointed are the victory and together we show the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome To 

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a small, intimate, and local Christian Church with worldwide impact.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  At Barah Ministries, our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is God, and at Barah Ministries we make a difference by teaching God’s Word from His perspective, and not from man’s perspective.  

 

How our God sees things is very different from how we see things.  So instead of trusting what man says about God, we prefer to go directly to what God says about Himself and His plan in His Word.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Seeing the Victory is More Fun Than Having the Victory

 

LESSON INTRO

 

In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says to her lover, Romeo…“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”  She knew she would see her lover again in the morning, but the moments away from each other were agonizing.

 

So it is as we conclude our study of the foundational book of biblical Christianity…Paul’s letter to the Romans.  We know we will keep revisiting it, but for now, we must move on.  For more than six years we have been blessed to dissect this letter verse by verse…a lesson in perseverance.  The letter teaches how to enter the Christian Way of Life.  Our salvation and the salvation for all mankind has always ONLY come ONE WAY… through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.  Also, the letter gives guidance on the do’s and don’ts of The Christian Way of Living. 

In our final Romans lesson, Paul concludes by reminding us of the hope that

is in us.  First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 57…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:57

…thanks be to God the Father, who gives us believers in Christ the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Paul reminds us that one day we will see the victory we now have fulfilled by our Lord right before our eyes…and right under our feet.

 

ABOUT GOD

 

In the opening of every lesson at Barah Ministries, we learn something about God.  Today we learn about His attitude toward forgiveness.

 

Our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, spoke to people in parables…stories about simple subjects that illustrate valuable spiritual lessons.  The word “parable” means the placement of things side-by-side for comparison.  Parables place a great story alongside God’s wisdom.  Jesus simplified the profound spiritual truths He shared with human beings by telling them stories that are easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to relate to because of their connections to everyday life. 

 

Are you forgiving like the Lord?  Forgiveness is one of the things we need to always have handy, ready to provide it to the people in our lives who mistreat us.  In Matthew, Chapter 18, Verses 21 to 35, our God teaches His attitude toward forgiveness…

 

MATTHEW 18:21

Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

 

MATTHEW 18:22 

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

 

MATTHEW 18:23 

“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.”

MATTHEW 18:24 

“When the king had begun to settle the accounts, one slave who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.” 

 

Ten thousand talents are millions of dollars.

 

MATTHEW 18:25 

“But since the slave did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and his children and all that he had, so repayment could be made.”

 

MATTHEW 18:26 

“The slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before his lord, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’”

 

MATTHEW 18:27 

“And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released the slave and forgave him the debt.”

 

MATTHEW 18:28 

“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii…and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’” 

 

One hundred denarii are about a day’s wage…thirty dollars.  

 

MATTHEW 18:29 

“So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’” 

 

MATTHEW 18:30 

“But the slave was unwilling (to forgive the debt) and had his fellow slave thrown into prison until his fellow slave should pay back what was owed.”

 

MATTHEW 18:31 

“So when the other fellow slaves saw what happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.”

 

 

MATTHEW 18:32 

“Then summoning the slave, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.’”

 

MATTHEW 18:33 

“Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’”

 

MATTHEW 18:34 

“And his lord, moved with anger, handed the slave over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.”

 

MATTHEW 18:35 

"My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

 

Often, we mistake the pain we feel from being hurt for a lack of forgiveness.  It is not.  Yet God is asking us to examine ourselves.  When you forgive, do you forgive from the heart as our Lord does?  Or do you have a grudge hiding inside your forgiveness?  If we are to reflect our Lord’s forgiveness…we forgive from the heart without a grudge.

 

Welcome to a place where you can get to know the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ…and through the study of His Word, where you can learn to love unconditionally and to forgive graciously just as He does.

 

SONG INTRO

 

There is no greater love or forgiveness than that provided by our God and Father, in Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8…

 

ROMANS 5:8

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

 

Here's Philips, Craig, and Dean to sing about it…HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

HOW DEEP THE FATHERS LOVE FOR US

Phillips, Craig, and Dean

 

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 us believers in Christ the victory through Your Son…teach us how to think like victors and how to act like victors until we see the fruits of our victory when our Lord comes again…

 

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

name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Seeing the Victory is More Fun Than Having the Victory

 

We conclude our study of Paul's letter to the Romans with the last passage of Chapter 16…here is the next to the last passage that we studied last week… Verses 17 to 19…

 

ROMANS 16:17 

Now I urge you, believers in Christ…keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances (literally those who put “obstacles” in your path … those who lay “snares” for you … those who create “traps” for you … those who cause occasions of stumbling…your spiritual enemies who suggest things) contrary to the teaching which you learned (from me…Paul) …and keep on turning away from them.

 

ROMANS 16:18 

For these false teachers are slaves…not serving as slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ…but serving as slaves to their own appetites (literally fattening their own bellies…a description of lust) … false teachers who by their smooth and flattering speech deceive the minds of naïve people.

 

ROMANS 16:19 

For the report of your obedience has reached all of us…therefore I (Paul) am rejoicing over you…but (as a reminder) I want you to be wise…(guilty) in what is good (the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ) and innocent in what is evil (not being conformed to the world…instead transformed by God through the renewing of your minds).

 

Now the final passage of Romans, Chapter 16…

 

ROMANS 16:20 

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

 

ROMANS 16:21 

Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

 

ROMANS 16:22 

I, Tertius (Paul’s scribe), who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:23 

Gaius, a host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother, greets you.

 

ROMANS 16:24

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

ROMANS 16:25 

Now to God the Father…who is able to establish you according to my gospel and according to the preaching concerning Jesus Christ…according to the revelation of the mystery (doctrine of the Church Age) which has been kept secret for long ages past…

 

ROMANS 16:26 

…but now is manifested (made clearly visible) … that by means of the Scriptures of the prophets…and according to the commandment of the eternal God…has been made known to all the nations…leading to the obedience of faith (in Christ)…

 

ROMANS 16:27 

…to the only wise God (and Father) … (whose wisdom is displayed) through Jesus Christ…be the glory forever. Amen.

 

In the first passage of Romans, Chapter 16, we heard Paul thank the women who assisted him in building the church in Rome.  Women are critical in building a church.  In the second passage, we heard Paul give us a warning about false teachers and false teaching.  In the final passage, Paul reminds us that we will see the victory we already have play out right before our eyes and under our feet.  Then Paul concludes the letter by thanking his staff.  Let’s get started with our study of this final passage.  Romans, Chapter 16, Verse 20…

 

ROMANS 16:20 

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

 

So this is why we’re coming with Him at the second coming!  After His second coming, the Lord will reign on the earth for one thousand years, and the Great Tribulation believers in Christ will reign with Him…a promise from our amazing God…Revelation, Chapter 20, Verses 1 to 6…

 

REVELATION 20:1

Then I (the apostle John) saw an angel coming down from heaven…holding the key of the Abyss and holding a great chain in his hand.

 

REVELATION 20:2 

And the angel laid hold of the dragon…the serpent of old…who is the devil and Satan…and bound him for a thousand years…

 

REVELATION 20:3 

…and the angel threw Satan into the Abyss…and shut the door and sealed it over him, so that he would not be able to deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were completed…after these things, Satan must be released for a short time.

 

REVELATION 20:4 

Then I (John) saw thrones…and they that on them (likely the Lord’s apostles…the “twelve”)…and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded (during the Great Tribulation) because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God…and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark of the beast on their forehead and on their hand…and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

 

REVELATION 20:5 

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

 

REVELATION 20:6 

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection…over these, the second death has no power…but they will be priests of God the Father and priests of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

 

God’s promise that we will see the victory we have already attained through His work at the Cross was predicted in the Garden of Eden…Genesis, Chapter 3, Verse 15…

 

GENESIS 3:15

And I (the Lord…God the Son) will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman…and between your seed and her seed…her seed (the Lord) shall bruise you on the head…and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

 

The Lord promises to bruise Satan again in Psalm 110, Verse 1…King David writes…

 

PSALM 110:1

The Lord (God the Father…Yahweh) says to my Lord (God the Son…Adonai): “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

 

Satan is having his way right now…but the bruising…his “crushing” will be done QUICKLY and SOON…Revelation, Chapter 22, Verse 7…

 

 

REVELATION 22:7

“And behold, I (the Lord Jesus Christ) am coming QUICKLY. Blessed is he who heeds the words ofthe prophecy of this book.”

 

Revelation, Chapter 1, Verse 1…

 

REVELATION 1:1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God the Father gave Jesus Christ to show to His bond-servants, the things which must SOON take place…and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John…

 

Quickly and Soon give us hope of a beautiful future.  And we know what is made clear in Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 8…

 

SECOND PETER 3:8

…do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.

 

Right now…until QUICKLY and SOON comes…how do we put Satan on the run?  James, Chapter 4, Verse 7…

 

JAMES 4:7

Submit therefore to God. RESIST THE DEVIL and he will flee from you.

 

When we return from our five-minute break, we’ll take the offering and then we’ll finish up Romans, Chapter 16.

 

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

Unconditional Love

Donna Summers

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Seeing the Victory is More Fun Than Having the Victory

 

In Acts, Chapter 20, Verse 35…the apostle Paul reminds Christians…

 

ACTS 20:35

In everything, I (Paul) showed you by working hard…that you must help the

weak and that you must remember the words of the Lord Jesus…that He

Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

 

I have certainly found that to be true in my own life…it IS more blessed to give than to receive.  Giving is a decision.  When we make the decision, we give and we forget it.  And then we know we have done what our Lord expects of us…we reflect His heart in everything we do…and our Lord is DEFINITELY a giver.  Let’s welcome Deacon Denny Goodall with today’s offering message.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

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.

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST PETER 5:9

But resist him…firm in your faith…knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

David Bauer, Instrumental

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Seeing the Victory is More Fun Than Having the Victory

 

SONG INTRO

 

Someone asked me this week, “What is heaven like?”  I said, “It’s inexpressible.  At least that’s what the apostle Paul taught us in Second Corinthians, Chapter 12.”  Then June picked out this song…I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.  All I can say to MercyMe is, “Nice song…BUT NO…you can’t even imagine!”  Here’s Mercy Me.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

MercyMe

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Seeing the Victory is More Fun Than Having the Victory

 

Welcome back!  Continuing at Romans, Chapter 16, Verse 21…thank you’s for Paul’s staff…

 

ROMANS 16:21 

Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

 

ROMANS 16:22 

I, Tertius (Paul’s scribe), who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:23 

Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother, greets you.

 

Here is the way Paul ends most of his letters…with grace.  

 

ROMANS 16:24

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

Now the closing benediction…a written good wish and blessing for this congregation Paul loved…

 

ROMANS 16:25 

Now to God the Father…who is able to establish you according to my gospel and according to the preaching concerning Jesus Christ…according to the revelation of the mystery (doctrine of the Church Age) which has been kept secret for long ages past…

 

 

ROMANS 16:26 

…but now is manifested (made clearly visible) … that by means of the Scriptures of the prophets…and according to the commandment of the eternal God…has been made known to all the nations…leading to the obedience of faith (in Christ)…

 

ROMANS 16:27 

…to the only wise God (and Father) … (whose wisdom is displayed) through Jesus Christ…be the glory forever. Amen.

 

Thank you, Lord…thank you, Paul …and thank you to all who persevered through the study of this letter.  I hope it has had a greater profound impact on you than it has had on me.  Now it's on to First Corinthians.

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

The closing moments of our study are for the benefit of anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU. 

 

If you closed your eyes in this life right this moment…and found yourself standing before the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…and the Lord asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” …what would you say?  Such a scenario would never happen…that’s not how God works…but let’s just suppose.

 

Many would talk about what a good person they are.  Many would talk about all their good works…the things they have done to earn and to deserve entrance into heaven.  The bible has bad news for good people and for those who want to work their way into heaven…Romans, Chapter 4, Verse 4…

 

ROMANS 4:4

Now to the one who works for salvation…his wage for his work is not credited to his account as a favor from the grace of God…but his wage is credited as what is due for the work.

 

The bad news is that your goodness as a person and your hard work are not good enough to get you into heaven, because they are not perfect.  You were born with a problem.  From the moment of your physical birth, God considered you a sinner.  Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 10…

 

 ROMANS 3:10

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

 

Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 23…

 

ROMANS 3:23

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

 

In addition to being a sinner, you commit personal sins.  Sinners and those who sin simply don’t meet God’s absolute righteousness standard, because God requires perfection to get into heaven.  So being a good person, or trying to work your way into heaven with good, but imperfect deeds, does not impress God at all.  It’s not your fault that you’re a sinner from physical birth, but it is your circumstance.  Unfortunately, being a sinner has a penalty.  Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 23…

 

ROMANS 6:23

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

 

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself passed along this very bad news to a self-righteous Pharisee, Nicodemus, in John, Chapter 3, Verse 3…

 

JOHN 3:3

Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you are born again (the spiritual birth) you cannot see the kingdom of God the Father (in heaven).”

 

This gospel message is the good news concerning what God did to fix the bad news for a sinner.  Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8…

 

ROMANS 5:8

But God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all

mankind…in that while we were yet sinners (while we were unrighteous,

ungodly, unbelievers) … Christ died (a sacrificial death) for us.

 

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

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (Paul) delivered to you as of first importance what I also received… that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the 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 Scriptures…

 

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

 

ROMANS 10:9

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

 

ROMANS 10:10 

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

 

ROMANS 10:11

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

 

If you closed your eyes in this life right this moment…and found yourself standing before the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…and the Lord asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” …what would you say?  It’s easy… Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

ACTS 16:31 

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone

in your household who also believes.”

 

All you have to say is, “I believed in You when I was alive, Lord.  That’s all it takes to get to heaven.”  And you’d be right!  So, heed the invitation and the warning of John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

JOHN 3:36

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

 

There is a hell…a literal place…and it is described this way in the bible… Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 41 to 43…

 

MATTHEW 13:41

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

 

MATTHEW 13:42 

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

 

MATTHEW 13:43 

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

 

For those without a relationship with Christ, He’ll just ask them to step to the left and to take the “HELLIVATOR” … just press down.  Don’t let that be you!  Sinners need a Savior.  That Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Believe in Him and you will be saved!

 

SONG INTRO

 

June Murphy sings the closing song…HOW GREAT THOU ART.

 

CLOSING SONG

HOW GREAT THOU ART

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

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Thanks for listening!

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