Romans 12: How Can A Believer in Christ STAY Right with God?Offer it all and gain even more.
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
We’re always happy to begin each lesson by answering a few important questions…
Who is the God we worship? What is our source of truth? Who is our enemy?
Who is the God We Worshipat Barah Ministries?
We worship a Triune Godhead…also known as the Holy Trinity. There is One God who reveals Himself to mankind as three beings who are separate…distinct… co-equal…co-infinite…and 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. As believers in Christ, if we want a great spiritual life, begin by taking the apostle James' suggestion in James, Chapter 4, Verse 7…
JAMES 4:7a Submit therefore to God the Father…
When God the Father ’s will for us becomes our will for us, knowing that Father knows best, we’ll have an amazing spiritual life.
GOD THE SON (the Lord) volunteered to execute God the Father’s plan…taking on human form as Jesus…the Christ (the Messiah). Jesus Christ is God.
If we want a great spiritual life, our relationship with ourselves needs to move up our priority list as we realize concern for self is not selfish. What the Lord wants for us within ourselves is peace…Philippians, Chapter 4, Verse 7…
PHILIPPIANS 4:7 …the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds…for those of you in union with Christ Jesus.
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT 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. Matthew, Chapter 22, Verse 39 gives us the third dimension of a great spiritual life…
MATTHEW 22:39 “The second great and foremost command is, ‘You shall love your neighbor unconditionally…just as you love yourself…unconditionally.’”
When you do these three things…submit to God, stay peaceful within yourself, and serve others…you'll live the life God designed for you. What others will see from this life is the fruit of God the Holy Spirit…Galatians, Chapter 5, Verses 22 and 23…
GALATIANS 5:22 But the FRUIT OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT is unconditional love, joy, and peace (in yourselves)…patience, kindness, and goodness (toward others)…
GALATIANS 5:23 …faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (in your relationship with God)… against such virtues there is no law.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are the believerin Christ’s power team…specializing in the supernatural…a teamyou can call on for help in times of trouble.
What is Our Source of Truthat Barah Ministries?
The Bible is the Word of God, and as such, it is our source of absolute truth. Second Timothy, Chapter 3, Verses 16 and 17…
SECOND TIMOTHY 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…
SECOND TIMOTHY 3:17 …so that the man of God may be mature, thoroughly furnished for every good work.
The Bible does not come from the source of man. It is a supernatural work breathed into its human writers by God. The Bible provides the only source of absolute truth about eternal things.
As Christians, we develop a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the Godhead and get to know them as Persons through studying the Word of God.
At Barah Ministries, we teach the Bible from God's perspective…not from man's perspective…because we refuse to teach the precepts of men as doctrinal truth.
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. He is the great deceiver. His strategy against humanity is religion, and he passes off the deception and the darkness of religion as a lifestyle of light…Second Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verse 14 warns us about him…
SECOND CORINTHIANS 11:14 …Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
The biggest enemy of believers in Christ is IGNORANCE OF THE ENEMY. Don’t be ignorant.
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON How Can A Believer in Christ STAY Right with God? LESSON INTRODUCTION
In Romans, Chapters 1 to 8, the apostle Paul taught us how to GET right with God. But how do we STAY right with God? After we accept the Christian Way of Life, what IS the Christian Way of Living? The apostle Peter asks the same thing in Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verses 10 and 11…
SECOND PETER 3:10 The day of the Lord will come like a thief…in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat…and the earth and its works will be burned up.
SECOND PETER 3:11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?
It’s great question. What kind of people does God want Christians to become?How do we STAY right with God? In today’s lesson we’ll begin our study of the final chapters of Romans…Chapters 12 to 16…which provide God's insights on how to have an amazing spiritual life.
And as we do regularly, honoring the Lord's command, we'll celebrate the Lord's Supper today. Get your bread and wine…settle in…and join us in the celebration.
OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION
Let’s hear some music!In John, Chapter 8, Verse 12 the Lord describes Himself…
JOHN 8:12 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world…he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness…but will have the Light of life.”
As the Lord’s followers we are to reflect His light in our lifestyle. Here’s June Murphy to sing about it in her song WALK IN THE LIGHT.
MUSIC OPENING SONG Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises
WALK IN THE LIGHT 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 today’s lesson…thank you for sending Your Son as a sacrifice to help us get right with you…thank you for giving us God the Holy Spirit to make the lesson clear as You personalize it for our situations…He gives us spiritual eyes and ears so we can discern the truth…
…teach us how to stay right with You as we eagerly await the day when we meet You face-to-face…
…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON How Can A Believer in Christ STAY Right with God?
LESSON PART ONE
Today we begin our study of the last chapters in Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapters 12 to 16. In these chapters, we'll learn the “do’s” and “don’ts” of Christianity…the Lord’s standards for His believers.
As a reminder, Romans, Chapters 1 to 8 taught us how to GET right withGod. The way to GET right with God is to let God save you. Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8 says…
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.
The Lord’s sacrificial death on the Cross allowed us to be saved. All that is required of us is a request to be saved…and that’s beautiful in its simplicity! Salvation is not “do-it-yourself.”
Romans, Chapters 9 to 11 taught us we have a God who is faithful. Despite the rejection of their Messiah by Israel and the Jews, the Lord accepted them. Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 26 says…
ROMANS 11:26 …all Israel will be saved…just as it is written, “The Deliverer (the Lord Jesus Christ) will come from Zion (Jerusalem)…He will remove ungodliness (unbelief and blindness) from Jacob (which is Israel).”
Israel and the Jews have a future because of a faithful God who always keeps His promises.
If there were one word to capture the Lord's attitude toward His creatures as reflected by Romans, Chapters 1 to 11, the word is MERCY. God has an attitude of mercy toward His unbelieving creatures.
As a result of God’s mercy toward us, do we owe Him something? YES we do! But is He a God who has His hand out, waiting for us to repay Him or else? Many Pastors seem to think so. Their teaching deteriorates into legalistic diatribes, claiming that after salvation, God expects us to sit in the driver’s seat in our spiritual lives.
As we study the first two verses of Romans, Chapter 12, let’s see if their contentions are accurate. Let’s learn the Lord’s standard for life after salvation.
Romans Chapter 8 and Romans Chapter 12 are connected. Romans, Chapters 9 to 11 were a side trip into a discussion of Israel and the Jews. Chapter 12 picks up where Chapter 8 left off. Let begin our study at the end of Romans, Chapter 8 to see how it blends into Romans, Chapter 12.Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 38 and 39…
ROMANS 8:38 For I (Paul) am convinced…that neither death nor life...nor (elect) angels (who wouldn’t)…nor principalities (fallen demon angels who couldn’t)…nor things present…nor things to come...nor powers...
ROMANS 8:39 ...nor height nor depth…nor any other created thing…will be able to sever us believers in Christ from the unconditional love of God the Father…who is for us through our union with Christ Jesus our Lord.
God loves all His creatures unconditionally, forgives them completely, and offers grace when they make mistakes. Now, the verses for today's study…Romans, Chapter 12, Verses 1 and 2…
ROMANS 12:1 Therefore...I (Paul)...urge you believers in Christ...as you keep on being persuaded because of the many mercies of God...TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES (willingly…by choice and not by command...as) A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE...acceptable to God the Father...which is your spiritual service...worship.
ROMANS 12:2a And do not be conformed to this world (by Satan, by his cosmic system of thought, and by the flesh resident in you)...instead, keep on being transformed by God the Holy Spirit...through the renewing of your mind (as you study the Word of God)...
ROMANS 12:2b ...so that you may see clearly...through the testing of experience...what the will of God is...and the will of God is that which is good for you…and that which is acceptable to Him…and that which is perfect in result.
These two verses are POWER PACKED with truth. We could teach them for ten lessons. Let's glean the essence of what God is telling us. Let's look at the verses individually. Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 1…
ROMANS 12:1 Therefore...I (Paul)...urge you believers in Christ...as you keep being persuaded because of the many mercies of God...TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES (willingly… by choice and not by command...as) A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE... acceptable to God the Father...which is your spiritual service...worship. Paul starts with the word "urge," which in Greek is the word "beseech." What are we doing when we are "beseeching" someone?
BESEECH To ask someone for urgent action…to fervently and passionately beg someone to do something…to implore…to entreat.
Today, we would say, "COME ON, MAN!” There is a desperation inferred in beseeching someone.
God has a sincere, urgent, and even desperate desire for us to do things that work (obey my commands) and to reject the things that don’t work (resist Satan’s temptations and He will flee from you). That's what God's standards intend to teach…this works…this doesn't…now you have a choice. Are you noticing when your choices go against God's standards that they don't work out?
What are the many mercies of God? They are too numerous to name! We are justified…declared legally righteous at the moment of salvation…we are in union with Christ, a union from which we cannot be snatched…we are now under grace and not law (which came in so our sins would increase)… the entire Trinity indwells us…we are the chosen ones of God…we are born again…we are confident in God's faithfulness. The list of mercies is endless. God's most persuasive quality is His unconditional love of those who spit in His face.
So what does God wish for us in the Christian Way of Living? He wants us to present ourselves for service. Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 1…
ROMANS 12:1 Therefore...I (Paul)...urge you believers in Christ...as you keep on being persuaded because of the many mercies of God...TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES (willingly… by choice and not by command...as) A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE... acceptable to God the Father...which is your spiritual service...worship.
God honors our will. When we become believers in Christ, we volunteer to be soldiers in Christ’s army. All He wants from us is for us to say, "At your service, sir!” He wants us to obey His commands.
What is sacrifice?
SACRIFICE An act of slaughter, as an animal or person…voluntarily surrendering a possession as an offering through the use of our will…total surrender
It’s sacrifice…or as my friends would say, “Suck it up buttercup!” Our sacrifice is acceptable to God when it is voluntary, not coerced. Therefore, we willingly serve Him. We willingly accept salvation. Now we willingly accept “Service to the Master.”
In the SALVATION phase of our spiritual lives, God is the initiator and we are the responders. He gives, we receive. Unlike what most Pastors teach, nothing changes in the SANCTIFICATION phase of our lives. God is the initiator and we are the responders. Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 29…
ROMANS 8:29a For those whom God the Father foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son (the Lord Jesus Christ)…
God the Holy Spirit’s job in the SANCTIFICATION phase of our lives is to conform us. We don’t have the power to do this on our own any more than we have the power to save ourselves. So we relax, and let God do the work. What we do is obey His commands. We simply ask, “God…what would you like me to do?” Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 10…
EPHESIANS 2:10 For we are God the Father’s workmanship…created to be in union with Christ Jesus…and designed for good works…which good works God the Father prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
God is the engine…we are the caboose.
Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 2 tells us what God wants from us next…
ROMANS 12:2a And do not be conformed to this world (by Satan, by his cosmic system of thought, and by the flesh resident in you)...instead, keep on being transformed by God the Holy Spirit...through the renewing of your mind (as you study the Word of God)...
ROMANS 12:2b ...so that you may see clearly...through the testing of experience...what the will of God is...and the will of God is that which is good for you…and that which is acceptable to Him…and that which is perfect in result.
Who transforms us? God the Holy Spirit with His enabling power. How does He transform us? He renews our minds through the study of the Word of God by giving us new thoughts.
The world (Satan’s cosmic system) is selling philosophy (human viewpoints as an explanation of truth)…science (inferring that there is nothing supernatural)… government (man exalting self)…amusements (the “distractions” that obscure reality)…and religion (not relationship…which gives a false sense of security and a false approach to God).
The world’s sales pitch seeks a world without God. It’s an attempt to edit God out of divine history. You’ll hear people say, “The universe brought it to me…". The universe is an inanimate object…it lacks the key characteristics of life such as growth, reproduction, and the ability to respond to stimuli…it is simply a vast collection of matter and energy governed by physical laws.
God created the universe. He is at the center of giving, including the most basic gift…life itself. Did you thank Him for waking you up this morning? The universe sure didn’t do it.
Unfortunately for those who are governed by the world’s system of thought…First Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verse 31…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 7:31 …the present form of this world order (the cosmos) is passing away…
…the world system of thought is not permanent. Matthew, Chapter 24, Verse 35 says…
MATTHEW 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away…but My words WILL NOT pass away.
Having our minds transformed with truth is permanent. Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 2…
ROMANS 12:2a …do not be conformed to this world (by Satan, by his cosmic system of thought, and by the flesh resident in you)...instead, keep on being transformed by God the Holy Spirit...through the renewing of your mind (as you study the Word of God)...
ROMANS 12:2b ...so that you may see clearly...through the testing of experience...what the will of God is...and the will of God is that which is good for you…and that which is acceptable to Him…and that which is perfect in result.
Many Christians wonder what God’s will is for their lives. The will of God is that which is good for you…and that which is acceptable to Him…and that which is perfect in result.
These two verses, Romans, Chapter 12, Verses 1 and 2 capture the essence of the Christian Way of Living.
When we know God’s will, we can do God’s will…we don’t meander around with stupid proclamations…“I know God has a plan…I don’t know what it is…and I don’t know my role in it…but I know He has a plan!”
His plan is for you to present yourselves as a living and holy sacrifice, ready for service. His plan is for you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind through the study of the Word of God. Does that clear it up? Do you believe that God’s will for you is better than your will for yourself?
When we return from the break, we’ll take the offering and then we’ll celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
FIVE-MINUTE BREAK NOBODY Casting Crowns
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON How Can A Believer in Christ STAY Right with God?
OFFERING INTRODUCTION
We have an anonymous matching grant offer from a donor to help us get the financial year off to a great start. They will match our contribution up to ,000. So if we contribute ,000, the donor will give us ,000 more. That would be half of our annual need to start the year.
Last year it was a ,000 match, and we raised ,000, which was enough to keep us going through the year.So far, we've raised nearly 00. We have an extension until January 30 to raise the money. Please help if you can. You can contribute through the website, or the APP, or by check. Your contribution is appreciated.Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with one of his always inspiring offering messages.
THE OFFERING Deacon Denny Goodall
OFFERING VERSE
FIRST CORINTHIANS 12:13 For by God the Holy Spirit we were all baptized into one body…the body of Christ…whether Jews or Greeks (the Gentiles)…whether slaves or free…and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
OFFERING SONG THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU Instrumental Version
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION At the Cross, the Lord Jesus ChristTaught Us to Sacrifice
Welcome to The Lord’s Supper Celebration, the most intimate expression of our love for the Lord Jesus Christ in The Christian Way of Living.
The Lord demonstrates His desire for a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with His believers by creating a way to keep on sharing His body and His blood with us, just as He did with His apostles on the night before His death. Luke, Chapter 22, Verses 14 to 16…
LUKE 22:14 When the hour had come (and His crucifixion was near) …the Lord Jesus Christ reclined at the Passover table…and the apostles reclined with Him.
LUKE 22:15 And the Lord said to the apostles, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passovermeal with you before I suffer…”
LUKE 22:16 “…for I(the Lord Jesus Christ) say to you that I shall never again eat this Passover meal until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God the Father.”
In First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verse 26, the apostle Paul says, on behalf of the Lord…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 11:26a …as often as you eat this bread (representing His body)…and as often as you drink this cup (representing His blood)…as part of the Lord’s Supper Celebration…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 11:26b …you proclaim as a reality and you announce the significance of the Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross…and His resurrection from the dead… until He comes again at the second coming.
During the Lord’s Supper Celebration, Jesus wants His believers to REMEMBER. We look back to the Cross for a moment and we REMEMBER how the Lord rescued us from the kingdom of darkness.We REMEMBER the Lord's sacrifice of shedding His blood to cover our sins. We REMEMBER the gift of the resurrection life the Lord orchestrated, bringing us into His kingdom of light. We REMEMBER with anticipationthat the Lord is coming again.
As believers in Christ, when we celebrate The Lord’s Supper, we ask ourselves in reflection, “What did the Lord Jesus Christ do for us at the Cross?”At the Cross, the Lord taught us to sacrifice.Romans, Chapter 12, Verses 1 and 2…
ROMANS 12:1 Therefore...I (Paul)...urge you believers in Christ...as you keep on being persuaded because of the many mercies of God...TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES (willingly… by choice and not by command...as) A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE... acceptable to God the Father...which is your spiritual service...worship.
God wants us to present ourselves for sacrifice, and He demonstrated sacrifice before He asked us for it. What is sacrifice?
SACRIFICE An act of slaughter, as an animal or person…voluntarily surrendering a possession as an offering through the use of our will…total surrender
The Lord Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be slaughtered for us. John, Chapter 15, Verse 13…
JOHN 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Sacrifice.
Mark, Chapter 10, Verse 45…
MARK 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…and to give His life as a sacrifice for many.”
The Lord purchased His believers from slavery to sin.
Sacrifice.
The Cross is a sacrifice…Hebrews, Chapter 9, Verse 26…
HEBREWS 9:26b …the Lord Jesus Christ has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Sacrifice.
God the Father participated in the sacrifice…Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 32…
ROMANS 8:32 God the Father…who did not spare His own Son (the Lord Jesus Christ)…but delivered Him over as a sacrifice for us all…how will the Father not also, with our union with Christ, freely give us all things?
Sacrifice.
What does the Lord want from us? He wants us to imitate His sacrifice…Ephesians, Chapter 5, Verse 2…
EPHESIANS 5:2 …and walk in a lifestyle of unconditional love…just as Christ also loved you unconditionally and gave Himself up as a sacrifice for us…an offering and a sacrifice to God the Father as a fragrant aroma.
The sweet smell of sacrifice is central to the Christian Way of Living.
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION Enjoying the Elements
Bread and wine.
The Lord gave us these things to remember Him. We will enjoy the elements together in a few moments as we listen to The Lord’s Supper Song.
Obeying God’s command, we celebrate CHRIST and His Cross regularly…we eat to remember who He is as a PERSON…we drink to remember His WORK on the Cross…the voluntary sacrifice He made on our behalf as our sin sacrifice.We are grateful for what God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have done for us. Matthew, Chapter 26, Verses 26 to 28…
MATTHEW 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take…eat…this is My body which is being broken for you.” MATTHEW 26:27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you…”
MATTHEW 26:28 “…for this is My blood…the blood of a new covenant…blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of their sins.”
As you enjoy the bread and the wine, enjoy the memory of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as well.
Now and always, let us keep on giving thanks that we are loved unconditionally and accepted fully by a Lord who is always there for us…the One on whom we depend…and let’s keep on being transformed by His life, His death, His resurrection from the dead, and His Word…and let’s enjoy His unconditional love, His forgiveness, and His grace.
Enjoy the elements as we listen to THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE from the Maranatha Singers.
THE LORD’S SUPPER SONG
THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE Maranatha Singers
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race
The next ten minutes 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
…and what He wants for you is that you make the most important decision of your life.
Do you have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, God considers you to be a sinner…a description of an unbeliever. Yet as one of God's creatures, you are a focus of His concern and His mercy…Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 4 and 5…
EPHESIANS 2:4 But God…being rich in mercy (toward unbelievers) … because of His great unconditional love with which He loved us…
EPHESIANS 2:5 …even when we were spiritually dead…
God loves you unconditionally and forgives you totally, especially when you are at your worst. In the spiritual realm you are at your worst when you live a lifestyle that follows the direction of God's enemy, Satan, and his kingdom of darkness. A life in darkness is not the life God wants for you. John, Chapter 10, Verse 10 highlights the life God is eager to provide…
JOHN 10:10 I (the Lord Jesus Christ) came that My creatures may have the resurrection life… and have it abundantly.
All of us were born in a state of unrighteousness…as citizens of the world…and as members of the kingdom of darkness. Said another way, we were born physically alive and spiritually dead as ungodly, unrighteous unbelievers.
It’s not your fault you were born this way, but it is your circumstance.
Who says so? The Lord says this is true in His Word…First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 22…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:22a For all in union with Adam at physical birth (and that is every human who comes to earth) are set to die the second death in the Lake of Fire…
Living a lifestyle of darkness means we don’t have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ…First John, Chapter 1, Verse 6…
FIRST JOHN 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with God and yet walk in a lifestyle of darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth…
What’s the way out of a lifestyle of darkness? The Bible shines a light on the way out…John, Chapter 20, Verse 31 says…
JOHN 20:31 …these things written in the Bible have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ…(the Messiah…the Son of God…the Lord…who took on human form as Jesus…the Christ)…and that by believing in Him you may have the resurrection life (eternal life) in His name.
The way out of darkness can be summed up in one word…BELIEVE.
When you choose to have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, He will usher you personally into a lifestyle of light…First John, Chapter 1, Verse 5…
FIRST JOHN 1:5 This is the message we apostles have heard from the Lord Jesus Christ personally and announce to you…that the Lord is Light…and in union with Him there is no darkness at all.
By trusting the Lord Jesus Christ to accomplish your salvation, He’ll provide you with a lifestyle in the light…John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…
JOHN 14:6 Jesus said to the doubting apostleThomas, “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.”
So what do you have to do to have a relationship with the Lord? Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…
ACTS 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”
BELIEVE! It’s pretty simple. The Lord’s invitation is described in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…it’s this gospel message…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3 For I (Paul) delivered to you as of primary importance the gospel message I alsoreceived from God…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according tothe Old Testament Scriptures…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4 …and that He was buried…and He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Old Testament Scriptures…
Right where you sit, RIGHT NOW, you can have a relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord Jesus Christ…and He will welcome you into a lifestyle in the light…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.”
The Lord’s offer is directed to EVERYONE who wants to live a lifestyle in the light…in John, Chapter 6, Verse 37, the Lord says…
JOHN 6:37b …the ones who come to Me to believe inMe…I will certainly not cast out into the outer darkness…the Lake of Fire.
If you reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, which is your prerogative and your choice, youremain in a lifestyle of darkness…Revelation, Chapter 21, Verse 8…
REVELATION 21:8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars (all descriptions of the lifestyles of unbelievers…the lifestyles in the darkness)…their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Unbelievers move from spiritual death to the second death in the Lake of Fire when they close their eyes in this life. The worst part is they do so voluntarily. It is NOT God’s will for them. It has nothing to do with their sins, which Christ paid for at the Cross. It has to do with their rejection of a relationship with Christ.
Don’t let that happen to you! Join God in heaven when you close your eyes in this life. Romans, Chapter 10, Verse 13…
ROMANS 10:13 …for “whosoever will call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved by God.”
First Peter, Chapter 2, Verse 9 describes the Lord as…
FIRST PETER 2:9b …Him who has called you unbelievers out of darkness into His marvelous light…
The Lord Jesus Christ and His kingdom of light are waiting for your call.
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race
CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION
Let’s close with music! Chris Christian tells us in song what the Lord wants from us…A LIVING SACRIFICE.
MUSIC CLOSING SONG Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises
A LIVING SACRIFICE Chris Christian
CLOSING PRAYER Let us pray...
Almighty God and Father…
Thank you for letting us know how easy it is to please you with our lives…let this lesson be a constant reminder of the simplicity and purity of devotion to 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
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