Romans 033: Romans Chapter 1- Faith or Unbelief is an Issue for the Innermost Being

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JOH 8:42
(The Lord) Jesus (Christ) said to them (the unbelieving religious Jews), “If (2) God were your Father (and He is not), you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God (the Father), for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He (God the Father) sent Me.”
 
JOH 8:43
“Why do you not understand what I (the Lord Jesus Christ) am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.”
 
JOH 8:44
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
 
JOH 8:45
“But because I (the Lord Jesus Christ) speak the truth, you do not believe Me.”
 
JOH 8:46
“Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If (1) I speak truth (and I do), why do you not believe Me?”
 
JOH 8:47
“He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
 
 
MAT 17:5
While he (Peter) was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them (those on the mountain where Jesus’ transfiguration occurred), and behold, a voice (of God the Father) out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
 
HEB 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (that He exists) and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
 

TODAY’S STUDY

Romans Chapter 1- Faith or Unbelief is an Issue for the Innermost Being

 
Romans, Chapter 1, 
Verses 8 to 15
Paul’s Prayer for the Purpose of his Ministry 
 
ROM 1:8
First, I, Paul, thank God the Father in prayer through Jesus Christ’s name for all you believers in Rome, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world…throughout the entire Roman Empire.
 
ROM 1:9 
For God the Father is my witness, whom I, Paul, serve in my human spirit by the preaching of the gospel of God the Father’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as to how unceasingly I make mention of you believers in Rome in intercessory prayer…
 
ROM 1:10 
…and I always, in my prayers, keep on making requests, even praying in petition for myself as well, if perhaps now at last by the will of God the Father I may succeed in coming to visit you.
 
ROM 1:11 
For I, Paul, long to see you believers in Rome so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established…
 
ROM 1:12 
…that is, that I, Paul may be encouraged together with you while among you, as each of us is encouraged by the other’s faith, both your faith encouraging me and mine encouraging you.
 
ROM 1:13 
I do not want you to be unaware, believers in Rome, that often I have planned to come to you and have been prevented so far from coming to you…even though I wanted to come so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as I have obtained fruit among the rest of the Gentiles.
 
ROM 1:14 
I, Paul, as a bond-servant am under obligation both to people who speak Greek and to the barbarians…the people who don’t speak Greek…I am under obligation both to the wise, whom we know are believers in Christ, and to the foolish, whom we know are unbelievers.
 
ROM 1:15 
So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel as a minster to you believers also who are in Rome.
 
EPH 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that (faith is) not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…
 
FAITH
A mental power given to each person at physical birth as a gift from a gracious God, which through freedom of choice, allows you to place your absolute confidence in a person, a place, or a thing…an active power which, when placed in God, offers an uncompromising inner assurance that things not seen will occur, and that things which seem impossible, can be accomplished.
 
2CO 5:7
…we walk by faith, not by sight — 
 
UNBELIEF
An incapacitating, paralyzing and enslaving mental power offered to all mankind by the kingdom of darkness, and chosen by some as a lifestyle, designed to steal our salvation, to kill our faith, to destroy our hope, to turn our love cold, and to keep our lives in constant crises.
 
HEB 3:12
Take care, brethren (believers in Christ), that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
 
THE THOUGHTS OF AN UNBELIEVING HEART 
“I don’t get in relationships because I don’t want to get hurt.”  
“I don’t trust anyone.” 
“I doubt it.” 
“I hope so…”
 
ROM 8:31
If (1) God is for us (and He is), who is against us?
 
HEB 3:13 
…encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
 
BREAK
Awesome is the Lord Most High
When I Think About Home 
 
HEB 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
 
EPH 3:14-15
For this reason I bow my knees before (God) the Father,//from whom every family in heaven (angelic) and on earth (human) derives its name…
 
EPH 3:16 
…that He (God the Father) would grant you (believers in Christ), according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His (Holy) Spirit in the inner man,//so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…
 
ROM 8:32
He (God the Father) who did not spare His own Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), but delivered Him over for us all, how will He (God the Father) not also with (our union with) Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) freely give us all things?
 
SPORTS TEAMS I ROOT FOR
 
Chicago White Sox
 
Chicago Blackhawks
 
Chicago Bulls
 
Chicago Bears
 
Phoenix Suns
 
Arizona Cardinals
 
Northwestern Wildcats
 
Southern Illinois Salukis
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
During the month of October each year, it is good to remember the spark that ignited the Reformation 496 years ago. It was October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the Castle 
Church door of Wittenberg.
 
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
That church had over 1900 relics of dead saints on display. Catholics were granted indulgences for the remission of sins if they viewed the relics and made a confession. Luther became the center of a great controversy when his theses were copied and distributed throughout Europe. His initial protest exposed the pope’s abominable practice of selling salvation from purgatory’s fire for the price of indulgences.
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
Many evangelicals today have either forgotten the Reformation or believe it was a mistake to divide the church. Others are denying that his first thesis, affirmed by Scripture, is not necessary for salvation. Luther’s first thesis was, “When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said ‘Repent,’ He called for the entire life of believers to 
be one of repentance.”
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
Seven years earlier in 1510, Luther was sent to Rome. While there, he climbed Pilate’s staircase on his knees, believing each step would take away one year in purgatory. Then God’s Word gave him understanding of the Scripture, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Eventually Luther’s study of Scripture led him to oppose Roman Catholicism on issues pertaining to the supreme authority of Scripture and the Doctrine of Justification.
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
Catholic bishops had perverted the way a sinner can be made right with God by denying it is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Luther rebuked them with the clear teaching from God’s Word. Justification, which is God’s declaration that believers are forgiven of sin and counted righteous in His sight, occurs at the moment God imputes the righteousness of Christ to the believer.
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
2CO 5:21
He (God the Father) made Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the (absolute) righteousness of God in (union with) Him.
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
In August of 1518, Luther was pronounced a heretic without a defense. On the same day he was accused, judged and condemned by the so-called “Holy Father,” the only supreme, infallible authority in church or state! Indeed the true spirit of popery was on display. Not a trace of Christian principle, or even of common justice, was witnessed in the process. In October of that year, Luther’s trial began at Augsburg, and Cardinal Cajetan ordered Luther to recant his views on indulgences and papal infallibility. If he refused, he was to be excommunicated and share the same brutal fate as Jon Huss.
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
Luther frustrated the Cardinal by answering all objections using Scripture as his authority. Needless to say, the large assembly of people had the opportunity to compare the two men, and to judge the spirit manifested in them. What a stark contrast! Luther was humble, firm and steadfast in the strength of God and with truth on his side. The Cardinal was self-important, overbearing, haughty, and unreasonable, without a single argument from Scripture.
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
In March of 1521, the emperor called Luther to the Diet of Worms to plead his case. Knowing his life would be in danger, Luther responded, “I place the matter in the Lord’s hands. If He will not save me, my life is of little consequence. Let us only prevent the Gospel from being exposed to the scorn of the wicked, and let us shed our blood for it, for fear they should triumph. It is not for me to decide whether my life or my death will contribute most to the salvation of all. You may expect everything from me except flight and recantation.”
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
A month later at the Diet of Worms, Charles V asked Luther to recant his heretical doctrines. He responded, “I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope or to the Councils, because it is clear as day, they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless therefore, I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture...I cannot and will not retract. Here I stand, I can do no other. So help me God, Amen.”
 
REMEMBER THE REFORMATION
by Mike Gendron
 
As we reflect on God’s sovereignty in the many blessings we have gained from the Reformation, let us encourage one another to contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. It is the same faith that the Reformers gave their lives defending.
 
 
 
CLOSING SONG
When You Suffer 
 
PRO 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.//In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
 
DEU 31:8
The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed
 
ISA 30:18
Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
 
CLOSING PRAYER
Let us pray…
 
 
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