Romans 107: Romans 3 - Do You Press Your Advantage With God?Welcome To BARAH MINISTRIES a Christian Church Rory Clark Pastor-Teacher
Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church…my name is Pastor Rory Clark. What is a Christian? Christianity is a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not a religion. Anyone who chooses to have such a relationship with Christ is a Christian. What does it take to be a Christian? First, it takes obedience, especially to the request to free will that our God embeds in John, Chapter 3, Verses 16 to 18.
JOH 3:16 “For God (the Father) loved all mankind, unconditionally, so much, that He gave His uniquely born Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (the resurrection life).”
JOH 3:17 “For God (the Father) did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
JOH 3:18 “He who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is not judged; he who does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the uniquely born Son of God.”
What does it take to be a Christian? Second, it takes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9 say…
EPH 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that (faith is) not of (the source of) yourselves, it is the gift of (the Source of God);not as a result of (human) works, so that no one may boast.
Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to. Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 1…
HEB 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
When we have faith, we are sure and we are certain of realities promised by God that have not yet appeared. Faith is a lifestyle. Second Corinthians, Chapter 2, Verse 7…
2CO 5:7 …for we (believers in Christ) walk by faith (as a lifestyle), not by sight —
Colossians, Chapter 2, Verse 6…
COL 2:6 Therefore as you (believers in Christ) have received (the indwelling of) Christ Jesus the Lord (by means of faith), so walk (as a lifestyle) in (union with)Him (by means of that same faith)…
With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we can take a stand in Satan’s kingdom. First Corinthians, Chapter 16, Verse 13…
1CO 16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
It takes faith to live the resurrection life. Galatians, Chapter 2, Verse 20…
GAL 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in(dwelling) me; and the (resurrection) life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me (unconditionally) and gave Himself up (as a substitute) for me.”
Your relationship with God takes faith. Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 6…
HEB 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God (the Father) must believe that God the Father is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
God does not require huge amounts of faith from us humans…
MAT 17:20b “…if you have faith (of) the size of a (tiny) mustard seed, you will say to this mountain (any obstacle), ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
Our faith is in Christ. Colossians, Chapter 3, Verse 2…
COL 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
We come in faith to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Welcome to a celebration of the power of faith.
MUSIC AND REFLECTION Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Enjoy the Singing of His Praises
God is Faithful
We begin our service today by worshipping the Lord in song. The opening song encourages us to have faith in the One who is faithful. Join June Murphy in singing GOD IS FAITHFUL.
GOD IS FAITHFUL
We were saved by grace alone…by faith alone in Christ We could never save ourselves…Jesus paid the price No matter what today may bring…no matter what may come We know God is always there…He’s the faithful One
GOD IS FAITHFUL
God is faithful…no matter what we do…faithful, tried and true God is faithful even when we’re not Our God is faithful…no matter what you say…faithful, took our sins away Faithful…faithful…He is faithful…face it…God is hot!
GOD IS FAITHFUL
Even when you make mistakes…God never turns away So don’t feel sorry for yourself…when failing to obey Even when we say one thing…do something else instead God is always faithful…He won’t turn His head
GOD IS FAITHFUL
God is faithful…no matter what we do…faithful, tried and true God is faithful even when we’re not Our God is faithful…no matter what you say…faithful, took our sins away Faithful…faithful…He is faithful…face it…God is hot!
GOD IS FAITHFUL
This is a trustworthy statement…if you died with Him With Him you’ll also live… If you endure, you’ll reign with Him…if you deny Him, He’ll give again Believers, when you’re not true…God will stick right by you For He cannot deny Himself…He gives so you can live
GOD IS FAITHFUL
Faithful…no matter what we do…faithful, tried and true God is faithful even when we’re not Our God is faithful…no matter what you say…faithful, took our sins away Faithful…faithful…He is faithful…face it!
GOD IS FAITHFUL
He’s all that and a bag of chips…pay attention, listen to this He should be your B-F-F…He’s more faithful than all the rest He’s the one that set us free…He’s the Sovereign God, are ya feelin’ me? God is faithful…He’s faithful…our God is faithful!
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray... We’re grateful Heavenly Father for the privilege of studying the absolute truth...the Word of God…
Thanks you for the gift of faith. Whatever challenges are facing us today, thank you for letting us know that you consider our problems to be Your responsibility and that you will reward our faith in You, Your Son and Your Holy Spirit…encourage us today to hand over all of our problems to You, especially the ones that we can’t handle ourselves, which amounts to just about every challenge we encounter.
We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit...in Christ’s name... Amen.
TODAY’S STUDY Romans 3 –Do You Press Your Advantage With God?
To the resident and non-resident members of Barah Ministries, and to our guests who join us from time to time…welcome. Grace to you and peace. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, so that as believers in Christ we might obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us believers, who are protected by the power of God the Father through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this we greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while we are distressed by various trials, so that the proof of our faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor on the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ. And though we have not seen Him, we love Him, and though we do not see Him now, but believe in Him, we greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of our faith the deliverance of our souls. Welcome to all of you who need faith right now.
Turn in your bibles to Romans, Chapter 3…we are the studying the consequences of sin section in Romans, a passage that extends from Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 18 to Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 20.
THE BOOK OF ROMANS The Consequences of Sin Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20
And we’re in the home stretch of our study of this passage. Let’s read the next passage of study together, Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 1 to 8. My question for you as we consider this passage is…
QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
“Do you press your advantage with God?”
Let’s listen to the passage.<Read Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 1 to 8>
“Do you press your advantage with God?”
What comes to mind as I think of the question is the golfer who doesn’t use a tee…or parents who don’t hire outside expertise to train their children…or the executive who doesn’t use a coach…or the person who doesn’t bring in an expert on jobs outside his expertise, like bringing in a professional painter to paint.
The Creator gives His creatures distinctive advantage…the free gift of salvation to anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 17…
ROM 1:17 For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
The way to heaven is righteousness, and believers in Christ are credited with righteousness, thus they are saints. Do you press your advantage as a believer in Christ, as a saint? Is say, “No.” You are in union with Christ. When you are going through a dilemma in your life, how often do you invoke the power of this advantage? Virtually never!
Unbelievers do not have righteousness, thus the wrath of God is being stored up for and directed at them. Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 18…
ROM 1:18 For the wrath of God (the Father) is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and (against all) unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…
In the passage we are studying, we see God taking away every argument in favor of unrighteousness. Unbelievers are ungodly and unrighteous, therefore they are sinners. Do unbelievers press the advantage they have with God? The answer, of course is no.
What we’ve learned so far is that the indictment of Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20 is against the whole human race.
God’s message to the Gentiles so far is…
GOD’S MESSAGE TO THE GENTILES
The Lascivious Lifestyle Does Not Work
The Religious Lifestyle Does Not Work
The Self-Righteous Lifestyle Does Not Work
GOD’S MESSAGE TO THE JEW
The Unregenerate Jewish Lifestyle Does Not Work Simply Having the Oracles of God is No Advantage
In the next passage of study, we’ll learn why believers and unbelievers alike forfeit the advantage they have from God. As he closes the indictment against the whole human race, the apostle Paul is going to take on the people who want to twist Scripture for their own benefit. This next passage acknowledges and disposes of “The Twisters,” who will say the bible has a lot of contradictions. For example, they’ll illustrate contradiction this way…they’ll say, Luke, Chapter 1, Verse 37 says…
LUK 1:37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Hebrews, Chapter 6, Verse 18 says…
HEB 6:18 …it is impossible for God to lie…
“The Twister” will say that is a contradiction. But we believers know, because of First Corinthians, Chapter 2, Verse 14…
1CO 2:14 But a natural man (an unbeliever…“The Twister”) does not accept the things of (Holy) the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 16 says…
2PE 3:16 …the untaught and unstable (“The Twisters”) distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
After a five-minute break, we’ll look into Romans Chapter 3, Verses 1 to 8.
East is from the West When I Think About Home
Welcome back. Romans, Chapter 3, beginning at Verse 1…God is faithful to His promise even though those He trusted, creatures, specifically here the Jews, were not faithful to Him. All creatures are faithless. All creatures fail to press the advantage they have with God. Have you ever said, “I know it’s not good for me…BUT…”
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit (is there) of (physical) circumcision?
Paul is saying that if you think righteousness comes as a result of those two things you are sadly mistaken. The Jews did. Romans, Chapter 2, Verse 11…sorry…says…
ROM 2:11 There is no partiality with God.
ROM 3:2 (Now Paul’s Response…being a Jew is) Great in every respect. First of all, that the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
There IS advantage to being Jewish, but not in the matter of righteousness. The Jews were trusted with the Word of God for evangelism of the whole world…to proclaim the Messiah throughout the world…yet in that position of privilege, they found themselves unable to live up to God’s standards, and they took the advantage of the trust and squandered it by making the advantage about being Jewish…if you’re Jewish you’re set…if you’re not you’re screwed…as if God were partial to the Jews and to no one else. Here is why the Jews were trusted with the oracles of God…Psalm 67…
PSA 67:1 God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us —(display divine favor on us) Selah.
PSA 67:2 That Your way may be known on the earth, (that) Your salvation (may be known) among all nations.
If God was willing to save the regenerate Jew, others should hear about it.
PSA 67:3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
PSA 67:4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Selah.
PSA 67:5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
PSA 67:6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.
PSA 67:7 God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear (respect) Him.
God wants us to know Him. God wants to bless us. God wants us to take advantage of Him. Unfortunately, most times we don’t.
ROM 3:3 What then? If some (Jews) did not believe [in Jehovah Elohim (the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Old Testament Scripture) as Abraham did], their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God (the Father toward the Jews), will it?
ROM 3:4 May it never be (absolutely not)! Rather, let God (the Father) be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND (that you may) PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.”
Some Jews, even though they had the oracles of God, rejected God…and even though they had the oracles of God, they were unfaithful to the Word they were entrusted with, and did not use it as God intended. They didn't press their advantage. Yet the unfaithfulness of those who are trusted does not stop God from keeping his promise. How did June put it in our opening song? God is faithful even when we’re not. Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 5 says…
ROM 3:5 But if (for the sake of argument we say) our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human [argument] terms.)
ROM 3:6 May it never be (absolutely not)! For otherwise, how will God (the Father be qualified to) judge the world (if He Himself is unrighteous)?
“The Twister” of Scripture might say God is demonstrating how righteous He is by allowing unrighteousness. Paul says, “Absolutely not!” Unrighteousness comes from the free will of the creature.
In my other career, my students often think I put them in the hot seat in the beginning of class so I can make them fail, and then I teach them, then I put them on the hot seat at the end of class and they succeed to show how great a teacher I am. I put them on the hot seat to show them their current skill level, which may be deficient, and how fast you can learn a new skill and be good at it.
ROM 3:7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?
“The Twister” of Scripture asks, “If God lets me lie to demonstrate His truth, how can He then turn around and call me a sinner?” This was Judas Iscariot’s argument, illustrated in the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar…
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR –The Last Supper
Jesus: Peter will deny me in just a few hours Three times will deny me - and that’s not all I see One of you here dining, one of my twelve chosen Will leave to betray me -
Judas: Cut out the dramatics! You know very well who…
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR –The Last Supper
Jesus: Why don’t you go do it?
Judas: You want me to do it?
Jesus: Hurry they’re waiting
Judas: If you knew why I do it... JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR –The Last Supper
Jesus: I don’t care why you do it!
Judas: To think I admired you but for now I despise you
Jesus: You liar - you Judas
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR –The Last Supper
Judas: You want me to do it! What if I just stayed here and ruined your ambition? Christ you deserve it!
Judas is saying he doesn’t have free will…that God predetermined that he would be the betrayer. Absolutely not! Judas was one of the original “Twisters” of Scripture. Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 8…
ROM 3:8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come?” (For anyone who says that…) Their condemnation is just.
Romans, Chapter 6, Verses 1 and 2 say it better…
ROM 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
“The Twister” of Scripture is saying that God’s grace is a license to sin. It is not. Freedom is a license to sin.
Do you press your advantage with God? As believers in Christ, we must inspect how we use our freedom. The Lord Jesus Christ indwelling us is divine advantage. Free will is an advantage. Do we press the advantage? I say no. That’s why we don’t go to the gym when we have a health club membership. That’s why we smoke when we work in the medical profession. That’s why we avoid going to the doctor when we see the first signs of illness. That’s why we blow off friendships that are supportive of us. That’s why we are disobedient to parents. That’s why we hate feedback from people who are inviting us to the next level of development. That’s why we get bored in our marriages. That’s why we hate those who tell us the truth. That’s why we strive to create the illusion of control in our lives, and when our illusion is dashed we blame God as “yanking the rug out from under us.” That’s why we worry when we go through tribulation.
As Christians, we have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. To what advantage is this relationship with Christ if you treat your life like you don’t have this relationship? To what advantage is our relationship with Christ if we don’t think like and act like the privileged beings we are? To what advantage is this relationship with Christ if we don’t exercise the gift of faith we have been given? Paul was asking the same thing of the Jews in this passage…Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 1 to 8. Their response of course was to deflect the issue by twisting Scripture with ridiculous questions. For the time being, God allows the twisting. But there will be a day when the games are over.
As for us Christians, the time is now to press our advantage. If the Lord gives you advantages in this life, and He does, use them. Every one. Start with using Him.
ROM 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God (the Father) is for us (and He is), who is (successful) against us? God the Father, who did not spare His own Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), but delivered Him over for us all, how will the Father not also (in union) with Jesus freely give us all things?
The Promises of the Lord Jesus Christ
PSA 37:3 Trust in the Lord and do good…
PSA 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
PSA 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord…and He will do it.
PSA 37:7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…
PHI 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in (union with) Christ Jesus.
CLOSING SONG His Strength is Perfect
CLOSING PRAYER Let us pray...
THANKS INTERCESSION PETITION
And we pray that You continue to shape the messages from this pulpit that are a reflection of Your unconditional love, Your Magnificent Person, Your perfect thinking, Your impeccable work, and Your indescribable essence...we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit, in Christ’s name, Amen.
Thanks for coming! Thanks for watching! Thanks for listening!
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