Arrogant Branches? Series

Let me start with a question. Can a person become a citizen of the United States then ignore, even hate, the founding fathers of this country??

It’s happening now isn’t it?

Because of secular humanism, which started with Darwin in the early 1900s, and because the word “God” can not be found in the U.S. Constitution, people today can claim that America should be a secular country. Indeed in many areas of life in America, we have become secular, almost atheistic! Can we find the 10 Commandments in public schools?

Is praying to God in public events seen as offensive?

Secular humanists in America ignore the fact that the roots of the Founding Fathers were Christian. There were 3 significant documents which started America; anyone knows what they were?? The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. These three crucial documents, the basis for America, required the approval of 204 individuals! Those were the founding Fathers of U.S.A.!

Now, how many of the Founding Fathers do you think believed in secular humanism?? Zero!! Secular Humanism didn’t exist in America back then! How many of them do you think believed in God and Creation?? 100%! The root of America was not only godly, it was Christian! But changes today are happening in America because the Founding Fathers were humans and they are all dead now! But you know what, all of these Founding Fathers are turning in their graves with what’s happening to America. Yes this country is about “We the people”. But you see, if the people are ungodly, then the country will be ungodly. If Americans are no longer Christian, then the country will not be Christian! By the way, be careful who you elect in government leadership.

Now, what does this all have to do with the message today?

You see the church in Rome were made up of mainly Jews and Gentiles and God loves the Jews; they are God’s Chosen People! But here’s the problem that came up, (and by the way, we still have these problems today!): The Gentiles who became Christians who were ignorant of the Jewish Faith ignored the root of the Christian Faith and they looked down on the Jews. Do you think God was happy with that type of attitude? Many Christians today can be so arrogant that they would ignore God’s teachings from the Old Testament! Some supposedly Christians would not even listen to what Jesus said to the first disciples because they only believe in Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

They are called “superdispensational” Christians.

What’s our attitude? Arrogant or humble?

Let me ask another question before reading our text.

We say we believe in God and His Commandments.

Where in the Bible can you find the 10 Commandments??

The 10 Commandments are in Exodus and Deutoronomy!

Please open your Bibles to Exodus Chapter 20; look at v3-6.

God will punish sin but will also give His love. This should not be a surprise to the Israelites. But turn now to the New Testament and look at what God tells the church in Rome 2000 years ago; look at Romans 11:10-12…..

This has always been true with God: God is Holy and hates sin but God is love! And so, because this is true, people can approach God but not with sin! This is true for all people, whether Jew or Gentile, Christian or not, every person who has sin will be judged by God!

In our passage today, God warns Christians of arrogance in light of who Israel is! Before reading our main text for today, let us remind ourselves of the Gospel. What is the Gospel? Look with me again Romans 1:16-17….

The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes! In the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Christians are saved by faith and are to live by faith!

But what is faith? We studied this a few weeks ago by looking at the word faith in this letter to the Romans and we can conclude that Christian faith is a decision to believe and trust in Jesus Christ so complete, that actions result from it.

There are 2 points that we need to stress:

1. A Believer of Jesus Christ is secured by God’s Grace.

2. Christians are to live by faith but this doesn’t mean the Christian is to be perfect.

What does it mean to be secured and to live by faith? With our belief in Jesus Christ, God sees us perfect and we are secured in His love, but we will not be truly perfected till we go to heaven. Therefore, because God sees us as perfect and we are bound for perfection, we are to aim for this perfection as we live on earth.