Choices, Chances, And Changes

Choices, chances, and changes

Introduction-

Good Morning

Romans Chapter 12:1-2

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Apostle Paul throws down the gauntlet to believers-

He says that as a believer of Christ, that we must offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God .

As believers, we must not conform to this world’s standards but allow God to renew our minds to know and live out God’s will for our lives.

Living sacrifice is not a dead piece of meat on the altar of God but a living person serving God in and through their lives.

Transformation, meaning, that the way you are before Christ is not how Christ wants you to stay.

Is it possible to live a life that is holy?

Is a possible to be entirely sanctified or set apart for God?

Is it possible to live without sin in your life?

Yes it is possible. The only way it is possible is by laying our lives down to the one and only perfect savior and allowing the Holy Spirit of God to empower your life.

Prayer-

Father today, we come to the holy altar of God and ask Lord that you search each one of our hearts that you may remove anything that would draw us away from you. We give you permission to remove, transform, or change anything in our lives. May there be no door that we say you cannot open. In Jesus name! Amen.

3 point message- choices, chances, changes-

Choice- The choices we make and have made in our lives.

About 25 years ago, I left one denomination and came to the Nazarene Church. So I am a Nazarene by choice! I began to look at the polity and doctrine of the Nazarenes and they lined up with how I believed.

If it was good enough for Jesus the Nazarene, it was good for me. (Ha Ha)

There are 16 fundamental truths the church of the Nazarene believe in and practice. (What makes Nazarenes Nazarenes )

I began studying what the Nazarenes were all about. We have 1000’s of churches in USA and there are 8-9 within a 60 mile radius of right here. Many Districts spread over the world. Two closest Districts, the Philadelphia District which Rosedale belongs too is made up of 58 churches and the Mid Atlantic district which begins across the river in New Cumberland and spreads throughout Pa. and Maryland. We are out there.

We are bigger outside of the United States than we are in the US which shows why we are so mission oriented.

When I first became a Nazarene, people use to say you go where? Who? What do they believe? I could not give them a good answer. I had trouble identifying. (I said things like)

Kind of Methodist because of the teachings of John Wesley and Nazarene founder Phineas Bresee was a Methodist minister who believed that there had to be more for a believer.

We have a holiness background

Our closest sister churches are the Wesleyans.

I could not explain the Nazarene church

Here is the official statement of belief- What is a Nazarene.

The church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that shares their beliefs with most protestant Bible believing churches. We are the largest Wesleyan-holiness church in the world and what separates us from our brother and sister churches is our belief in entire Sanctification.

So to go back to the question of is it possible to live a life of holiness- yes with God’s help.

So part of the Article of faith reads-

“We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotion of God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect.”

What the Nazarene’s believe according to the Word of God is that;

We are all born sinners! Because of the fall of man we are born in need of a savior.

We are not good people trying to stay good. We are sinners who are fallen and in need of a savior to redeem us.

Jesus is that Savior- only one way to God and that is through His Son Jesus.

We must be “born again” - we were born into sin and we must have a born again experience through Jesus Christ.

Prevenient Grace is God going after us and drawing us to Himself. (First move)