GOD’S GRACE
ROMANS 4:7-8
Romans 4:7-8: (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
NASB: “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. (8) BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO’S SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
JUST HOW BLESSED ARE WE CHRISTIANS? HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THE TRUE EXTENT OF GODS MERCY? HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED JUST WHAT IT IS IN YOUR LIFE, THAT GOD HIMSELF WILL COVER?
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE SIN DEBT THAT YOU HAVE ACCUMULATED THAT GOD WILL NOT EVEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT?
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED JUST WHAT IT IS THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU? HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WHAT GOD GAVE TO FORGIVE, COVER, AND CREDIT TO YOUR ACCOUNT, A DEBT THAT SACRIFICIAL BLOOD WAS THE ONLY PAYMENT, FOR.?
NOW LETS LOOK AT THE OPPOSITE. AS YOU KNOW THE OPPOSITE OF BLESSING IS CURSING.
WHAT IS THE CURSE FOR THOSE WHO’S LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE NOT BEEN FORGIVEN? WHAT IS THE CURSE FOR THOSE WHOSE SINS GOD WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT? WHAT IS THE CURSE FOR THOSE WHO’S SINS HAVE NOT BEEN COVERED?
I WANT US TO LOOK AT THREE THINGS THIS MORNING. I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE BLESSINGS OF THOSE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS. I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE CURSE OF NON CHRISTIANS. I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE ANTIDOTE, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE CURSE.
FIRST THE BLESSING.
WE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS ARE FORGIVEN, WE WHO’S SINS ARE COVERED, AND WHOSE SIN WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, ARE BLESSED WITH ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.
JOHN 3:16 TESTIFIES TO THE FACT THAT WE WHO BELIEVE SHALL HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE, AND VERSE 18 CONFIRMS THAT WE SHALL NOT BE CONDEMNED.
WE WILL HAVE AN ETERNITY OF PEACE. WE WILL HAVE GLORIFIED BODIES: FREE FROM PAIN, FREE FROM SIN, FREE FROM SADNESS, FREE FROM STRIFE, FREE FROM TEMPTATION, FREE FROM DEATH, FREE FROM GROWING OLD.
THIS REMINDS ME OF THE OLD SONG: THIS IS JUST WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME-
WE WILL BE IN A PLACE WHERE NO TWILIGHT SHADOWS DEEPEN. A PLACE OF UNENDING DAY WHERE NIGHT SHALL NEVER BE. A CITY WHERE NO STORM CLOUDS EVER GATHER. THIS IS JUST WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME.
A PLACE WHERE THERE WILL BE NO MISUNDERSTANDING. FROM OUR ENEMIES AND STRIFE WE SHALL BE FREE. NO UNKIND WORDS TO WOUND THE HEART SHALL BE SPOKEN. OH THIS IS JUST WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME.
WHEN AT LAST WE SEE THE FACE OF JESUS. BEFORE SOMEHOW ALL OTHER LOVES SHALL CEASE. WHEN THEY CROWN HIM KING OF KINGS, THANK GOD I WILL MEET HIM. YES THIS IS JUST WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME!!!!!
FOLKS DOESN’T THAT SOUND LIKE SOMEWHERE YOU WANT TO GO?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT ANOTHER BLESSING IS?
NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO LIVE ETERNALLY, BUT WE ARE GOING TO REIGN WITH JESUS. WE ARE GOING TO BE KINGS AND PRIESTS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
LISTEN TO REV. 5:10—“AND HAST MADE US UNTO OUR GOD, KINGS AND PRIESTS, AND WE SHALL REIGN WITH HIM ON THE EARTH.”
FOLKS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GOD GIVEN POWER IN ETERNITY. I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHO WE ARE GOING TO REIGN OVER, BUT I KNOW THAT A KING MUST HAVE A KINGDOM AND SUBJECTS TO RULE.
TO ME WE HAVE A DOUBLE BLESSING HERE. WE ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN SOMETHING TO RULE OVER WITH CHRIST AS THE OVERLORD, THE KING OF KINGS. AND WE ARE MADE INTO ROYALTY.
YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE, MY GOD IS PERFECT AND EVERYTHING HE MAKES IS PERFECT. WE ARE GOING TO REIGN OVER A PERFECT KINGDOM. THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER.
LOOK AROUND YOU. IF THE PERSON YOU JUST LOOKED AT IS A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN; DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU JUST LOOKED AT --ROYALTY.
LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR, IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN AND TELL THEM I AM ROYALTY.
ANOTHER BLESSING IS THAT CHRIST HIMSELF GUARANTEES US THAT HE WILL BE WITH US UNTIL THE END OF TIME. WE DON’T HAVE TO WALK THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ALONE. HE IS OUR STRENGTH. HE IS OUR REFUGE.
THAT IS SUCH A BLESSING FOR US AS CHRISTIANS. WE ARE NEVER ALONE. CHRIST IS WITH US ALWAYS. EVEN WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL FOR US, USUALLY THAT IS WHEN CHRIST IS THE CLOSEST.
ANOTHER BLESSING IS THAT WE ONLY HAVE TO DIE ONCE. WE WILL NOT HAVE TO FACE THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT. WE WILL FACE THE JUDGEMENT OF CHRIST WHERE HE WILL JUDGE OUR WORKS TO GIVE US OUR REWARD.
BUT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO FACE THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT OF GOD. THIS IS RESERVED FOR THE LOST. THIS IS RESERVED FOR THOSE WHOSE SINS ARE NOT COVERED.
YOU KNOW WE ARE LIVING UNDER THE PROMISES OF GOD. WE CAN TRULY STAND ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOR. EVERY PROMISE THAT IS MADE TO GOD’S CHILDREN IN THE BIBLE IS ONE THAT WE CAN COUNT ON.
ANY PROMISE MADE BY GOD WILL BE KEPT BY GOD. YOU CAN BANK ON IT. IT’S LIKE THE SLOGAN FOR THE MEN’S CLOTHING STORE ON TELEVISION. THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY SAYS, I GUARANTEE IT.
FOLKS I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT GOD CAN SWEAR BY NO AUTHORITY HIGHER THAN HIMSELF, AND WHEN HE DOES THIS AND HE DOES IN HIS WORD, HE IS SAYING, I GUARANTEE IT.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THAT COMMERCIAL. THE GUY SAYS YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE HOW YOU LOOK. WELL BLESS GOD, I AM GOING TO LOVE HOW I LOOK WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN. I KNOW I AM NOT PRETTY TO LOOK AT NOW.
BUT I CAN SAY THAT I AM GOING TO BE JUST LIKE JESUS. I AM GOING TO HAVE A GLORIFIED BODY. I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE ALL THE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE NOW.
FOLKS, I WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MY TOES. JUST BY LOOKING DOWN. NOT BY LOOKING IN THE MIRROR. I WILL BE ABLE TO RUN A THIRTY SECOND MILE IN MY GLORIFIED BODY, VERSES WALKING A THIRTY MINUTE MILE NOW.
AREN’T YOU GLAD THAT WE WILL LOVE HOW WE LOOK WHEN WE GET TO GLORY? I’M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, I’VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN HIT WITH AN UGLY STICK.
AND THIS PROVES THAT GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR, BUT THANKS BE UNTO GOD, WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL IN HEAVEN. YOU KNOW I WOULD HATE TO LIVE FOR ETERNITY LOOKING LIKE I DO WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNINGS. WOULDN’T YOU?
MAYBE THAT’S WHY GOD SAYS THERE WILL BE ETERNAL DAY LIGHT. SO WE DON’T HAVE TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.
THESE ARE BUT A FEW OF THE BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE AS THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS WILL BE FORGIVEN, WHOSE SINS WILL BE COVERED, AND WHOSE SIN WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
NOW LETS LOOK AT THE CURSE—
IF YOU ARE HERE TODAY AND WITHOUT CHRIST, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE A PROMISE TOO. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TWO OF THEM. ONE I WOULD NOT WANT GOD TO KEEP.
IN FACT, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT RIGHT UP UNTIL THE MOMENT YOU ACCEPT CHRIST THAT YOU ARE GUARANTEED THAT PROMISE.
LISTEN TO JOHN 3:18 “…HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.”
YOU SEE GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES. HE HAS ALREADY FULFILLED THAT PROMISE FOR YOU IF YOU WILL NOT ACCEPT HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU ARE ALREADY CONDEMNED. THAT IS PART OF THE CURSE. YOU ARE LIVING IN CONDEMNATION BEFORE YOU EVER REACH THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT OF GOD.
YOU WILL ALSO DIE TWICE. YOU SAY PREACHER THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IS IT?
LOOK IF YOU WILL WITH ME AT LUKE 16:19-23: (19) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (20) And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (21) And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (23) And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
YOU SEE FIRST OF ALL THAT THIS RICH SINNER DIED IN HIS SIN, AND NOT EVEN HIS MONEY COULD GET HIM TO HEAVEN. HE WOKE UP IN HELL, IN TORMENT. NOW, THIS MAN IS IN HELL TO THIS DAY.
NOW I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING ELSE. HE IS ALREADY CONDEMNED. HE IS ALREADY BEING PUNISHED, BUT TURN WITH ME IF YOU WILL TO REV. 20:11-15: (11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
YOU SEE. IF YOU DIE IN YOUR SIN TODAY, YOU WILL WAKE UP IN HELL. THEN AT THE END OF THE AGES. AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT, YOU WILL BE RAISED UP.
YOU WILL FINALLY HAVE TO FACE THE JUDGE. ALREADY CONDEMNED, THIS IS BUT A FORMALITY. YOU WILL BE CAST INTO HELL AGAIN, FOREVER.
WHY IS IT CALLED A SECOND DEATH? BECAUSE GOD IS LIFE. HELL IS A PLACE OF ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD. TO BE SEPARATED FROM LIFE, IS DEATH.
YOU MAY SEEM HAPPY, YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE HAPPY. YOU PROBABLY FEEL THAT YOU DON’T NEED GOD. IF YOU DO LET ME TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE A WALKING DEAD MAN.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW THE ANTIDOTE THIS MORNING? IT IS VERY SIMPLE. TURN WITH ME TO JOHN 3:16—READ
IN THIS VERSE IS YOUR SECOND PROMISE THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT.
WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. GOD PROMISES YOU, THAT IF YOUR TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS YOU WILL NO LONGER BE CONDEMNED.
YOU MUST ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR. YOU MUST BELIEVE ON HIM. YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS. YOU MUST TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS.
JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF SAID, “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!” WHERE DO YOU FIND YOURSELF THIS MORNING? ARE YOU COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? WILL GOD LOOK ON YOU THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS?
WHEN HE LOOKS UP YOUR SIN DEBT IN THE BOOKS THAT WE READ ABOUT IN REVELATION, WILL HE FIND UNDER YOUR NAME PAID IN FULL? OR WILL HE TAKE ALL OF YOUR SIN INTO ACCOUNT.
YOU SEE THESE BOOKS HOLD EVERY DEED YOU HAVE EVER DONE. EVERY ACT, EVERY THOUGHT, FROM THE MOMENT YOU ARRIVED ON EARTH, TILL THE MOMENT YOU WERE CALLED OUT INTO ETERNITY.
WILL HE FIND STAMPED IN RED, PAID IN FULL. OR ARE YOU CONDEMNED ALREADY?
WHICH PROMISE ARE YOU LIVING UNDER. IF YOU ARE LOST, AND YOU KNOW THAT A LOVED ONE HAS GONE ON TO BE WITH GOD. DON’T YOU WANT TO SEE THEM AGAIN?
THE ONLY WAY THAT CAN HAPPEN IS FOR YOU TO ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
DON’T YOU WANT TO LIVE THE BLESSED LIFE, KNOWING THAT YOUR SINS ARE COVERED, THEY WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND YOUR LAWLESS DEEDS ARE FORGIVEN?
LET US PRAY.
