Proving God’s Will (Romans 11:33-12:1,2)
Dr. Keith Peters
Before we can hope to Know or discern God’s will, we must shift our thinking from the world’s paradigm to God’s. This is like intentionally “changing frequencies” on our radios. This involves a PROCESS THAT BEGINS WITH SALVATION: We must become born again.
1. THE NEED OF SALVATION:
A. WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD. Eph. 2:1-9
1) The Word Sin means to Miss the Mark (and so not share in the prize)
a) What is the Mark? A loving relationship with God. (Thou shalt love the Lord.) Mt. 22:37
b) What is the Prize? INTIMACY with God!!!
2) Disobedience (Sin) brought death. (Gen. 2:17; Ro. 5:12; 6:23)
John 8:24 (if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.) (See Rev. 20:11-15)
B WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DECIEVED. (John 10:10)
1) We all belonged to Satan at some point. (John 8:41-44; Eph. 2:1-5; Col. 1:12-14)
2) Satan’s favorite weapon is Deception. (John 8:44; Ro. 1:25)
3) Satan’s favorite Tool is RELIGION.
> Jesus told the religious Jews: (except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.) Lk 13:2
> Jesus warned of Satan’s infiltration (Parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13)
> Paul warned of this infiltration: (Acts 20:28,29; 1 Tim.4:1,2; 2 Tim. 2:2-4; 2 Cor 11:3-14)
a) Religion usually starts with some truth, but mixes it with the traditions and opinions of
men. Eventually the Truths get swallowed up by the traditions. (Mt. 15:6-9)
b) The Simplicity of Salvation was corrupted early.
1) NT Judaizers began to teach that Law (or Works) + Grace = Salvation. (Gal. 1:6-8)
Gal. 2:21 (I do not frustrate the Grace of God. If righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain.)
2) Church History is full of traditions that crept into the church that have confused and in some cases kept some from the simplicity of salvation.
> Some began to teach that Baptism was the sign of the new covenant just as Circumcision was the sign of the Old Covenant. (2nd Century) Bishops such as Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (3rd Century) began to teach that there could be no salvation without the church and that baptism is the means of entering into the Church. The combination of these two teachings led to the practice of infant baptism.
> The Christian emperor Constantine tried to bring the various churches together under his protection and control. (313 AD) This was the birth of the Catholic (Universal Church) as we know it. They tried to purge the church of heresy (false teaching) as they deemed it.
> By the 6th century the practice of infant baptism became the law. The Justinian Code required a death penalty on those who re-baptized adults who were baptized in infancy.
> Pope Leo III issued, another edict in-A.D. 723 demanding the forcible baptism of the Jews, Montanists and anabaptists). Those that refused were killed!
Since most of Europe was baptized into the Church this tradition began to dim the line between the saved and lost. This practice was embraced in spite of the fact that there is not one example of infant baptism in the scriptures.
Acts 8:36,37 (here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou
believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.)
Traditions were so entrenched that even after the Reformation, most of the protestant denominations continued the tradition of infant baptism in spite of the fact that the founders recognized the Biblical pattern was immerson.
2. THE SEED OF SALVATION. The Holy Spirit. (being born again, not of corruptible seed, but by incorruptible…) 1 Peter 1:23
We Must Receive The Spirit Of Christ in order to “know God” (1Cor. 2:9-12)
A. THE BIBLE CALLS THIS BEING BORN AGAIN (Jn 3:3,6; Gal. 4:4-6; Ro. 8:9)
1) Jesus promised this. John 14:16-18 (I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.)
B. THIS IS WHAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR AT THE JUDGMENT.
Mt. 7:15,21-23 (Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves…. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.)
APPLICATION:
Titus 1:16 warns of those who (profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.)
2 Cor 13:5 (Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?)
It is only Christ in you, that is the real hope of Glory. Col. 1:27
Revelation 3:19,20 (As many as I love I rebuke and Chasten. Be zealous therefore and REPENT. Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.)
1) Have you heard his voice?
2) Have you opened the door.?
1 John 5:11-13 (And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life)
