THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION
SUNDAY AM 11/14/1999
WHERE THE GOSPEL IS FULLY AND POWERFULLY PREACHED WITH THE HOLY GHOST SENT DOWN FROM HEAVEN, OUR CHURCHES DO NOT ONLY HOLD THEIR OWN, BUT WIN CONVERTS; BUT WHEN THAT WHICH CONSTITUTES THEIR STRENGTH IS GONE --- WE MEAN WHEN THE GOSPEL IS CONCEALED, AND THE LIFE OF PRAYER IS SLIGHTED --- THE WHOLE THING BECOMES A MERE FORM AND FICTION. FOR THIS THING OUR HEART IS SORE GRIEVED.
WRITTEN BY CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
Romans 1:16-32
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisper’s,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER
WHAT IS PAUL TRYING TO TELL US ?
THAT HE IS NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS A MAN THAT WAS 100% IN EVERYTHING THAT HE DID, WHEN HE WAS A SINNER HE WAS 100% AND WHEN HE BECAME SAVED BY THE POWER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HE WAS AGAIN 100%
YOU KNOW THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE FOR IT TELLS US IN,
Revelation 3:15-16
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
WHAT EVER WE DO GOD WANTS US TO GIVE IT ALL THAT WE HAVE IF WE ARE GOING TO WORK FOR THE LORD THEN WE MUST NOT BE LUKEWARM IN OUR DEEDS.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS, ARE YOU EVER EMBARRASSED TO BE IDENTIFIED AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST?
WOULD YOUR CO-WORKERS OR OTHER ASSOCIATES EVER ASSUME THAT YOU ARE ASHAMED OF YOUR FAITH BY THE WAY YOU AVOID TALKING ABOUT IT OR REVEALING YOUR TRUE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?
I HAD A FELLOW JUST RECENTLY TELL ME WHEN HE HEARD ME SINGING A PRAISE SONG THAT WE DIDN’T NEED THAT IN THE WORKPLACE THAT WAS ONLY FOR CHURCH.
THAT IS THE TROUBLE WITH MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO TO CHURCH TODAY THEY DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH GOD WHEN THEY LEAVE THE CHURCH.
LET ME TELL YOU THAT GOD WILL ONLY STAND FOR 100% OUT OF ANY OF US AND 100% IN MY BOOK INCLUDES MONDAY through SATURDAY ALSO NOT JUST CHURCH ON SUNDAY.
THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THAT TYPE OF PERSON THEY ARE THE FIRST ONES TO GO CRYING TO GOD THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN TO THEM OR IN THEIR LIVES.
LET ME TELL YOU FRIENDS THAT GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD AND HE HAS TO BE FIRST IN YOUR LIVES WE CANNOT BE ASHAMED OF GOD AND EXPECT ANY OF HIS BLESSINGS TO FALL UPON US OR OUR FAMILIES.
THE APOSTLE PAUL FELT NO SHAME IN THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST, FOR HE SAW IT AS POWERFUL.
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO TRANSFORM LIVES.
HOW POWERFUL IS THE GOSPEL YOU BELIEVE IN?
ARE YOU A CHANNEL OR A BARRIER FOR THE POWER OF CHRIST IN YOUR WORKPLACE?
DO YOUR CO-WORKERS LOOK TO YOU AS SOMEONE THAT THEY CAN TALK TO IN THEIR TIME OF NEED?
OR ARE YOU JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE CHRISTIANS THAT GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND ACT LIKE A SINNER THE REST OF THE WEEK UNTIL NEXT SUNDAY ROLLS AROUND?
MY FRIENDS IT IS TIME FOR ALL OF US TO GET BUSY AND GO TO WORK FOR JESUS AND BE THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT WE NEED TO BE 24-7 EVERYDAY, NOT JUST ON SUNDAY!
THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD WILL HELP ALL OF US TO SEE THE SIN THAT LURKING IN THE SECRET PLACES IN OUR HEARTS.
THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD ALSO IS THE DRIVING FORCE THAT COMPELS MEN AND WOMEN TO FACE THE REALITY OF THEIR OWN SIN AND GUILT,
THE INEVITABILITY OF DIVINE JUDGMENT,
AND THE NEED FOR A PERFECT SUBSTITUTE TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR SIN,
IF MEN AND WOMEN ARE TO SURVIVE AT ALL.
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE DYNAMITE WHICH BLASTS AWAY SELF-COMPLACENCY,
SELF-DELUSION, AND SINFUL SELF-RELIANCE.
THIS NOTHING ELSE CAN DO, FOR NOTHING ELSE IS IN ITSELF THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH.
THE WORD OF GOD IS OPEN TO ALL, IT IS FOR EVERYONE, BUT THERE IS A CONDITION THAT IS PUT ON EVERYONE ALSO, AND THAT CONDITION IS FAITH.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
SALVATION IS WHAT EVERYONE OF US NEEDS TO HOPE FOR, AND HOPING IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO ACT ON OUR HOPE AND TALK TO GOD AND LET HIM KNOW THAT WE ARE READY TO GIVE UP OUR SINFUL WAYS AND BECOME A CHILD OF GOD.
WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE ANYTHING IN OUR LIVES.
LET’S LOOK AT WHAT THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WROTE IN
Jeremiah 13:23
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
WHAT HE IS TELLING US HERE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE UTTERLY POWERLESS TO OVERCOME THEIR OWN SIN.
SIN IS A REAL PART OF OUR NATURE, LIKE A LEOPARD’S SPOTS.
WE CANNOT CHANGE OURSELVES.
IT SEEMS THAT IS DAY AND AGE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO GO EVERYWHERE FOR HELP BUT TO GOD.
THEY WILL GO TO MARRIAGE COUNSELORS, DOCTORS, SELF-HELP CLINICS AND SO ON THERE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND HELP FOR THEMSELVES OR THERE FAMILY’S BUT THEY ALWAYS THINK THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO HELP THEM THAN GOD.
SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS MIGHT TEMPORARILY, HELP PEOPLE FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES, BUT THEY HAVE NO POWER TO REMOVE SIN OR CHANGE THE HUMAN HEART.
ONLY THE WORD OF GOD CAN DO THAT.
IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.
PETER SPOKE OF THE WORD OF GOD AS THE SEED THAT GENERATES NEW LIFE AND A NEW BIRTH:
1 Peter 1:23
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
I MUST SAY THAT I CAN STAND UP HERE ALL DAY AND TALK TO YOU BUT ONLY THE POWER OF GOD IS GOING TO BRING A PERSON TO SALVATION.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
I SURELY MUST HAVE MADE A MISTAKE OR A MISPRINT BECAUSE I JUST READ JESUS WORDS THAT I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.
NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.
THERE IS SURLY SOMETHING WRONG HERE FOR THE SCRIPTURE HAS LEFT OUT THE PRIEST.
ISN’T THAT WHERE YOU GO INTO A LITTLE DARK ROOM AND HE TELLS YOU THAT YOU SINS ARE FORGIVEN MY SON GO AND SIN NO MORE.
SOMETHING HERE IS VERY WRONG AND I DON’T THINK THAT IT IS THE WORDS OF JESUS.
OR ANY MISPRINT OR ANYTHING ELSE.
AND AGAIN IN
Acts 4:12
12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY, ONLY THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
NOT THE PRIEST, NOT MARY, NOT A MARRIAGE CONSULAR, NOT A DOCTOR, NOT YOUR HUSBAND OR YOUR WIFE OR YOUR FRIENDS.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY BUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
WE MUST ALL BE BORN AGAIN TO FIND THIS PERFECT SALVATION.
SO BASICALLY THE ACT OF BEING BORN AGAIN WHICH LEADS TO SALVATION CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE SEPARATE STEPS.
THE FIRST STEP BEING ( A DEFINITE AND DISTINCT FEELING OF NEED IN YOUR HEART FOR GOD )
THAT IS THE FEELING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT KNOCKING ON YOUR HEARTS DOOR.
THE SECOND STEP IS (AN AWARENESS OF YOUR SINFULNESS )
YOU BECOME AWARE THAT THE TYPE OF LIVING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IS NOT RIGHT.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE PROUD ABOUT, YOU HAVE A LONGING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
THE THIRD STEP IS ( THE UNDERSTANDING THAT JESUS SUFFERED AND DIED FOR YOU )
THE UNDERSTANDING THAT JESUS HUNG ON THAT CROSS AND SUFFERED ALL OF THAT PAIN, THAT YOU AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE FEELINGS AND REACH OUT FOR THIS PERFECT SALVATION.
ETERNAL LIFE FOR THE SOUL BEGINS AT THE VERY MOMENT THAT THE BELIEVER IS BORN AGAIN.
LET US LOOK AT John 5:24
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
NOTICE THE WORD ( HAS ) MEANS THAT YOU HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, FOR THE BELIEVER YOUR ETERNAL NON DEATH LIFE STARTS AT THE VERY MOMENT THAT YOU ACCEPT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE.
A LIFE THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM YOU, THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN LOSE THIS LIFE IS TO GIVE IT UP.
IT IS YOURS FOREVER.
LET US LOOK AT THE DEFINITION OF SALVATION
I WOULD FEEL THAT SALVATION MEANS TO ME THAT YOU ARE BEING RESCUED.
YOU MIGHT ASK RESCUED FROM WHAT?
SALVATION RESCUES US FROM SIN
FROM GUILT
FROM THE PUNISHMENT OF GOD
FROM THE WRATH OF GOD
AND MOST IMPORTANT FROM ETERNAL DEATH.
AS WE LOOK EVEN FURTHER INTO SALVATION WE FIND THAT IT IS A FREE GIFT.
2 Corinthians 9:15
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
SALVATION IS THE GREATEST GIFT THAT MANKIND COULD EVER RECEIVE.
WITHOUT THIS SALVATION THERE COULD BE NO ETERNAL LIFE.
NO CHANCE OF EVER BEING WITH GOD FOR ETERNITY.
NO CHANCE OF EVER PARTAKING IN ALL OF THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS THINGS THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR US.
IF YOU SHOULD DIE WITHOUT SALVATION THEN YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW WHAT THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US IN
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written:
1 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
THINK OF THIS GIFT OF SALVATION LIKE A GIFT CERTIFICATE.
A FRIEND GOES TO THE STORE AND BUYS A GIFT CERTIFICATE.
HE THEN GIVES YOU THE GIFT CERTIFICATE AND YOU GO BACK TO THAT STORE AND YOU RECEIVE THE MERCHANDISE, AND IT DOESN’T COST YOU ANYTHING.
TO YOU THE MERCHANDISE IS COMPLETELY FREE.
NO THIS DOESN’T MEAN THAT THE MERCHANDISE WAS ORIGINALLY FREE BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD TO PAY FOR IT.
YOUR FRIEND PAID FOR IT.
YOU RECEIVED THE MERCHANDISE FOR FREE WHEN YOU TURNED IN THE GIFT CERTIFICATE.
SALVATION IS THE SAME WAY, IT IS ALSO A GIFT.
BUT A VERY GREAT PRICE WAS PAID FOR THIS GIFT.
THE PRICE PAID FOR YOUR GIFT OF SALVATION WAS JESUS CHRIST WHO SUFFERED AND DIED ON THE CROSS.
THE SHEDDING OF HIS INNOCENT BLOOD WAS THE ( GIFT CERTIFICATE ).
JESUS CHRIST HUNG ON THAT CROSS AND SUFFERED THAT TERRIBLE DEATH FOR YOU AND FOR ME.
SOMETHING THAT NOT A ONE OF US TODAY WOULD WANT TO EVER GO THROUGH.
THE TERRIBLE OF THE CROWN OF THORN’S BEING SHOVED DOWN ON OUR HEADS,
AND THEN HAVING TO WALK AND CARRY THAT HEAVY CROSS AND THEN LAY THE CROSS DOWN AND HAVE THE SOLDIERS ROUGHLY THROW OUR WEAK AND TIRED BODY ONTO THE CROSS
AND DRIVE THE NAILS THROUGH OUR HANDS AN OUR FEET
AND THEN THE SAME SOLDIERS TAKING THE CROSS AND LIFTING IT UP AND DROPPING IT INTO THE HOLE THAT WAS THERE.
I AM SURE THAT THERE WAS NO GENTLENESS IN THAT ACT.
I AM SURE THAT THEY DIDN’T TRY TO HOLD BACK AND LET THE CROSS GO GENTLY INTO THE HOLE.
CAN YOU JUST FEEL THE PAIN THAT HE MUST OF FELT WHEN THE WEIGHT OF HIS BODY PULLING ON HIS HANDS WHEN HE WAS DROPPED?
WHAT JESUS DID FOR US NO ONE I DON’T THINK COULD DO.
YOU ALSO HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND THAT ALL OF THIS TIME HE HAD THE POWER TO CALL TEN THOUSAND ANGLES TO HELP HIM.
BUT WHAT DID HE DO WHEN EVEN HIS FATHER TURNED AWAY FROM HIM, BUT ASK HIS FATHER TO FORGIVE THEM BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.
HOW MANY OF US COULD ASK GOD TO FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO?
A LOT OF US CANNOT EVEN FORGIVE WHEN ALL THAT WE HAVE HAPPEN TO US IS A HARSH WORD THAT IS SAID TO US, MUCH LESS BE HUNG ON A CROSS.
LETS LOOK AT John 3:14-21
14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
THIS TELLS US THAT NO ONE IS EXCLUDED FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BELIEVE AND RECEIVE EVERLASTING LIFE
NOW AS WE GO ON I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GIVE UP AFTER THEY RECEIVE SALVATION BECAUSE OF SELF CONDEMNATION.
OR THE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY TO THEM.
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU GO AND TELL THE WORLD THAT YOU HAVE JUST BECOME SAVED THE DEVIL TELLS ALL OF YOUR UNSAVED FRIENDS TO REALLY WORK YOU OVER.
ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE US THINK THAT WE ARE TO BE PERFECT AND NEVER MAKE A MISTAKE, NONE AT ALL.
NOW WHEN WE BECOME BORN AGAIN WE MUST LOOK AT THIS LIKE WE WOULD BE A NEW BORN BABY.
SO WE BEING BORN AGAIN ARE LIKE A NEW BORN BABY IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE NEW BORN HAS TO GROW, AND AS THEY GROW THEY WILL MAKE MISTAKES ALL OF THE WAY.
SO WE ARE SURE TO MAKE MISTAKES AS WE GROW IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES.
MANY SKILLS REQUIRE THE COPYING OF BEHAVIOR THAT THE CHILD SEES AND EXPERIENCES ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND MANY OF THESE SKILLS MUST BE PRACTICED OVER AND OVER BEFORE SUFFICIENT MASTERY IS OBTAINED.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR US SPIRITUALLY.
GOD GIVES ALL OF US THE HOLY SPIRIT AT THE TIME WE ARE SAVED AND WE RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR.
WE WILL STILL NEED TO GROW UP SPIRITUALLY HOWEVER.
BEFORE WE CAN MANIFEST CERTAIN TRAITS AND SPIRITUAL QUALITIES AND BEGIN TO USE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND FRUITS GIVEN TO US SO THAT WE CAN BECOME SPIRITUALLY MATURE INDIVIDUALS.
THE GRACE OF GOD AT WORK IN OUR LIVES UNFOLDS TO US AS WE MATURE SPIRITUALLY AND ARE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE IT.
THEN ALL OF GODS GIFTS ARE DEPOSITED INTO OUR SPIRITUAL ACCOUNT.
AND AS WE GROW IN CHRIST, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THESE RICHES.
YOU CAN NEVER ALLOW THE NEGATIVE STATEMENTS OF OTHERS TO IN ANY WAY STAND BETWEEN YOU AND GOD.
AND YOU SHOULD NEVER ALLOW PEOPLES STATEMENTS TO MAKE YOU THINK THAT YOUR PAST SINS CAN NEVER BE FORGIVEN BECAUSE THEY CAN.
THE CROSS THAT JESUS DIED ON IS GOD’S ASSURANCE THAT YOU CAN NEVER SIN TOO MANY TIMES OR COMMIT A SIN THAT IS TOO BIG OR TOO TERRIBLE.
YOU SIMPLY CAN NOT ( OUT SIN ) GOD’S DESIRE AND ABILITY TO FORGIVE YOU.
LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURE IN Luke 15:7
7 “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
WE MUST ALL REMEMBER THAT GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE EVER DONE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE WILL EVER DO AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR US.
LET US LOOK AT Romans 8:37-39
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
THE MISTAKES THAT YOU MAKE AND THE SINS THAT YOU COMMIT AFTER YOU HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST DO NOT SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD.
HE WILL CONVICT YOU OF THESE SINS SO THAT YOU CAN CONFESS THEM BE FORGIVEN.
REPENT OF THEM AND MAKE CHANGES IN YOUR FUTURE BEHAVIOR FOR YOUR SAKE AND YOUR GOOD.
BUT THESE SINS DO NOT SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD.
YOU CANNOT LOSE YOUR SALVATION OR HAVE IT TAKEN AWAY.
WHEN SALVATION IS OVER IN YOUR LIFE IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN IT BACK TO GOD.
AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT, YOU DO THAT BY TURNING YOUR BACK ON GOD AND GOING BACK TO A LIFE OF SIN.
WE TELL GOD BY OUR ACTIONS THAT WE DON’T WANT HIS GIFT, WE GIVE IT BACK!
WHAT YOU ARE TELLING GOD IS THAT YOU DON’T FEEL THAT IS WORTH THE EFFORT TO WALK IN THE LIGHT, SO THEN YOU GO BACK INTO THE WORLD OF DARKNESS.
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT GOD ALLOWS US TO CHOSE WHAT WAY THAT WE WANT TO LIVE, HE WILL NOT FORCE US TO LIVE FOR HIM, HE ONLY WANTS US IF WE WANT HIM.
GOD ALLOWS YOUR ETERNAL FUTURE TO BE IN YOUR OWN HANDS.
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT ONLY THE DEVIL WILL BRING UP YOUR PAST TRYING TO MAKE YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION.
AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN LIFE GETS HARD RIGHT AFTER YOU GIVE YOUR HEARTS TO GOD YOU FEEL THAT IT IS BECAUSE GOD IS STILL HOLDING YOUR SIN AGAINST YOU AND THAT THOUGHT ONLY COMES FROM THE DEVIL.
FOR THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US IN
Jeremiah 31:34
34 “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
AND AGAIN IN
Micah 7:19
19 He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
THESE SINS WILL NOT BE CAST JUST INTO THE SEA, WHERE THEY MIGHT RESURFACE AGAIN BUT INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA WHERE THEY WILL NEVER RISE AGAIN.
AND LETS LOOK IN
Hebrews 10:16-17
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
WHEN OUR CHRIST FORGIVES, HE ALSO FORGETS AND SO MUST ALL OF US.
WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE CAN BE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY WHEN WE ARE JUST STARTING OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS
AND JUST AS WE HAVE GROWN IN OUR PHYSICAL LIVES WE WILL HAVE TO GROW IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES.
WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THAT WHEN THE IT GET HARD TO FUNCTION, THAT IS WHEN WE NEED TO STOP AND LOOK AT WHAT IT SAYS IN
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
NOW LETS GO INTO VERSE 17 OF OUR TEXT
Romans 1:17
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
LETS LOOK AT THE WORD RIGHTEOUSNESS WHAT IS ITS MEANING?
RIGHTEOUSNESS MEANS HOLY AND UPRIGHT LIVING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD’S STANDARD.
THE WORD RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES FROM A ROOT WORD THAT MEANS STRAIGHTNESS.
IT REFERS TO A STATE THAT CONFORMS TO AN AUTHORITATIVE STANDARD.
THIS EXPLAINS TO US WHY THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD.
THE GOSPEL IS DYNAMITE BECAUSE THROUGH IT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED.
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THAT ASPECT OF GOD’S HOLINESS WHICH IS SEEN IN HIS TREATMENT OF HIS CREATURES, SIMPLY, RIGHTEOUSNESS IS HOW GOD TREATS US.
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE IS HOW GOD TREATS US.
WE ARE UNRIGHTEOUS, UNHOLY, AND UNLOVELY. YET CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”
NOW HOW IS RIGHTEOUSNESS OBTAINED?
FROM FAITH TO FAITH.
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECEIVED BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS AND IS IN RETURN REVEALED IN FAITHFUL LIVING.
THUS IN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, HOW ARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS TO LIVE, THE APOSTLE PAUL QUOTES
Habakkuk 2:4
4 “Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH .
THIS FAITH IMPLIES MORE THAN MERE ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR SALVATION.
IT IMPLIES A LIFE STYLE THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY FAITH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIVING.
AND THERE AGAIN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT 24-7 TYPE OF LIVING, NOT JUST ON SUNDAY.
THIS VERSE 17 TALKS ABOUT THE BELIEVING SINNER,
LET US LOOK AT
Romans 4:20-25
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,
24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
THIS DOCTRINE IS KNOWN AS JUSTIFICATION.
IT MEANS THAT GOD FREELY RECKONS ALL OF CHRIST’S PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE ASSETS SIDE OF THE BELIEVERS LEDGER,
AND HE CANCELS OUT ALL OF THE SIN ON DEBIT SIDE.
WHEN GOD LOOKS AT A BELIEVING PERSON, HE SEES THAT PERSON AS IF HE OR SHE WERE A FULLY RIGHTEOUS AS CHRIST HIMSELF.
