Cornerstone Community Church

Hebrews 12:12-17

Let us not be caught unrepentant, blaming everyone else but ourselves for our sins, and not having taken up our own crosses to follow Jesus when He returns.

2 Peter 3:3-9

Don’t let the normalcy of life lull you into believing that Jesus is not coming again. He has promised to come soon! As we begin this Advent season, we remind ourselves of his promise to return, as we celebrate His first coming.

Romans 15:13

God has a plan for each of His children. He has an expected end in mind for us all.

God’s aim is for us to live carefree in this world. And we cast our cares aside when we believe He is willing and able to do all that He has promised.

Because He is our hope, we have joy and peace in believing. We are not flustered by the woes of life. Nor are we shaken when times are bad.

We have hope that God has accepted us and called us His own. We have hope that through Him we are more than conquerors.

Our future is in His hands. Because of this truth we have hope that our eternal destiny is secure!

Romans 15:7-12

Jesus Christ has accepted us and we should accept one another. But why is that so hard to do?

1) Because we are uncomfortable with those who do not comport without perception of what is good.

2) Because we view our way of thing as normative

3) Because we lack patience

4) Because we value our opinions more than we value relationship

5) We find it hard to accept one another because we mistake acceptance for approval.

Jesus did not approve of the circumcision yet He laid down His life for them. He did not approve of the gentiles who did not know God, but He served them in the same way.

WE may never agree with one another on every subjective point, but we don’t need to agree. Yet our love for one another should afford each of us sufficient grace to stay in relationship despite our differences of opinion.

Romans 15:1-6

Maturity in Christ has its benefits, but to whom much is given much is required.

The spiritually mature believer must have a high tolerance for those who are weaker in faith.

The less mature are often more religious than spiritual. The mature believer must exercise patience as the weaker taunts, criticizes, and sometimes falsely accuses him/her, without breaking relationship.

To be strong in faith in God is to rest in full assurance of His acceptance, to the point where no amount of taunting can cause us to distance ourselves from the weaker accuser.

To be strong in faith is to be free from the need of human approval.

To be strong in faith is to be able to stand beneath the vitriol of man and not open the mouth in self defense.

Romans 14:10-23

Our greatest hope for one another should be that each of our walk with Christ would be easy. Not only should we hope this, but we should put forth every effort to make one another’s journey with Christ as convenient as possible. We are careful to create a safe and peaceful environment where each of us can grow without interruption.

We foster such an environment of peace by withholding final judgement upon one another.

We contribute to peace by being cognizant of the weaknesses and opinions of one another, and by accommodating one another’s weaknesses as best we can.

We maintain communal peace by restricting our own liberties if it will help our brother or sister feel more at ease.

Love suffers all things. When we love one another we become willing to give up everything for each other. Even things that are benign. It requires maturity and humility to become this kind of believer.

All of us should strive become the kind of person who holds the world so loosely that we can give up whatever is necessary to make the Way easier for our fellow travelers.

Romans 14:1-9

The believer who is weak in faith is slave to his/her personal principles and preferences. He submits himself to extra-Biblical rules, and judges anyone who does not ascribe to his subjective standard of holiness.

We are not to quarrel with such saints. Instead, each of us is to should be keen to discern the difference between our subjective opinions, and God’s true standards which are found only in the Word.

To judge, as Paul uses the term in our text, and the way Jesus uses it in Matthew 7:1, is to evaluate the holiness of another based on subjective standards.

We need not question the salvation of the weaker brother/sister just because the one exhibits greater freedom and the other is restricted from enjoying their lives. Instead we are to accept one another because God has accepted each of us.

The one who is strong in faith does not adhere to superstition and does not bow to the opinions of men. He/she is submitted to the Word of God. And in things where God has not promoted or prohibited, she feels to free to approach those things without concern of heaven’s recourse.

Strong faith in God tends to freedom. Weak faith leaves room for fear. But whether weak or strong, God loves and accepts those who desire to honor Him. He shows grace and patience to those who are not yet able to trust Him more fully.

Romans 13:11-14

Let’s get serious about our walk with Jesus Christ because the time of His return is near.

To be serious is to:

Be vigilantBe HolyBe disciplined

Romans 13:8-10Humanity is indebted to one another. We owe each other love.

It is both humbling and amazing to know that God’s greatest desire for us is that we would care for and nurture one another. Not for His sake, but for our own.

Love is the debt every person owes the other. Unfortunately, it is the debt least often paid.

And how must we repay?

1) By exercising patience with one another2) BY being kind to one another3) By being humble toward one another4) By looking out for one another’s best interest5) By exercising restraint when we are wronged by another6) By forgiving one another7)By being honest with one another8) By not speaking ill of one another

This is the debt we owe one another. If we pay this debt we will have fulfilled the whole law.

We will not be saved by fulfilling the law. But as we love others, we ourselves will find greater freedom. God is Love, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom!

Romans 13:1-8

How does God want us to interact with government?

We are to:

Obey government

Because Government is established by God

Because They are servants of God

Because Government can punish you

For the sake of your own conscience

Pay our taxes