Eternal City Church Sunday Sermons

Eternal City Church Sunday Sermons

By Eternal City ChurchReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Eternal City Church Sunday Sermons episodes

  • Transgender People
    The transgender revolution has hit the West with surprising speed and force over the last five years. Many of us personally know a young person (or older) wrestling with questions of gender dysphoria and their sexuality. Many of our employment places require preferred pronouns to be given on professional documents, and debates over transgender people in sports continue to rage in high schools and universities. What we need is non-subjective clarity on this issue, the Bible delivers with great insight and clarity.
    0 min
  • Total Depravity
    When we hear the theological phrase total depravity we think it means that people are as bad as they can possibly be. Which we all know from experience is not true. So, what does total depravity mean? It means that every part of the human being has been affected by the fall of Adam. No part is left untouched. We need God to pursue us relentlessly, change our hearts, give us a new spirit, and give us his Holy Spirit in order that we might finally live a life that pelases him.
    0 min
  • Romans 3:27-31
    Boasting is not always bad. In fact, Jeremiah 9:24 says "but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” However, we must never boast in our own accomplishments or "good deeds" truly we make our boast in God for accomplishing salvation for us. All glory to God!
    43 min
  • Romans 3:21-26
    Verse 21 serves as a turning point in the letter. These 7 verses are jammed with gospel theology. God declares sinners to be not guilty, based on the atoning work of Jesus in the guilty sinner's place. God not only forgives and cleanses the sinner but also declares the sinner righteous. In satisfying his anger toward sin in Jesus on the cross, God shows himself ultimately to be just in his character while graciously justifying the sinner.
    Romans 3:21-26 (ESV)
    Paul made the case in 1:18-3:20 that all are guilty under sin, and he shifts his focus from life under sin to life apart from the law. The righteousness of God revealed brings about a new phase of redemptive history.
    This is consistent with Paul’s other uses of the phrase “but now” in Rom 6:22; 7:6; 1 Cor 15:20; Eph 2:13; Col 1:22.
    The righteousness of God refers to the justifying acts of God, which includes God’s plan for salvation before the world began, God’s fulfillment of His promises, and God’s deliverance of His people.
    The righteousness of God also highlights the theological doctrine of justification.
    Justification is that because of Christ’s righteousness, those who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin are declared righteous. Justification is by grace alone and through faith alone.
    It is important to note that justification does not mean to make righteous or to treat as righteous but to declare righteous. As a judge would acquit a criminal, God acquits us of all charges of sin.
    Consider this quote from Martin Luther on this verse: “Night and day I pondered until I grasped the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, He justifies us by faith…before the righteousness of God had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage of Paul became to me a gateway to heaven.”
    Paul raises an interesting question with the phrase “apart from the law.” So, if the righteousness of God revealed refers to justification, and it is revealed apart from the law, was justification by faith in the OT? Were they declared righteous just as we are declared righteous?
    The answer is yes, but it would be helpful to study why it is yes. Take time to review these verses and consider how they show that justification by faith was in the OT as well:
    1:17 – Paul quotes Hab 2:4
    3:21 – “The Law and the Prophets bear witness to it.” If justification is not there in the OT, how do the law and prophets witness to it?
    4:3 – Paul quotes Gen 15:6 about Abraham
    4:6-8 – Paul quotes Ps 32:1 referring to David
    The phrase “faith in Jesus Christ” is a disputed phrase with entire books written about its meaning. The dispute is whether it should be translated “faith in Jesus Christ” or faith of Jesus Christ.” The first translation is meant to highlight the human response of faith to receive God’s righteousness, and the second interpretation is meant to highlight that God’s righteousness is received because of the faithfulness of Jesus. The first translation is preferred for the following reasons:
    The grammar in the original Greek is not clear which option is best, and in those instances, context should be used to determine the correct translation.
    The first option fits best in context with the use of faith in the rest of the section.
    The phrase “for all who believe” is Paul’s way of emphasizing the importance of human faith.
    Paul’s focus is not on the faithfulness of Christ. He will touch on that subject in chapter 5.
    The phrase “fall short” in v23 is actually a present tense verb which means it has continuing action. The idea is that all humans, because of sin are continually falling short of God’s glory unless God changes them.
    We would expect justification to take place at the end when all people stand before God, but God justifies at the “beginning” of salvation, highlighting that the basis for righteousness is not works, but grace, freely given.
    In v25, Paul connects the redemption found in Christ’s death with the Day of Atonement celebrated in the OT and described in Lev 16.
    52 min
  • Romans 3:9-20
    One of the longest and clearest indictments of the whole human race is found in these 12 verses of the New Testament. Paul quotes from the Psalms and Isaiah to show that whether Jew or gentile, all are under sin and found guilty before God's holy righteous standard. Though not found in these specific verses, looming in the background is the gospel of grace, ready to be revealed!
    35 min
  • Romans 3:1-8
    God had given the Jewish people a unique sign to show that they were his people, namely circumcision. In addition, God gave them his revealed will (the law). Sady, some came to see these outward signs as a guarantee that they had God's favor. Paul labors in these verses and the following to show that God alone is righteous and no human being lives up to his perfect standard. The good news is that God accomplished righteousness for us to be received, not a righteouness acheived.
    44 min
  • Romans 2:17-29
    Simply having God's revealed will or "the law" will do nothing but condemn you if you fail to obey it. The good news for the Christian is that though we fail often (James 2:10, 1 John 1:8) God is merciful to forgive through Jesus Christ!
    Romans 2:17-29 (ESV)
    o To set the context, Paul has already made clear that both those without the law (Rom 1:18-32) and those with the law (Rom 2:1-16) are guilty of their sin and will be judged by God. In Rom 2:17-29, Paul is going to address the Jews specifically and discuss the law and circumcision.
    ▪ Paul continues using a common literary technique from his time known as a diatribe. Part of the diatribe structure is to criticize one’s opponent for not “practicing what he preached,” and Paul questions whether someone can be a true Jew if they do not obey the law (vs21-24).
    o Paul lays out 3 privileges in v17: position/status as the people of God (“Jew”), reliance on the law, and a relationship with God. Being a Jew has benefits since God and His law were available.
    o The word “boast” generally has a negative connotation such as arrogance or pride; however, the context of boasting or pride in God is not wrong in and of itself. God has certainly given the Jewish people many good things for which they can boast.
    o The phrase “approve what is excellent” carries the idea of determining the thing that really matters. I this context, it most likely refers to being able to identify the most important things of the law.
    o Part of God’s election of Israel as His people involved a mission to share the truth of God with the Gentiles. This is why, in God’s providence, the physical nation of Israel was situated at the center of the civilized world at the time. If someone were traveling from Egypt, Asia, or Europe, they would have to pass through Israel. The Jewish people ultimately failed in their mission, but God placed them in the perfect place to fulfill it. After the cross, the mission is now to go and spread the news.
    o Paul is not accusing all Jews of committing these sins in v21-22; rather, Paul is using them as examples of hypocritical action. He could have used any examples (lying, coveting, etc) for his point.
    o Circumcision was a physical activity performed as part of a Jewish ritual and was valued as a distinguishing sign that the Jews were God’s chosen people. In vs25-29, Paul is subverting the idea that this sign is effective in protecting the Jew from the wrath of God. Instead, reliance on circumcision (status as a Jew) for salvation will only expose the Jews to wrath.
    ▪ Paul is making a clear distinction between faith and works. The only way to be protected against God’s wrath is perfect obedience to the law. Since we cannot perfectly obey God’s law, faith in Jesus, who did keep the law perfectly, is the only option for protection against God’s wrath.
    Questions
    o Why does Paul spend so much time at the beginning of Romans (1:18-3:20) writing about sin? What could this extended discussion tell us about human nature and the deceptiveness of sin?
    o How do you normally react to hypocritical people in your life? How has someone else’s hypocrisy impacted your life, and how has your hypocrisy impacted other’s lives?
    o People will claim to reject Christianity because the church is full of hypocrites. What are ways you can respond to that accusation?
    48 min
  • Theology Applied #5

    In this episode, Pastor Chris Moran begins a new series on Soteriology (the study of how we are saved) and the "ordo salutis". We begin with the "eternity past" aspects of the order of salvation: predestination (God's pre-determination of all things before they happen), and election (God's choosing of individuals, from the mass of fallen humanity, to salvation from sin).

    40 min
  • Theology Applied #6

    In this episode, Pastor Chris Moran continues our Soteriology series with "calling": God's calling of men and women to Himself through the Gospel. In real time and space, every person that comes to Jesus experiences this call. We also explore both the "general" call of God (the Gospel proclamation which goes out to all mankind), and the "effectual" call of God (the specific, irresistible summons of God's elect within the Gospel proclamation).

    29 min
  • Romans 2:12-16
    While not realizing it, when we make moral judgments on others, we inadvertently condemn ourselves because we can point out the wrongness of other's actions, then practice the very same things and thereby condemn ourselves. There is a reason Jesus says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." This merciful disposition shows (in part) you realize the great mecry you've been shown by God in forgiving your sins, that is, if you've thrown yourself on the mercy of God found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
    49 min

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Eternal City Church Sunday Sermons