Guest Speaker for FSBC's Senior Adult Revival 2012

Romans 9:25-10:4- A recent survey (2011) conducted by the Barna Research Group revealed that 50% of Americans believe that all people will eventually be saved or accepted by God. This idea is popularly called universalism, broadly defined as the belief that all human beings will be saved after death. This popular belief begs an important question: “How are we made right with God?”

Romans 9:20-24- The inspired, inerrant, infallible, all-sufficient, authoritative Scripture must inform our theology of God. Culture...church tradition...experience must not be allowed to stand in judgment over Scripture. When the Bible speaks, God speaks and it carries with it the very authority of God. There is no higher authority!

Matthew 28:6- The single most important event in human history was the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today, we celebrate the reality that Jesus lives!

Mark 15:21-41- The cross of Christ was engulfed in agony—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Remarkably, Jesus willingly endured the agony of the cross as He offered Himself as a ransom for many. This morning we view the agony, cruelty of the cross through the eyes of the principle characters surrounding the cross.

Hebrews 9:22-28- We seek from Scripture answers to the key question: “Why did Jesus have to die?”

Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 27- The cross of Christ is so much more than an important symbol of the Christian faith. The cross is the turning point of all history. The cross is the mightiest demonstration of God's love for sinful mankind. The cross is the one best hope for a world which is rotting in sin. The cross is the power of God to save!

Romans 9:17-20- When we speak of the sovereignty of Almighty, Omnipotent God, what exactly do we mean? The sovereignty of God refers specifically to God’s governing activity. He is the Creator and Lord of all things, and consequently He is free to do whatever He wills. He is not subject to or answerable to anyone.

Romans 9:16- James Montgomery Boice, in his excellent commentary on Romans, makes this statement: “We are in a section of the Bible in which every sentence has exceptional importance.” This observation is abundantly accurate as we unpack Romans 9:16.

Chapter 9 is a vigorously difficult portion of Romans, and verses 14-16 require some care in exposition and exegesis. In fact, what we reflect upon this morning may prove to be unpalatable, indigestible for many. Thus, may the Holy Spirit truly help us and guide us as we consider these words, for they are challenging.