Transformed By The Word Romans 12

Romans 12

Between 2020 and 2021 I had preached 11 sermons on Romans 12, today I preach one to summarise what I see as the main thrust of the chapter seen in verse 2.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

As we read the balance of the chapter it is not difficult to see that the life spoken of is in every way a transformed life, one that no longer lives as it did before, one that is changed completely, even unnaturally so.

How can you otherwise explain the manner of life written of here?

Considering only verse 3;

Romans 12:3 

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

Truly; how many of us are naturally prone to think soberly concerning ourselves? Is not the natural mind of man tended toward thinking more highly of ourselves?

Does not the days we live in today testify of this? 

Paul wrote to Timothy in his second letter saying, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves,”  Are we living in days when so many simply have their greatest love toward themselves?

People today are often unwilling to consider themselves as less than what they perceive themselves to be. They cannot even be corrected without taking offence.

We are rebuked time and again for correcting peoples errors. 

People today are so easily offended. Every text message is read into and reinterpreted as hate mail. Acts where you have seen and liked someone’s social media post, but happened to have missed someone else’s on our feed, that ‘someone else’ then interprets you as NOT LIKING their post that has not been seen by you. In the minds of those who have a great love for themselves, there seems to be NO alternative explanation.

Such people take little to be offended, thinking so highly of themselves rather than soberly.

Beloved how on earth would such people cope in a time of WAR where the obvious goal is your death?

In this alone we see that there must be a life completely transformed for it “not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think; but to think soberly”.

What are we then to think of the transformation of life that is required to obey the commands from verse 9 on?

Romans 12:9–18 

9 Let love be without dissimulation. 

Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; 

in honour preferring one another; 

11 Not slothful in business; 

fervent in spirit; 

serving the Lord; 

12 Rejoicing in hope; 

patient in tribulation; 

continuing instant in prayer; 

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; 

given to hospitality. 

14 Bless them which persecute you: 

bless, and curse not. 

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. 

Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. 

Be not wise in your own conceits. 

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. 

Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 

How are such commands to come naturally to an individual who is NOT transformed from his current state?

Beloved, what we will see is that every part of chapter 12 of the book of Romans hinges on the effect of verse 2 as a continuing and ongoing effort.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Be Not Conformed To This World

The first element we see within the verse is a negative one; it t

20220417 The Lord is Risen

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. (Lk 24:30-35)

He is risen

He is the single most important individual in history, he is whom history is all about. It began with him, it will end with him and the heavens of heavens cannot contain him (1 Kg 8:27)

We live our lives far too often in neglect of him yet he is our life (Deut 30:20).

He is the beginning and the ending, the alpha and the omega of all things.

Nothing in this world is more important than him, if he were not then we would be not. 

If Christ did not rise from the dead then no man will. Death would not be defeated, you and I would yet be in our sins and without hope in the world. 

It’s not possible to give life any consideration apart from him because he is the beginning and the beginner of it all. He is the very author of our lives and without him life itself would have no meaning, no reason, no purpose. 

Life would be an empty vacuum through which we travel without hope. And that is exactly how the world perceives itself today as it tries to live apart from him.

Jesus is everything. There is nothing in this world that would exist without him, for he is before all things and by him all things consist (Col 1:17).

Our very breath is held in his hands (Dan 5:23) and yet the world uses that very breath to curse him and blaspheme his name.

Nevertheless, The Lord is risen. The reality of those words does not change by perception, they do not change by preference, the reality of the Risen Christ remains the single most immovable fact of history.

There are implications in those words, those four words;

Hope is found within those words.So too is purposejudgment.As well as love, mercy and grace.Eternity is found in those words

It might not seem like it, perhaps you look at those four words that were spoken by those two disciples and can’t see the implication, but I can tell you for absolute certainty that THEY KNEW its implication and it changed their lives and eternity.

Every single person who heard those words understood their implication and the lives of them all were transformed.

That is by far the greatest witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to us to this very day. There is no historical fact more attested to in all the world than the resurrection of Christ testified by the impact it made first on his disciples and then on all the world.

No argument that has been made historically against it has been able to stand, all arguments to the contrary have been answered and all have fallen.

In 1794 a volume published by the English Clergyman William Paley titled “A View Of the Evidences of Christianity” was a work so successful in answering the revived denials of the resurrection of Christ, that it became compulsory reading for any applicant to Cambridge University right up to the twentieth Century. 

One of the greatest sets of arguments defending the historical reality of the Resurrection of Christ was the witnessed transformation of the disciples. In this alone all the arguments logically fell flat, and to this was added the testimony of both the historical fathers of Christianity and even pagan witnesses confirming the transformation and witness of those who preached the miracle of the resurrection of Christ within less than 50 years of his death and that miraculous resurrection.

The Rom

Peace Perfect Peace

Reading: Isaiah 26:1-21

Introduction:

Peace perfect peace 

In this dark world of sin

The blood of Jesus whispers peace within..

These are the opening lines to a hymn written by Edward H Bickersteth. He wrote the hymn after hearing a sermon on today’s text. And then whilst visiting a dying relative, read the hymn to him. These were possibly the last words he heard before entering eternity….

Our text today is verse 3 which says:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”  Isaiah 26:3

I dare say that this has been a treasured verse for many believers and has enabled them to find that perfect peace promised.

Putting our passage in context we can see it in a practical sense; as a promise given to the Israelites who remained faithful to God despite the wickedness that surrounded them during that period of their history.

On another level, however, the verse is surrounded by prophetic inferences and you’d  be forgiven for thinking that there is something eschatological about our text today. 

In verse 20 we read:

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.”  Isaiah 26:20

This is a clear reference to the rapture and the following verse [21] is a clear reference to the tribulation. 

In this context our text is applicable today [and possibly more so] than it was in 700 BC when penned by the prophet Isaiah. 

The world has certainly been through much turmoil over the past 2 years, due to the pandemic and what has been called a health crisis. Prior to this we were being bombarded by protests over a perceived climate crisis. Without being a harbinger of doom, now it seems we are on the brink of an economic crisis. 

This is not to mention our own personal trials and tribulations.

These disruptions to the status quo obviously have the potential to unsettle us, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if it draws us closer to Christ. 

The loss of our own personal peace in many cases is the result of fear and anxiety [or inner conflict] or external conflicts with others. Keep these in mind during our study today. 

Pray…

The Permanence of Peace:

“Thou wilt keep him…”

The word “keep” means to continue in or maintain a particular state or activity. Therefore there is a sense of permanence and security to the peace referred to in this verse.  

This is exactly how the Lord describes it in John’s gospel:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Note: Not as the world gives. The peace of God that Jesus refers to doesn’t have the same quality as that which the world gives. Firstly it is a supernatural peace supplied by the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit. Secondly it has an eternal nature, as seen in verses 2 and 3 of the same chapter, in the which Jesus refers to our heavenly home in connection to the Comforter…

It’s always good to see how words are used in scripture and the impact of what the word of God is communicating. We see this in other passages of scripture where the use of the word kept also carries this same sense of permanence and security.

For example:

We are: “…kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1Peter 1:5)

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” (Jude 1:24)

It’s obvious that this is the desire that the Lord has for us; to constantly experience his peace. There is such a comfort in knowing this. 

This also has to be an  encouragement to us, since without the peace of God, it is near impossible for us to function effectively as believers. The reason I say this because we are commanded to

20220403 Romans Review Pt 5

Salvation Is Come Unto The Gentiles

“Hath God cast Away His People?”

Romans 11:11

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 

The focus of the sermon this morning is based on Romans 11:11 to which I believe can be employed as a summary of no less than three chapters in the book of Romans, to which I will endeavor to demonstrate this morning.

Chapters 9, 10, and 11 have as their point of reference, the topic of conversation being that of the Jews. Paul has his focus on Israel, his burden for them, and their salvation. But in this reference, he also deals with incredible detail, that salvation has come to the gentiles, through their fall! And he gives the purpose of this being to provoke them to jealousy.

My hope is that as we continue through this sermon this morning you will have an understanding and a trust that God has not concluded his work among the Jews but through their fall the Salvation is Come To The Gentiles. 

We have long spoken of the church being a parenthesis in biblical history, it simply does not appear in the Old Testament, and so there will shortly come a time where the church will not appear again on earth, and God again begins, or rather, continues his work among the Jews.

It’s difficult to go through this summary of these three chapters without reading all three chapters in their entirety but to do so will bring us back to the verse by verse Bible study that we already dealt with in the past. So I will pick up on some selective passages within the text that will demonstrate what I believe to be a proof of the summary to which this sermon is titled. 

FOUR TOPICS

There is within these chapters four main topics to deal with, the head topic is The Gospel, which appears in each of the topics.

Israel

The Sovereignty of God 

Free Will

Now, there are two issues I have respecting these topics and the three chapters I desire to summarize this morning, the first is that I have no possible way of dealing with all three in one sermon if we are to gain a reasonable appreciation for what is presented by Paul.

The second is that each topic must be given its due respect, and fundamentally because of the historical errors that have endured for many years within the Church, first in Roman Catholicism, and then under the reformation Churches. 

As mentioned already, The Gospel is front and center in each topic, so it will be considered in each. The challenge is to not go into too much detail and yet provide enough for us to learn and to at least question if not completely correct the errors that remain popular today.

So, I need to address all three additional topics presented in all three chapters, over three sermons.

The Burden of An Israelite For Israel

Romans 9:1–5 

1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 

Paul reveals his heart in the opening passage of these three chapters. Though he will enter into those two other topics, that is, the Sovereignty of God and the free will of man, he continues to return to the overriding focus, which is Israel!

V1-5 Demonstrates with clarity not only the burden Paul has for Israel, but also his clear acknowledgment of their present tense position as those; Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and t

In this fourth review of the book of Romans, we go into an overview of Romans chapter 8 which we see as the Summary of Salvation. It shows with clarity that the work is completed, all who have trusted in the Lord as their Saviour are now secure in that hope and literally nothing can separate them “from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39)

20220320 Romans Review Pt 4 

Summary of Salvation V1-9 

Romans 8:1–9 

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded isdeath; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind isenmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: says Paul in Hebrews 8:1

And it is certain that this is what we find before us beginning in this, this single most incredible portion of the entire Bible, Romans 8.

Beloved if this chapter of Romans does not lift your heart and your spirit, if this chapter does not give to you the joy of your salvation, the zeal to attend with all diligence the works of faith, the encouragement to get through your days, each and every day, I must admit to you I am unsure of what else will.

Paul grants to you and I the sum total of the salvation that has been secured to us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His summary in this chapter fits so perfectly the grace, the love, the power, the purpose, and the plan of Christ years without end, amen.

Paul opens the door to this chapter in the first verse; 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, 

                     NONE, NO CONDEMNATION!

That very first phrase alone should give to you such a jolt, such a start, such a joy that it should lift you off your seats.

The entire summary of the consequence of you believing the Gospel is seen right therein those first eleven words culminating in the name of your redeemer.

And I love how Paul has so perfectly framed his name as “Christ Jesus”, “Messiah Saviour”, his title and then his name, so fitting, so perfect as he reminds us that it was Jesus who was promised to come, Jesus whom the word of God had so long spoken of. This is he, that is referred to as in so many ways;

Last Adam, 1 Cor. 15:45. Advocate, 1 John 2:1. Almighty, Rev. 1:8. Alpha and Omega, Rev. 1:8. Amen, Rev. 3:14. Angel, Gen. 48:16; Ex. 23:20, 21. Angel of his presence, Isa. 63:9. Anointed, Psa. 2:2. Apostle, Heb. 3:1. Arm of the Lord, Isa. 51:9, 10. Author and perfecter of our faith, Heb. 12:2Blessed and only Potentate, 1 Tim. 6:15. Branch, Jer. 23:5; Zech. 3:8. Bread of life, John 6:48. Bridegroom, Matt. 9:15. Bright and morning star, Rev. 22:16. Brightness of his (the Father’s) glory, Heb. 1:3. Captain of the host of the Lord, Josh. 5:14. Captain of salvation, Heb. 2:10 Chief corner stone, 1 Pet. 2:6. Chiefest among ten thousand, Song 5:10. Child, Isa. 9:6; Luke 2:27, 43. Chosen of God, 1 Pet 2:4 …the power of God, 1 Cor. 1:24. … the wisdom of God, 1 Cor. 1:24. …, the Son of God, Acts 9:20. the Son of the Blessed, Mark 14:61, This is Christ, the Consolation of Israel, Luke 2:25.

Romans Review Pt 3 The Two Natures Within.

Review of 1-6

The Ruin of Secular ManThe Self Condemnation of ALL MankindThe Laws condemnation of the JewThe Gospel of FaithThe JustifiedThe Answer against AntinomianismThe End of the Law and the Two Natures Within.

 

Dead To The Law and Betrothed to Christ (Rom 7:4-13)

After all we have witnessed till now we can see with certainty that we were once dead in trespasses and sins, but now are we reckoned righteous by God. The Law having no more dominion over us, that we may now live to Christ.

We saw the natural questions being both asked and answered by Paul teaching with all assurance that the life that we now live is to resemble the transformation of the life within, and NOW Paul goes on to explain with both logical and legal precision that which has ACCTUALLY occurred to make this true.

Romans 7:1–3

1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, whileher husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 

The simplicity of the passage above is not lost on those who know the law, for which this passage is written.

When the wife is married to a husband, she is bound to her husband for as long as he lives, so too the man to his wife (Paul uses the woman here only in relation to the consistency that we may remember the Church are called “The Bride of Christ”).

But if the wife, though bound to her husband, joins herself to another man, she is an adulterer from the law of her husband.

Those who are under the law, that is, all who are lost in the world and are either bound to the law they have made for themselves (Which we read of in Romans 2:12-16), or those who are given the oracles of God (as seen in Romans 3), these all are bound only to the law that is governed by the flesh. 

They proved to themselves they know the law written both in their hearts and that given by God is good, and condemn themselves by judging in others what they also do.

This shows that they cannot ever escape this law until they are dead to it (IE: Born again). 

This is what is here represented as “adultery”, that is, they try to turn away from the law they are bound by flesh, to another they cannot keep. This is represented in them following other religions, doing good works, being sure they are diligent in ticking boxes. 

 But they can never be freed from the law of the flesh until they are dead to it. Therefore they are pictured as adulterers.

In other words, you cannot escape the nature of the flesh by simply changing your mind about sin and doing good works. Your very nature is to serve sin and it cannot be changed no matter how hard you try to change it.

There is an old story that speaks of a King who had identical twin sons. It was lost as to which came out first for the sake of the inheritance, and he loved them both but knew that the kingdom could only go to one of them. 

He set a challenge for them when they came of age that, whosoever of them could impress him the most after sixty days, he should inherit the kingdom.

The sons set themselves bu

Romans Review pt 2: Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ

Romans 5:1-10

13-03-2022

Pr Edi Giudetti

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Rom 5:1-10

Introduction

As we began our review of the Book of Romans as a short mini-series before we return to the conclusion of the Romans expositional Commentary I began back in 2019, we had a look at the first natural segment of Romans seen in chapters 1 to 3 which I titled ‘Tragedy and Hope’.

In this we saw the devastation of mankind and his fall into ruin in a very practical manner before we saw his hope in the Gospel from the 21st verse of Romans 3.

First was seen that man is held accountable to know God. We saw that man is without excuse when it comes to God’s existence. He can see the “invisible things of God” as “Being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead”.

We witnessed that this rejection of that which is plainly evident concerning God however has its effect in the ruin of man. 

Truth exchanged for a lie, the worship of the creature more than the creatorThe distortion of the natural affections between men and women, turned to its opposite in the lusting one with another, men with men, women with women.Until a complete reprobate mind is found in them.

Today we are living with the plain global evidence of this effect, at least in western civilisation.

Man’s overall rejection of God and the evident embracing of a completely secular and atheistic worldview is clearly leading man into the moral and cultural abyss so evident in the world today.

In short, the rejection of Truth has its effect in the embracement of deceit. This is simply the most natural and logical outcome, just as we witness today.

It has been said that when man rejects the truth of God he does not turn to believe in nothing, on the contrary, he believes anything.

In this the conscience itself is affected, when society loses its grasp on reality, on truth and error, right and wrong, so too does the reprobate mind affect the conscience. 

Paul wrote of this to Timothy saying, 

1 Timothy 4:1–2 

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 

No longer able to discern good and evil, truth from lies, this is the hallmark of the “latter times” as man rejects God on-masse.

Jesus testified to this in Matt 24:3, Mrk 13:5 & Lk 21:8; deception will rule the days of the last days.

Thereby man is given over to a reprobate mind, a mind no longer able to function in accord to its created structure.

Then we witness the self-condemnation in man in Romans 2. Just when we thought the ruin of Romans one could not be made worse, we enter man’s hypocrisy of pointing out the sins of others, that he himself uncritically entertains.

We had seen in this that man condemned their own selves when they judge th

The Gift Pt 5: Rejoice: A Response, A Duty, A Witness.

27-02-2022

Pr Edi Giudetti

There is a wonderful and logical simplicity to the nature of The Gift that should in every way cause us all to rejoice and to do as commanded in the Bible, to “Rejoice evermore” (1 Thess 5:16). 

For so long we have tried to save ourselves, so long we’ve been burdened by the fear of death, for so long we have been concerned with regards to what happens after death and now suddenly before us is The Gift laid open, laid bare, given to us simply because we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

We have witnessed;

God the father, the Gift Bearer, who gives to us salvation, eternal life.God The Holy Spirit, the Gift Sealer, who seals and guarantees our salvation as secured by him.God The Son, the Gift Procurer, who purchased redemption for us by his death and through the shedding of his precious blood.

In this trinity is found the single most precious joy for all of mankind, in this triunity of hope is found the single hope for the world, in this ‘three in one’ God demonstrates how he so loved the world.

But we also witnessed last week that there is a frightening concern for man who may have believed themselves to be recipients of The Gift, but are “none of his” (Rom 8:9). Many who will say in that day Lord, Lord, but will hear the response “I never knew you, depart from me…” (Matt 7:23). This, I pray you have addressed before the Lord in the last week. I pray you have sought him diligently to make your calling and election sure(2 Pet 1:10), that you have examined yourselves whether ye be in the faith (2 Cor 13:5)

None that you know that you know your salvation is secured in him, today we will come to what our permanent response should be, not only as an emotional feeling that comes and goes, but as a duty for our joy and witness.

When you think that from the day you have believed the Gospel, you no longer ever need to fear death; when death is no longer YOUR enemy, but swallowed up in victory; when the worst thing that could ever have happened to you before you were saved, is now turned about to become the event that finally sees you in Glory; how can you not rejoice? 

When you FULLY come to terms with this eternal hope that you have, Given by God the Father, Secured by God the Holy Ghost, and purchased by God the Son, how can you not remind yourself of this every day and simply rejoice with exceeding great joy?

Here we have a gift that has been given you about which there is simply nothing in this world that can ever compare, it is so incredible that words don’t seem to have the ability to describe it.

This is acknowledged in the Bible;

1 Corinthians 2:9 

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

Those things yet to be seen, but fully to be expected, those things that are identified and spoken about in the Bible as our inheritance, are so wonderful that they are simply indescribable. Can you even begin to fathom the most incredible joy that should stem from the knowledge of our salvation?

Psalm 35:9 

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 

This morning we will discover that our rejoicing in this salvation is both a response, a duty, and a witness.

Let’s now give some consideration to our text.

Turn to 

Acts 16:25–34 

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thysel

The Gift pt 4: The False Gift

20-02-2022

Of late we have given consideration to an object to which is the single most important object of our lives, the one and only item for which all eternity hangs, the single most precious element of life that will determine eternal joy or eternal misery, and it is that which relates to our relationship to God the father, through Christ the Son. We refer to salvation, this is a gift, but tragically many are trusting in a false gift.

Created by God, man has rebelled against him, sin has eternally separated man from God and cast him into the same condemnation as the Devil. The series we have attended to speaks of THE GIFT of everlasting life through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for our sins to REDEEM us to God. 

I had thought to have concluded it last week and to return to our study of the book of Romans which we had lifted for a time back in September last year, but the Lord did not see fit to allow me to resume it. I have two last and very important messages relating to The Gift, one is a warning of a False Gift, the other a response to its reception.

The Warning, being todays message, is absolutely vital; 

For as simple as the gospel is and as simple as the receiving of the Gift is, there is also the greatest danger of all that lay ahead for those who have only THOUGHT to have received it, but are yet lost. 

The Bible teaches us that MANY people have deceived themselves, believing they belong to Christ, but are not known of him.

The Title of the message today is A False Gift, and it is based on the passage found in Matthews Gospel in the final paragraph of the Sermon on the mount that began in chapter 5.

Matthew 7:21–23 

Here, sandwiched between six verses of the warning of false teachers, and six versesidentifying true recipients of the Gift, are three of the most frightening verses ever seen in the Bible.

It is those verses that I must expound to you today.

This is not a passage I delight to preach on, but when it comes to eternal life or death, I would be the most irresponsible pastor to neglect it. 

In short, there are going to be many people who have thought to have received the Gift of God, thinking to themselves that they shall enter into the kingdom of God, to whom the Lord shall profess to them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (v 23).

These are they who believe they have received the gift of eternal life, but remain dead in trespass and sins. These are they who deceive themselves into thinking they are saved, they believe themselves worthy of eternal life, but remain damned to eternal destruction.

These are they who have spoken in the name of Christ, attended to miracles of Christ, worked what they believed to be the work of Christ, but remain strangers to him.

These call themselves Christians, they act like Christians, even preach like them, but are lost.

Charles Spurgeon reflects on such as these writing;

A man may go in and out among Christians, join in their prayers, and praises, and communions, and preach their gospel or hear it, till, at last, without any reason for his belief, he may persuade himself that it is all right. He may even pass through the portals of death undeceived. The righteous are often troubled when they come to die; but it is with these self-deceived people as the psalmist says, “There are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.” Take heed, I beseech you, of self-deception… [If] “in that day,” we should say to him, “Lord, Lord,” and begin to argue that we were all right, and Christ should put an end to it all by saying, “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”[1]

I stated that this is the single most frightening passage of the Bible because it affects “MANY”.

MANY who believe themselves safe from the day of vengeance of God, but no fruit has ever born witness to it.MANY w

The Gift pt 3 The Gift Procurer

13-02-2022

A Son Given

Isaiah 9:6 

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

We have looked at and have witnessed the scriptures speaking to us relative to that which is identified in this short series as The Gift.

We have seen God as the Gift Bearer, giving salvation to all who have believed on the name of Jesus Christ, the name of his son, for the salvation of their souls. None can come to the son lest the father draw him and whosever comes to the Son he will in no wise cast out. (Jn 6:37)

We have seen that God is not an Indian giver, he will not give salvation only to take it away.

Last week we have seen that the gift God has given, is the Gift of the Holy Spirit. A wonderful joy and blessing, all who have the Spirit belong to the Lord, “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom 8:9)

We considered the Spirit of God next in this series because we have seen him as the Gift of God given to SEAL the recipient, the down payment, the “ernest of our inheritance until the redemption of that purchased possession”, which is you and I who have believed (Eph 1:14). 

It is in these messages that we came also to see that false teachers had come into the Church to take away our liberty in the Gospel, to take away our joy and lead us astray. We identified the mega cult, the only cult in existence that encapsulates them all, the cult of works.

Far too many Christians today, people who I believe are truly born again, also hold ultimately to a form of works to save them. But a Gift is not a gift if it is to work for, neither is it a gift if works retain it.

Now, this gift, this grace does not mean that the Christian sins with abandon, the Bible makes that absolutely clear; 

Romans 6:15–16 

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 

There is provision respecting sin in the Christian, but those who sin with abandon do not belong to the Lord no matter how much they profess him. They are the servants of who they obey.    BUT THAT THE LAW CANNOT JUSTIFY A MAN IS EVIDENT.          Paul wrote; “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ… for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Gal 2:16)

In the next chapter Paul wrote; 

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.Galatians 3:10

In the very next verse he writes;

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 

He Logically sumarises that “… if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Gal 2:21)

Paul referred to the Galatians as “Foolish” and “bewitched” in Galatians 3:1. He culminates the argument in Galatians 5, where he states “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Gal 5:3-4

In the sister book to Galatians, Paul writes to the Hebrew Christians, who ALSO were returning to the works of the law to save them saying;

Hebrews 7:18–19 

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 

Christians have no excuse to think that the law could ever save them wh