New Life Fellowship Church Sunday Sermons Podcast

When we think of the word grace, we often think of the phrase amazing grace. The grace of God is truly amazing. Thats why we cant stop singing about it. But when we use the word amazing were looking at grace from our perspective. We are amazed that God would do this for us, that it is free for us, that we experience it the way that we do. When we think of grace from Gods perspective the more appropriate phrase may be to think of it as abounding grace. Gods grace is without limit. It is his abundant provision (Romans 5:17).Watch at: https://youtu.be/T6XrEKX7p9Q File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/09/06/09/30/26/2756a176-3656-448d-9318-4d50bd1d4f4c/Week%209%20-%20090521%20-%20Romans%205%2012-21%20(Questions).pdf

After explaining justification by faith in Romans 4, Paul fittingly begins Romans 5 with the phrase, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith He goes on to list the consequences of being justified by faith: peace with God, access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and hope of the glory of God. But he also lists an unexpected consequence of our new reality in Christ Jesus, we also glory in our sufferings. The Bible makes it clear that everyone suffers in this world. The difference for a child of God, one who is justified by faith, is how they endure suffering. The difference for a child of God is that suffering produces perseverance which produces character which produces hope.Watch at: https://youtu.be/qLdhJGMeHEo File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/08/29/20/55/38/077debb5-d4b6-4b16-be46-e668db8deb00/Week%208%20-%20082921%20-%20Romans%205%201-11%20(Questions).pdf

In Romans 4, Paul presents the example of Abraham to explain what it means to be justified by faith. When you learn the details of Abrahams life described in Genesis 11-25, it becomes very clear why Paul says that Abraham was not justified by his good works. Rather, because he believed God, because of his faith, God imputed his own righteousness to Abraham and counted Abraham as righteous. As Hebrews 11:1-2 makes clear, Abraham was confident in what he hoped for and assured about what he did not see because he was confident that God would fulfill what he had promised. Watch at: https://youtu.be/t7I2QhvTycg File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/08/23/20/08/59/e008fdd7-7d99-415d-9cdc-029c45b9be5d/Week%207%20-%20082221%20-%20Romans%204%201-25%20(Questions).pdf

Romans 3 reads like the transcript of a Question & Answer session. Paul states the questions that the Jewish believers in Rome would have raised and then answers the questions. Even as he reiterates that there is value in knowing and keeping the law, he explains that the righteousness of God is given by God through Jesus Christ and received by faith. Righteousness, our right legal standing before God, is not because of our good works but because of the sacrifice of atonement of Jesus.Watch at: https://youtu.be/WGSmPAKkuyY File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/08/09/19/26/36/59a1ff59-6210-456d-a991-6003a7bd4535/Week%206%20-%20080821%20-%20Romans%203%201-31%20(Questions).pdf

In this passage, Paul makes three charges against the believers in Rome:

You think that keeping the law makes you righteous

In keeping the outer observances of the law without paying attention to the inner requirements of the heart that the law points to, you have ended up as hypocrites, people who dont practice what they preach

You need a circumcision of the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit

These charges remain relevant for us today. We are encouraged to practice what we preach, to keep the law by keeping our circumcised hearts right before God. Watch at: https://youtu.be/qvvAsADi_2o File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/08/02/12/16/59/1a651b59-60a2-4b67-8f00-d04ab7e7fd0a/Week%205%20-%20080121%20-%20Romans%202%2017-29%20(Questions).pdf

Romans 1 ends with a list of sins that are the result of human beings pursuing their own over-desires. Lest the religious reader think that the list does not apply to them, Romans 2 begins with this admonition, You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. When we judge others, it is because of our self-righteousness and not Gods righteousness, kindness, patience, or truth. When we judge others, we condemn ourselves. When God judges us, our own words and our consciences bear witness of our sin. Watch at: https://youtu.be/1o-BYyJaz4Q File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/07/19/16/07/17/d4391eb0-69e5-4964-a161-58ccc2e91785/Week%204%20-%20071821%20-%20Romans%202%201-16%20(Questions).pdf

Romans 1:18 states that the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven. In verses 24, 26, and 28 we read that God has given human beings over to their sinful desires, shameful lusts, and depraved minds. We can understand these statements only if we first understand that God created humanity in his image and intended for human beings to connect to him and reflect him. When human beings choose to worship everything other than God, when we choose not to reflect the image of God, then God gives us up to what we want, to what we desire.Watch at: https://youtu.be/A8XwXcjHWFE File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/07/12/07/17/04/a1dff2f1-1b61-4914-b4a1-40ccddfae3c6/Week%203%20-%20071121%20-%20Romans%201%2018-32%20(Questions).pdf

Paul begins his letter by commending the believers in Rome for their faith. He lets them know he is praying constantly for them. He longs to see them so that he may impart a spiritual gift. He is anticipating a harvest of spiritual fruit when he joins them. In short, he is encouraging them in every way. But it is important to note that Paul wants to be with them so that they may be mutually encouraged by each others faith. As children of God, equally valued and blessed by our heavenly Father, we are called to encourage each other in the Lord. Watch at: https://youtu.be/aq9fXjnhJTs File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/07/05/10/17/24/00c04344-3eb3-4ce2-afe7-70637c8c2e21/Week%202%20-%20070421%20-%20Romans%201%207-17%20(Questions).pdf

The predominant theme of Pauls letter to the Romans is the gospel. Paul opens his letter stating that he is a slave of Christ because of the transforming power of the gospel, that he has been called as a messenger of the gospel, and that he is set apart to fulfill the specific purpose and plan of God for the sake of the gospel. Throughout the book of Romans, Paul lays out how gospel believers can live out gospel truths. The gospel defines who we are. Watch at: https://youtu.be/gbpR_h9v9Sg File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/06/28/14/13/23/e58b4d4a-8d69-40ea-92b7-16e3985be72a/Week%201%20-%20062721%20-%20Romans%201%201-6%20(Questions).pdf

Luke concludes his two volumes the gospel account of what Jesus began to do and the account of what Jesus continued to do after his ascension through his body, the Church rather abruptly. Some have speculated that Luke may have intended to write more but was somehow unable to do so. However, considering that Luke lived for another 20 years after he wrote the book of Acts and that the Holy Spirit inspired each of the biblical authors to record all that we need for life and godliness, the open-ended conclusion of the book of Acts must be intentional. The Lord intended for the Church to be actively engaged in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit in the world today. When we live out the truths of the word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of Jesus to lost, hurt, sick, and dying people continues from the book of Acts until he returns.Watch at: https://youtu.be/a1CS1IHQUss File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/06/21/09/17/45/31f4cef6-e087-4d50-b629-7ac080e75c7b/Week%2033%20-%20062021%20-%20Acts%2028%2011-31%20(Questions).pdf