Bible Text: Romans 4:1-12 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Romans 1:16-17, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”
Paul is talking about that gift of acceptance to, being made righteous by, and eternal relationship with God — it is a gift of the grace of God.
One of the earliest and clearest Biblical examples of this is Abraham. Paul uses Abraham as an illustration of a man who was made righteous before God.
Abraham is known, revered, and honored by three faiths: Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Paul is especially using Abraham here in Romans, as an example for the Jewish readers of this letter.
In today’s lesson we will consider How Abraham was made righteous. When Abraham was made righteous.
Look at verses 1-3… The very first account of Abraham is found in Genesis 11:26-12:9. He was born to Terah, a descendant of Shem (one of Noah’s three sons). Abraham was living in the city of Ur of the Chaldea in the Mesopotamian Valley, and although he was a religious man, he was most likely an idolator like his father Terah (Joshua 24:2), who like most of the residents of Ur worshipped the moon goddess, out of an ignorance of the One True God.
At that time, God appeared to and called Abraham, who believed and obeyed God, trusting God to take care of his family, leading him to a land he had never seen.
Paul states (v. 2) of our text, “If in fact Abraham was justified [made righteous] by works, he had something to boast about,” i.e., if works could make Abraham righteous, he had something to brag about.
That is the way it is in the world is today, isn’t it? We gain reputation and popularity among one another by what you do, what we have. We impress one another by our deeds, but God is not impressed. God knows our hearts, He knows why we do what we do; He sees the greed, self-centeredness, and manipulation that goes on in our minds and hearts, rendering our actions to be. invalid, worthless in the eyes of God.
Any sense of righteousness from our own self-centered performance is short lived. The righteousness from God lasts for eternity, and that is what Abraham received. Paul says (v. 3), it was by Abraham’s belief that God’s righteousness was credited to him (see Genesis 15:5-6).
God no doubt explained to Abraham what He meant by offspring [seed, used first in Genesis 3:15, of Christ].

Galatians 3:6-9, “Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” 16, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”
God must have explained to Abraham that there was One coming who would fulfill God’s promises concerning Abraham’s spiritual, as well as his physical, descendants. It is through Jesus that this would be fulfilled.
James 2:23 quotes Genesis 15, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” then James adds, “and he was called God’s friend” — not because he behaved well, or was self-righteous, but because he believed God’s promise of the One who was to come through Abraham’s line – Jesus of Nazareth.
Look at Verses 4-5… Yes, we can take credit for what we do, but not for what God does in us; and only God can make us righteous. Verse 5 is a declaration of the gospel, in that we can only be made right with God by God, and we can do nothing good of ourselves (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 3:10-12; 8:1).
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Anyone who tries to earn acceptance, to earn God’s love, to become right with God by what they do, or who they think they are, will fail. God’s GRACE is the unmerited favor and mercy of God.
Many Christians, having once believed in Christ for salvation, they try to gain God’s approval and love by works or rituals; but you can never earn God’s love that way. God’s love is a gift and it is yours by faith in Christ, fresh every morning, for all of eternity.
Look at verses 6-8… Paul now reminds us of David, another great example of a man who gained God’s favor by faith, not by performance or lack of performance.
Verses 7-8 are quoted from David’s 32nd Psalm. David received God’s gift of mercy when he was being tortured by a guilty conscience, for he had murdered Uriah the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, to cover up his own adulterous affair, even as the king of Israel.
Abraham was not considered righteous by being good and moral; but only when he believed God, concerning Jesus, the seed Who would bring righteousness to all those who believe in Him. Abraham was called the friend of God, not because of his deeds, but because he believed in what God said.
David failed to be righteous as the king of Israel, but in the midst of his depravity he turned to and trust in God concerning the Savior yet to come. David learned that God did not want the sacrifice of animals, but a willful spirit that trusted in what God said about the Sovereign Sacrifice of His own Son. And so, David is called a man with a heart after God.
As a Christian, a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you are a friend of God. This is made effectual not by your good works, good looks, or good heritage, but by your trust in the life, death and resurrection of God’s Son.
Look at verses 9-11a… Abraham was circumcised fourteen years after he was pronounced righteous by faith, fourteen years after he was called the friend of God.
The Jews, of Paul’s day claimed that it was the ritual of circumcision that made them acceptable to God; clearly, righteousness was credited to Abraham long before he was circumcised, i.e., circumcision has no value for righteousness or salvation.
Consider this, the modern equivalent of Jewish circumcision is Christian baptism; people are justified before God [made righteous in God’s sight] – not by being circumcised or baptized, but by genuine saving faith in Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, coming again.
Circumcision was useless in saving anyone, the real purpose of circumcision was to serve as a sign and a seal.
As a sign, it served to identify God’s people, set apart from all others, for no other people on the earth at that time circumcised their male offspring.
As a seal, every time circumcision was performed, it served to remind the people of God’s righteousness that was credited to Abraham, and to all believers, through faith, apart from circumcision (see Romans 2:28-29).
Look at verses 11b-12… The righteousness from God was to make Abraham the father of many spiritual children who would come through God’s seed, God’s Son [the Word of God: Luke 8:11; John 1:1-3, 14, 18].
Most of us here are not descendants of Abraham by blood. However, we become sons and daughters of Abraham by faith, when we receive God’s gift – Jesus Christ, of Whom Paul wrote (2Corinthians 9:15), “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
When we believe God, like Abraham, trust in God’s seed, we show that we are Abraham’s descendants.
Galatians 3:26-29, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
All those who walk in the footsteps of faith associated with Abraham, whether circumcised or not, belong to God and are considered righteous.
No Jew is saved [made righteous] by being circumcised and obeying the law, anymore than any Gentile is saved [made righteous] by being baptized and going to church.
Abraham was made righteous when he believed and obeyed God, and by doing so, Abraham expressed faith in God to protect and provide for him, not just here on earth, but forever in heaven (Hebrews 11:10), “Abraham was looking forward to the City Whose architect and builder is God.”
The Bible says everyone who calls o the name of the Lord will be saved; we are saved by believing God and trusting in His Son, nothing else can make us righteous.
Therefore, we don’t need to base our worth on what others think about us or what we are able to accomplish. God loves us and makes us eternally righteous, through His own Son. We don’t have to prove anything to anyone; but need only to Love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others on God’s behalf, for as long as we live on this planet.
We can cease trying to please others or trying to please ourselves; instead, may we ought to commit to honor and obey our Father in heaven, living as sons and daughters of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ, Who is both Lord & Savior: crucified, resurrected, coming again.
Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 3:21-31 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Overview/Review of Romans 1-3:20: There are two groups of Christians being considered here: Jewish Christians, who have tried to follow the Law and Prophets for a very long time, remaining separate from the rest of the world and its practices; Gentile Christians – who don’t know anything about the Law and Prophets, or the traditions of the Jews, but they have believed in Jesus as Lord.
The problem being confronted by Paul, is that the Jewish Christians are demanding that the Gentile Christians conform to Jewish traditions and culture; while at the same time, the Gentile Christians are saying “no way,” because their hearts are right with God without practicing Jewish customs.
To be “good,” is to be declared righteous in the eyes of God, i.e., to be justified by God. You are righteous “if” you have fulfilled all the requirements of God; to not do so is to fall short, remaining unacceptable to God.
Those who fall short receive “God’s Wrath,” and God’s Wrath will come against all unrighteousness, falling upon all who are without a rightness in the eyes of God, who is perfect (1:18-32): false worship, sexual immorality (any sexual relationship outside of that between a husband and a wife), disobeying parents, gossiping, murder, lying, stealing, coveting, false testimony, and many, many more.
Paul has made it very clear (3:10-12) that everyone is a sinner, there is no one who is righteous, no one who does good, not even one; except the One Who came down from the Father’s side in heaven: God’s One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
And so, all people, those who practice Judaism (the Jews), and those who do not (the Gentiles, everybody else), are sinners who are deserving of God’s wrath.
No one can fulfill God’s righteous requirements, neither the Commandments given on stone, or those written upon our hearts (Romans 2:11-16) for one would have to be perfect, and only Jesus Christ was perfect, because He was fully God, as well as fully man.
Read Romans 3:21… Notice, God’s righteousness apart from the Law, has been made known [revealed], even so, the Law and the Prophets testify to this revelation of God’s righteousness that is apart from the law [rules of behavior, religious rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices, and offerings].
Genesis 49:10 proclaims that “from Judah’ will come one who will rule all the nations; and Deuteronomy 18:18 tells us God “will raise up a prophet” from among the Jews, and God “will put [His own] words in this special messenger, God’s Servant, and He will speak with the full authority of God.
Isaiah 7:14 declares that “the Lord Himself will give a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel,” Micah 5:2 tells us this special child will be born in Bethlehem, in Judea; Zechariah 9:9 says He will
come into Jerusalem as victorious King and Savior, yet “gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The righteousness of God was manifested in the Person of Jesus Christ, and it is He who, “fulfilled the Law and Prophets.”
Jesus was born to a virgin, as the prophets foretold.
Jesus was the personal presence of God on earth, the Great & Almighty “I AM.” – “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48)
– “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
– “I am from above” (John 8:23)
– “I am not of this world” (John 8:23)
– “Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
– “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14)
– “I am the gate/Entry way” (John 10:7, 9)
– “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will live even
though he dies.” (John 11:25)
– “I am lifted up from the earth” (John 12:32)
– “I am your Teacher and your Lord” (John 13:13) – “I am He” (John 13:19)
– “I am the Truth” (John 14:6)
– “I am the Life” (John 14:6)
– “I am the Way” (John 14:6)
– “I and the Father are one.” (John 14:10)
– “I am in you” (John 14:20)
– “I am the true vine, remain in me” (John 15:1,5) – “I am a king” (John 18:37)
One of Jesus’ primary accomplishments was to “fulfill the Law” and thus fulfill all the demands of his righteous relationship with God.
Matthew 5:17-20, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness (as opposed to the righteousness from God) surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus fulfilled the Law by completing it.
Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you
that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” 27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Read Romans 3:22-24… Righteousness does not come from our good works; it is a gift from God. That is why God says (Matthew 5:20), you will not enter the kingdom of God unless your righteousness surpasses that of the teachers of the Law.
Our self-righteousness is like filthy rags to God. We all have sinned and so, we all fall short, miss the mark.
Isaiah 64:6, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
If we could earn our righteousness, it would not be a gift, it would be a reward. We receive God’s gift by trusting in what Jesus accomplished on the cross, i.e., He alone “fulfills” God’s righteous requirements enabling us to personally come into His presence.
When we genuinely believe in Jesus, His righteousness is fully imputed [placed upon, transferred] to us as a gift, totally removing the penalty for our sin.
In Romans 1:21-32, Paul’s declares how people gave up their knowledge of God in exchange for worshiping false gods; they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and committed other sins, gratifying their sinful desires while approving those who engaged in perverted sin, resulting in the penalty of bringing the wrath of God upon themselves.
Jesus came to take away all our sins, while at the same time granting us His righteousness. He offered the exchange of our sinfulness for His righteousness; He did this by taking our sin upon Himself, therefore incurring the full wrath of God upon Himself on the cross.
Read Romans 3:25… Under the OT system, animals died as a substitute for the sin’s of the offender, i.e., the sinner was forgiven until the next time he/she sinned, after which, another sacrifice had to be made.
Jesus is the Lamb of God, paying everyone’s sin debt so God can show mercy on us by removing all our guilt and sin’s condemnation, permanently. You see, although the Old Testament sacrifices were put to death and offered on the alter, they never suffered the wrath of God.
Placing God’s wrath upon Jesus appeased God’s Righteousness, and as a result, the Lord is able to justify all who trust in His sacrificial death.
Isaiah 53:10-11, “Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the LORD makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring and
prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.”
Read Romans 3:26… At the cross, God demonstrated His Love and Righteousness; He will punish sin and reward reward those whom He has justified.
It has been said, a loving God will not send everyone to hell; and a righteous God will not allow everyone into heaven. God remedies this “contradiction” by offering up Himself to receive the punishment due to us, so that we can enter heaven, the eternal home of the righteous. He is “the One who Justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
The marvelous truth is that everyone who comes to the Savior (repenting of sin and believing in Jesus) will be declared Righteous, having been Justified, fully forgiven, pronounced righteous, in the Courtroom of God.
Think about it, you and I are Justified through Christ – Just-if-ied never sinned, i.e., considered righteous!
Read Romans 3:27-31… No one is justified by keeping the Law; in fact, everyone breaks the law because everyone is a sinner. No one is righteous, and no one can become righteous, not by being good, doing good, or somehow acquiring anything good, we all fail.
God is not just a Loving God, He is a Just and Loving God; therefore, He must punish all unrighteousness. God requires perfection as the standard for those who will enter heaven, and so He demands perfection as the requirement therefore, a penalty must be rendered that is sufficient to punish the wrongdoer equal to their crime.
The penalty for sin (Romans 6:23a) is death, the good news is that Jesus took our punishment on Himself on the cross (Romans 5:8), so that we might receive the gift of God (Romans 6:23b) eternal life through Jesus Christ,
The Law of God condemns all of us as sinners, in desperate need of a Savior; whether Jews, given the Ten Commandments through Moses on Mount Sinai, or Gentiles who have God’s law written upon their hearts (Romans 2:11-16), apart from God’s mercy through Jesus Christ we are all doomed to an eternal hell.
Since Adam and Eve’s disobedience, which brought sin’s curse upon all of us, we have been responsible to do the right thing, to obey God and to honor Him, for God clearly declares that we all, everyone of us, has been given a knowledge of good from evil.
Genesis 3:22, “And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.”
Romans 5:12-13, “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned– for before the law was
given, sin was in the world.” 19-21, “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus] the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are all guilty of sin and therefore condemned to the death, if left to our own justification; but in Christ, we are completely and eternally justified, i.e., made righteous, both Jew and Gentile, by God alone; when we believe in and receive God’s Sovereign Gift, forgiveness for sins and eternal life through His One and Only Son.
Romans 10:9-10, 13, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 3:9-20 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Read Romans 3:9… I believe Paul is saying that just because the Jews had the Law of God (as we studied lat week), are no better off than the Gentiles. The truth is, all men are guilty of sin, deserving of God’s just punishment. We cannot obtain favoritism with God, or become more acceptable, by being religious or moral, or by our ancestral heritage, or by our acquisition of knowledge wealth, power, or fame. Read Romans 3:10-14… (Ecclesiastes 7:20) God is clear in His assessment, everyone who has reached the age of accountability, knowing good from evil, truth from error. Look: no one is righteous,not even one; no one understands; no one seeks God. All people have turned away from God’s righteousness and are therefore worthless. This is clearly expressed: no one, apart from God, is able to do anything pleasing to God, not one! God says, “no one is good, no one can do good.” And good is always defined as anything and everything that pleases God. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What is the first and foremost thing God wants for everyone (1Timothy 2:3-4), “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” (2Peter 3:9), “[God] is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God wants us to be saved sinners, for only then will we be “good,” as recipients of God’s grace, we are capable of doing that which pleases God. Please turn to Luke 18:18-22. Notice (v. 18), he calls Jesus “Good Teacher,” and (v. 19), “Why do you call me good? No one except God is good [morally upright].” Romans 3:13 says that apart from God, our “throats are open graves and our tongues practice deceit,” unsaved mankind is spiritually dead – lying and deceit are a natural part of life without God; in fact, “the poison of vipers” is on the lips of the unregenerate (see 1Peter 4:6). The speech of those who oppose God (Romans 3:14), “is full of cursing and bitterness. Matthew 3:7, “But when he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Matthew 12:34-35, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”
Matthew 15:18, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ “ Proverbs 15:2, “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” 28 “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” Read Romans 3:15-17… Godless men kill and bring misery, whereas, godly men seek peace and show love for others. Read Romans 3:18… Godless men have no fear of God (Psalm 14:1), “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” True believers revere God and try to honor Him, urging others to repent, to be reconciled to, and to serve God. Read Romans 3:19-20… Every unredeemed [unsaved] human in the whole world, who is capable of being conscious of sin, is accountable to God. Observing the Law will not justify anyone and knowing the Law only makes us conscious of sin. Paul says the Jew is accountable to God for the written Law (through Moses), just as the Gentile (everybody else) is accountable to God for the Law written upon their hearts (Romans 2:11-15). All mankind, apart from the saving grace of God, through Christ, is guilty of sin – this should result in total silence (Romans 3:19), “so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” No man, woman, or child of accountable age has anything to boast about, for there is nothing to be said in our defense except Jesus Christ’s sacrificial payment for our sins; therefore as Paul proclaimed (2Corinthians 10:17), “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” One day there will be total silence in heaven, for Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, will open the Deed to the universe, breaking its Seals – unleashing judgement. See Revelation 5:1-14; 8:1. This incomprehensible scene in heaven is the beginning of the apocalyptic destruction of the heavens and the earth; which is unleashed as the Seven Seals are broken; the seventh seal unleashes the Seven Trumpet Judgements, and the seventh trumpet unleashes the Seven Bowl Judgments, of which the seventh bowl’s judgement is brought to an end by the very return of Jesus Christ to the earth (Revelation 19:11-16), leading to Christ’s reign on earth as King for 1000 years (20:1-6); after which, the final battle (20:7-10) and then the judgement of God (Revelation 20:11-15) will be carried out on all those who have rejected Him throughout history (White Throne Judgement) No one will be justified by their own works or by keeping the Law of God, for sinful man is incapable of obeying God perfectly and therefore, worthy the of the death sentence.
The only hope for men, women, and children of age, to be considered good, and therefore acceptable, to God, is to accept God’s gracious gift of forgiveness for sins and eternal life through God’s Son. Apart from Christ, no one is good and no one can do good, according to God’s judgement. Our message is an urgent message, a timely message of hope and love and forgiveness and redemption and eternal life – though Jesus Christ the Lord. 1John 5:10-12, “Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Bible Text: Romans 3:1-8 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

The first eight verses of chapter 3 are Paul’s continued treatment of the close of Romans 2, where Paul answers the question: What makes a true Jew?
Some say it is those who believe the Torah, the Law, and the Prophets; someone who keeps a kosher kitchen and adheres to strict dietary regulations, as well as observing all the traditions of Judaism. Others say, “if you were born of Jewish ancestry then you are a Jew.”
Paul answered the question in Chapter 2:28, saying a man is not a Jew who is only one outwardly, but (v. 29) is one inwardly, being born of God’s Spirit, for that is what constitutes a Jew, nothing else.
It is not knowing or possessing the Law that makes a man a Jew, i.e., a true son or daughter of Abraham is by faith, not by circumcision, nor by special relationship with God based upon human ancestry or religious practice. The only thing that makes a person a child of God is faith in God’s Son.
Read Romans 3:1-2… Paul’s Jewish opposers were saying to him, if circumcision, the Law, and birthright don’t mean anything, what is the benefit of being a Jew?
Paul says to them, that although they have been entrusted with the very Law of God, everyone is under law, for even savages in the deepest jungle with no knowledge of the Bible or the Ten Commandments, have a moral standard, God’s Law having been written upon their hearts (see Romans 2:14-15).
See Genesis 2:25… Before sin’s curse!
See Genesis 3:7-11… Consequences of sin!
See Genesis 3:21-22a… Adam and Eve knew good and evil, long before the Law was given, and the propensity to sin was passed from parent to child, beginning with them (see Romans 5:12-14).
In our culture today we see many forms of religious practice: Church of Christ- Scientist, Church of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witness, Muslim, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Catholic, all of these seem convinced they are the ones who are right with God, just as the Jews claim to be God’s chosen people; all of these, to some degree, claim to have been given provision, position, purpose, power and wisdom through God’s Word.
The Jews were given the very first written revelation of God’s Word (on stone), expressing the mind, will, character and commands of God that no other people on earth possessed until that time. The Jews had greater responsibility than anyone else in that day, to know and to obey God’s decrees. And although this was a definite advantage, if they failed to make use of it, it did them no good at all, and they were no better off than if they had never received the Law of God.

We have an abundance of Bible translations available to us today, by which we can know the very will of God. There are billions of people today who have been raised in Sunday school and church, people who have been exposed to, and have read, the Bible from Genesis to Revelation; and yet, the majority of these people are no better off than if they had never read it.
I believe Paul’s main point in this discussion is that, although the Jews had a tremendous advantage, having the Law, they failed to honor and obey it.
Joshua 1:8, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Read Romans 3:3-4… Those opposing Paul ask, “are you suggesting that if some of the Jews did not have faith [or belief], God would not be faithful, that He would forget or not fulfill His promises to all the Jews?”
In other words, “are you saying that just because some of us didn’t do what God required in His Law, all of Israel has lost out on God’s promises?” “Are you saying God is not impressed by the all rituals we have kept and the sacrifices we have offered, don’t these mean anything to God?” “Are you saying that because of the disobedience and lack of genuine faith among some of the Jews, God has canceled His promises to all of them?”
Paul’s uses the strongest words in the Greek language (apart from cursing) to answer them, “Not at all, by no means, may it never be said,” i.e., “God forbid!” For to suggest that God is the One who failed would suggest that God gave a promise and then did not keep His word; that He was not faithful just because “some” of the people failed to do what was right in His eyes.”
We often blame God when things go wrong, or when we fail to obey God’s requirements or honor Him; so, Paul says, in response to that kind of thinking, ”Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
God is going to keep His word no matter how many of us are unfaithful to Him, and He is therefore just in judging us, in fact (Psalm 51:4b), “[He] is proved right when [He] speaks and justified when [He] judges.”
A little background on Psalm 51: For 18 months David had tried to hide his murder of Uriah, and adultery with Bathsheba; but God used Nathan the prophet (2Samuel 12:1-13) to bring David to the point of repentance, and Psalm 51 is the result of that confession of guilt.
By quoting Psalm 51, here in Romans 3:4, “Let God be true and every man a liar,” Paul is saying that even if men and nations fail God, He will fulfill His promises, for God’s resources are without limit in reference to time and amount, and His faithfulness is without error or failing.
2Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Read Romans 3:5-6… To actually consider that the depth of our sin makes God look good, by giving Him more opportunity to love and forgive us, would bring into question His right to judge us for our sin, after all, if in our sinfulness we promote God’s holiness, how can He condemn us?
Perhaps we should sin more to expose more of God’s holiness! Paul says, if we are allowed to live that way, God would have to be removed as judge, for God could not condemn those who, by doing bad, cause Him to look good.
How ridiculous to say that sin somehow glorifies God!The truth is, sin never glorifies God and it never produces good, it only demonstrates our need for God’s mercy.
Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Read Romans 3:7-8… The words “Someone might argue,” are not found in the Greek. This is important, because Paul is not talking about someone else, for he also is among those who are guilty of rationalizing God’s goodness as an excuse for their sinfulness.
Paul does not consider himself, even though an apostle of God, to be beyond the judgment of God; for he is just as capable of lying as anyone else, and as such, is subject to the judgement of God, the same as anyone else.
To say that our lying enhances God’s truthfulness, is to say, “let’s do evil so that good may come out of it.” Paul concludes this to be a ridiculous argument, for if bad results in good, then lies bring forth truth.
Today people often say “There’s no such thing as absolute truth, or for that matter, good and evil, for whatever they consider good, is good, whatever they don’t like, is evil. Do you see how utterly ridiculous that argument is. The logical conclusion to that kind of thinking is moral indifference, chaos and confusion, where nobody can judge right or wrong – everyone has their own fluctuating standard of, morality, religion, and conscience. Paul says, the condemnation on this kind of reasoning is well-deserved:
”Is there any manner by which a man or woman can please God apart from faith in Christ? Is there any way you can become good and acceptable to God?”
Paul’s clear answer is, “No one can make it on those terms, not the morally self- righteous, who pride themselves on their good conduct and clean living; not the unenlightened pagans in the jungles of the world, both concrete and green tropical ones, who go against their own consciences, unable to live up to their own standards, let alone God’s; nor the ultra religious who teach adherence to the Law, but themselves fail to obey it. They are all declared guilty before God.
We are living in a day when what men say is held up as the final word. The Scriptures are considered, but are not really taken as authoritative. But the apostles never treated Scripture that way. They listened to what men said, but when it came to the final authority, “they held up the Scriptures as Sovereign Truth!”
2Peter 1:4, “Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
God’s Word is the sovereign authority, not men, not governments, and not the Supreme Court. For it is God and His Word that is true and faithful. Men are sinners and in need of salvation, all humans who are of age. Praise God that He alone is faithful and merciful and just and loving, and He has offered up Himself as the once for all sacrifice for all sin, for all humankind, forever.
No one is so bad they cannot receive God’s Grace, whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, transexual, transgender, or transracial, it doesn’t matter, God turns no one away who genuinely repents and believes.
And no one is so good they don’t need God’s Grace, which has come through Jesus Christ, for everyone who calls on Him, repenting of sins and confessing Him as Lord, believing in and receiving Him as Savior, will receive forgiveness for sins and eternal life, having been born of the Spirit of God for the purpose of knowing, obeying and proclaiming God’s Word, seeking to live in a manner that brings honor and glory to God.

Bible Text: Topical | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Topical Study

God Already Defined Marriage!
(I guess the Supreme Court missed that memo…)
This past Friday morning, June 26, the Supreme Court ruled that Same Sex Marriages will be legally officiated, licensed, filed, and held binding in all of the 50 sates of the United States of America.
So how are we, as Christians, and members of the true Church of God in America, to respond to this “legal” mandate by the highest court in the land?
First of all, let’s define marriage – God created marriage and ordained that one man and one woman be committed to each other in a faithful monogamous relationship,seeking to honor God.
Secondly, any sexual relationship outside of “marriage” (as God defines it) is sinful in God’s eyes, and cannot be accepted or condoned by God’s people.
Proponents of gay rights, since Same Sex Marriage has been made legal in all 50 states, say Christians should not speak out against same-sex marriages, after all, they say, “Jesus never spoke against homosexuality or judged anyone based on their sexual behavior, the important thing is that we just love one another, and whether we are homosexual, bisexual, transexual, or transgender makes no difference to God, since He made us that way, love is what is important; and so, to speak against same sex relationships or same sex marriages is to express hate.”
To say that Jesus never spoke about sexual behaviors, is simply not true, in fact it is a blatant lie. Jesus is God, and God is the author of the whole Bible, all 66 Books.
2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed [originating from God] and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Hebrews 12:2 commands us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Jesus said (John 14:6), ”I am the way and the truth and the life,” He then said (John 14:26), “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
2Peter 1:20-21, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were
carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Christ: (Matthew 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Peter 1:11); the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2); the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; 16:13).

John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” 14, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 18, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,
who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.”
Clearly, all of God’s Word (not just the red letter portion) is from God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; and the Word of God speaks very specifically and clearly about homosexual behavior, and about marriage.
What does God’s Word say about homosexuality? Well, in a nut shell, it tells us that those who practice this sin will not inherit eternal life, but will instead be condemned to eternal punishment in hell. Not pleasant thought!
Genesis 19:1-29 records that God totally destroyed the cities and surrounding communities of Sodom & Gomorrah with fire, because of the sin of homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 call homosexuality a detestable act, punishable by death. Romans 1:24-32 declares homosexuality to be sinful, indecent, unnatural, depraved, and deserving of death.
1Corinthians 6:9-10 calls homosexuality wicked, declaring that all those who “practice” this sin will not enter heaven.
1Timothy 1:9-10 teaches that homosexuality is unholy, ungodly, perverse, and contrary to God’s Will.
Jude 7 reiterates that Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding towns, were destroyed by God because of the sin of homosexuality; it says “they serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
Revelation 21:8; 22:15 declare that those engaging in homosexual behavior will not enter heaven, but will go to the fiery lake of burning sulphur [eternal hell].
What does God’s Word say about SIN?
First of all, we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), and we all deserve the death penalty from God (6:23), even so, God has granted eternal life through Jesus Christ to all who believe in Him, receiving forgiveness, resulting in (8:1) no condemnation for all those who repent and follow God’s Son.
We are ll sinners, but God’s Word is very specific in its condemnation of homosexuality, along with all sexual behavior outside of a God-ordained marriage.
What does God’s Word say about being changed?
In 1Corinthians 6, Paul, speaking to Christians (vv. 9-11) says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
This is important, the use of the imperfect tense “were” (v. 11) signifies something that was continuously true in the past, but is no longer true.”
Case in point (2Corinthians 5:17), “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” Although we are all born in sin, no one is born a homosexual. Homosexuality is a sinful sexual preference and practice, and as God’s people we can never accept or condone such behavior.
Homosexuality leads to despair, all who engage in it, and all who approve of it, are at odds with God’s Word, and therefore, with God Himself!
What does God’s Word say about marriage? In a nut shell, God’s design is that a man and a woman, i.e., one male and one female (with NO other options) commit to one another in Christ, to become one in marriage.
Genesis 1:27-28, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female (Adam & Eve) he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” God declared (Genesis 2:24), that a “man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
Genesis 1-2 declares the qualifications for marriage and then records the very first marriage,with God officiating. This honored union was established by God and ordained by God (not by the Supreme Court, not by legislators, not by governments, and not by popular vote). God’s qualification for marriage is also stated in the New Testament (Matthew 19:4-6), “’Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.’”
Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

It is God’s expressed will that one man be married to one woman, i.e., a heterosexual monogamous relationship, and any sexual activity outside of a God ordained marriage, is clearly sinful, forbidden, and condemned.
Jesus said (John 8:31-32), “If you continue in My Word [the Bible], then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free,” (John 14:6), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” (Mark 1:15, 17), He commanded, “Repent, believe,” and “follow Me.”
Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13 both say, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord” [Jesus means, “God’s Salvation” or “Savior”], for the forgiveness of sins [pardoned from sin’s penalty], “will be saved” [made acceptable to God through the righteousness of Christ] i.e., granted eternal life.
How should we respond to Same Sex Marriage?
Can we accept or condone the ruling of the Supreme Court concerning Same Sex Marriage? No, of course we can’t, and I definitely won’t!
Should we not expect some backlash or persecution because we won’t get on the bandwagon, join the diversity parade, become politically correct, or a member of the rainbow coalition?
2Timothy 3:12-13, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived,” (Romans 1:32) “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
We must remain kind and courteous, as we are able, whenever we engage in conversations or discussions about this issue (Romans 12:18), “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
As God’s dearly loved children, we must know and speak the Truth of God, in love, unlike those who tell these folks their behavior is acceptable because, after all, it is now legal. But legal isn’t moral or good [abortion].
Those who practice such behavior, and those who condone it, show that they are void of any relationship with God, and are in fact enemies of God; they are in dire need of God’s loving and righteous forgiveness.
Listen, when you disguise, alter, or withhold God’s Truth from someone who is in need of God’s forgiveness and salvation, you aren’t loving them, you are showing hatred towards them, for you are keeping from them the one thing that can save them, and how loving is that?
1Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s One and Only Son.”
Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we
must be saved.”
We must continue to live out and to share the message of God’s Son: crucified, resurrected, and coming again; for everyone who repents and believes in Jesus Christ will be forgiven and they will be changed, no matter what kind of life they lived up to that point.
2Corinthians 5:17-21, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
People who engage in Same-Sex relationships, people who believe it is somehow acceptable for two men or two women to be married, are displaying just how desperately they need the Lord, and God may very well use some of us to bring His message to them.
Are you up to the task?


Bible Text: Romans 2:25-29 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

See Verses 25-27… Paul is clearly saying that the circumcision of the flesh, by itself, is useless in reference to making us acceptable to a holy and righteous God.
Circumcision was the physical sign of a people set apart to obey God, to honor God; therefore, for a man to be circumcised and yet to dishonor God, nullified his being set apart for the purpose of bringing glory to God.
So, where did the covenant of circumcision come from? Why was it instituted? See Genesis 17:1-14… Notice (v. 1) Abram was 99 years old when God covenanted with him. Abram [means high or exalted father]. Abram was to live an obedient life in response to the covenant God was making with him; and this covenant would affect generations to come; in fact, (v. 4) God changed Abram’s name to Abraham [meaning father of many nations], although, at that time, Abraham had no children.
Abraham is the ancestral father of all Jews (v. 5), for they came through one of the sons of Jacob [Israel], he being the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham.
But Abraham was more importantly the spiritual father of all who would believe and obey the LORD, not only Israel, but also Gentiles (Galatians 3:28-29), “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed [offspring, descendants], and heirs according to the promise.”
Notice in Genesis 17:7, this can’t just be talking about the covenant of circumcision that set the Jews apart from all the other nations on the earth; I believe this is also talking about the New Covenant through Christ’s shed blood, for it is through that covenant that eternal life is provided, making it an everlasting covenant.
Circumcision is the Old Covenant, established with Abraham, and therefore, Israel; Communion however is the New Covenant, established by Christ, with the Church, all who would believe, Jew and Gentile alike, people from every nation and language (1Corinthians 11:25), “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.”
The Old Covenant was one that declared biological ancestral affiliation with Abraham and later, with Jewish orthodoxy…
Last week I cited a passage from John 8:31-32, where Jesus said to some Jews, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In verse 33 they answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
In other words, the Jews were saying they didn’t need to be set free from slavery or bondage, because they were Abraham’s children; but, the New Covenant (through Christ’s blood) is entered into by personal recognition and repentance of sin, both confessing and professing faith in Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior.
See Romans 2:28… There is no nation or individual who has been set apart eternally by God, through a covenant requiring the circumcision of one’s flesh.
But, a person can be a descendant of Abraham in one of several ways:
1. You can be a descendant by ancestral blood, through birth to one who is a blood related to Abraham.
2.You can be a descendant by spiritual birth ancestry, through the shed blood of Christ (Galatians 3:26-29), “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed [offspring], and heirs according to the promise.”
3.You can be a descendant by both ancestral blood and the blood of Christ, and there are many “Messianic” [born again, believing] Jews today.
God’s Word says (1Corinthians 15:50) “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus (John 3:3) said, “unless [you] are born again [born of God], you will not see the kingdom of God,” (v. 4) in fact, “unless you are born of the Spirit [you] cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.”
A person is born again, born from above, born of God’s Spirit, when they believe, confess, and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, (John 1:12-13) “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Hebrews 11:8-16, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith Abraham, even though he was past age–and Sarah herself was barren–was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Revelation 21:1-4, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
See Romans 2:29… True Jews are not produced by anything resulting from human effort or construct.
Colossians 2:6-17, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Clearly, a true “Jew” is an offspring of Abraham through faith and belief in Jesus Christ. So, there are Jews and then there are Jews; but neither circumcision, blood ancestry, practice of religion, strict adherence to the Law, or any other human product, activity, or acquisition can produce acceptability to God or make anyone a child of God, a member of God’s family, part of God’s church, or a citizen of God’s eternal kingdom.
Colossians 3:1-4, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
So, who are true heavenly descendants of Abraham? Would that be the Jews, the blood ancestors of Abraham who are known as the nation of Israel today? No!
The eternal descendants of Abraham, the man who (Romans 4:3), “believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,” are all the true believers and followers of Christ [Christians, the Family of God], (Galatians 3:29), “Abraham’s [descendants], and heirs according to the promise.” What promise? The promise of eternal life in heaven with God! Abraham is the patriarch of the true Family of God now, and forever.
It was never God’s plan to validate an orthodox Jew, or a moral Gentile, whether they be Latino, Asian, African, Caucasian, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, or anything else. God’s plan is for us to be born-again by God’s Spirit, forgiven all our sins and granted eternal life, by confessing, believing in, and following Jesus Christ, God’s Son: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

Bible Text: Romans 2:17-24 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Last week we looked at verses 12-16 of Chapter two of Romans; the priority of
that lesson was no one will be justified by being a Jew or knowing the Law of God, but by being Christ-centered in both thoughts and actions, and doing that which pleases God; for God has placed His Law in the hearts of all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
The Jews took great pride in being the chosen people of God. In the ancient past they were called Hebrews because of the language they spoke. We know the Jews collectively as Israel, the nation that came through Jacob (whose name was changed by God to Israel = wrestled with God), Jacob was the son of Isaac, who was born to Abraham (to whom God gave the Covenant and Promise), and from Jacob came the twelve tribes of Israel.
Judah was the son of Jacob through whom the Messiah would come, and Jew is a shortened form of Judah, which means praised.
The nation of Israel, or the Jews, had been set apart by God and through them (Genesis 12:3), “all the families of the earth would be blessed.”
The problem being, the Jews didn’t want to share their God, and in fact, they boasted more about their own self-imposed greatness then they did the God who wanted to make them a great nation that would honor Him.
As heirs of God’s promise through Abraham, the Jews actually believed they would not stand in judgement, based solely upon their ancestry, they believed they would automatically go to heaven.
In John 8:31-32 Jesus said to some Jews, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In verse 33 they answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
They didn’t get it! In John 8:56-59 Jesus said, “ ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’ ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ the Jews said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.”
The statement-name “I am” (in verse 58) has the root meaning of Jehovah, or Yahweh (see Exodus 3:14). Jesus was clearly saying two things here: 1) He existed before Abraham (some 2000 years before the current time He was speaking), and 2) that He, Jesus, was God’s Son.
Read Romans 2:17-20… Paul says, you call yourself a Jew, saying that you trust and obey God’s Word; but more than that, you are boasting that you have been specially set apart and blessed by God.
You say you have God’s wisdom and therefore you are a leader, a teacher, a guide; in fact, you instruct those who are foolish, and you teach infants, for you say you have all the wisdom and truth of God in the Law, and therefore you do not need anything else, or anyone else!
Read Romans 2:21-22… Paul says to them, you seem to not pay any attention to your own instruction. You proclaim God’s truth to others, but it seems not to apply to you. You tell others it is wrong to steal, but you yourselves are stealing from God.
Malachi 3:8-9, “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ ‘In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse–the whole nation of you– because you are robbing Me.’ ”
Matthew 21:12-13, Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’ ”
Notice also, in Romans 2:22a Paul says, you teach against adultery, but you also commit adultery.
Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” 31, “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ “
Matthew 19:9, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Notice in Romans 2:22b, Paul basically is saying that although they hate idols, they rob temples of idols for their own gain, taking that which they abhor. Deuteronomy 7:25, “The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.”
It would seem that there were some Jews who, under the guise of destroying pagan idols, were actually gaining wealth for themselves by acquiring and selling these idols, many of which were made of gold, silver, and ivory, perhaps inlaid with valuable stones.
Read Romans 2:23… Although they claimed to be God’s people, even servants of God, they continued to sin, even to the point of becoming desensitized to it.
Over and over again, throughout their long history of war, bondage, exile, and occupation, Israel would turn from, and then cry out to God for help, only to again turn away from God and defile themselves, bringing dishonor and disrespect upon God.
Read Romans 2:24… Paul quotes Isaiah 52:5, as a rebuke on the hypocrisy of the Jews, for they should be bringing praise and honor to God as they worship Him; but instead they bring ridicule and disdain upon God’s name, for they bear His name yet live like it makes no difference; this makes a horrible witness to those who don’t know God, causing them to think even less of this God whose people live in such sin and rebellion.
This is even more true for us as Christians, for we bear the name of Christ and we are to live in such a manner that God is honored, obeyed, praised and worshipped.
We are to live in a manner that aligns with what we say we believe, which is also what we are to be teaching.
The hypocrisy of saying one thing and doing another is damning to the witness of those who profess to have repented of their sins, confessed Christ as Lord, and are seeking to know and to do that which pleases and honors God (cf. Romans 12:1-2; 2Timothy 3:16-17).
When those who call themselves by God’s name are openly godless and sinful: lying , stealing, dishonoring God and showing disdain for His Word — it would be better if they never mentioned any connection with God’s Word, God’s Son, or God’s Church.
Truth be told, the “church” today is full of false converts, unbelievers, and disobedient Christians. If the majority of those who claim to be Christians were genuine believers and followers of Christ, we could set the laws of the land and the moral direction of this once great nation (77% of Americans claim to be Christians).
I believe the best polls show Christians to be more like 25% +/- 5% of our population, atheists, agnostics, and the unbelieving majority, are aggressively trying to marginalize, minimize, and eventually silence, us.
If 77% of US citizens were born-again believers:
Would abortion be allowed to be legal?
Would homosexuality and lesbianism be allowed to be considered as viable
sexual orientations?
Would the sexual union of two men or two women be allowed to even be
considered as a marriage?
NO! NO! and NO!
Christians are exhorted (Galatians 5:25) to “live by the Spirit,” (Ephesians
5:15-18) to, “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil… do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is… be filled with the Spirit,” (Philippians 2:11) says, your “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” and you are (Colossians 3:16) to, “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
These are different ways of stating the very same truth: Christians are to live under the control of the Spirit of God; in direct harmony with the Word of God; following the example set by the Son of God; for we are dearly loved children of God the Father, and we exist to honor, obey, and proclaim His Gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
The Bible commands us to be in fellowship together (Hebrews 10:24-25), “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching,”
Coming together on a regular basis with other Christians forces accountability, which can apply pressure on us to live a godly lives.
The Bible tells us (Proverbs 27:17), “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” You see, as we rub hearts and minds with other Christians, we may find it to be soothing, stimulating, even stretching, as we are prepared to be tools fit for the Master’s use.
We need to make biblical principles our own. The truths we understand best are usually the ones we have studied because of personal need or to teach to others..
We are much less likely to violate a biblical principle that we have told others they should obey.
The more we speak about what we believe, the more accountable we become to fulfill God’s plan and purpose:
Ephesians 4:12-16, “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work,” (verses 28-32), “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 2:12-16 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Technical Problem resulted in no Audio for this sermon.

Romans 2:12-13… We will not be judged as to whether or not we have been exposed to God’s Law, but by what we have done with what we have been given, both Gentiles and Jews alike.

These verses tell us that those “without the law will also perish without the law.” Jews cannot escape judgment because they possess the Law, neither Gentiles who have not received the Law; for neither ancestral heritage, nationality, or religious practice make any difference to God.

God is clearly and sovereignly impartial, both Jew and Gentile are deserving of judgment because of their sin, notice, “all who have sinned will be judged, and all have sinned.” Judgment is not based upon possessing or hearing the Law, the truth is, only those who do the Law will be justified (James 1:22-25).

Romans 2:12 tells us all who have sinned, Jew and Gentile alike, will be judged; verse 13 implies that the only way to be made acceptable to God, i.e., to be declared righteous, is to be justified by Christ (Galatians 3:10-11). Our problem is that none of us is free from sin, because by nature we are sinners, and yet, there is no excuse, no exception, and no escape, for no one will be able to plead ignorance on judgment day, because God’s judgment accounts even for a man’s own conscience.
Romans 2:14-15… These verses declare that even Gentiles without the Law may do the works of the Law, at times. This has the effect of equalizing Jew and Gentile, in reference to personal responsibility, for the Law of God is written upon our hearts; and it is only after we are made new creations in Christ, that are we able to do the works of God (2Corinthians 5:17).
See Genesis 2:25… Before sin’s curse!
See Genesis 3:7-11… Consequences of sin!
See Genesis 3:21-22a… Adam and Eve now know good and evil, long before the Law is given; and the propensity to sin is passed from parent to child (Romans 5:12-14).

Consider this, predominantly the conscience stirs up accusing thoughts when the standard God put within us is violated, i.e., when we do what we know is wrong. Notice again in Romans 2:14-15, that the conscience bears witness, it has an obligation to do what is right and good.

Genesis 2:25, “The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” Genesis 3:8-11, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he

was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’ And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Clearly, what was without shame or guilt before they sinned, became shameful after they had sinned, now they were hiding from God. Why?

We all have a conscience that seeks to guide us, when we go against that conscience we feel guilt, it is our conscience that separates us from animals and makes us human. This strongly declares, even though we live in a society that seeks to silence our conscience, that we have a responsibility to know and do what is right and good; the more we deaden our conscience, the more we act like animals that are instinctually governed, instead of allowing our morality to guide us, the more our carnal nature rules.

Everyone has a conscience, but our conscience can be desensitized, even seared, no wonder Romans 1:18 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” (see 1Timothy 4:1-2).

Honestly, I believe that the majority of psychological and emotional struggles we face as humans are caused by the cumulative effects of violating our own consciences; and this is exacerbated by our medical and mental health professionals offering a plethora of excuses, alibis, and escapes from our responsibility through medications or the justification of bad behaviors. Many in our society either deny or try to escape from any guilt for bad, destructive, and sometimes even illegal, behavior:

Guilt is often minimized or placated:

“A man who was shot and paralyzed while committing a burglary in New York recovered damages from the store owner who shot him. His attorney told a jury the man was first of all a victim of society, driven to crime by economic disadvantages. Now, the lawyer said, he is a victim of the insensitivity of the man who shot him. Because of that man’s callous disregard of the thief’s plight as a victim, the poor criminal will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He deserves some redress. The jury agreed. The store owner paid a large settlement. Several months later, the same man, still in his wheelchair, was arrested while committing another armed robbery.”

“Rioting gang members in Los Angeles beat truck driver Reginald Denny almost to death before live television cameras. A jury acquitted them of all but the most minor charges, deciding that they were caught up in the mayhem of the moment and therefore not responsible for their actions.”

Another way our society tries to vanquish guilt is by viewing sin as a disease, a neurosis, a mental disorder.

“An FBI agent was fired after he embezzled two thousand dollars, then gambled it away in a single afternoon at a casino. Later, when he was caught, he sued the FBI, arguing that his gambling addiction was a disability, therefore, his being fired was an act of illegal discrimination. He won the case! Moreover his therapy for the gambling addiction had to be funded under his employer’s health-care insurance, just as if he had been suffering from a heart attack of an ulcer.”

That seems ridiculous, and yet The American Psychiatric Association publishes The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V, updated 2013) this is the authoritative guide to diagnoses of mental disorders, e.g.:
Conduct Disorder: “A persistent pattern of conduct in which the basic rights of others and major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated.”

Oppositional Defiant Disorder—“A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior.”
Antisocial Personality Disorder—“A pattern of irresponsible and antisocial behavior beginning in childhood or early adolescence.”

The therapy industry seeks to convince people that they are not responsible for their bad behavior, but that they are patients who are ill, instead of sinners who are sinning.

J.I. Packer writes (Rediscovering Holiness), “An educated, sensitive conscience is God’s monitor. It alerts us to the moral quality of what we do or plan to do, forbids lawlessness and irresponsibility, and makes us feel guilt, shame, and fear of the future retribution that it tells us we deserve, when we have allowed ourselves to defy its restraints. Satan’s strategy is to corrupt, desensitize, and if possible kill our consciences. The relativism, materialism, narcissism, secularism, and hedonism of today’s western world help him mightily toward his goal. His task is made yet simpler by the way in which the world’s moral weaknesses have been taken into the contemporary church.”

As we read in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve’s conscience made a note of their offense, they felt guilty, expecting some kind of punishment.
Romans 2:16… Truth be told, no one can escape the judgment of God, when it says, “on the day when God will Judge,” it is referring to what is said in (v. 5), “the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed” (see Hebrews 4:12-13).

Notice (v. 16), Paul says that God’s judgement will be through Jesus Christ, for this is the Gospel that Paul believed in and preached (1Corinthians 15:1-4), “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

God will judge the world through Jesus Christ
John 5:22-27, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is

coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And He has given him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.”

Even if you are the most compassionate, kind, honest, and moral person on this planet, you will not be saved apart from the sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 14:6, The Way,Truth, Life).

If you have never repented of your sins, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, and believing in Him as Savior, your conscience should be urging you to do so, to receive the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, for He paid God’s required debt for all sin.

Praise God! Christ died in our place, He was punished for our sin, and every sinful action, word, and thought has been forgiven, as Jesus said, “it is finished!”
1Peter 3:18, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

You are granted life with Christ when you repent and believe, having made (1Peter 3:21) ”the pledge of a good conscience toward God [being saved] by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that you might (Hebrews 10:22), “draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having [your heart] sprinkled to cleanse [you] from a guilty conscience.

There is only one relief from the guilt of sin, and only one release from sin’s penalty: Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior and Lord. He is the once for all, for all time, sacrifice for sin, His blood was shed so that you might be set free from from sin’s penalty (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 8:1; 10:9-10, 13).
1John 1:8-9, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He [God’s Son] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Pastor Mike <‘((((><

Bible Text: Romans 2:1-11 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Read Romans 2:1-3… Paul states (Romans 2:1), “You therefore have no excuse,” clearly (1:18-32) all men are without excuse and are judged guilty before a holy and righteous God.

Most of us would look at the depth of depravity that is expressed in chapter 1, and we would easily condemn those who commit such sins: (v. 24) “sexual impurity… degrading there bodies with one another,” (v. 25) “they worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator,” (v. 26) “women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones,” (v. 27) “men also abandoned natural relations with women… [and] committed indecent acts with other men… receiving in themselves the due penalty for the perversion.” These are all unholy acts.

But the truth is, we are all guilty of sin apart from Christ; and to judge others as being worthy of hell, thinking ourselves to be above accusation, is really to bring condemnation upon ourselves.

Paul is saying (Romans 2:3), that if we show that have enough knowledge to judge others, then we also ought to be judging ourselves; always remembering that the standard for judgement is the holiness of God, not our personal preferences or biases or convoluted measurements.

1Corinthians 4:3-4, “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”

Our own human judgement is always skewed and always falls short of God’s perfection. It is easy for us to maintain a hierarchy of sins, and to judge others’ sins to be worse then ours, for even though the majority of us are not murderers or rapists or homosexuals, we are still sinners and the only way to receive any pardon from God’s judgement is to receive God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior, so that our penalty for sin is paid in full.
Romans 2:4-5… “Show contempt for” is translated from a word that means, “to think down on,” i.e., to devalue or put someone down to the point of despising them.

Every person who has ever lived on this earth has received God’s kindness, patience and goodness, for all people eat and drink from God’s creation. God’s grace is available to all, even those who reject His gift of Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:9), “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance,” (1Timothy 2:3-4), “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” Jesus is (John 14:6), the way, the truth, and the life; and no one goes to heaven except through Him.

People often ask, “How can a loving God allow good people, even little children, to suffer?” or How can a good God send people to an eternal hell?”

But the truth is, it is only because of God’s grace and mercy that all human life is not already extinguished; God gave mankind 120 years to repent before He brought the flood, saving only Noah and 7 others (2Peter 2:4-9).

The reason for God’s kindness (Romans 2:4) is to lead us to repentance so that we might willingly admit our need and receive His grace, freeing us from sin’s penalty.

Look again (Romans 2:5), unbelievers are “storing up wrath against [themselves] for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.”
Romans 2:6-11… Clearly (Romans 2:6), God is going to render judgement upon every person according to their deeds – this will occur at the White Throne Judgement described in Revelation 20:11-15.

Both Old & New Testaments speak to the coming judgement of God for either reward or punishment.

Isaiah 3:10-11, “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.”
2Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

Jew, Gentile, educated, ignorant, religious, irreligious, God will judge whether or not our life pleased Him.

Matthew 16:27, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” Romans 14:12, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Salvation that is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, based on Scripture alone, will produce external good works in a person’s life, giving evidence to the internal condition of having become God’s child and a servant of Christ.

John 1:12-13, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God– children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”

Notice (Romans 2:7) “those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality will receive eternal life.”

Colossians 3:4, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Philippians 3:20-21, “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”

Turn to Matthew 25:31-40. Back to Romans 2:8, notice those who do evil by rejecting God’s truth, will receive God’s wrath, for they are consumed with pleasing self, while remaining unwilling to acknowledge, let alone obey, God’s truth, and this leads them into all sorts of evil behavior that will ultimately meet with God’s wrath and anger [indignation – vehement and agitated anger].

This is a picture of God’s grace and mercy having been totally exhausted by their suppressing of the truth and living in such overt disobedience and perverse sin; their judgement is finalized (see Matthew 25:41-46).

Back to Romans 2:9-10. The Jews will be the first to be punished and the first

to be rewarded. Why is that? The Jews were first to receive God’s written Word

(OT); and Living Word (Jesus) Whom they rejected. The Holy Spirit came first to

the Jews (Pentecost) and through them, to all who would believe the message of

Christ.

Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

God is Gracious and Merciful and Loving and Kind; but He is also Holy and Righteous and Sovereign and Just; therefore, everyone, both Jew and Gentile, will receive God’s absolute and perfect judgement, resulting in eternal punishment or eternal reward.

In the final analysis, every person will hear one of the following judgements rendered upon them:

Matthew 25:34, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Matthew 25:41, “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

What you hear God say at the end of your life, will be determined by what you believe, how you behave, and Whom you serve in this life.

1John 4:15-19,”If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in

Him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is

love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made

complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment,

because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love

drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not

made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.

1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this

life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God

does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of

God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Christians, as God’s children and heirs of His eternal kingdom, have nothing to

fear, whether in this life or the next; only anticipation and expectation of hearing

God say (Matthew 25:21), “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share

your master’s happiness!”

Bible Text: Topical Study | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Topical Study

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