Thursday, February 21, 2013

Romans in a Nutshell

This week we learned about Romans and man is it a dense book! This is a very short handed outline of the book but if you want my full one let me know!

Introduction
·      The theme of Romans is the righteousness of God revealed thru the person of Jesus Christ.
·      Paul wrote Romans while returning from his third missionary journey around 57 AD. He is bringing a monetary gift from the Gentile in Macedonia and Achaia believers to the Jewish church in Jerusalem.
·      Paul is writing to this church in Rome to encourage them in their faith and to impart spiritual gifts to them.

Not Ashamed (Romans 1:1-17)
·      Paul begins the letter by identifying who he and who God is.
o   Paul = servant of Christ Jesus, an apostle, and set apart for the gospel 1:1
o   Jesus = God’s Son, descendant of David, and Lord 1:2-4
§  Through Him we receive grace and apostleship. 1:5
·      Paul encourages the Roman church
o   The Romans’ “faith is being reported all over the world”. 1:8
o   He wants to “impart to [the church] some spiritual gift to make [them] strong”. 1:11
o   Paul tells them that he is “not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” 1:16
§  This touches on the tension between the Jews and the Gentiles in the church.
o   Paul encourages them that instead of being righteous by the law, “the righteous will live by faith”. 1:17

Condemnation: The Need of God’s Righteousness (1:18-3:20)
·      Unrighteous Gentiles (1:18-32)
o   Because of the sin of mankind, “the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness”. 1:18
o   God’s existence is evident in His creation and man still turned from Him. 1:20
o   Since the people knew God but did not glorify Him, He “gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts”. 1:24
o   They not only do wicked things (envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hating God, insolence, arrogance, boastfulness, disobedience to parents, no understanding, no fidelity, no love, and no mercy (vs 29-31).
·      Unrighteous Jews (2:1-3:8)
o   God will judge us all by three things:
§  Truth (2:2-4)
·      Only God knows man’s heart.
§  Impartiality (2:5-11)
·      He does not care if you are a Jew or a Gentile. He will judge without bias.
§  Jesus (2:12-16)
·      Regardless of race, we are held to the perfect standard of Jesus’ perfect life which we all fail to meet.
o   The Law has no value unless you have righteousness thru faith. Otherwise you are a hypocrite.
§  “As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’” – Vs. 2:24
§  “No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.” – Vs. 2:29
·      Unrighteous Mankind (3:9-20)
o   Paul reiterates that ALL mankind is guilty. (Vs. 3:20)

Justification: The Provision of God’s Righteousness (3:21-5:21)
o   The Source of Righteousness (vs. 3:21-31)
o   “Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.” – (3:22)
o   Christ was “a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood” (3:25).
o   While we do not need the works of the law for salvation, we are still to uphold the law. (vs. 3:31)
o   Abraham as an Example of Faith (4:1-25)
o   “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (4:3)
o   Faith came before the Law. (vs. 4:10-12)
o   Like Abraham, God will credit us righteousness thru belief in Christ Jesus. (vs. 4:20-4:25)
o   The Blessings of Righteousness (5:1-11)
o   “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” - (5:1,2)
o   Christ died for all mankind (vs. 5:8) and has justified us all (5:9).
o   Death Thru Adam, Life Thru Jesus (5:12-5:21)
o   “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people because all sinned” – (vs. 5:12)
o   “The law was brought in 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.” – Vs. 5:20-21

Sanctification: The Demonstration of God’s Righteousness (6:1-8:39)
o   Slaves to Righteousness (6:15-6:23)
o   We must continue striving to lead a sinless life even though grace saves us. (vs. 6:1-14)
o   We are to be slaves to righteousness. (6:15-21)
o   “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (6:22-23)
o   The Law Has Purpose but We are Free From It (7:1-24)
o   So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through thte body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. – 7:4
o   What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” – 7:7
§  The law helps us recognize our sin and our need for salvation from Christ’ grace and mercy.
o   The Power of the Holy Spirit (8:1-39)
o   Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. – 8:1-2

Restoration: Israel’s Reception of God’s Righteousness (9:1-11:36)
o   Israel’s Rejection but God is Sovereign(9:1-33)
o   Israel rejected God but God is sovereign.
§  God’s choices led to the grafting in of the Gentiles.
o   Salvation is the Same for All, Israel Rejects It (10:1-21)
o   The requirement for salvation is the same for all.
§  “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be save. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” – 10:9-10
o   Since Israel does not believe, God uses the Gentiles to make them jealous.
§  “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” – 10:19
o   Israel Is Not Forgotten (11:1-11:36)
o   I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! – 11:1
o   Israel’s transgressions brought salvation to the Gentiles.
§  But if their transgressions means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! – 11:12
o   A remnant of Israel will be saved.
§  For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. – 11:32

Application: The Behavior of God’s Righteousness (12:1-15:13)
o   We should submit our bodies as living sacrifices.
o   Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. – 12:1
o   Christ should be evident in all our actions
o   Through our life. 12:9-21
o   Through submission to authority. 13:1-7
o   Through our interactions. 13:8-14
o   Through unity and diversity. 14:1-12
o   Through personal sacrifice. 14:13-23
o   Through authentic worship. 15:1-13

Conclusion
o   Overall Paul encourages the Roman church to recognize the righteousness of God and how it is only obtained by faith in Christ. He stresses unity between the Jew and Gentile and urges them to spread the word! It is from this book we get our “Roman Road to Salvation”. If there is somebody in your life who needs Jesus, this is a great place to take them!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Living As A Christ Follower

Hey there friends! Below is my outline of a great chapter in the bible that walks us thru how to live as a Christian with other believers and with non believers! There is amazing stuff in there so I encourage y'all to read the chapter before you read my outline (read the best before the worst right?!)!

Hebrews 4 - Christian Living
1.     4:1-3 – Make every effort to maintain unity
a.     You must “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (vs. 1).
                                               i.     You live out this calling by being “completely humble and gentle”. You also have to “be patient, bearing with one another in love” (vs. 2).
                                              ii.     Another part of the calling is to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (vs. 3).
2.     4:4-6 –            We should be unified because God is unified.
a.     It is important to remember that there is only one God but He is triune in nature. Since God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one, we as a church should be as well.
b.     List of “one’s” (vs 4-6)
                                               i.     One body
                                              ii.     One Spirit
                                            iii.     One hope
                                            iv.     One Lord
                                              v.     One faith
                                            vi.     One baptism
                                           vii.     One God and Father
3.     4:7-16 – Christ gives us gifts to edify the body.
a.     4:7-10 – Christ gave us all a gift but had to pay a price to do it.
                                               i.     To each believer “grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (vs. 7).
                                              ii.     Christ “descended to the lower earthly regions” so he could “ascend higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe” (vs 9,10).
4.     4:11-16 – Each believer has their own gift set which increases the maturity of the body.
a.     “So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers” (vs. 11).
                                               i.     Every gift has its own purpose for the body.
b.     These gifts are meant to “equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (vs. 12).
c.      This edification of the body of Christ will lead to “unity in the faith”, “knowledge of the Son of God”, becoming “mature” and “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (vs. 13).
d.     If we do this we will be firm in our faith with Christ and will not be “tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching” (vs. 14).
e.     We will “speak the truth in love (vs. 15)” and the body will “build itself up in love as each part does its work
5.     4:17-19 – Gentiles live a dark life away from God.
a.     Don’t live as non-believers (gentiles) do because “they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts (vs. 18)”.
                                               i.     List of what the gentiles have done (vs. 19)
1.     They have lost all sensitivity.
2.     They have given themselves over to sensuality.
3.     They indulge in every kind of impurity.
4.     They are full of greed.
6.     4:20-24 – Live a life that is centered on God.
a.     As believers, we were taught “to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires (vs. 22)” and “to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (vs. 24)”.
7.     4:25-28 – Be honest and do not stay angry.
a.     We are called to “speak truthfully to your neighbor” because “we are all members of one body” (vs. 25).
b.     If you “allow the sun to go down while you are still angry (vs. 26)” you “give the devil a foothold” (vs. 27).
c.      We must “steal no longer” (vs. 28).
8.     4:29-32 – Do not speak unwholesomely and be kind.
a.     4:29-30 – We need to edify others or else our actions will “grieve the Holy Spirit (vs. 30)”.
b.     We must get rid of (vs. 31):
                                               i.     Bitterness
                                              ii.     Rage
                                            iii.     Anger
                                            iv.     Brawling
                                              v.     Slander
                                            vi.     Malice
c.      Instead we must “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just in Christ God forgave you” (vs. 32).


Thanks for reading! If you have any questions let me know!

Monday, February 11, 2013

God's Will For Your Life


         The amazing life change that occurs in people when they choose to become followers of Jesus Christ is so significant that it should transform your life purpose. Before believing the Truth, their life goal may have been to be a doctor, a lawyer or to get rich but afterwards it should align up with God’s will. One may ask, “What does God want me to do with my life?” Well the answer is simply stated in Matthew 28:19-20:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God does not require anything less of us than everything we have to further His name. Whatever we are doing in life, whether that is working in an office, being a mom, or begging on a street corner, we are to be evangelizing and making disciples!

            God’s will for our life is simple in essence but figuring out how to live it out can be difficult. Afshin Ziafat gave us a simple list of what is in God’s will for our lives. First and foremost is for us to know Him intimately. 1st Timothy 2:3-4 says, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth”. If we do not know God ourselves, how are we supposed to lead other people to Him?

            Secondly, it is God’s will for us to be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 urges us to “be filled with the Spirit” instead of with earthly things. When we are living for God, the fruit of the Spirit should be evident in our lives. We should be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities acted out by a believer point nonbelievers towards Christ.

            Sexual purity is another attribute that God wills for our lives. The Holy Spirit dwells in our bodies so when we sin against our body, we sin against God. That is one reason God is so clear when He says that we “should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). By living a sexually pure life, we honor God and His temple. It is also an outward way to show that you have Godly morals to nonbelievers.

            Lastly, it is God’s will for us to suffer for Him. God never said that following Him would be easy. In fact, He told people that they had to die to themselves (Matthew 10:38) and hate their mother, father, and children (Luke 14:26) in order to follow Him. Paul urges young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1 to “join with [him] in suffering for the gospel” because God “is able to guard what [he had] entrusted to Him”. God does not have us suffer without reason. Our suffering is for the expansion of His kingdom throughout the world. Trials are used to not only spread the gospel but also to chisel us into the man or woman God designed us to be. While suffering during the present time may seem pointless, know that it is all part of God’s plan to create something pretty awesome!

            The Gospel can be shared in hundreds of different ways, but in the end there is one message. God sent Jesus down to the earth to die for our sins and raised Him from the grave. His sacrifice covered the sin of the whole world and all we have to do to receive this covering is to accept the gift! If you live your life according to God’s will by 1. Knowing Him intimately 2. Being filled with the Holy Spirit 3. Remaining sexually pure and 4. Suffering for Him then you will naturally be spreading the gospel through your actions. This is not to say that word are unnecessary, but it is amazing how much God can work just through your life being an example to others!