God's Word: The Power Unto Salvation

• Pray
• Text - Rom 1:16 : For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,^[a] for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.& 1:14, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth - (Who Word is) 

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. & Romans 10:9-10 ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation - (promises salvation)

• The Word – Jesus – God gave us Words to live by
• They are only words if Jesus not God (to us) – lower case
• If Jesus IS God to us, they are upper case – The power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,
• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

- As soon as He is God to me and you, then His Words are what they are meant to be – Life

• Duet. 30:19 , Josh 1:8, 14:6, John 14:21 - When you and I choose to do what God tells us to do (esteem His Word), He can be Way to Salvation – we can have good success.

Duet. 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;, Josh 1:8, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. John 14:21 - He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

His Kingdom can (and will, with or without you and me) be re-established – where? (in your heart) – He wants you and I to be integral parts of His Kingdom!

When and only when we choose to be a part of His Kingdom, can we rely on the Word being THE POWER TO SALVATION!

ROMANS 12: 1 -2

Rom 12:1-2 21^st Century KJV

 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

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

Beseech – Call near , invite, ask, call you to, in-treat, call for, pray, beg, implore urgently

Rom 15:30,

• Paul invites us to think about, by begging (he must think what he is saying is important) us in an urgent manner and tells us to listen to his message.

Therefore – so, hence, then

Bretheren –

1) a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother

2) having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman

3) any fellow or man

4) a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection

5) an associate in employment or office

6) brethren in Christ

a) his brothers by blood

b) all men - don’t forget “God would that all men be saved” 1Ti 2:4 - Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

c) apostles

d) Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place

Mercies – God’s mercy / save sinners by re-establishing His Kingdom. Gal 2:8-9

1.	compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2.	the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.

3.	the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4.	an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5.	something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

6.	at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors. Also, at one's mercy.

Present -

1.	to furnish or endow with a gift or the like, esp. by formal act
3.	afford or furnish
11.	to represent, impersonate, or act,
16.	a thing presented as a gift
4.	to hand over or submit

Lets take a look at an old testament sacrifice: - it will become clear that a sacrifice is a gift.

Leviticus 16:7New International Version (NIV) ⁷ Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting

The idea here is to make a gift of something, to give something, a gift is always free – or at least it is supposed to be. In this case a sacrifice to the Living God, a gift from a man.

The creation is never greater than creator. We know man could never give anything to God. However, in the case of worship (as is the case with all giving) the act of giving is the true gift.

• Gift always free next slide next slide.
• A gift is always given in love.
• What do we call gifts (Christmas, birthday presents – spelled the same way). Remember God’s free Gift in salvation (undeserved) He – presented or gave to us?
• In the old test. He put in place a series of animal sacrifices because He had not sent His Son yet to be a perm. Sac for us. Think of that - he sent His Son not only to re-establish His Kingdom here on earth but through His Son, a permanent sacrifice or gift was given to each on of us.

your body - a temple - 1 Cor. 6:19 – A temple is where sacs were made

a living sacrifice – your reasonable service - acceptable to God

Rom 15:16 Gal 2:20 – after what He has done for us it’s the least we can do for Him.

We are Crucified with Him – if we are joint heirs with Him Rom 8:17

Like any father all God wants for us is the best. (His Children)ention

1. He thru Paul, tells us to give ourselves over to Him and His way of thinking, His service (by working for Him, in our church, by helping and building each other up, etc. what ever He wants you to do specifically) He speaks to us most of time thru His Word, Pray – listen/spend time being quiet specifically to listen to God.

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2. He tells us not to be like the unbelieving world but transform or change your thinking to the way He thinks. (He says that the least weif you don't pay can do) – when we do that (the more we think like Him. Or our thoughts line up with His, then it’s easier to discern His voice)

3. We learn what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God the more we meditate on His Word. It’s a circle of Gods Love toward us: The more we meditate on His Word the more He reveals to us and the more He reveals to us, the more we meditate on His Word.

Consider this in-light of understanding through daily meditation of God’s Word:

Luke 8:18New International Version (NIV) ¹⁸ Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

• In other words – listen carefully to My Word and I will give you more wisdom, but if you don't pay attention, even what you think you already know will be useless.

4. . The more we learn about Him the more we will want to learn - for who can resist then The God of the universe?

(read) Isaiah 28: 9&10 “line upon line, precept upon precept”

5. Paul telling us to meditate (think about, mull over, kick around) The Word

6. When we do this, our view of situations – good or bad, begins to change to the way God see them. This is what He wants for us and tells us to meditate on His Word in many places in the Bible.

Train Up The Saints

·         Praise

·         Pray

      

Text scripture:

Eph 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 *One  separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ.

·         Psalm 16:3    But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

·         Rom 1:7    To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

·         Eph 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

·         My only point here is that the Bible calls  those who believe in and confess Christ as Lord and Savior are saints.

·         Interesting that in the 4^th century, the believer was relegated to a common person and the Biblical term for believer “saint” was made a title of high esteem. (you had to have been an apostle of Jesus, performed miracles or both and be dead)

·         We can then understand our text scripture Eph 4:12 better.  (re-read)

1.    Paul reminds Ephesians who they are and what they are to be doing. (I know – but we can logically surmise that if they are to “perfect the saints” it is implied that they are saints themselves).

2.    Revelation given to Paul regarding building the Church (body of Christ, re-establishing The Kingdom Of God)

3.    We are to teach people, who teach people, who teach people, who teach people – etc.

4.    If we are to be effective in “perfecting the saints” we must 1st realize who we are in Him, and what Christ has done for us.

 

·         Who we are in Christ can be defined by what He has done for us!

·        We must realize – God’s plan to re-establish Kingdom depends on believers in Christ spreading the Church - perfecting the saints

·        We need to realize it will be done with - or without you and I.

Jesus told disciples that the gates of Hades would not withstand The Kingdom Of God – NOTHING WILL STOP THE CHURCH!

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (explain Gate of Hades being a real place real place)

This is a point many Christians lose sight of in a culture of declining morality. They think the Church will be derailed. They don’t know - or forget that all along, God’s plan was to re-establish His Kingdom right over the top of Pagan religions that ran rampant in those days.

·        We will do it because we love Christ – He loved us first

  1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us  -

·         God sent His only Begotten Son to make a sacrifice we can’t imagine on behalf of us

        John 3:16, (read) (father who’s son dies – let alone sending Him to His death)

        

   Col 2  14 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. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

·         Christ sacrificed Himself for us – to preserve us, the only way we will be preserved is if the Church is established and The Kingdom is re-established

·         Think of this – Christ entrusted the establishing of His Church on earth to 12 disciples who did not have a clue until that final 3 years of Jesus life.

·         He trusted them and now He trusts you and me

·         If we are His servants – bought and paid for with his blood we must realize a few things:

1.   We have a mission: Great Commission -  Mark 16 -  15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

2.   After He told us what to do He empowered us to do it:

Mark 16 (next verses) 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes

with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

What can I do to do my part in fulfilling The Great Commission?

1.   Know who you are In Christ (all in Christ scriptures are what He has done for you – sometimes said through Christ)

Romans 3:24
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 2:13  At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled his blood for you. That has brought you near to God.

2.    Stay in relationship – meditate on scripture, Pray daily

3.    Confess daily (remind yourself) of what God, in Christ, has done for you and who you are in Christ,:

2 Cor. 9:8, 1 John 2:27, Matt 19:26, 2 Cor 5:17, 1 John 4:4, Phil 4:13, 1

Cor 3:16 (the list goes on and on)

4.    Know who God is and wants to be in you and to you -  1 Cor 3:17, Pslams138:5, Eph 3:16      ….  (the list goes on and on)

5.    Remember when you were in grade school you prob. Heard someone say “my dad can whip your dad”? The truth is if you’re in Christ The God Of The Universe wants to be “Abba” to us – Gal 4:4, Rom 8:15

Your Heavenly Father truly is the toughest guy ANYWHERE -  Eph 1:21

6.    Get in a Bible TEACHING church or atmosphere as soon as you can.

Almost all churches believe in the Bible, but not all teach the Bible.

·         This is important so you can know who you are

·         Who God is

·         Know where you are in history

·         Find your gifts

·         Find your place

·         Help you find ministry opportunities

·         Realize that you may think you are over qualified for what you are doing – be faithful, don’t complain, do all the best you can!

The Sacrifice Of God And Man

This study was presented at the Polk County Jail in 2007.  We just touch on some principals and I think, the main concept of the Bible. 

 If we treat others half as good as He treats us, the world would be different place.  We would have no need for jails or police. We would have no need for courts. We wouldn't sue each other. There would be no need.

We can't out-give God. His very nature to give.  Our nature is to be selfish. That is why we must think like Him. So we can mirror his actions - follow His example. 

It becomes apparent that our actions are to mirror God's actions toward us. That may be overly simplistic.

 We readily see, That He expects us to sacrifice or give gifts to others the way He treats us and sacrifices for us.

Rom 12:1-2  21^st Century  KJV

 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

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

Beseech – Call near , invite, ask, call you to, intreat, call for, pray, beg, implore urgently

            Rom 15:30,

                       

·        Paul invites us to think about, by begging (he must think what he is saying is important) us in an urgent manner and tells us to listen to his message.

Therefore – so, hence, then

Bretheren –

 1) a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother

2) having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman

3) any fellow or man

4) a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection

5) an associate in employment or office

6) brethren in Christ

a) his brothers by blood

b) all men  - don’t forget “God would that all men be saved”   1Ti 2:4  - Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

c) apostles

d) Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place

Mercies  –  God’s mercy / save sinners by re-establishing His Kingdom. Gal 2:8-9

1.	compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2.	the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.

3.	the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4.	an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5.	something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

6.	at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors.   Also, at one's mercy.

Present -  

1.	to furnish or endow with a gift or the like, esp. by formal act
3.	afford or furnish
11.	to represent, impersonate, or act,
16.	a thing presented as a gift
4.	to hand over or submit

Lets take a look at an old testament sacrifice: - it will become clear that a sacrifice is a gift. 

Leviticus 16:7New International Version (NIV)    ⁷ Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting

The idea here is to make a gift of something, to give something, a gift is always free – or at least it is supposed to be. In this case a sacrifice to the Living God, a gift from a man.

The creation is never greater than creator. We know man could never give anything to God. However, in the case of worship (as is the case with all giving) the act of giving is the true gift. 

·         Gift always free next slide next slide.

·         A gift is always given in love. 

·          What do we call gifts (Christmas, birthday presents – spelled the same way). Remember God’s free Gift in salvation (undeserved) He – presented or gave to us?

·         We can never out give God, in the old test. He put in place a series of animal sacrifices because He had not sent His Son yet to be a perm. Sac for us. Think of that he sent His Son not only to re-establish His Kingdom here on earth but through His Son, a permanent sacrifice or gift was given to each on of us.

your body -  a temple -  1 Cor. 6:19 – A temple is where sacs were made

a living sacrifice – your reasonable service  - acceptable to God

Rom 15:16                  Gal 2:20 – after what He has done for us it’s the least we can do for Him.

                                                We are Crucified with Him – if we are joint heirs with Him Rom 8:17

Like any father all God wants for us is the best.  (His Children)

1.   He thru Paul, tells us to give ourselves over to Him and His way of thinking, His service (by working for Him, in our church, by helping and building each other up, etc. what ever He wants you to do specifically) He speaks to us most of time thru His Word, Pray – listen/spend time being quiet specifically to listen to God. 

2.   He tells us not to be like the unbelieving world but transform or change your thinking to the way He thinks. (He says that the least we can do) – when we do that (the more we think like Him. Or our thoughts line up with His, then it’s easier to discern His voice)

3.   We learn what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God the more we meditate on His Word. It’s a circle of Gods Love toward us: The more we meditate on His Word the more He reveals to us and the more He reveals to us, the more we meditate on His Word.

Consider this in-light of understanding through daily meditation of               God’s Word:

Luke 8:18New International Version (NIV)   ¹⁸ Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

4.   . The more we learn about Him the more we will want to learn - for who can resist then The God of the universe?

(read)  Isaiah 28: 9&10 “line upon line, precept upon precept”

5.   Paul telling us to meditate (think about, mull over, kick around) The Word

6.   When we do this, our view of situations – good or bad, begins to change to the way God see them. This is what He wants for us and tells us to meditate on His Word in many places in the Bible.