Romans 3: How Do You Act When You Get Something for Nothing...Like God's Grace?

Class Outline:

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Suspicion haunts the guilty mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re in the resident congregation turn off your electronic devices and put them away. Let this be a place where you aren’t distracted by the world.

 

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

 

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with a worldwide impact.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  Thanks for listening to this Bible lesson!

 

OPENING AGENDA

 

You may be wondering some things about Barah Ministries, like…

 

Who is the God we worship?

What is our source of truth?

Who is our enemy?

 

We're always happy to begin each lesson by answering those questions.

 

We study the Bible to edify our faith…Matthew, Chapter 17, Verse 20…

 

MATTHEW 17:20a

Jesus said to His disciples, “(You couldn’t cast the demon out)…because of the littleness of your faith…for truly I (the Lord Jesus Christ) say to you…

 

MATTHEW 17:20a

…if (3) you have faith the size of a mustard seed (maybe you will and maybe you won’t…you have a choice)…you will say to this mountain (which is any obstacle)… 'Move from here to there' … and it will move … and nothing will be impossible to you.

 

With the power of God behind us, we can’t lose.

 

Who is the God We Worship?

 

We worship a Triune Godhead.  There is One God who reveals Himself to

mankind as three separate…distinct…co-equal…co-infinite…co-eternal Persons… God the Father…God the Son… and God the Holy Spirit.

 

GOD THE FATHER is the author of the Triune Godhead’s plan for all creatures.  When people you know are going through adversity, have you ever heard them say in frustration, “I know God has a plan…”. Well, they’re right!  God the Father has a plan for all mankind and He has a personal plan for each of our lives.Fortunately, His plan for our lives is designed to give us comfort according to Second Corinthians, Chapter 1, Verses 3 and 4 where the apostle Paul says…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 1:4

…who comforts us believers in Christ in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God the Father.

 

As we learn to weather the storms of life by trusting God the Father, we can comfort others with tried-and-true suggestions for how to get through tough times.

 

GOD THE SON (our Lord) volunteered to execute God the Father’s plan for the salvation of all mankind by taking on human form as Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah)…He is the ONE AND ONLY WAY to heaven.  First Corinthians, Chapter 8, Verse 6 says…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 8:6

…for us believers in Christ, there is but one Godthe Father…from whom all things come…and we exist for His good pleasure…and there is but one Lord…Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah)…the One by whom all things are created…and we exist through the agency of Him.

 

When you invest your faith in the Lord…Jesus…the Christ…the Jewish Messiah…asking Him to save you…by believing in Him you instantly have the resurrection life…eternal life…in His name.

We worship GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.  He is our Mentor and Teacher…the guide who is the rudder of a Christian’s life.  God the Holy Spirit gives us hope through His divine enabling power.  It’s a hope not like human hope where we wonder if something is going to happen…it’s a hope with absolute confidence that things will happen because the hope is backed by a promise from God…Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 5…

 

ROMANS 5:5

…and hope (the absolute confidence that comes from God the Father) does not disappoint…because the unconditional love of God the Father has been poured out within our hearts as believers in Christ through the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit who was givento us by God the Father as a pledge of our inheritance.

 

What is Our Source of Truth?

 

As Christians, we develop a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the

entire Godhead through the study of the Word of God…THE BIBLE.  The study of the Word is how we get to know God…and it’s important to get to know God as a Person.

 

At Barah Ministries, we teach the Word of God from God’s perspective and not from man’s perspective because we refuse to teach as doctrinal truth the precepts of men.

 

When the Word of God tells us something, it’s a guarantee…Psalm 18, Verse 30…

 

PSALM 18:30

As for God…His way is blameless…the Word of the Lord is tried and true…

the Lord is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

 

We can count on God to inform us and to protect us with His Word.

 

Who is Our Enemy?

 

GOD HAS AN ENEMY…Satan…whom God made ‘the ruler of this world’ for a finite period.  He is the enemy of believers in Christ as well.  The Word of God warns us about our enemy in First Peter, Chapter 5, Verse 8…

 

 

FIRST PETER 5:8

Keep on being of sober spirit…keep on being watchful…your adversary…the devil (Satan)...prowls around like a roaring lion…seeking someone to devour.

 

No worries…the Lord prepares us for the enemy’s attack…Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verse 11 advises us to…

 

EPHESIANS 6:11

Pick up and put on the full armor of God…so that you believers in Christ will be able to stand firm against the strategy of the devil.

 

Satan is a schemer…in God's power, you can be ready for his flaming missiles.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

How Do You Act When You Get Something for Nothing…Like God’s Grace?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

If you can’t get your head around God’s unconditional love for you then you’ll never understand God.  It’s the thing Christians have the most trouble with.  Quite often, we don’t see ourselves as lovable because we know what wretcheswe are, so weproject our feelingsaboutourselves to God.  God doesn’t feel the same way about you that you feel about yourself.

 

In today’s lesson, we’ll see the unconditional love of God in action as He gives us a way out of our predicament when we are ungodly, unrighteous unbelievers which the Bible calls “sinners.”  In John, Chapter 10, Verse 9…the Lord describes Himself…

 

JOHN 10:9a

I ( the Lord Jesus Christ) am the door…if (3) anyone enters through Me (maybe you will and maybe you won’t…you have a choice)…this one will be saved…

 

Let’s see how the Lord provides the door to our salvation.

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s hear some music!  Sinners require a Savior.  As the Lord told a self-righteous  Pharisee in John, Chapter 3, Verse 3…

 

JOHN 3:3

“Truly, truly, I say to you, Nicodemus…unless you are BORN AGAIN (the spiritual birth)…you cannot see the kingdom of God the Father in heaven.”

 

Let’s hear June Murphy remind us what it takes to be saved in her song BORN AGAIN.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

BORN AGAIN

June Murphy

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father, thank you for the power that radiates into us by studying the Word of God…thank you for using Your power to search the depths of each of us…thank you for letting the Word of God reveal to us exactly how to be saved…thank you for freeing us from wrath and condemnation by means of the Cross of Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who shed His blood to save us…and thank you for God the Holy Spirit, our Mentor and Teacher who baptized us, placing us into union with Christ…

 

…let the Word of God in today’s lesson penetrate to the depths of our souls…help us to be edified by it…and help us to know that we cannot save ourselves, but You always stand ready to save WHOSOEVER shall believe in Your Son…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

How Do You Act When You Get Something for Nothing…Like God’s Grace?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

We continue our study of Romans, Chapter 3.  As a reminder, here’s what we have studied so far.

 

The Salutation

(Romans, Chapter 1, Verses 1 to 7)

 

In the first seven verses of Romans, Chapter 1, the apostle Paul introduces Himself to the churches in first-century Rome which he had never visited.

 

An Affirmation

(Romans, Chapter 1, Verses 8 to 15)

 

In the next eight verses, Paul praises the saints in Rome for their dedication to God and His gospel message amid a pagan community in Rome (a community that is as pagan today as it was back then).

 

In Romans, Chapter 1, Verses 16 and 17 Paul communicates the main message of the letter…

 

ROMANS 1:16

FOR I (Paul) am not ashamed of the gospel of God…FOR the gospel of God is the power of God the Father for salvation to everyone who believes…to the Jew first (chronologically)…and also to the Greek (us Gentiles).

 

ROMANS 1:17

FOR in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ the righteousness of God the Father is revealed…from faith in the Lord for salvationto faith in the Lord for all things…as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS MAN (any believer in Christ) SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (by placing his confidence in the Lord).”

 

Finally, the indictment and arraignment of the whole human race…

 

The Indictment Against the Whole Human Race

(Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 18 to Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 20)

 

Here is the summary of the fourteen-count indictment of the whole human race…Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 10 to 18…

 

ROMANS 3:10

…as it is written, (1) “THERE IS NO CREATURE WHO IS RIGHTEOUS BEFOREGOD…NOT EVEN ONE…”

 

ROMANS 3:11

(2) “THERE IS NO CREATURE WHO UNDERSTANDS GOD (OR ANY DIVINE THING)…(3) THERE NO CREATURE WHO SEEKS FOR A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD…”

 

ROMANS 3:12

(4) “ALL CREATURES HAVE TURNED ASIDE FROM GOD…(5) TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS…(6) THERE IS NO CREATURE WHO DOES GOOD…THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

 

ROMANS 3:13

(7) “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE…(8) WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP ON DECEIVING…(9) THE POISON OF ASPS (snakes) IS UNDER THEIR LIPS…”

 

ROMANS 3:14

(10) “THEIR MOUTHS ARE FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS…”

 

ROMANS 3:15

(11) “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD…”

 

ROMANS 3:16

(12) “DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS…”

 

ROMANS 3:17

(13) “AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”

 

ROMANS 3:18

(14) “THERE IS NO RESPECT FOR GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

 

This means you!  Whether you are immoral, moral, or religious…you are NOT  “basically a good person.”  That’s a lie from the pit of hell.

 

As we close out this third chapter of Romans…a breath of fresh air.  For unbelievers and believers alike, these first three chapters of Romans are pretty tough to take.  They tell us that ALL OF US are born UNDER THE BURDEN OF SIN…as a result, we are spiritually dead…both because of Adam's sin credited to us, and our own personal sinning…which makes us sinners who are unable to have a relationship with a righteous God.

 

Being UNDER SIN makes us like the Titan Atlas from Greek mythology…who was described as carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.  It's tough to accept that we are Ungodly…Unrighteous…Helpless…and Hopeless from birth.

 

Even for believers in Christ who are studying these three chapters, the news of our condition from physical birth is earth-shaking.  Satan uses these chapters to make us wonder if we really are saved.  Because if we are not saved, then we are targets of the wrath of God…we are condemned…and we are heading for the Lake of Fire.

 

In the next eleven verses…Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 21 to 31…the burden of sin is lifted off of the shoulders of all who believe in Christ…let’s listen to the passage…

 

ROMANS 3:21

BUT NOW…apart from the Law…the righteousness that comes from God has been manifested…being witnessed to by the Mosaic Law and by the Prophets…

 

ROMANS 3:22

…even the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe…for there is no distinction…

 

ROMANS 3:23

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

 

ROMANS 3:24

…being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…

 

ROMANS 3:25

…whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This

was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed…

 

ROMANS 3:26

…for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 

ROMANS 3:27

Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

 

ROMANS 3:28

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

 

ROMANS 3:29

Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also…

 

ROMANS 3:30

…since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is One.

 

ROMANS 3:31

Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

 

When you were ungodly…unrighteous…helpless…and hopeless…incapable of saving yourself…completely unable to keep the Mosaic Law…completely unable to keep the Ten Commandments…in a straitjacket of sin that you could not wiggle your way out of…the Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven, taking on human form, to introduce another principle entirely…THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GIFT THAT COMES FROM GOD.  Grace!

 

The words BUT NOW in Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 21 are a breath of fresh air for anyone studying Romans, Chapters 1 to 3.  For since we cannot save ourselves as sinners (ungodly…unrighteous unbelievers)…our God introduces a way out of our predicament…The Lord Jesus Christ is THE DOOR through His work on the Cross.

 

It would be easy to fly through these eleven verses, but that would be to miss the

gloriousness of resting in these promises from God.  Thus, the question that is the

title of this lesson…how do you act when you get something for nothing…like God’s grace?

 

It’s fun to watch what happens when people are offered something for nothing.  It ALWAYS causes suspicion.  People can’t resist the Do-It-Yourself life.  “Oh…you don’t have to do that” … “Oh no…I could never accept that.”  People hate help.  In other words, when we are generous with people they are always afraid that it obligates them to something.

 

With God, there is no obligation.  He gives us something…salvation…for nothing…a simple request from you powered by your faith.

 

In the next passage of the study, you’ll learn that you are justified by God based on your faith.  Self-righteousness is putrid!  Thinking you can save yourself by keeping the Law, which you can’t do, is ridiculous.  The Law came from God, but keeping the Law was never intended by God as a way to save you!

 

The Law served its purpose…to make your transgressions increase…when there is a law, you will have an intense desire to break it according to Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 20…

 

ROMANS 5:20

The Law came in alongside sin so that the transgressions (law-breaking) would increase…but where sin (law-breaking) increased…God's grace overflowed to us all the more…(the Lord provided grace abundantly in the presence of sin)

 

The Law was designed to make us aware of our sinful condition in the eyes of God.  If you don’t think you’re a sinner…you certainly won’t think you need a Savior.  The first three chapters of Romans make it clear beyond a reasonable doubt that you are a sinner from birth, and until you place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, you are the target of the wrath of God.  That’s a horrible fate.

 

Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 21 is even more powerful…

 

ROMANS 5:21

…so that, as sin reigned as king in death (for those “in union with Adam”)…even so…by means of His grace…we believers in Christ would reign (as king…co-heirs with Jesus) through God’s imputedrighteousness…(a free gift that comes from being “in union with Christ”)…and we reign with the resurrection life (eternal life) because of our union with Jesus…the Christ…our Lord.

 

BUT NOW…the righteousness that comes from God…powerful words!  God the

Father gave us believers in Christ a blessing that is beyond our wildest dreams…Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 21…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:21

God the Father made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf…so that we believers in Christ might become THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN UNION WITH HIM.

 

You believers in Christ have THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT COMES FROM GOD…you are in union with Jesus Christ…and as a result, you can breathe!  You don’t have to keep the Law to be saved because the Law cannot save you…that was not the Law’s purpose.  You count on Christ to be saved.  You are justified by your faith in Christ.  When you believe in Christ for your salvation, you are no longer the target of God the Father's wrath.  Instead, you are a child of God the Father.

 

When we return from the break, we'll take the offering and then we'll look at the first four verses of this powerful passage…verses that give us HOPE.

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

How Do You Act When You Get Something for Nothing…Like God’s Grace?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

 

God the Father GIVES.  Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 31 and 32…

 

ROMANS 8:31b

If God the Father is for us believers in Christ, and He is, who is ever going to be successful in opposition against us?

 

ROMANS 8:32

God the Father…who (amid His feelings of WRATH) did not spare His own Son (the Lord Jesus Christ)…but delivered Him over for us all…how will God the Father…now that we are in union with Christ…not also freely give us all things?

 

Since God the Father is willing to give, let’s not be conflicted about giving.  Be generous with the financial gifts the Lord has given you.  You’ll be supporting God’s ministry so we can provide the Word of God and the gospel message free of charge to people all over the world who need to hear about the Lord.

 

Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with one of his always inspiring offering messages.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

GALATIANS 4:16

So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

How Do You Act When You Get Something for Nothing…Like God’s Grace?

 

LESSON PART TWO

 

Welcome back!  Let’s continue our study of the last passage of Romans, Chapter 3.  As you study the Word of God, it’s a good idea to see how different translations render a passage.  I do this all the time in my own studies.  Here’s how the NEW LIVING TRANSLATION of the Bible translates Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 21 to 31…

 

ROMANS 3:21

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the Law…as was promised in the writings of Moses and the Prophets long ago.

 

ROMANS 3:22

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who he is.

 

ROMANS 3:23

For everyone has sinned…we ALL keep on falling short of God’s glorious standards.

 

ROMANS 3:24

Yet God the Father…in his grace…freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

 

ROMANS 3:25

For God the Father presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life…shedding his blood (for us). This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past…

 

ROMANS 3:26

…for God the Father was looking ahead and including all of us in what He would do in this present time. God the Father did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for He Himself is both fair and just…and He makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus Christ.

 

ROMANS 3:27

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God?No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.

 

ROMANS 3:28

So we are made right with God (justified) through faith in Christ and not by obeying the law.

 

ROMANS 3:29

After all, is God the Father the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is!

 

ROMANS 3:30

There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself ONLY BY

FAITH…whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

 

ROMANS 3:31

So if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the Law? Of course not (don’t be silly)!  In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the Law.

 

So let’s look at the depth of the first four verses of Romans Chapter 3…beginning at Verse 21…

 

ROMANS 3:21a

BUT NOW…apart from law…another principle entirely…THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GIFT THAT COMES FROM GOD…which has been made clearly visible by God (through the convicting ministry of God the Holy Spirit)…

 

ROMANS 3:21b

…in addition, being witnessed to by Moses in the Mosaic Law…and in the sacrificial offerings…and witnessed to by the Old Testament Prophets in direct statements…

 

We could spend a month studying this verse alone.

 

In the spiritual life, your works don’t work…Hebrews, Chapter 7, Verses18 and 19…

 

HEBREWS 7:18

For on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness…(for the Law made nothing perfect)…

 

HEBREWS 7:19

…and on the other hand, there is a bringing in of a better hope (God’s righteousness) through which we draw near to God.

 

There is man’s law obedience which makes nothing perfect…and there is God’s righteousness gift which makes all who have it perfect…another principle entirely.  Our sin debt is canceled by the work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  What is that like? 

 

When we were ungodly, unrighteous sinners we were “in Adam” and  “in the

flesh” … thus doomed…BUT NOW…as believers in Christ…another principle from God entirely.  Because of our faith in Christ, we are now“in union with Christ” and “in the Spirit.”Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 8 and 9…

 

ROMANS 8:8

...and those who are IN THE FLESH (unbelievers) cannot please God.

 

ROMANS 8:9

However, you believers in Christ ARE NOT IN THE FLESH…YOU ARE IN THE SPIRIT…if indeed the Spirit of God indwells you, and of course He does.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ (and unbelievers don’t)… that one (the unbeliever...the unregenerate one) does not belong to Christ.

 

As believers, we are in union with the Risen Christ…we stand on resurrection ground.  The Lord makes His believers righteous.  As a result, we are COMPLETELY acceptable in His eyes.

 

Christ’s work on the Cross did not cover sin as the sacrifices of the Old Testament did.  Christ’s work on the Cross put away sin from God’s sight once and for all time.  Jesus delivered us from spiritual death to spiritual life…from darkness to light…from the law to grace.  Galatians, Chapter 2, Verse 19 says…

 

GALATIANS 2:19

“For through the Mosaic Law…I died to the Law…so that I might live to God (through the power of His righteousness).”

 

Jesus is eager to declare a “guilty” person “not guilty.”  Romans Chapter 3, Verse 22…

 

ROMANS 3:22

…(THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GIFT THAT COMES FROM GOD IS) a righteousness that comes through the principle of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not through the principle of faith in yourselves for righteousness…and that free gift is available for WHOSOEVER believes…for there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles…

 

God doesn’t demand righteousness from a sinner because God would not demand from us something we can’t deliver in the matter of salvation.  He credits righteousness to sinners while they are still sinners…Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8…see it closely….

 

ROMANS 5:8

But God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all mankind, in that while we were yet sinners (while we were unbelieving…while we were unrighteous…while we were ungodly ones)…the Lord Jesus Christ died as a sin substitute for us.

 

When we exercise our faith, we are trusting God to do everything for us.  We are counting on what He has DONE and not on what we can do.  Why?  Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 23…

 

ROMANS 3:23

…for all have sinned in the past when Adam sinned and all keep on sinning…and all keep on falling short of the glory of God…

 

Whether or not you have realized it yet…you keep on sinning after salvation.  That does not make you a sinner, for a sinner is an unbeliever.  You believers in Christ are saints.  What your continuous sinning alerts you to is your dependence on God.  There's no one you would want to depend on more than Him.

 

Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 24…

 

ROMANS 3:24

…yet all believers in Christ keep on being justified by God the Father as a gift (free of charge) from His grace through redemption which is a result of being in union with Christ Jesus…

 

Redemption!  We have been purchased from sovereignty to sin!  We are no longer slaves…we are children of the Most High God.  Our salvation is not based on being good or on keeping commandments.  Our salvation is based on the work of Christ on our behalf.

 

Romans, Chapter 15, Verse 13 encourages us…

 

ROMANS 15:13

Now may the God and Father of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing

so that you will abound in HOPE through the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit.

 

What a great start to the final passage of Romans, Chapter 3.  When we were dead in our transgressions, seeing our pitiful condition, the Lord came to earth to rescue us so that we would have hope.

 

We’ll continue our study of Romans, Chapter 3 in our next lesson.

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race

 

The closing moments of this lesson could be the ten most important minutes of your life.  You’ll be introduced to the good news concerning how you can spend all eternity in heaven when you close your eyes in this life.  We want you to know that…

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

How Do You Act When You Get Something for Nothing…Like God’s Grace?

 

The Savior of the whole world is Jesus Christ and He wants everyone, including YOU to be saved…First Timothy, Chapter 2, Verses 3 and 4 say…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:3

This is what is good and acceptable in the sight of the God who is our Savior…the Lord Jesus Christ…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:4

…who wants all men to be saved and who wants all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

Here are seven things for every unbeliever to consider when investigating a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

POINT 1

There is a God, and He is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth

 

The first four words of the bible confirm His existence…Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 1…

 

GENESIS 1:1a

In the beginning, GOD…

 

It’s a reference to God the Son…Jehovah Elohim.  The Lord isn’t shy about telling you who He is…Joel, Chapter 2, Verse 27…

 

JOEL 2:27b

I am the Lord your God…and there is no other god…

 

God the Son is the Creator…John, Chapter 1, Verse 3…

 

JOHN 1:3

All things came into being through the Lord…God the Son…and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

 

POINT 2

The CreatorCreated You

 

You are one of God’s creatures and He had a purpose in mind when He created you.  Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 26…

 

GENESIS 1:26

Then God the Father said, “Let Us (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) make man in Our image…according to Our likeness…”

 

You are a spiritual being, and as such, you require a spiritual life.

 

POINT 3

God Has a Plan for All Mankind

 

God is organized…Acts, Chapter 2, Verse 23 tells us that the earth and the universe were created…

 

ACTS 2:23a

…by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God the Father…

 

In addition, the Lord Jesus Christ was sent to save you by means of the same predetermined plan and foreknowledge.  God the Father made all of His decisions in eternity past and we watch them unfold every day.  His plan is designed for your benefit.

 

POINT 4

God Has a Personal Plan for You

 

Because God created you, God knows you intimately.  He knows you by name, and He knows you better than you know yourself!  Matthew, Chapter 10, Verse 30 says…

 

MATTHEW 10:30

“…the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

 

God custom-made you and He custom-made a life designed specifically for you.

 

POINT 5

God Reveals Himself in Ways That Make Sense to Human Beings

 

God wants you to know Him.  He is not hiding from you.  He is not hard to get to know…Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 20 says…

 

ROMANS 1:20

…since the creation of the world…the Lord’s invisible attributes…His eternal power…and His DEITY…keep on being clearly seen by everyone…being understood even through what has been made (reflected in nature)…so that all mankind is without excuse (in knowing of the existence of the Lord).

 

God doesn’t work in mysterious ways.  He works in completely predictable ways.  The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (the apostle Paul) delivered to you as of primary importance the gospel message I also received from God…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4

…and He was buried…and He was raised from the dead (in resurrection) on the third day…according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

POINT 6

God’s Enemy, SATAN, Does Not Want You to Know God

 

Satan does everything he can to keep you ignorant about God.  Second Corinthians, Chapter 4, Verse 4…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 4:4

…the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so thatthey might not see the light of the gospel…so they might not see the glory of the Christ (the Jewish Messiah) …who is the exact reflection of God the Father.

 

Are you aware of the ways Satan is lying to you about the Lord?

 

If you reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, you’ll live with Satan for all eternity.  Revelation, Chapter 20, Verse 10…

 

REVELATION 20:10

And the devil who deceived unbelievers was thrown into the Lake of Fire and brimstone…where the beast and the false prophet are also…and all of them will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

 

You DO NOT want to live for all eternity in the Lake of Fire.

 

POINT 7

You Owe God a Hearing

 

Since God created you, at least you need to consider His salvation offer.  He has placed a desire inside of you to know Him.  He sends this message from the outside so you can know Him.  He has you surrounded! And He knows you don’t seek Him out, so He keeps on seeking you out.  Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, Verse 11…

 

ECCLESIASTES 3:11a

The Lord has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set a desire for a knowledge of eternity in everyone’s heart…

 

Do you spend ANY of your time getting to know the Lord?  There is nothing more important for you in this life than a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  John, Chapter 1, Verse 12…

 

JOHN 1:12

But whosoever acceptsa relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ…to them, the Lordgives the right to become children of God the Father…even to those who believein Jesus Christ’s name…

 

Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31 says…

 

 

ACTS 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

To BELIEVE means to accept God’s word for what it takes to be saved.  God says the ONE WAY…the ONLY WAY to get to heaven is through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.  John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

 

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said to the doubting apostleThomas, “I am the way (to salvation) … and I am the truth (through the gospel message in the Word of God) … and I am the resurrection life (eternal life) …and no one comes to God the Father in heaven but through believing in Me.”

 

John, Chapter 3, Verse 36 offers an invitation and a warning…

 

JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life (right at that moment)…but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”

 

Being saved is pretty simple.  Consider these things and then get to know the Lord…TODAY!  Do it now!

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s close with music!  When your hope is in God’s promises, He NEVER disappoints.  Here’s June Murphy to remind us in song that THERE’S JUST ONE HOPE…Jesus.

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises

 

THERE’S JUST ONE HOPE

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

Thank you for a life-changing book…the Bible…the Word of God…and thank you for a life-changing gift…the righteousness that comes from You our God and Father…as believers in Christ we have fixed our hope on You and Your Word and the Bible is a constant source of hope…thank you for the lesson today which reminds us to go deeper than the surface in our study of the Word so that we can rest in You without the burden of sin and expectations on our shoulders… especially the expectations we have of ourselves which we never fulfill…

 

…encourage us through God the Holy Spirit to proclaim your gospel message everywhere we go…and help us to remember that when we are evangelizing, it is God the Holy Spirit who is doing the work…not us…so help us to trust Him…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.

 

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Please make it a habit to listen to the announcements.  They are posted separately.  Keep current on the things going on and coming up in Barah Ministries.

 

DISCUSSING THE LESSON AND PRAYER CIRCLE

 

…will resume on April 28

 

GOT BIBLICAL QUESTIONS?

 

Ask the Pastor

pastor@barahministries.com

 

Need Prayer?

 

Send a Note to

pastor@barahministries.com

 

 

KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

 

www.barahministries.com