Perfect Love - 3/14/10pm

I John 4:7-19 -Perfect love drives out fear

God’s Love for Man
Freewill Ezekiel 18:19-29
Christ’s Sacrifice Romans 5:6-11
God’s Forgiveness I John 1:5-10
God’s Patience II Peter 3:1-9

Man’s Love for God
Keep Commands I John 4:20-5:5
Put His Will First Matthew 26:36-46

Man’s Love for Man
Don’t be a Stumbling Block I Corinthians 8:1-13
Submit to Others Ephesians 5:17-21

Luke 10:24-37 -The greatest commandment, good Samaritan

The Weightier Matters - 11/15/09am

John 5:1-15 -Jesus heals a man at the pool of Bethesda
Matthew 23:23-24 -The weightier matters, without leaving the other undone

Justice
Colossians 4:1 -Masters, treat servants with justice and fairness
John 7:21-24 -Jesus healed on the Sabbath, and is judged unrighteously
James 2:1-13 -Do not show favoritism

Mercy
Matthew 5:7 -Blessed are the merciful, they shall receive mercy
Luke 6:27-36 -Love your enemies, show mercy
Luke 10:25-37 -The good Samaritan

Faith
Hebrews 11:6 -That God is, and the He rewards those who seek Him
Matthew 16:13-16 -Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God
I Corinthians 15:3-17 -If Jesus was not raised, our faith is in vain
II Corinthians 5:7 -We walk by faith
Hebrews 11:4-12, 17-31 -Men and women who acted by faith

God and Man in Salvation - 8/30/09am

What God Does
Genesis 3:9-15 -God made a Plan
From when sin entered the world, God set in motion a plan for redeeming man. He did this because He loved us. Not as a collective, but each as individuals. Even while we turned from Him, He continued His plan for our salvation.
I John 4:7-11 -God loved us first
John 3:13-16 -God so loved the world
Romans 5:8-11 -God loved us, His Son died so we may be justified
By His blood, we are saved. God has done for us what no man can do: offered the perfect sacrifice for sin. And when He had done this, and the Christ rose again the third day, He did not keep it hidden, known only to a select few. He did it publicly, and sent men to spread the good news of salvation, that even those who had rejected Him might have opportunity for eternal life.
Matthew 28:18-20 -Christ sent men to spread the gospel
II Peter 1:2-4 -The gospel is complete and all that we need
Titus 2:11-14 -His grace has appeared to all men
And this good news and grace is something we all need, for we have all chosen to sin. We have each fallen short of what we should be.
Romans 3:23 -All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
Ecclesiastes 7:29 -Though created upright, men seek out other paths

What Man Does
Salvation has been made available by God. So what do we each have to do in order to grasp this good and perfect gift?
Hebrews 5:5-11 -Salvation goes to those who obey
I John 3:16-24 -Love and belief: commands of God
John 6:26-33 -Believing is doing a work of God
I Corinthians 16:22 -The importance of loving the Lord
Acts 17:30 -All men need to repent
II Timothy 2:22 -Flee youthful lusts, pursue righteousness
Romans 10:8-13 -Confess Christ
Acts 2:38 -Repent and be baptized
These things are necessary to grasp hold of salvation for the first time. But once we have it, we cannot let go of the hope we have. We must continue to live for Christ.
I John 1:5-2:6 -Walk in the light with Christ
What is required of us is so insignificant compared to what the Lord has already done. He does not ask us to do things that will “earn” salvation. Instead, He asks for small, simple things, done out of love and faith. Are you walking in the light? Are you with Christ? Have you obeyed the gospel?

How Much? - 5/10/09am

Mark 12:28-34 -The greatest commandment
We are commanded to the love the Lord not just a little, but with the totality of our being.
I Corinthians 16:22 -If someone does not love the Lord...
John 14:15 -If you love Christ, obey
I John 5:1-13 -Love for God is faithful obedience, and it is not grievous, because of the promise of eternal life
II John 6 -Love is walking in His commandments
Philippians 2:5-8 -Be like Christ, who was obedient unto death
Luke 22:39-42 -Not my will, but God’s

So how much do we truly love the Lord? It’s easy enough to say that we love Him a great deal, but is that reflected in our lives? Do we truly love Him fervently and zealously? Or are we looking for the bare minimum we think we can do and still manage to squeeze into heaven?
Matthew 6:31-34 -Seek first the kingdom of God
John 2:13-17 -Jesus was consumed with zeal

Also consider the reasons why we should give so much to the Lord. It’s not because He’s greedy, it’s because He is duly owed everything that we are.
Genesis 1:26-31 -God creates man
John 3:1-21 -God’s love in providing salvation to man

Consider some of these examples. Do we have the love for God to follow in them?
Acts 2:46-47 -Daily gathering together
Nehemiah 8:1-12 -The people stand to hear the word, weep, send food


II Chronicles 12:13-14 -Rehoboam did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord

Faith, Love, and Works - Bonus Sermon!

-Somehow I neglected posting this one back at the beginning. So here it is.-

Often we try to combat the false doctrine of “Faith Only” by saying, “No! You have to do works too!” While this is certainly a true statement, the way we usually handle it allows everyone involved to use their precomposed responses and answers and defenses for their respective doctrine, and sadly, opportunities are lost this way. Perhaps it behooves us to consider it from a different perspective, yet still well within the confines of scripture. Perhaps if we come at it from a slightly different scriptural perspective, we can get past the immediate responses, and be more effective, as well as enhancing our understanding of God’s will and word.

Matthew 22:34-40 -First of all, Love God
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -Fear and obey

Is Solomon, using God’s wisdom and inspired to write this book, contradicting Jesus? Obviously not. Perhaps they write of two different things, and the most important thing for us to do is not the same as the whole of man? I don’t think so. I think they are saying the same thing, yet in different words. Love is fear (I think we can correctly define this as reverential faith) and obedience (actually doing the works God wants us to do).

The Greek (although I do not claim to be a Greek scholar whatsoever) of what we’re looking at bears this out nicely, I think.

Faith = pistis = a firm persuasion or trust
Works = ergon = work, employment, or a task
Love = agapao = an active love of service, sacrifice, and working for the good of another

So, essentially:

pistis + ergon = agapao

Let us recognize that love, faith, and works are all necessary for us:
I Corinthians 16:22 -If no love, then be anathema
Hebrews 11:6 -No faith, then no pleasing God
Hebrews 5:9 -Salvation is for those who obey

Let us consider the close relationship between these three things.

Works and Love
John 14:15 -If you love Christ, obey Him
I John 2:15-17 -Love not the world (ie, love God) and do His will
I John 4:7-12 -Love requires action, even on God’s side of things
I John 5:3 -Love is keeping His commandments
II John 6 -Love is walking in obedience

Faith and Love
I Corinthians 13:13 -Love is greater than faith
I Peter 1:8 -See and love what we do not yet see
II Thessalonians 2:10-12 -No faith, then no love
John 8:42-47 -They have no love for Christ, so they lack faith
John 5:36-47 -They lack faith in Christ, so they have no love for God

Faith and Works
John 6:29 -Faith is a work
Mark 16:16 -Faith is coupled with obedient action for salvation
Acts 2:38 -Inherent (in their question) faith must be acted on for salvation
James 2:14-26 -Living faith requires works
Romans 10:17 -The word leads to faith
II Timothy 3:16-17 -The word leads to and prepares for works
Hebrews 11:6 -Faith is coupled with active seeking
Hebrews 3:16-19 -Unbelief is equated with wrong actions and sin

And of course, we recognize that works/obedience is not the action of earning your way into heaven, but simply fulfilling what we were designed to do. It’s nothing exception, just fulfilling a basic function. Just as people do not earn raises and promotions through the minimum, so doing works does not earn heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-10 -We are made for good works
I Corinthians 9:17 -Simply fulfilling a charge
Hebrews 13:20-21 -Equipped by God to do His will

These three things are inseparable. Faith and works are both necessary for love. If you properly love someone, do you not seek out things to DO to please them? And can you love someone you have no faith or trust in, or do now know? Of course not! We understand this in our physical, mortal lives. How can we not understand and apply this to our spiritual life and relationship with God?

And of course, as in all things, there is an opposite side. What if you do not live obediently? What if you lack faith? What if you do not love God?

Philippians 3:18-19 -Enemies of Christ have their mind (ie love) on earthly things
II Timothy 3:1-5 -Lovers of self (not God) are disobedient
Titus 1:16 -Those who do not know God (and thus, no faith) are disobedient
Revelation 21:8 -Outside are the unbelieving, idolaters (who love something more than God), and those who practice evil (are disobedient)

So the question we have to ask ourselves is, quite simply, do we love God? We have looked at what it is to love God. Do you put your faith in Him? That’s more than just believing that He is, but rather putting your trust and confidence in Him. Are you obedient to His will? Are you willing to do the simple things He requires? Are you willing to not do the things He says not to do? Do you love Jesus? Will you not now put your faith in Him and obey?

The Greatest Commandment - 3/1/09pm

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 -The law was for them and their descendants
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 -Love the Lord your God
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 -Love requires remembering the Lord
Deuteronomy 6:13-19 -Fear and obey as part of love
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 -Love requires we teach our descendants
We see here a chapter dedicated to the idea of love for God. Love, both coming from God and directed towards God, is not a concept new to the New Testament. We see here that from early on, love for God was necessary. In fact, it’s repeated several times throughout this same book:
Deuteronomy 5:8-10 -God shows love to those who love Him
Deuteronomy 7:7-10 -God is faithful, keeping the covenant with those who love Him
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 -The Lord asks that we fear Him, walk in His ways, and Love Him
Deuteronomy 11:1 -Love the Lord and keep His commandments
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 -Tests to see if we wholeheartedly love God

Matthew 22:34-40 -The greatest commandment
Here we see Christ quoting from a passage we read earlier in Deuteronomy 6. We must love the Lord. Not just a little bit, but with our entirety.
Matthew 10:37-39 -Must love Christ more than others
Romans 12:9-13 -Love must be without hypocrisy
We cannot be hypocritical in our love: we must put Christ above all others, and live accordingly. We cannot claim to love God full time, but only serve Him part time.
John 14:15-24 -If you love me, keep my commandments
John 15:9-14 -You are my friend if you do as I have said

Thinking back to when Christ was asked what the greatest commandment was, remember that he tied another to it: love your neighbors.
I John 4:19-5 -Love for God requires love for others
John 21:15-19 -Do you love me? Feed my sheep.

Luke 10:25-37 -The good Samaritan
We often look at this passage and apply it to loving others. And rightly so! We must be like the Samaritan. Instead of trying to decide if someone is our neighbor, we make him our neighbor. And our love causes us to go beyond what we may be “required” to do. It causes us to do our best and go as far as we can. Our attitude towards God should be the same. We do not only try to do the minimum, but we should try to go the extra mile, do as much as we can.

If you have not obeyed in baptism, you do not love God. If you have been baptized but have ceased to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul, now is the time to make correction.

God's Forgiveness - 3/1/09am

Romans 3:23 -All men are in need of forgiveness
Luke 24:45-49 -Forgiveness is available for all
We have all sinned and are in need of forgiveness. Fortunately, we have a God who loves us enough to make forgiveness available to us.

Luke 5:17-25 -Christ has power to forgive sins
Ephesians 1:7-8 -Forgiveness through God’s grace
God has the ability and willingness to extend to us forgiveness that we do not deserve. He has done what is necessary to make it possible: He sent His Son.
Romans 3:22-26 -Christ is the sacrifice for our sins
I John 4:7-12 -Christ is the sacrifice for our sins
Matthew 26:26-29 -Christ’s blood is poured our sins
Hebrews 9:16-28 -His sacrifice was necessary

However, there are those things that God requires of us in order to receive His forgiveness.
Acts 10:43 -Believe for forgiveness of sins
Matthew 6:9-15 -Forgive for our sins to be forgiven
I John 1:8-10 -Confess sins for forgiveness
Luke 11:2-4 -Prayer for forgiveness of sins is shown
Acts 8:9-23 -Repent and pray for forgiveness
Acts 2:38 -Repent and be baptized for forgiveness

As in so many things, God gives us evidence that He is willing to forgive anyone who is willing to turn towards Him, no matter what life that person once led. Let us look at just one example of one person God was willing to forgive.
I Timothy 1:15-17 -Christ came to forgive sinners, of whom Paul was chief
Acts 8:1-3 -Paul approving Stephen’s death, destroying church
Acts 9:1-2 -Paul persecuting church
Acts 9:13-14 -Others knew of his persecution
II Timothy 4:7-8 -Paul awaits a crown of righteousness

The Love of a Just God - 8/31/08am

John 3:16 -For God so loved the world
Many people today look at the Lord’s promised punishment for sin and think that a loving God could not possibly do such a thing. And since we know that God is loving, He couldn’t do such a thing. Let us examine the nature of God’s love and of His justice.

I John 4:7-19 -God is love

Yet, does not the Lord also love His Son?
Mark 1:9-11 -God’s beloved Son
II Peter 1:16-18 -God loves His Son
If, for those of you with children, someone repeatedly abuses your child, what is the course of love? Are you more loving if you ignore the abuse out of “love” for the abuser? Or are you more loving if you take action against it? How often have we seen on the news someone who knowingly allows their child to be continually mistreated in horrific ways? And how often have you heard someone say that it was because the person was “just so loving?”
Hebrews 6:4-6 -When we sin, we crucify Christ again
It is easy, in this self-centered world, to forget about others. God does not. He remembers His only begotten son. Would we then say that God must give us rewards, even though we have abused His Son in such a way, while ignoring the love He has for His Son? Do we presume to declare that we deserve such?

God’s love, even though we are undeserving
Romans 3:23 -All have sinned and fallen short
Romans 5:6-11 -While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Titus 2:11-15 -Salvation through grace
-Notice that grace teaches and requires godly living!
God’s love is seen in that even though we do not deserve it, we are given grace: the opportunity to have eternal life. Salvation is not a “right” we have as human beings. It is something undeserved that has been offered to us.

God is a just God, which is love for those who follow Him
Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 -Wickedness instead of justice
Ecclesiastes 5:8 -Oppression of the poor and a perversion of justice
What do we have to say about betrayals of justice? Who is happy when a guilty person receives no consequences for their crimes?
Psalm 89:14 -Justice is a foundation of His throne
Isaiah 45:20-25 -The Lord is just
II Thessalonians 1:3-10 -Vengeance in recompense

His justice will be based on what we do
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 -Do as you like, God will judge what you do
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -God will bring every work into judgment
Colossians 3:23-25 -Repayment for the righteous and unrighteous

In His loving justice, there is much deserved punishment
Romans 3:8 -Their condemnation is just
Revelation 20:11-15 -Evildoers will be cast into the lake of fire

In His merciful justice, there is undeserved reward
Jude 1:21 -Keep yourself in His love, looking forward to eternal life
Revelation 21:1-7 -A new heaven and a new earth