Today we had the joy to hear Cody Rigney speak at the Men’s Breakfast. He shared a lot of data. I asked him if I could post his notes and they are below:

Men’s breakfast message

Intro

• It’s a privilege to be giving the message today, and I want to thank Pastor Steve Rhodes for giving me this opportunity.
• I want to start by asking you what is your biggest fear in sharing your faith? To help you think through this, let’s imagine you’re sitting in a restraraunt about ready to order your food, and suddenly you feel God calling you to ask your waiter if he has any prayer needs and maybe even to share about Jesus. Maybe there are a lot of people and the tables are kind of crowded so you know everyone will hear you what you say to your waiter. Let’s add one more challenge, let’s say you know the waiter is an atheist. Maybe he’s your brothers friend. What would your biggest fear be? (Ask people listening)  (Likely rejection and fear of not having answers. Look for not having answers).
• If we look at what the bible says about this, we see that 1 Peter 3:15 says, “always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you, with gentleness and respect.”
• Now some might look at that and think, “Well I can give my testimony of what Jesus has done to transform my life but after that I don’t know how to answer objections like ‘There is no evidence for God’s existence’, or ‘Jesus is just a myth like Santa Claus’, or ‘The bible is corrupt’ or ‘Jesus can’t be the only way to heaven’.”
• But Jesus’ disciples were ready give answers to these objections. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul, an apostle of Christ, invites the doubters to find out the truth for themselves. He says: “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” and 1 Corinthians 15:17 – “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins”. Just before that Paul lists those who Jesus made appearances to, including 500 men.  You can see here Paul was not afraid to face objections.
• We see the same attitude with Peter. In 2 Peter 1:16 – “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
• They were ready to defend their faith, and other ancient texts show us the next generation of disciples did as well.
• Today I want to help equip you to defend your faith, so I’m going to go through some of these objections. Obviously we won’t be able to cover every objection, but I hope that what I share with you will give you will give you confidence when sharing your faith, knowing that you will never face an objection that Christians haven’t already heard and you can even do your own research on those.

Objection #1: “There is no evidence that God exists”

• Let’s start with an obvious objection from an atheist, that there is no evidence that God exists.
• By show of hands, how many know somebody who thinks this? Or just doesn’t believe God exists?
• Now, the bible seems to claim there is evidence that He exists. Look at
  • Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
  • Romans 1:19-21 – “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
• It turns out, there are actually many good arguments for God’s existence that can withstand criticism. I would even go as far as to say there are no good arguments against God’s existence, because the ones out there fall apart upon further investigation.  Many atheists recognize this and cop out by saying you can’t prove that something doesn’t exist.  But I think that can only be true if there are no good arguments for Gods existence. But there are!
• So let’s look at one of the popular arguments for God’s existence.
• It’s called the cosmological argument and basically says that since our universe had a beginning, it must have had a cause.
• William Lane Craig, Research professor at Talbot School of Theology who holds a Ph.D in Philosophy and Ph.D in Theology (and 3 other degrees), writes in his book On Guard, and bear with me on this: “The cause of the universe must therefore be a transcendent cause beyond the universe. This cause must be itself uncaused because we’ve seen that an infinite series of causes is impossible.  It is therefore the Uncaused First Cause.  It must transcend space and time, since it created space and time.  Therefore, it must be immaterial and nonphysical.  It must be unimaginably powerful, since it created all matter and energy.  Finally, it must be a personal being.”
• Let me paraphrase that for you. The cause of the universe must be God.
• Modern discoveries in Science and philosophy show us that space and time did actually begin to exist at some point in the past. Due to the limited amount of time, we won’t go into these discoveries, but feel free to ask me about them afterward.

Objective #2: ”The Bible is corrupt”

• Let’s move on to another objection. Let’s look at the objection that the Bible is corrupt.
• I was watching a YouTube video a while back of a Christian and a Muslim taking turns presenting their faith on a college campus. One thing the Muslim said was that there were hundreds of gospels and the early church fathers arbitrarily picked just 4 to include in the New Testament. I wondered for a while where he got that information but I eventually discovered he got it from the book, The Da Vinci Code, whether he knew it or not. It turns out the book is completely fiction and even says that on the book. I am glad to say that is simply not true.
• So because of limited time, I am going to list a few points and summarize with a quote from Sir Frederic Kenyon.
• 1 – Although we do not have the original New Testament manuscripts (by the way we don’t have the original of any ancient work), we have 5,400 copies of Greek manuscripts, partial and complete, of the New Testament from about the first 5 centuries, about 76x as many than the next closest ancient work.
• 2 – The earliest known manuscript copy we have on hand is from 125 AD.
• 3 – It is very likely that some of what we have on hand are direct copies of the originals, not copies of copies of copies and so on.
• Sir Frederic Kenyon, former directory and principal librarian at the British Museum and whose authority on ancient manuscripts is second to none, concludes: “The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially different as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established.”

Objection #3: “Jesus is a myth”

• Ok, let’s look at an objection that cuts to the core of Christian faith. The objection that Jesus is a myth.
• Can you guys throw out some of your thoughts about what non-Christians would say about Jesus?
• Let me start this one by saying that no scholar defends that Jesus never existed. With the exception of a handful, nearly every historian agrees that Jesus was a real man.
• What’s interesting about the Christian faith, is it’s the only faith grounded on historical fact and truth. In fact, the different works in the New Testament were originally independent accounts and sources of the events that occurred.
• Most of the books in the New Testament are dated to within 20-40 years of Christ’s death and resurrection. Which scholars agree is far too soon for legendary myths to develop, which usually take 150 years. And in fact, we see legendary books emerging around this time, like the Gospel of Peter and the Gospel of Thomas. Those books were written much much later and were the result of legendary development. The fact is, the New Testament Gospels are the only historically reliable ones we have.
• In fact, the belief that God raised Jesus from the dead can be dated to within just a couple years after the crucifixion and resurrection.
• One Buddhist scholar begins his book by declaring quite frankly that his religious tradition doesn’t not have anything close to Christianity’s historical foundation. The texts he edited in his volume all date from 600 to 900 years after the Buddha’s death! Thus, all attempts to know the Buddha’s original teachings are “mere surmise” and “fruitless”!
• In “Why Trust the Bible?” Greg Gilbert comments that “Even more, though, than the religions of the world, Christianity presents itself as history. It’s not primarily just a list of ethical teachings or a body of philosophical musings or mystical “truths” or even a compendium of myths and fables.  At its very heart, Christianity is a claim that something extraordinary has happened in the course of time – something concrete and real and historical.”
• Of all the miracles, healing, exorcisms, and profound wisdom from Jesus, perhaps the most important of all is Him rising from the dead. The Christian faith hinges on the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.
• My wife was watching a show called air disasters, and they collect facts from the crash, using the black box and recorded communications with air traffic controllers and other factors. From the facts they come up with different explanations and they make a conclusion based on which explanation best explains the facts.
• The same can be done with the facts concerning the resurrection.
• Let’s look at the minimal facts related to the resurrection. The minimal facts approach was originally developed by Dr. Gary Habermas, distinguished professor and chair at Liberty University.  These are historical facts agreed upon by majority of New Testament critics (we aren’t talking about evangelical scholarship here, this means non-Christians, even atheists):
  • Jesus’ tomb was found empty by a group of His women followers.
  • On numerous occasions and in different places individuals and groups saw appearances of Jesus alive from the dead. (More than 500).
  • The origin of the Christian faith depends on the belief of the earliest disciples that God raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead.
• That’s awesome! So what is the best explanation of these facts?
• Of course, that God raised Jesus from the dead!
• Other natural explanations simply do not hold up. Pretty cool huh?
• Just to affirm even more confidence in the Scripture, I want to mention other reliable historical sources outside of the New Testament referring to Jesus.
• Norman Geisler, dean and professor of theology and apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary, summarized the historical evidence we get from extra-biblical sources. He states: “The primary sources for the life of Christ are the four Gospels.  However, there are considerable reports from non-Christian sources that supplement and confirm the Gospel accounts.  These com largely from Greek, Roman, Jewish, and Samaritan sources of the first century.  In brief they inform us that: (1) Jesus was from Nazareth; (2) he lived a wise and virtuous life; (3) he was crucified in Palestine under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius Caesar at Passover time, being considered the Jewish king; (4) he was believed by his disciples to have been raised from the dead three days later; (5) his enemies acknowledged that he performed unusual feats they called “sorcery”; (6) his small band of disciples multiplied rapidly, speaking even as far as Rome; (7) his disciples denied polytheism (belief in multiple gods), lived moral lives, and worshipped Christ as Divine.  This picture confirms the view of Christ presented in the New Testament Gospels.”

Objection #4: ‘Jesus can’t be the only way to heaven’

• There is one more objection I want to cover, and that is the objection, “Jesus can’t be the only way to heaven”.
• There are many different reasons someone might believe this, and so this is a slightly more difficult objection to address.
• I think we have to start with a view of heaven and hell that is based on truth. I’d say that truth can only be found in the bible, the text that the man who truly and historically rose from the dead authorized.
• Heaven is being with Jesus forever. Wait… isn’t heaven where you’ll be with God? We understand from the bible that Jesus is God in the flesh.  He is God, who though he sat on a throne in paradise receiving praise from angels, stepped into the world and suffered for us, so that we can be with Him forever.
• What about Hell? Call out some words you think describe hell.
• One critical thing we can be sure of about Hell is that it is eternal separation from God.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:9 says “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his might.”
• You see, God is holy, morally perfect. And there will certainly not be any sin in heaven.  God would not allow his heaven to become like earth is now.  But we’re all sinners, as Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That means we literally lack God’s glory.  So how could we possibly get to heaven?  That’s where Jesus comes in.  On the cross he made a trade with us.  He took our sin and death and he gave us his perfection.  He took the punishment of our sin and suffered beyond anything we could imagine. And he died.  Then 3 days later, he rose from the dead.
• It’s only through Him that we can be good enough to get into heaven. Our good works aren’t good enough, because we are all tainted with our bad works.  They need washed away, and only Jesus can do that.  It’s only through faith we are saved, not by any good things we do.  That’s exactly what the historically affirmed bible teaches.
• This is one reason Jesus is the only way to heaven.
• He himself claimed to be the only way in John 14:6 – He said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father(God) except through me.”
• Wow, who could make a claim like that? Only God himself.
• I could keep going but I think my time is up.

Conclusion

• I hope that this has been helpful and encouraging for you in going about sharing your faith.
• I want to encourage you to be strong and courageous in your faith, and not have fear.
• As 2 Timothy 1:7 says: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
• If someone does object to your faith, go and research on the subject. Let them know you will get back to them on that.  Talk to someone who can help you find answers.  I am amazed all the time with the truth I find in Christ.
• Thank you all for listening.
• Does anybody have any questions?

Okay, let’s have a Christmas pageant. Let’s just pretend for a moment:

Who wants to be the innkeeper? Raise your hand

Who wants to be Joseph? Raise your hand, someone be Joseph.

Who wants to be the camel? Ha ha, come on someone play a camel.

Who wants to be the wisemen? Raise your hand.

Who else do we need? Who wants to be shepherds? We need several raise your hands.

Who wants to be the doctor? The doctor? She was having a baby, do you think there was a doctor there? No, there was not. Who wants to be the nurse? Who wants to be the mother of Mary.

No nurse.

No doctor.

No Mother.

Who wants to be Mary? Someone raise your hand.

Do you think Mary wanted to be Mary?

Have you ever been asked to did a difficult task, maybe an honorable task, a noble task, but you did not know that you could do it? Have you been there?

I am thinking that is where Mary was at. Mary was a world changer. She changed the world as the mother of Jesus. We would not be here if it were not for Mary. Think about this: We have a mission statement from Matthew 28:19-20: Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit… We wish to reach the lost, nurture faith and meet family needs. This could not happen without Mary. Mary gave birth to the One who gave that commission.

Let’s look at Mary’s commissioning: Luke 1:26-38:

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Theme:

I wish to show you that Mary was highly favored for a difficult task which she humbly accepted.

Application:

Sometimes God’s call is not easy. Accept the call as Mary did.

1. I want to focus on one word and that is “Highly Favored.”
   1. This word is the word for “grace.”
   2. It is only used in this way in Ephesians 1:6 having to do with God giving us His grace.
   3. This verse is saying that Mary has received God’s grace or God’s favor.
   4. This is Gabriel’s greeting to Mary. Gabriel says, “The Lord is with you.
   5. She is twice told that she has received grace or favor, in verse 28 and verse 30: But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 
   6. As one writes about grace: Grace is at the center of what God was doing in Christmas. The child to be born of Mary would embody and incarnate grace. His message would be a message of grace. His life would demonstrate grace to sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes. They had been taught that there was no place for them in the synagogue, that God’s judgment and wrath was upon them; Jesus devoted his life to showing them that it was God’s love, mercy, and kindness that were offered to them. Jesus showed them grace.[1]
   7. Do we realize who she would be the mother to:
   8. Those who wrote the great hymns of Christmas know it.  They’ve always known it.  Our carols celebrate it.  “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”  “Yea, Lord, we great Thee, born this happy morning,” “Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord,” “Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord,” “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the Incarnate Deity.”  “Jesus, our Immanuel.”  “Yet in the dark street shineth the everlasting light.”  “Oh come with us, abide with us, our Lord, Immanuel.”  The carol says, “Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,” “Incense owns a Deity nigh,” “The virgin’s sweet boy is the Lord of the earth,”  “Word of the Father now in flesh appearing,”  “How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name,”  “God with man is now residing, suddenly the Lord descending.”  The carol says, “Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me.”  “And the Father gave His Son, gave His own beloved One.”  Son of the Most High, Son of God, God in human flesh; this amazing child is God come down. Grace has power. When you show kindness, compassion, goodness, or love to someone who does not deserve it, the act of grace has the power to change hearts, to heal broken relationships, and to reconcile people and even nations. Grace changes the one who receives it, but it also changes the one who gives it.[2]
   9. She certainly is the mother of God, she raised Jesus.
   10. Do you think she was happy for this task?
2. Let’s talk more about Mary.
   1. Mary was from a tiny town called Nazareth.
   2. Nazareth would not even make it on a list of cities. It was just a tiny little village.
   3. We would think if God was going to send His Son into the world He would pick a woman from Rome or Jerusalem, but He didn’t.
   4. I believe God wanted to show that He chooses the nobodies.
   5. Mary was likely 13 years old. Think about that.
   6. She was from humble beginnings.
   7. She was likely uneducated.
   8. She was likely raised to be very devoted to God.
   9. Mary is told how things will happen. The power of God, the Most High, will overshadow her. Mary is not told exactly what is going to happen, but if God did not cause her to conceive then Jesus would be a clone of her. People have lacked faith in the virgin birth in the past, but with all of the science these days and how we can artificially inseminate, do we really need to doubt God?
   10. So, Mary is told exactly what will happen.
   11. We know that Mary could be stoned because it looks like she committed adultery. (Lev. 20:10)
   12. Again, I come back to the question: Do you think Mary wanted to be Mary?
   13. Do you think Mary wanted to go and tell Joseph she was pregnant? Do you think Mary was scared? Do you think Mary was concerned to tell her parents? Having a baby in itself was scary back then, but all these responsibilities and the great humility as well.
       1. Mary would tell her relative and Joseph. Mary goes to visit Elizabeth and then we have the Magnificant…
       2. Chrissy Rigney

• Let’s look at Mary’s response. Verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.
  1. Sometimes the Lord’s calling is not easy but we must follow through.
  2. We must follow through like Mary did and just respond, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
  3. Can we respond this way? Can we respond to God’s Word and honorably say, “I am the Lord’s servant I will tell the truth.”
     1. “I am the Lord’s servant I will follow the rules.”
     2. “I am the Lord’s servant I will walk in integrity.”

• “I am the Lord’s servant I will not spread that rumor.”

1. “I am the Lord’s servant I will not gossip on Facebook.”
2. “I am the Lord’s servant I won’t look at that website.”
3. “I am the Lord’s servant I will not have road rage.”

• “I am the Lord’s servant I will apologize for my behavior.”
• “I am the Lord’s servant I will treat people with respect.”

1. “I am the Lord’s servant I will share the Gospel with people, pray, read the Bible, work at the food pantry, help someone with a meal, give someone grace.”
2. I am the Lord’s servant… you pray about it and live like Mary.

Remember grace, favor, it is such a gift. That was such a privilege for Mary. Give people grace this week. Give people favor this week.

Remember the quote I shared:

Grace is at the center of what God was doing in Christmas. The child to be born of Mary would embody and incarnate grace. His message would be a message of grace. His life would demonstrate grace to sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes. They had been taught that there was no place for them in the synagogue, that God’s judgment and wrath was upon them; Jesus devoted his life to showing them that it was God’s love, mercy, and kindness that were offered to them. Jesus showed them grace.[3]

Be encouraged we have all received God’s grace.

So I ask, would you want to be Mary? But remember Mary’s response, you can respond the same way.

Do you know Jesus?

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] Hamilton, Adam (2011-09-01). The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem (Kindle Locations 238-242). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.

[2] http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/42-7/the-greatest-child-ever-born

[3] Hamilton, Adam (2011-09-01). The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem (Kindle Locations 238-242). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.

Baxter, that marvelous pastor of the seventeenth century, wrote this: He said:

O, if you have the hearts of Christians, let them yearn toward your poor ignorant ungodly neighbors. Alas, there is but a step betwixt them and death and hell. Many hundred diseases are waiting ready to seize on them, and if they die unregenerate, they are lost forever. Have you hearts of rock that cannot pity men in such a case as this? If you believe not the Word of God and the danger of sinners, why are you Christians yourselves? If you do believe it, why do you not bestir yourself to the helping of others? Do you not care who is damned as long as you are saved? If so, you have sufficient cause to pity yourselves, for it is a frame of spirit utterly inconsistent with grace. Dost thou live close by them…or meet them in the streets…or labor with them…or travel with them…or sit and talk with them and say nothing to them of their souls or the life to come? If their houses were on fire, thou wouldst run and help them and wilt thou not help them when their souls are almost at the fire of hell?[1]

Are we thankful for our salvation?

Are we thankful for opportunities to share that salvation with others?

Today, I wish to look at 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and I want to focus on evangelistic praying.

Theme: We pray with thanksgiving for all and we pray for all to receive Christ.

Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:1-2:

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 

1. In verses: 1-2: The apostle Paul writes about the objects and contents of prayer
   1. Let me say right away that the point of our prayers is salvation for others. Look at verses 3-4: This is good, and pleases God our Savior,⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
   2. I see a principle once again that thankfulness is part of prayer, but I also see within this that it is all about salvation.
   3. I once heard Ray Ortlund Jr. say not to insult God with small prayers and then he said “God can save the Supreme Court.” We’ll come back to that idea. But let’s start at the beginning.
   4. Notice as we look at verse 1 that Paul urges the people; he writes, “I urge…” The verb this is translated from just carries the idea of encouraging or exhorting. Paul is exhorting us, challenging us to take this instruction on prayer so seriously. Now, what does he say?
   5. He says that we pray with petitions. This doesn’t simply mean that we make a list and get many people to sign it. No, this has the idea of our prayer life being a humble list to God. This carries the idea of pleading to God.
   6. Then Paul simply says, “Prayers.” I urge you to pray. The noun used for “pray” is the most general word we can use to pray. In fact, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of praise, prayers of intercession and all other types of prayers fit under this noun’s definition.
   7. Then Paul urges us to intercession: this is praying on behalf of other people’s needs.
   8. Then we are urged to pray in thanksgiving. Never forget what God has given you.
      1. It is so easy to simply come to God with our needs while forgetting what we have been given. Things like giving thanks prior to eating a meal are not that common anymore.
   9. We pray in petition, intercession and thanksgiving: One source tells me: “These three terms indicates that the initial prayer term distinguishes the element of insufficiency by the requester, the second highlights devotion by the seeker, and the third underscores the childlike confidence of the petitioner.”[2]
      1. So these prayer terms are all very important. Prayers of petition show that we are merely human coming before God. We are insufficient and we ask for God’s help in humility. We pray in intercession simply coming to God with the needs of others. We come giving thanks recognizing what God has provided.
   10. Now, Paul writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that these prayers are to be offered for all mankind. No one is left out. Now, this doesn’t mean that we are to list everyone by name. We might, but this just means that we can pray for anyone. Don’t leave people out because you don’t like them, or because they are a different social class, or because they vote different, or because you didn’t vote for him or her.
   11. But verse 2 specifies a few groups to pray for. We must pray for kings and all those in authority. This is not the only time Paul mentions praying for our leaders. Our leaders have a great task on them; pray for them.
   12. Do you ever thank God for kings and leaders? Do you ever thank God for those in authority? How do we pray with thanksgiving for politicians? We are told to pray with thanksgiving.
   13. By the way, thanksgiving is the only element of prayer that will continue forever. Everything else will fall after we’ve entered His presence. For there we’ll only thank Him forever and ever. So this…that only eternal element of prayer must be a part of those prayers we offer even here.
   14. I am sure that we have a lot of great leaders: local, state, national to pray in thanksgiving for. However, we can also be thankful for our salvation.
2. Now, in verse 4 the Bible says, God wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth. Now that verse is redundant. “Saved” and “knowledge of the Truth” are both used to mean salvation.
   1. This is a major principle: God loves all. It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female, black or white, American, or French, German, Egyptian, etc, etc and etc. God loves all. God wants all to be saved.
      1. False teachers likely taught that salvation was only for Jewish people, but that is not true. God loves all.
      2. Now, this doesn’t mean that all will be saved. God still gives us choice and we must choose Him.

So, a goal of our prayer is salvation. As we pray for people, pray for their salvation. Pray for their spiritual state. Ask God to make you think like an evangelist.

I have talked and prayed about an evangelical mindset. This means that we would be asking God to show us the real need out there. We ask God to show us the reality of heaven and hell. We ask God to help us to see people and ourselves the way that He sees people and us. This means we would see the grossness of sin, but also potential in Christ.

Close:

So, as we go into Thanksgiving, as we go into the holiday season, let’s pray. Let’s pray with thanksgiving. Let’s pray for salvation for all. Let’s pray that God shows us the need for salvation. Let’s pray that God opens our eyes. Let’s thank God for salvation.

Let’s pray.

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/54-11/evangelistic-praying-part-1

[2] New American Commentary

Slavery… think with me about slavery:

Frederick Douglass grew up as a slave in Maryland in the early nineteenth century and experienced slavery’s every brutality. He was taken from his mother when he was only an infant. For years as a child, all he had to eat was runny corn meal dumped in a trough that kids fought to scoop out with oyster shells. He worked in the hot fields from before sunup until after sundown. He was whipped many times with a cowhide whip until blood ran down his back, kicked and beaten by his master until he almost died, and attacked with a spike by a gang of whites.

But even so, when Frederick considered trying to escape to freedom, he struggled with the decision. He writes in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave that he had two great fears.

The first was leaving behind his friends:

I had a number of warm-hearted friends in Baltimore, friends that I loved almost as I did my life and the thought of being separated from them forever was painful beyond expression. It is my opinion that thousands would escape from slavery, who now remain, but for the strong cords of affection that bind them to their friends.

His second fear was this: “If I failed in this attempt, my case would be a hopeless one it would seal my fate as a slave forever.”

Today, people who find themselves in slavery to sin, and who think about escaping to freedom in Christ, may have similar fears. They may fear leaving behind friends. They may fear they’ll fail in their attempt to break from sin and live free for God.

They should take heart from Douglass’s experience. On September 3, 1838, he remembers:

I left my chains, and succeeded in reaching New York without the slightest interruption of any kind I have been frequently asked how I felt when I found myself in a free State It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced I felt like one who had escaped a den of hungry lions.[1]

So, I wonder, are you a slave?

Let’s read Romans 6:23:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in  Christ Jesus our Lord.

Please keep your Bibles opened I want to apply this passage and this chapter. I will point out key passages in order to show how we got to this place.

My theme:

We are dead to sin, alive to God

Application:

Live for Jesus, we no longer have to be slaves to sin.

1. First, in this passage I see that we died with Christ to the old self; therefore, we no longer have to live in sin. (verses 2-3)
   1. Look at verses 2-3: We are those who have died to sin;how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
   2. How many of us have been baptized?
   3. This means that we are baptized into Jesus.
   4. Paul gives this analogy of dying with Christ in baptism.
   5. Think with me about the cross. On the cross Jesus died for our sins. He died for all of our sins. If He did not take care of all of our sins then we would still have a problem.
   6. So, in that manner, Jesus died for all of our sins, they are dead. He died for them. In this way when we are baptized into Christ Jesus the sins are dead. Our old slavery is dead.
   7. By the way, do you think Frederick Douglas ever wanted to go back to slavery? NO! So why do we go back to our sin slavery?
2. We have risen with Christ (Verses 2-3)
   1. Jesus died but we know that He is not dead anymore.
   2. Also we have been risen with Him.
3. We have been risen with Christ and Christ is not living in sin, so we must live for Christ. (Verses 4-5) Look at the next few verses: We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the deadthrough the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
   1. We are joined with Christ, Christ does not sin.
   2. We are joined with Christ, Christ can help us conquer sin.
4. In verses 16-17 I read we will serve someone or something, it must be Jesus.

Look at verses 16-17: Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 

5. Verse 23: sin has a wage and it is death, but God freely gives us eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. We can trust in Jesus freely and receive the eternal wage.

The guinea worm is a parasite found in certain areas of central Africa. It begins its life as a larvae and often hitches a ride in a millimeter-long crustacean called cyclops.

When a human drinks water from a stream, the cyclops enters the stomach where gastric juices make short work of the cyclops. The larvae of the guinea worm, however, are not destroyed. The worms poke holes in the human’s intestine and go for a swim.

After about three months, the male and female larvae get together. About one year later a full-grown guinea, the width of a paper clip wire and up to three feet long, begins to move through the body of its human host, causing tremendous pain. Finally, the worm pokes out of the host’s body—probably through the foot. If not removed, the parasite will eventually lead to its host’s death.

Once the worm exposes itself, it can only be removed a few centimeters a day. Otherwise the worm will pull apart and die, resulting in infection and possibly death for its host. Sometimes the painful process takes weeks or months.

The guinea worm is like sin in three important ways:

First, sin is easy to get involved in. Just like drinking the water from a stream seems simple and harmless, so often does sin.

Second, sin is difficult to get rid of once it has taken hold. When sin “pokes its head” out of our lives, and we recognize it has to be dealt with, we should act. Forgiveness comes quickly, but many times the process of getting free from its pull is slow and agonizing.

Finally, like the guinea worm, sin when left unchecked can kill you.[2]

Close:

In Decision, Karen R. Morerod writes:

I was in a store shopping for a sweater. The cost needed to be minimal, so I went to the clearance rack to start looking. As I flipped through the sweaters, one caught my eye. It was the right color and the right size, and best of all, the price tag was marked $8.00. Without much more thought, I made my purchase.

At home I slipped on the sweater. Its texture was like silk. I had made my purchase so quickly that I hadn’t noticed how smooth and elegant the sweater was. Then I saw the original price tag: $124.00!

I gasped. I had never owned any clothing of that value. I had come home with what I thought was a “cheap buy,” but the original price was quite high. I had been oblivious to its value.

Just as with my sweater, I have often treated the power of Jesus’ blood like a “cheap purchase.” His grace, though free to me, carried a high price tag the life of his very own Son.[3]

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] Kevin Miller, vice president, Christianity Today International, Wheaton, Illinois

[2] Kevin Bidwell; source: Men’s Health (December 1999)

[3] Karen R. Morerod, writer, “Lesson Learned from a Sweater,” Decision (November 1999), p. 39

We talked extensively about justification last week, so today we are going to talk about the results of justification.

Recall that justification gives us complete forgiveness but also gives us Christ’s righteousness. Several years ago I was working on a roof and got roof tar on my shoes. I liked those shoes but for some time that tar was still sticky on the bottom of the shoes. So eventually I was told that gasoline would take care of it and that is what I did. I rubbed gasoline on the bottom of the shoes and it cleared things up. The gasoline made the shoes perfect, like a brand new pair of shoes. It still happened in time and space, meaning the situation with the roof tar actually did happen, that was not erased. But the gasoline made the shoes pure as if they were a brand new pair.

In justification we are forgiven and we receive Christ’s righteousness. We still sinned, but we are right with God because of Jesus.

There are two results of justification that the Bible talks about which I wish to focus on today. Today, we focus on Peace with God and reconciliation with God.

Let’s read Romans 5:1-11:

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² 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. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

My theme today is that we have Peace with God and reconciliation with God.

1. First, because of our justification we have Peace with God (v. 1).
   11. I am only focusing on verses 1 and 11. This list is not complete. We also have access to God. We have Christian character, we have God’s love within, we have salvation from wrath.
   12. We have so many benefits because of justification. Our salvation is great.
   13. Think about “Peace with God.”
   14. You see, God does not need peace with us, we need peace with Him. We violated His standard. As a consequence of our sins we were at war with God. But as a consequence of Christ’s death and resurrection we are at peace. This is awesome.
   15. Amen!!!
   16. I believe that Peace with God goes along with reconciliation, so let’s look at that.
2. Reconciliation with God (v. 11).
   1. In these 11 verses every time I see the verb “to justify” I also see Paul talking about reconciliation. In verse 1 Paul is talking about how we have peace with God. Then in verse 9 Paul is talking about how we are saved from God’s wrath. That is really what reconciliation is.
   2. Simply put to reconcile means to restore friendship or harmony. In Genesis, Adam walked with God in the Garden of Eden as friends. But then sin came and this separated him from God. ((I am extrapolating this from Gen 3:8-9 and the setting of the Garden of Eden. I am sure I have heard other scholars say this.)
   3. Have you ever had a time when you have a dispute with someone? We all have. When we are reconciled with God it makes God have peace with us. The dispute is gone. God has a dispute with us. He has a rightful dispute with us. We have offended Him. In a Biblical sense we have offended God’s holy law. Verse 6 says that we were ungodly when Jesus died for us. Verse 8 says that we were still sinners when Christ died for us. Verse 9 says because of this we are enemies of God. Ungodly! Sinners! Enemies!
      1. We need reconciliation.
      2. We need to be reconciled to God.

• We had offended Him. We still offend him.

1. We had and still do cross His perfect law.
2. Review Romans:
3. In Romans chapter 1 Paul spent most of the chapter writing about our ungodliness. In verse 18 He 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.

• You may say that that is not you. But it is. It is all of us.
• Romans 2:1: You, therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

1. Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
   1. We all sin.
   2. It is amazing that for most of history people have tried to reconcile themselves to God or the gods. It’s true. For most of history there have been pagan religions making sacrifices or doing other religious things to try to appease the gods. We can see this in Native American religions. We can see this in Eastern religions. We can see this in Egyptian religions. We can see this in the Middle Eastern religions. You know that there were Israelite kings in the Old Testament that sacrificed their own children to Baal? They did this because they got into the pagan religions of Palestine.
   3. It took blood to cover sin.
   4. There is a movie “Kicking and Screaming” which is about a children’s soccer team. The team is trying to win and then they realize these Italians are their secret. So, they use them all the time, but they work for their uncle cutting meat and their uncle says, “Meat comes first.” One day they have too much meat to cut so they would miss the game. So a part of the team all goes to help cut meat. They show up just in time for the game with blood all over their uniforms. These young children are scared, seeing blood. The other team forfeits.
   5. That is what happened in the Old Testament. They would have been covered in blood in the sacrificial systems.
   6. But really if you read through the Old Testament they had several animal sacrifices to make in order to attempt to reconcile the relationship with God. But Hebrews says it doesn’t work. It wasn’t enough.
   7. Heb 10:11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
   8. In Christianity Jesus came to us. We couldn’t do this on our own.
   9. So we also, as Christians, have forgiveness through Christ, our sins are erased through justification and we have peace with God in reconciliation. Adam walked with God in the Garden of Eden and we also can walk with God as friends because of Jesus. (I am extrapolating this from Gen 3:8-9 and the setting of the Garden of Eden. I am sure I have heard other scholars say this.)
2. We couldn’t be reconciled to God without being justified; however, reconciliation naturally follows justification.
3. Hebrews 4:16 says let us approach the throne of grace with confidence. We can because of reconciliation.
4. Ps 103:12: as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Let’s apply this. Every sermon should have encouragement and conviction. Every sermon should have grace and truth. This is because the Word of God gives us encouragement and conviction.

Are you living as free? Are you living as though you are forgiven by Christ, not only that, are you living with an understanding that you are pure to God, that you are righteous in God’s sight? Are you living knowing that you can approach God’s throne without a human mediator? Because of justification and reconciliation.

Or, are you trying to earn your salvation? Do you feel like you can’t approach God? Do you have a secret sin? Confess your sins to God. Accept God’s forgiveness and know that you are forgiven. Know that you are more than forgiven; you are pure, righteous, and reconciled to God. Your relationship with God was broken but it is restored. Many times we get self worth from trying to please people and trying to do things. Trouble is, we can never do enough to earn our salvation and make things right with God. But Jesus did it for us. Jesus has accomplished what we couldn’t accomplish. Lean on Him! Stop trying by yourself! Lean on Jesus. Then Jesus will give you the assurance of your salvation.

1. Our Salvation is complete. Forgiven: Our sins are forgiven; our debt is paid by Jesus. Justified: we are righteous in God’s sight. It is as if we never sinned. Reconciled: There is no longer a barrier between us and God.

Close:

There is an old hymn by John Newton:

Approach My Soul the Mercy Seat

Approach, my soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer;
There humbly fall before His feet,
For none can perish there.

Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burdened souls to Thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.

Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely pressed,
By war without and fears within,
I come to Thee for rest.

Be Thou my Shield and hiding Place,
That, sheltered by Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died!

O wondrous love! to bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead Thy gracious Name.

“Poor tempest-tossèd soul, be still;
My promised grace receive”;
’Tis Jesus speaks—I must, I will,
I can, I do believe.

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

From:  The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel, pages 256-259.

Scene #3:  CHANGING A LIFE

This third episode occurred after my Atlanta interview with Craig about the issue of miracles.  I got into my rental car and took a leisurely drive up Interstate 75 to Rome, Georgia.  The next morning was cool but sunny, and I got dressed and headed over to a church for Sunday services.

Outside, politely greeting everyone with a handshake as they arrived, was William Neal Moore, Looking handsome in a tan suit with dark stripes, a crisp white shirt and brown tie.  His face was deep  mahogany, his black hair was close-cropped, but what I remember most was his smile:  it was at once shy and warm, gentle and sincere, winsome and loving.  It made me feel welcome.

“Praise the Lord, Brother Moore!” declared an elderly woman as she grasped his hand briefly and then shuffled inside.

Moore is an ordained minister at the church, which is sandwiched between two housing projects in the racially mixed community.  He is a doting father, a devoted husband, a faithful provider, a hard-working employee, a man of compassion and prayer who spends his spare time helping hurting people who everyone else seems to have forgotten.  In short, a model citizen.

But turn back the calendar to May 1984.  At that time, Moore was locked in the death-watch cell at the Georgia State Penitentiary, down the hallway from the electric chair where his life was scheduled to be snuffed out in less than seventy-two hours.

This was not the case of an innocent man being railroaded by the justice system.  Unquestionably, Moore was a murderer.  He had admitted as much.  After a childhood of poverty and occasional petty crimes, he had joined the Army and later became depressed by marital and financial woes.  One night he got drunk and broke into the house of seventy-seven-year-old Fredger Stapleton, who was known to keep large amounts of cash in his bedroom.

From behind a door, Stapleton let loose with a shotgun blast, and Moore fired back with pistol.  Stapleton was killed instantly, and within minutes Moore was fleeing with $5,600.  An informant tipped police and the next morning he was arrested at his trailer outside of town.  Caught with the proceeds from the crime, Moore admitted his guilt and was sentenced to death.  He had squandered his life and turned to violence, and now he himself would face a violent end.

But the William Neal Moore who was counting down the hours to his scheduled execution was not the same person who had murdered Fredger Stapleton.  Shortly after being imprisoned, two church leaders visited Moore at the behest of his mother.  They told him about the mercy and hope that was available through Jesus Christ.

“Nobody had ever told me that Jesus loves me and died for me,” Moore explained during my visit to Georgia.  “It was a love I could feel.  It was a love I wanted.  It was a love I needed.”

On that day, Moore said yes to Christ’s free gift of forgiveness and eternal life, and he was promptly baptized in a small tub that was used by prison trusties.  And he would never be the same.

For sixteen years on Death Row, Moore was like a missionary among other inmates.  He led Bible studies and conducted prayer sessions.  He counseled prisoners and introduced many of them to faith in Jesus Christ.  Some churches actually sent people to Death Row to be counseled by him.  He took dozens of Bible courses by correspondence.  He won the forgiveness of his victim’s family.  He became known as “The Peacemaker,” because his cellblock, largely populated by inmates who had become Christians through his influence, was always the safest, the quietest, the most orderly.

Meanwhile, Moore inched closer and closer to execution.  Legally speaking, his case was a hopeless cause.  Since he had pleaded guilty, there were virtually no legal issues that might win his release on appeal.  Time after time, the courts reaffirmed his death sentence.

“A Saintly Figure”

So profound was the depth of Moore’s transformation, however, that people began to take notice.  Mother Teresa and others started campaigning to save his life.  “Billy’s not what he was then,” said a former inmate who had met Moore in prison.  “If you kill him today, you’re killing a body, but a body with a different mind.  It would be like executing the wrong man.”

Praising him for not only being rehabilitated but also being “an agent for the rehabilitation of others,” an editorial in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution declared:  “In the eyes of many, he is a saintly figure.”

Just hours prior to Moore’s being strapped into the electric chair, shortly before Moore’s head and right calf would be shaved so that the lethal electrodes could be attached, the courts surprised nearly everyone by issuing a temporary halt to his execution.

Even more amazingly, The Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole later voted unanimously to spare his life by commuting his sentence to life in prison.  But what was really astounding – in fact, unprecedented in modern Georgia history – was when the Parole and Pardon Board decided that Moore, an admitted and once-condemned armed robber and murderer, should go free.  On November 8, 1991, he was released.

As I sat with Moored in his home overlooking a landscape of lush pine trees, I asked him about the source of his amazing metamorphosis.

“It was the prison rehabilitation system that did it, right?”  I asked.

Moore laughed.  “No, it wasn’t that,” he replied.

“Then it was a self-help program or having a positive mental attitude,”  I suggested.

He shook his head emphatically.  “No, not that, either.”

“Prozac?  Transcendental Meditation?  Psychological counseling?”

“Come on, Lee,”  he said.  “You know it wasn’t any of those.”

He was right.  I knew the real reason.  I just wanted to hear him say it.  “Then what was responsible for the transformation of Billy Moore?”  I asked.

“Plain and simple, it was Jesus Christ,” he declared adamantly.  “He changed me in ways I could never have changed on my own.  He gave me a reason to live.  He helped me do the right thing.  He gave me a heart for others.  He saved my soul.”

That’s the power of faith to change a human life.  “Therefore,” wrote the apostle Paul, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Billy Moored the Christian is not the same as Billy Moore the killer.  God had intervened with his forgiveness, with his mercy, with his power, with the abiding presence of his Spirit.  That same kind of transforming grace is available to everyone who acts on the ample evidence for Jesus Christ by making the decision to turn away from their sin and embrace him as their forgiver and leader.

It’s awaiting all those who say yes to God and his ways.

Today, I wish to talk about how Jesus changes us.

I want to talk about “justification.”

Everyone say, “Justification.”

The theme:

Abraham was justified by faith and we also may be.

Read with me Romans 4:1-3:

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,discovered in this matter? ² If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. ³ What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

1. First, let’s talk about justification.
   1. In Romans 3:23 the Bible says that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
   2. Then Romans 3:24 says that we are justified freely.
   3. Romans 6:23 says the same thing.
   4. Romans could be complete but Paul is now illustrating that we are justified by faith alone and Jews and Gentiles need Jesus.
   5. So, what is justification? Is it “just-as-if-I-never-sinned”?
   6. Not really. Unfortunately, I have used that but there is so much more to justification then that.
   7. Justification is a legal term.
   8. Justification has two parts:
      1. Forgiveness of sins
      2. Imputed Christ’s righteousness
   9. Without forgiveness of sins we are guilty so this removes the guilt.
   10. Imputing Christ’s righteousness takes the wrath of God away from us and makes it so that we can stand before God. Imputing Christ’s righteousness restores our relationship with God.
   11. Stand before the JUDGE— He examines the defendant against the evidence (using omniscience). The judge is God and He is examining us.
   12. He pronounces judgment. Later will follow the pronouncing of sentence.
   13. HIS JUDGMENT = NOT GUILTY by reason of the Atonement of Christ.
   14. Rom 4.5 “Justifies the ungodly”
   15. The definition of justification is To Declare Righteous
   16. NOT, To Make Righteous (Sanctification, and finally glorification)
   17. Therefore, your right standing is a declaration of the judge, not the result of your actually being good.
   18. Forgiveness of sins:
   19. Forgiveness of Sins

Romans 4:6-8

“Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

1. Negative Side – clearing away
2. Imputation of Christ’s righteousness.

Rom 3.21-22:  But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile…

Positive Side – the merit of God’s son.

1. Justification implies a freedom from guilt.
2. Not that we are not guilty, but that we have been freed from its condemnation. Rom 8:1
3. The forgiveness of sins by confession (1 Jn 1.9) should be fully accepted. To do less implies an ineffective atonement.
4. “Go and sin no more.” (John 8)
5. Not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. Phil 3.9
6. Implication: God receives me as he would his own son. Heb 4.16
7. So, that is justification
8. Isn’t that awesome! We are not just forgiven!

1. Example Abraham and his faith
   1. In verse 3 we have the quote from Gen. 15:6: Abraham believed God and it was credited to Him as righteousness. Abraham was justified by his faith.
   2. This was a big deal because the Jews would have thought Abraham was right with God because of circumcision, but as verses 9-12 say the justification happened prior to the seal of circumcision.
   3. Abraham was justified some 14 years prior to circumcision.
   4. The chronology of Genesis proves Paul’s case. Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born (Gen. 16:16), and Abraham was 99 when he was circumcised. But God declared him righteous before Ishmael had even been conceived (Gen. 15:6; 16:2–4)—at least 14 years before Abraham’s circumcision.”
   5. We are grafted in:
   6. Look at verses 23-25: The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,²⁴ but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Close:

So, how does a death row inmate become a pastor? It has nothing to do with him but everything to do with God.

This passage is not about Abraham but about God. God transforms people!

Have you been transformed? Is that worth sharing?

Go and share it!

Go and worship that you are not just forgiven but you are righteous.

Let’s review the Romans road to Salvation:

Walking Down the “Romans Road” to Salvation . . . .

• Because of our sin, we are separated from God.
  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)
• The Penalty for our sin is death.
  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
• The penalty for our sin was paid by Jesus Christ!
  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
• If we repent of our sin, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins!
  For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Romans 10:13)
  …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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9,10)[1]

Go and share the Gospel:

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/about/becoming_a_christian.aspx