Sermon Tone Analysis

Paul is still carrying on about this justification stuff you guys! Martin Luther, the man responsible for the reformation of the church in the 1500’s, said that this is a truth that must be beaten into the heads of Christians! Seems harsh, but it’s true!

The apostle Paul is explaining in that God’s plan has always been to justify people through faith, not through obedience.

I have to tell y’all this story so you know what is going on in this passage tonight.

Abraham, we’ve talked about him before.

I told y’all his story several weeks ago, but God chose Abraham to reveal himself to the world through.

Abraham becomes the father of the Jewish people.

Have y’all seen the Hunger Games (or read it)?

So the Jews thought they were like the people from district one because God chose them.

They thought everyone else was from district 12.

But here’s an important question: what did God choose them for?

He chose them to be a light to the world.

To be a blessing.

He chose them to be the people who revealed who He was to the rest of the world.

God made this promise to Abraham and it’s known as the Abrahamic Covenant.

But they thought they were special and the only ones with access to God.

Then this Jesus guy showed up and told everyone that the Jews weren’t the only people with access to God, people from district 12 had access to God by faith just like the Jews.

Hundreds of years later, Moses shows up and God gives the Jews the law through Moses.

God tells the people that if they will do everything He’s told them in the law, then He will bless them.

So this law is a big deal to the Jews, they think it makes them better than everyone else.

Then Jesus comes in and says people don’t have to obey the law for salvation, they just get it through faith.

The Jews lose this thing that they think makes them special.

What we see is God’s plan for salvation, for your salvation, has always been to put your faith in Jesus.

This is so different than the way our world thinks...

But with Jesus, it’s not that way.

He just needs your faith.

Justified by faith