S228-062908 Ro 10b
Alêtheia Christian Fellowship ~ 062908 ~ Romans 10b
Mt 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Ac 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Co 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Ga 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Ro 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Sermon:
Paul spoke about sin culminating in the fact that Christians have an interior battle, but that was not a sign of hopelessness – on the contrary it was proof of the Holy Spirit.
He concluded chapter 8, by saying nothing can take your salvation away – Yet the obvious question would be what happened to the Jews?
Last week we saw that there is no difference between Jew and non-Jew – both are condemned for unbelief and both are saved by believing.
Romans 10:9b-13 ~ 9bif you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:14&15 ~ 14How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
SLIDE: 6 verbs in descending order…
1- Will be saved – eternity with God
2- You must call upon Him to be saved
3- You must believe in order to call upon Him
4- You must hear the Message in order to believe
5- A preacher must preach in order to hear
6- A preacher must exist in order to preach
khru>ssw, Proclaim Kerygma
poimai>nw = (Verb) Peter shepherd My sheep Jn 21:16
poimh>n = Latin pāstor, Ephesians offices i.e. pastor Ep 4:11
Shepherd = Latin: Pastor
Ephesians 4:11 ~ Shepherd and Teacher (dida>skalov) – one office.
Elder (presbu>terov) and Overseer (ejpi>skopov) ~ All meaning that the office of Pastor, instituted by Jesus, means a couple of basic things.
A person who is mature in the faith who shepherds a flock as a vicar (Persian Vizier) of the true shepherd.
1- Leads
a) Folds (Keeps the flock together)
b) Disciplines (… in line)
c) Directs (to good & safe areas)
2- Cares
a) Nourishes (Feeds)
b) Exercises (Moves the flock around)
3- Protects
a) From External Threats (Wolves)
b) From Themselves
Authority comes from the Word itself and all three areas are primarily communicating that very Word.
The mandate and direction to the vicar is from the Word and the staff is also the Word.
I must love the flock (church), much more than the individual lambs. I won’t jeopardize the flock for a lamb, no matter how cute.
People will say the Good Shepherd left the 99 to recover the one… Luke 15
You must love the Shepherd and the office He established much more than me.
Love God, love the church, and love the office of pastor, elder, deacon, worship leader, youth leader
This is not popular and will not preach well, but it is important to understand.
Story of 1st day in Flight Physiology.
Don’t focus on me, focus on the office – don’t focus on Billy Bob, focus on the Body.
Don’t be so self-involved…
Concerned about how things affect you…
Take the lemons and do something positive!
My job is to do my job and God willing that is what I’ll do – let us all have that same commitment.
1- God’s Word (Word) ~ leads to
2- Genuine Relationship with God (worship) ~ leads to
3- Genuine Relationship with each other (Fellowship)
For the purpose of… sending the preacher unto salvation
Everything we have to go on is the Word and what is the Word?
Romans 10:16-18 ~ 16However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the world.”
The Word is the Word of Christ, i.e. The Gospel
To finish our section on the church and ministry we can see that the key to everything is the Word and that Word must be proclaimed – we must see to it!
Yet, we see that the effect is predicated upon acceptance of that Word.
SLIDE: Back to our original intent…
Paul quotes from a few Old Testament verses to indicate that the Jews, more than any other people on earth, had the Word.
Even though it is the Word that saves… It is not automatic
The Sovereign God involves people – He respects our choices and will therefore hold us accountable!
What a privilege and what a responsibility
Romans 10:19-21 ~ 19But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation; by a nation without understanding will I anger you.” 20And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me, I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” 21But as for Israel He says, “All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Again, Paul quotes from a few Old Testament verses to indicate that the Jews, more than any other people on earth, had the Word.
But often having a bit of God makes one godless and God will use that to give others an opportunity and hopefully bring you back as well.
Beware of being FAT
Hippies
Of course the Prodigal’s brother.
All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT?
Faith comes from a heart response to hearing the Word of God.
We must recognize the importance of God’s Word.
1) Understand what a pastor is supposed to do and support the pastor in Kerygma
2) Preach
3) Pray for the Holy Spirit to anoint and to touch and to empower
4) Carefully guard your own heart as you listen to God’s Word – respond positively and build faith that is unshakeable