We All Have Sinned.

Part Two of the Sermon, What Will God See From Heaven Today?

Scripture: Romans 3: 23

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

All have sinned and fallen short.

I do not care how well I do in life or what I achieve in life. 

No one can boast of their goodness when they know they have sinned. And only because of God’s grace and mercy are we here today.  Because of God’s love, he sent his son to die for our sins.  God did this out of love so he expects us to obey his guidelines.  He wants us to love him with all our hearts. 

God did this perfectly.  Because we fall short, we must turn to Jesus.

Scripture: Romans 10: 9-10

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Scripture: Psalm 14: 1-2

The fool[a] says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

In this psalm, David applies to his enemies.  These people have become corrupt.  There is no good in any of them because they don’t believe in God, but only in themselves.

There was then, as is now, a clear distinction between those who worship God and those who refuse to worship God, the Father.

So here is the question again. Who do you worship? 

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Romans 3

Romans 10

Psalm 14

Read Part One of the Sermon, What Will God See From Heaven Today?

We Know God Is Always With Us

Scripture: Romans 8: 28-29

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

Scripture Commentary: As believers we know that we aren’t left to our own resources.

Even when we’re lost and do not know the right words to pray, we know that God’s Holy Spirit in us will give us what we need. Just call on Him.

Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you in accordance with God’s will.

God works in all things – not just in isolated incidents. This doesn’t mean that all that happens is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our good as long as it is in His will.

God is not working to make us happy for our own gratification but to fulfill His purpose. This call to serve is not for everyone; it is meant for those who are called according to His purpose. Those who are called are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ.

Such people have a new perspective, a new mindset on life. They trust in God, not this world’s treasures. Their security is in Jesus and not the things of this earth.

Are you hearing Jesus’s call?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 8

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

Jesus Set Us Free with His Sacrifice on the Cross

Who Are You to Pass Judgment on Others?

We Have Our Minds Set On Jesus

Scripture: Romans 8: 4-6

...in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Scripture Commentary:

I’m sure we can all remember the day we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We had our minds set. We felt good because we weren’t controlled by Satan and his sinful nature.

Paul places people in two categories: those who let themselves be controlled by the flesh and those who let themselves be controlled by the spirit. We would all be in the first category if Jesus hadn’t offered us a way out.

When we said yes to Christ, we became His and began to follow Him in mind, body and spirit.

We are “not guilty”!

We are free from Satan’s clutches. Free at last; thank God we are free! O what a feeling.

God has given us freedom through Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit has given us power to live as God intends. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of eternal life for those who believe in and follow Him.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 8

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

There Is No Death in Jesus Christ

Refrain from the Wickedness of a Godless Life

Jesus’s Blood Confirms the Covenant

Sermon: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Part Two: The blood of the covenant is the blood of Jesus.

Matthew 26: 28 says, “for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant[d] between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”

When The Bible speaks of the blood of Jesus, it refers to His death. No salvation would be accomplished merely by Jesus bleeding. His bleeding and death is what makes His blood shedding crucial.

What is the relationship between the shedding of Jesus’s blood and the resurrection?

The Bible says He was raised not just after the blood shedding, but by it. This means that what Jesus’s death accomplished was so full and so perfect that the resurrection was the reward and vindication of Jesus’s achievement in death.

The wrath of God was satisfied with the suffering and death of Christ. The holy curse against sin was fully absorbed. The obedience of Christ was completed to the fullest measure. The price of forgiveness was totally paid. The righteousness of God was completely vindicated.

All that was left to accomplish was the public declaration of God’s endorsement. He did this by raising Jesus from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15: 17 says, “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.” This means that the resurrection of Christ proves that the death of Jesus is an all-sufficient price.

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then His death would have been a failure. If God did not vindicate His sin-bearing achievement, then we are still in our sins. But Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. The success of His suffering and death was vindicated.

Romans 6:4 says, “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

If we put our trust in Christ, we are not still in our sins.

By the blood of the eternal covenant the Great Shepherd has been raised and lives forever. That is what Christ came to do. He took the weapon of death our of Satan’s hand.

Christ took our sins on Himself.

He suffered for you and I and for all the human race. Satan has no hold on us! Only the death of the Son of God and the resurrection could destroy the one who had the power of death. When Christ died for our sins, He took from the devil his one lethal weapon: unforgiven sin.

Jesus has set us free! We are not slaves to death any longer. The devil may kill our body, but he can no longer kill our soul. It is safe in Christ.

Do you believe Christ died for your sins? Do you believe Christ rose from the grave?

Then stand and give Him the praise! Give Him your love and your life! He deserves the honor, praise and glory.

Thank you, God!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 26

1 Corinthians Chapter 15

Romans Chapter 6

Read Part One of the Sermon, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Christ Died For Our Sins

Scripture: Romans 6: 7-10

For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live [together] with Him, because we know [the self-evident truth] that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. 

Scripture Commentary:

We will all die but who will we die for? Are we living for worldly things or are we living for Christ? If we are living for Christ, then our old sinful self died once and for all, and we are free from its power. Paul has told us that through faith in Christ we are acquitted before God. We need no longer live under sin’s power.

So we are free!

What are we doing for Christ? When we were chained to sin, we lived as sinners. Now Christ has freed us from our sinful nature. Christ’s death and resurrection freed us to enjoy fellowship with him and to do His will.

So let us consider ourselves to be what God has in fact made us. We have a new start, and the Holy Spirit will help us become in our daily experience what Christ has declared us to be.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from Romans Chapter 6:

Do Not Continue in Sin; You Have Been Set Free

Will You Go On Sinning?

Salvation Has Made You Free From Sin

Scripture: Romans 6: 7-10, 18

For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.(7-10) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.(18)

Scripture Commentary: Salvation makes you free from sin.

Have you given your life to God? Are you doing things that you think will get you into heaven? If you are living by the law, you are condemned by the law. Salvation is not the law. It is a gift from God that has made you free from sin.

Some people try to earn their way to God by keeping a set of rules, like obeying The Ten Commandments, attending church faithfully, or doing good deeds. All they earn from their efforts is frustration and discouragement.

We cannot reach God by works alone.

We must truly believe that Christ came here and died for our sins, and on the third day, He rose. Christ’s spirit enables us to produce good fruit. And we now serve, not by obeying a set of rules but out of renewed hearts and minds that overflow with love for God.

When you know that you don’t have to fear death, you will experience a new vigor in life.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from Romans Chapter 6

Being Saved Is Being Under Grace

Do Not Let Sin Reign in Your Life

Our Old Self Was Crucified With Jesus

Scripture: Romans 6: 5-9

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. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Scripture Commentary: In Christ our old self is dead.

The power and penalty of sin died with Christ on the cross. Our “old self,” our sinful nature, died once and for all. We are freed from its power.

The “body of sin” is not the human body but our rebellious, sin-loving nature inherited from Adam. Although our body willingly cooperates with our sinful nature, we must not regard the body as evil. It is the sin in us that is evil. And it is this power of sin at work in our body that is defeated.

Christ’s children stand ‘not guilty’ before God.

Paul has already stated that through faith in Christ we stand acquitted, “not guilty” before God. Paul emphasizes here that we need no longer live under sin’s power. God does not take us out of the world or make us robots. We will still feel like sinning, and sometimes we will sin.

The difference is that before we were saved, we were slaves to our sinful nature. But now we can choose to live for Christ. That assurance frees us to enjoy fellowship with Him, and a desire to do His will.

We have a new start.

The Holy Spirit will help us become what Christ has declared us to be. We are His children.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary on Romans Chapter 6

There Is No Death in Jesus Christ

Will You Go On Sinning?

Do Not Let Sin Reign in Your Life

Scripture: Romans 6: 1, 12-13

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?(1) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting [g]the members of your body to sin as[h] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as[i] instruments of righteousness to God. (12-13)

Scripture Commentary:

When you do something for God out of love for Him, you feel good. When do you something wrong for Satan, you feel bad. Do not let sin reign within you!

This is a daily battle but you can reign over sin’s power, over death’s threat, and over Satan’s attacks. When you accept Jesus Christ, you are no longer obligated to carry out those old motives, desires, and goals.

Live the life that Christ gave you when He died on the cross for you.

If you think of our old, sinful life as dead and buried, you have the power to resist sin. Then you can enjoy your new life with Christ because you are united with Him in His death and resurrection.

Your evil desires, your bondage to sin, and your love of sin died with Him. Jesus’s love for you has set you free. You are free at last!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from Romans Chapter 6:

Don’t Be a Slave to Sin

Without the Law, Sin is Dead

Romans 7: 8-13

It was sin that used this command as a way of making me have all kinds of desires. But without the Law, sin is dead.

Before I knew about the Law, I was alive. But as soon as I heard that command, sin came to life, 10 and I died. The very command that was supposed to bring life to me, instead brought death. 11 Sin used this command to trick me, and because of it I died. 12 Still, the Law and its commands are holy and correct and good.

13 Am I saying that something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is. 

Scripture Commentary: Law lets us know when our actions are good or bad.

Without the law, sin is dead. Where there is no law, people cannot know that their actions are sinful. There must be a law that forbids those actions.

Sin is real and dangerous.

God’s law makes people realize that they are sinners doomed to die, yet it offers no help. Sin deceives people by misusing the law. The law is holy, expressing God’s nature and will for the people.

When we are tempted to rebel, we need to look at the situation from a wider perspective. Look in the light of God’s grace and mercy. When we focus on His great love for us, we will understand that He only restricts us from actions and attitudes that ultimately will harm us.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 7

Read Other Commentary on Romans Chapter 7:

Let Christ Set You Free

When I Want to Do Good, Why Is Evil There With Me?

Jesus Delivered Us and Teaches Us Love

Jesus Saved Us From God’s Wrath

Scripture: Romans 5: 8-9

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 

Scripture Commentary:

We are descendants of Adam but we are the children of God. We were born sinners but Jesus saved us from God’s wrath. God gives us His peace. This may differ from peaceful feelings such as calmness and tranquility.

Jesus paid for our sins.

Because Jesus died for us on the cross, the price for our sins has been paid. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to save us. He also sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. The Holy Spirit enables us to live.

If you ever feel uncertain about God’s love for you, remember that He loved you even before you turned to Him. God loved you when you were a lost sinner. And He can strengthen you now that you have returned to love Him.

You can pray for God’s power and love at any time.

Be assured that having begun a life with Christ, you have a reserve of power and love to call on each day. You have help to meet every challenge or trial.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

The Wrath of God Against Sinful Humanity

You Have No Excuse