Hebrews 1:1-4
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
1.The Person of Christ
-He is the brightness of God's glory
-Jesus possesses the exact same nature of God
2.The Performance of Christ
a. The Inerrant Revelator
-The fullness of the Old Testament revelations
-The finality of the New Testament revelations
-The Father of Both revelations
b. The Infallible Regulator
-The agent of creation and holds it all together
c.The Incomparable Redeemer
-The Sovereignty of the Redeemer
-The Singularity of the Redeemer
-The Sufficiency of the Redeemer
d. The Indisputable Ruler
-Our King Reigns
Monday, August 26, 2013
Salvation
Acts 2:41-47
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Salvation
1. Experience of Salvation
-Salvation is an experience that happens in time and space.
A life changing, soul changing experience.
a. Intellectually
Proper Christology
-More than an ordinary man
-Miracles, wonders
-Deity of Christ
b. Emotionally
Pressing Conviction
-They see their own sinfulness toward a Holy God
c. Volitionally
Profound Conversion
- The "continual repenter"
2.Expression of Salvation
Public confession
The public invitation in churches today is a rather new idea
-about 300 years old
Public Baptism
a.Personal testimony
b.Prophetic statement
3. Evidences of Salvation
-Steadfast convictions
-Simple compassion
-Spectacularly charismatic
Live in Joy of spiritual overflow!!
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Salvation
1. Experience of Salvation
-Salvation is an experience that happens in time and space.
A life changing, soul changing experience.
a. Intellectually
Proper Christology
-More than an ordinary man
-Miracles, wonders
-Deity of Christ
b. Emotionally
Pressing Conviction
-They see their own sinfulness toward a Holy God
c. Volitionally
Profound Conversion
- The "continual repenter"
2.Expression of Salvation
Public confession
The public invitation in churches today is a rather new idea
-about 300 years old
Public Baptism
a.Personal testimony
b.Prophetic statement
3. Evidences of Salvation
-Steadfast convictions
-Simple compassion
-Spectacularly charismatic
Live in Joy of spiritual overflow!!
Regeneration
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. -1 Peter 1:1-5
RegenerationVerse 1 -
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia
- This book was written to Christian Jews scattered throughout Asia Minor
Verse 2 -
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
- Trinitarian Salvation
1.Selected by the Father
2.Saved by the Son
3.Sanctified by the Spirit
Verse 3-
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
- Doxology of praise
1.Meaning
-Doctrinal concept
a.Born from above
b.Born anew
c.Born in the Spirit
2. Means
-The Gospel of Jesus Christ!
3. Mistakes
a.Hyper-Calvinism
-Denies the purpose of the death of Jesus Christ
-Denies the biblical indiscriminate free offer of the gospel to all persons and a universal call to repentance and faith.
b.Baptismal regeneration-
-The belief that Baptism is intimately linked to regeneration.
c."Men repent and believe, resulting in salvation"
But how can a dead man repent and believe?
The Spirit quickens man unto salvation, then man responds in repentance and faith.
"he has caused us to be born again"
-Defining Cause
God the father
-Caused by the mercy of God
-Monergism
"Mon"-one
"erg"- work
-Single work of God
-Delightful Consequences
a.Blessed hope in our heart
b.Beautiful home in heaven
c.Bountiful help amidst our battle against sin and satan
Sunday, August 25, 2013
"I will be saved"
Romans 8:28-39
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
-It's all about Jesus
2.Exposition
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:29
-Predestined for Glory
-Prepared for Glory
-Preserved for Glory
Oh, how I cannot wait until that day!! Glory!!!!
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Glorification
-Future tense
-Deliverance from the presence of sin
1.Explanation
Definition
- To be conformed to the image of God's Son
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2
Details & Design
-Mystery
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.-1 Cor. 50-58
-It's all about Jesus
2.Exposition
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:29
-Predestined for Glory
-Prepared for Glory
-Preserved for Glory
Oh, how I cannot wait until that day!! Glory!!!!
"I am being saved"
Romans 7:14-25
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Sanctification
Definition
-Present tense
-Deliverance from the power of indwelling sin
-To be made like Jesus
-Set apart unto and for the Lord
- To be "holified"
-Not based on spiritual performance/good
works, but on our position in Christ.
-Positional
-Personal
-Practical
-Progressive
-The intellect (mind) discerning who God is.
-The affections (heart) desiring God.
-The volition (will) determining to do what the mind discerned about God.
-It's what you do in the dark
-Never will be totally accomplished until we meet Jesus
-Keep fighting!
-Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.
Difficulty
- It's not easy being like Jesus!
-There is an enemy, and it's inside of you
-Part and parcel to who you are
-It's called sin
-The law of sin...living , abiding law
-Just resolve today that you will get serious about living for the Lord, and you will find that this enemy will raise himself up in opposition, he will raise his fists and say "bring it on!"
-He so often is more astute, more disciplined and serious.
-The Christian life is not for the timid or ill prepared, but for the serious, militant, and those who know the warnings and get prepared.
-We are in a spiritual war
Means
1. The Savior-Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.- Romans 7:24-25
2.The Spirit-His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. -2 Peter 1:3
3.The Scriptures- Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
4.Spiritual songs- Great hymns of the Faith
5.Suffering-And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
6.Supernatural- Run to Christ, Throw yourself on to the mercy seat of Christ.
7.Saints-Iron sharpens iron,and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Sanctification
Definition
-Present tense
-Deliverance from the power of indwelling sin
-To be made like Jesus
-Set apart unto and for the Lord
- To be "holified"
-Not based on spiritual performance/good
works, but on our position in Christ.
-Positional
-Personal
-Practical
-Progressive
-The intellect (mind) discerning who God is.
-The affections (heart) desiring God.
-The volition (will) determining to do what the mind discerned about God.
-It's what you do in the dark
-Never will be totally accomplished until we meet Jesus
-Keep fighting!
-Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.
Difficulty
- It's not easy being like Jesus!
-There is an enemy, and it's inside of you
-Part and parcel to who you are
-It's called sin
-The law of sin...living , abiding law
-Just resolve today that you will get serious about living for the Lord, and you will find that this enemy will raise himself up in opposition, he will raise his fists and say "bring it on!"
-He so often is more astute, more disciplined and serious.
-The Christian life is not for the timid or ill prepared, but for the serious, militant, and those who know the warnings and get prepared.
-We are in a spiritual war
Means
1. The Savior-Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.- Romans 7:24-25
2.The Spirit-His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. -2 Peter 1:3
3.The Scriptures- Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
4.Spiritual songs- Great hymns of the Faith
5.Suffering-And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
6.Supernatural- Run to Christ, Throw yourself on to the mercy seat of Christ.
7.Saints-Iron sharpens iron,and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
"I am saved"
Romans 3:23-4:5
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Justification - I am saved
-Past Tense
-One of the grandest messages in Christianity
Definition
-To be cleared of guilt
-Declared innocent
-To be given the righteousness of Christ
Delineation
-Presupposition
There is a Judge.
He is God.
He is holy and righteous.
He has the right and might to determine what the criteria should be for judgment.
He has the right to not acquit to the guilty
-Missing element in modern Christianity
Man without exception are sinners (Totally Depraved)
-Rom. 1:18-32
-Sinfulness/Guilt of the Heathen
-Guilt of the Hebrews
-Guilt of the Hypocrites
-All are guilty
How will a guilty condemned sinner ever be cleared of guilt, and be justified in the sight of The Holy God?
7 Prerequisites
1. Justice must be propitiated
Propitiation-means placating or satisfying the wrath of God
-God has taken into account our guiltiness and sinfulness and His holiness and righteousness
-He sent His Son and sprinkled His blood on the mercy seat
-Crushing His Son
-Dying on the Cross
-The wrath of God was turned away and justice was satisfied!
2. God must be exonerated
Exoneration-To free from blame
-How could God be just in pardoning the sins of Old Testament saints when justice had not yet been satisfied?
-Through the forbearance of God
-In eternity past, God decreed He would send His Son to pay for those sins, He had forbearance.
-God is just!!
3. Sin must be expiated
Expiation- the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement.
-To take our sin out of view as far as the East is to the West!
He took my sins out of view!!!!! Amen!!
4. Christ must be exalted
- It's not about the church, the building... it's all about Christ!
5. Boasting must be excluded
- We have nothing to boast of when we think of justification,
-It should bring us to the dust
-Humble us
-Joy in the Lord!
6. Faith must be exercised
-Faith must have an object
-Faith in the blood of Christ, in the Gospel!
-His person and His Work
-If you have faith in anything else... there is no hope.
7. The law must be established
-The law is spiritual, it reveals the holiness of God, makes the sinner see the depth of his or her sin. It convinces him or her that they can't meet the standards of this holy law. That's the ministry of the Law.
The law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold into sin. The law points us to Christ.
Run to Christ!
Repent and believe!
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness
Justification - I am saved
-Past Tense
-One of the grandest messages in Christianity
Definition
-To be cleared of guilt
-Declared innocent
-To be given the righteousness of Christ
Delineation
-Presupposition
There is a Judge.
He is God.
He is holy and righteous.
He has the right and might to determine what the criteria should be for judgment.
He has the right to not acquit to the guilty
-Missing element in modern Christianity
Man without exception are sinners (Totally Depraved)
-Rom. 1:18-32
-Sinfulness/Guilt of the Heathen
-Guilt of the Hebrews
-Guilt of the Hypocrites
-All are guilty
How will a guilty condemned sinner ever be cleared of guilt, and be justified in the sight of The Holy God?
7 Prerequisites
1. Justice must be propitiated
Propitiation-means placating or satisfying the wrath of God
-God has taken into account our guiltiness and sinfulness and His holiness and righteousness
-He sent His Son and sprinkled His blood on the mercy seat
-Crushing His Son
-Dying on the Cross
-The wrath of God was turned away and justice was satisfied!
2. God must be exonerated
Exoneration-To free from blame
-How could God be just in pardoning the sins of Old Testament saints when justice had not yet been satisfied?
-Through the forbearance of God
-In eternity past, God decreed He would send His Son to pay for those sins, He had forbearance.
-God is just!!
3. Sin must be expiated
Expiation- the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement.
-To take our sin out of view as far as the East is to the West!
He took my sins out of view!!!!! Amen!!
4. Christ must be exalted
- It's not about the church, the building... it's all about Christ!
5. Boasting must be excluded
- We have nothing to boast of when we think of justification,
-It should bring us to the dust
-Humble us
-Joy in the Lord!
6. Faith must be exercised
-Faith must have an object
-Faith in the blood of Christ, in the Gospel!
-His person and His Work
-If you have faith in anything else... there is no hope.
7. The law must be established
-The law is spiritual, it reveals the holiness of God, makes the sinner see the depth of his or her sin. It convinces him or her that they can't meet the standards of this holy law. That's the ministry of the Law.
The law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold into sin. The law points us to Christ.
Run to Christ!
Repent and believe!
Friday, August 23, 2013
The Wonder of Unconditional Love
Malachi 1:1-5
The oracle of the Word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi. "I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, How have you loved us?" "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord "Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness," Though Edom says, "We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins"; thus says the Lord of hosts, "They may build, but I will tear down: and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the Lord is indignant forever." Your eyes will see this and you will say, "The Lord be magnified beyond the border of Israel!"
Hatred - Intense dislike or ill will
Love -An intense feeling of deep affection
Oh, the wonder of unconditional love!!!!
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