Rom 15:8-13
Notes
Transcript
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
If I were to ask you right now how many of you would say that you are sitting here this morning FILLED with hope?
I guess we should answer this question first, What is hope?
Hope: A certain expectation of a favorable future
Hope: A certain expectation of a favorable future
Why don’t I have hope?
Why is my Hope weak?
My HOPE is that we can answer that today.
Hope, Being a Welcoming Church and the Glory of God.
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
What does it mean to glorify God?
Our gaze and honor is directed upward to God as he truly is
Our gaze and honor points others upward to God as he truly is
In Romans Paul is addressing the problem of humanity, not bringing glory to God
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.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
And the reality that God had a plan from before time to do something about that and provide a rescuer.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
This working out of the gospel displays God's glory
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
It's because of what Jesus did for us that we can now live lives, which bring glory to God
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
That's what the rest of Romans is about living for the glory of God
Therefore, because of all these things are true about who God is Who humanity is and what God has done for us, how Should we live?
Chapters 1213 and 14 and now 15 are all addressing that question how should we live particularly over the past few weeks we've been looking at chapter 14 and 15 and talking about living together in unity
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
We welcome one another, not because we are so glorious or the people we are welcoming are so glorious, but because HE is
How so?
God is worthy of glory because he is a promise MAKER and a promise KEEPER
God is worthy of glory because he is a promise MAKER and a promise KEEPER
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
Who are the Circumcised = the jewish people. The direct descendants of Abraham and Sarah.
I will give you a place, a people, a blessing (a restorer, a rescuer)
God sent his son Jesus to fulfill his Old Testament promises to provide a rescuer for the Jewish people for the glory of God
So that God would be seen as truthful and faithful, just, and gracious. That people‘s gaze would be on God as he truly is.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God is worthy of glory because he is sovereign over all things and all people and extends mercy to all peoples
God is worthy of glory because he is sovereign over all things and all people and extends mercy to all peoples
9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
Christ came with the gentiles in mind, in fact, the gentiles have always been a part of Gods big perfect plan.
With Paul, lets take a look at the Old testament, the jewish scriptures:
The Jewish scriptures were divided into 3 parts
The law,
The prophets
The writings
In the next couple verse Paul quotes from each section of the jewish scriptures: 9
As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
King Davids Song of deliverance in 2 Samuel 22
In God’s protection and provision for the Israelites, he had the intention that the nations around would see His work and seek after Him
10 And again it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
Comes from a song of Moses in Deut 32:43. Where moses is detailing the faithfulness of God and the Faithlessness of the people of Israel
Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly makes clear that those who are circumcised in their hearts who are his people — their belief is internal not just external
AND that even gentiles could believe
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
This third OT passage is from
1 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! 2 For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
This Last quotation comes from the book of the prophet Isaiah. He writing about the messiah, the chosen one who was to come. A son of Abraham, a son of Jesse (Davids dad)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
The source and essence of Hope is God He is a promise maker and a promise keeper. HE is sovereign over all and his mercy is great.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Belief = trust
As you trust in him (see hear and believe his Word and walk in obedience)
68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
God will fill you with Joy and Peace (because his way is best)
When we do things to the glory of God, it is better for us as humans. God knows what is best for us. God has shown us what is best and when we obey Him and submit to Him with an attitude of “I want to bring glory to God, I want to point other people to God as he truly is” our life flourishes in God’s design
WHICH gives us a certain expectation of a favorable outcome
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Hope will overflow and effect those around you.
So What?
So What?
Are you abounding in Hope?
Are you abounding in Hope?
Why don’t I have hope?
Why is my hope weak?
I don’t feel like I am filled with joy and peace…why?
A. Do you believe?
B. Are you living a life of obedience?
Are we abounding in hope and bringing Glory to God by being a welcoming church?
Are we abounding in hope and bringing Glory to God by being a welcoming church?
Lack of being welcoming comes from hoping in the wrong thing
If we are not welcoming it is because we are living to please ourself — looking for hope in temporary comfort, pleasure, power etc..
