Sermon Tone Analysis

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Last week we began our verse by verse study through the book of Romans..

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16 chapters

433 verses

7011 words

To give you an idea of how long we might be studying this this book… ROMANS chapters long...

—There are 433 verses in the book of Romans

—There are 7011 words in the book of Romans.

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Last week, we covered four verses, and 78 words.

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Romans 1:5-7

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And I know what you’re thinking… - THIS IS GOING TO TAKE FOREVER -

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And maybe it will… But I promise you, as we crawl through this book… we will do it with great purpose..

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The book of Romans is like a rich archeological find.

The land is plotted out in 12 inch by 12 inch squares..

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Each square is carefully removed with small delicate tools… sometimes, one grain of dirt at a time..

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They use great care and precision, because the treasure that they seek to uncover has so much to teach them

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LAST WEEK… IN ONE VERSE ALONE.. We spent a significant amount of time talking about our status and calling as redeemed children of God…

-We are slaves by choice to a worthy master…

-As slaves by choice to a worthy master, we are sent out with a message and a mission

-As sent out slaves, we are set apart with a holy purpose, for the sake of living out, and declaring the Gospel of Jesus.

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This is what the example of Paul teaches us in verse one.

This is what he says he is!!!

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The man who said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ… is giving us an example of who he is!”

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That is a rich little plot of theological treasure for us to dig into, one grain at a time… and uncover for ourselves… a great treasure.

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In verses 2-4, Paul gave us a brief definition of the Gospel… the prophesied life, fulfilled in the flesh, death and resurrection of Jesus…

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And now… in verses 5, 6 and 7… we come across another, 12 inch by 12 inch plot of soil… awaiting our slow and detailed excavation…

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Why? - BECAUSE IT IS RICH WITH THE KIND OF THEOLOGICAL TREASURE THAT IS SUPER-VALUABLE TO OUR LIVES.

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As we hit the milestone of verse five today… we find out the affects of the Gospel, defined in verses 2-4, upon the life of the believer.

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IF JESUS IS TRULY YOUR SAVIOR… Then this is what pours out of Jesus, into you… Jesus is the source of what we receive as Christians.

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Verse five begins to show us

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What we receive because of the Gospel… what we become because of the Gospel… and… because of the Gospel… what we are called to do with these lives.

1. what we receive

2. what we become

3. what we care called to do.

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The first part of verse five reads:

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through whom we have received… ()

…through whom we have received...

Now, we are going to stop right there, because it’s important for us to understand that we haven’t:

earned anything

been rewarded for our own merits

gained anything by way of privilege

attained any level of God’s approval based on our efforts of sinlessness or obedience.

We have merely… received.

Paul will say later in …

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In .. through Jesus we are called into Fellowship

In … through Jesus, Paul was made an Apostle.

Here in … THROUGH JESUS… we have received.

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Now, before we consider in detail what we have received… let’s first consider the obvious…

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JESUS IS A GIVER!

He is not a taker.

Some people think… if they give their lives to Jesus, then they are going to loose all of the good stuff in life.

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Occasionally on the weekends, I drive for Uber.

and if there is one thing that constantly gets re-affirmed to me… time and time again...

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Is that there are a lot of people out there, living to party.

It’s Thursday night… so they feel obligated to get drunk.

Why?

In preparation for the weekend.

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++It’s Friday night… so they feel obligated to get drunk.

They’re meeting at a bar on Saturday night where the drinks are expensive.. so they plan out, what are called ‘pre-game’ parties… where they get drunk on cheap liquor, so they won’t have to spend so much money on expensive liquor.

It’s Friday night… so they feel obligated to get drunk.

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They’re meeting at a bar on Saturday night where the drinks are expensive.. so they plan out, what are called ‘pre-game’ parties… where they get drunk on cheap liquor, so they won’t have to spend so much money on expensive liquor.

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It’s New Years Eve… so they’re obligated to get drunk.

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It’s St. Paddy’s Day… so they’re obligated to get drunk.

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A lot of thinking and planning goes into this… It is so important for people to do this.

This is their definition of good… of fun… of joy…

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And they think, if they give their lives to Jesus… that He is going to take their joy..

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BUT JESUS IS NOT A TAKER… HE IS A GIVER.

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The only things He is going to take from you, is the victory of sin and death over your life.

-HE IS NOT GOING TO TAKE YOUR JOY.

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IN FACT… We see right away, that He is actually going to give you joy.

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through whom we have received grace… ()

-We know what grace means… -God’s unmerited favor…

++ But the word for grace: (charis), is akin to the word for joy… and a very basic interpretation of grace could be:

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Grace: That which causes joy

This is what we have recieved through Jesus… we have received that which causes joy.

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He is not taking your joy.

In fact, the things our world equates to joy, are not joy… they are fickle and deceptive imitations.

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The joy that comes from God is not circumstantial.. it’s not like happiness… it doesn’t depend upon a favorable stimulus…

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God’s joy, is still joy, even when life is difficult.

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The path to God’s joy might confound our flesh… -We might think it strange that God offers us things that cause joy… as we abstain from the lies we once embraced for joy.

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Consider what Paul said to the church at Philippi..

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Phil 4

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Oguk

Paul knew that Jesus is the kind of Lord that is worthy of rejoicing in… or, having joy in.

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THEN, AS THEY REJOICE… they should walk in gentleness before others, they should not be anxious or fearful, They should give thanks to God..

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and if they do these things… God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding… will guard their hearts and minds..

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THEN, AS THEY REJOICE… Paul calls them to think upon things that are true… honorable.. just… pure… lovely.. commendable… excellent… and praise worthy.

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GOD’S GIFT OF JOY… Is experienced… not down a path of addiction, drunkeness, or debauchery… -

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No… it is experienced down a path of gentleness… trust… truth… honor… purity… excellence…