A Message for the Church

Introduction

Romans 2:28–29 — 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Galatians 3:26–29 — 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Life is a Battleground — (Vs. 1-5)

1 John 2:15–17 — 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Galatians 2:20 — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 6:10–18 — 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We are Set Apart & Special — (Vs. 6)

1 Peter 2:9-10 — But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 — 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

For those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, those who have been born again, we are saved, sanctified, sealed and set apart unto the Lord!

Revelation 1:5–6 — 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 1:4 — According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

One writer said that if you look at the outside of the door of salvation it says, “Whosoever will, let him come.” When you step through the door and look back, it says “Chosen before the foundation of the world.” — The Sermon Notebook - Deuteronomy.

We are Loved — (Vs. 7-8)

God didn’t choose Israel because they were many in number but rather He took one man and made a nation out of him!

God didn’t choose Israel because they were a mighty nation but rather He took a weak people and made a mighty nation out of them!

God didn’t choose Israel because their name was known abroad but rather He took a nation that had been forgotten in the bonds of slavery in Egypt and made them known the world over!

God took a nation who was special to no one and made them who they became because they were special to Him!

Israel became who they were because of who God is!

And the same goes for us today! Everything we are is because of who God is!

1 John 4:19 — We love him, because he first loved us.

Jeremiah 31:3 — The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Romans 3:10 — As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:6–8 — 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

“Redeemed” — Hebrew (pādâ) — to ransom, it speaks of the price paid for someone’s release, to deliver, to rescue!

God is Faithful & Unchanging — (Vs. 9)

Deuteronomy 4:39 — Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

1 Corinthians 1:9 — God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Malachi 3:6 — For I am the Lord, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

God is Just — (Vs. 10)

Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, Volumes I–XV II. The Verb > שָׂנֵא

The vb. śānēʾ, “hate,” refers to an emotional condition of aversion that OT anthropology locates “in the heart” (lēḇ, Lev. 19:17) or in the nep̱eš (2 S. 5:8; Ps. 11:5). Although it does not necessarily indicate that wicked intentions accompany such hate, it does imply a distancing from the hated person, that person’s removal from the surroundings of the person who hates.

Revelation 20:11–15 — 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

We have been Warned — (Vs. 11-13)

James 1:22 — But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.