King of the Road

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Congregational Meeting

Finance, vision and missions

Between services (10:10a)

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Seasons Gastropub

July 12th at 11:00a

Benevolence Sunday

Introduction

We love power in America, don’t we?

Ronnie is at that age where cars matter

All sorts of genres

Pocket rockets

Imports

Low riders

What about American cars?

American Muscle! All about power!

Friend Marvin - “Man, I don’t want to hear your little Civic go buzzzzz down the street!

“Check out my ‘72 Cutty!”

We always talk about power here...

How much horsepower is under the hood?

How much processing power is in your new computer?

Our military is the most powerful force

Our president is the most powerful person

We are the worlds leading super power

Go Taco Bell and get a Power Bowl

Then hit the gas station to play the Power Ball

In the US, we like power...

Know who else liked power? Ancient Rome...

Large armies, superior technology, and impressive roads...

Roads = commerce, community and conquering

YouVersion: King of the Road

We’re in Romans 1:1-17

Romans Road

How many have heard of the “Romans Road to Salvation?”

Simple way to learn everything you need for salvation

Using only verses from Romans!

Answering 4 questions:

Why do we need salvation?

How did God provide salvation?

How can we receive salvation?

What are the results of salvation?

Why do we need salvation?

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Every single person has missed the mark

Also - Romans 3:10-18, but just 10 paints the picture

Romans 3:10 (ESV)

10 as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

Not only have we all done bad things

We aren’t actually good!

One might call this “total depravity”

Why is that a problem though?

So what, we have sin and we’re not good...

Romans 6:23a (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death...

There is a cost to sin

And it’s one we don’t want to pay!

Physical death, yes - but also eternal death

Separation from God forever!

These answer the first question

1. Why do we need salvation?

We are sinners, and sin leads to eternal death

Next question:

2. How did God provide salvation?

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Also

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We were still sinners, and the gift is free

That means we aren’t the ones who fixed the problem

The fix, is that Christ dies for us

His death atoned for our sin - it was payment for our mistakes

His resurrection, is proof that the plan worked!

2. How did God provide salvation?

By Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross

Next question:

3. How can we receive salvation?

Romans 10:9 (ESV)

9 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.

2 things: confess and believe

Also says:

Romans 10:13 (ESV)

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The emphasis here, is that you cannot do it yourself

You have to trust Him to do it for you

It’s not about works - as in what you do

However, works prove that there is a change in you done by Christ

3. How can we receive salvation?

Confessing and believing in Christ as your Savior

Final Question:

4. What are the results of salvation?

Those old problems are fixed:

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Relationship with God is restored

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Our eternal death is cancelled

Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

And nothing can ever get in the way of that again

4. What are the results of salvation?

Eternal life with God replaces our eternal death

That is the “Romans Road”

Basis for the name of this series - “The Road Less Travelled”

Honestly, not everyone travels down this road

Look around, everything in this world loves to tell you different

Keep on sinning, there no consequence! It’s better this way!

You’ll find happiness in death because you’re a good person!

All religions are the same!

God loves you just as you are!

There are many ways to heaven, or enlightenment, or Nirvana...

But this road is really the only way

We’re going to take a deeper look at this road

Not covering all of Romans - maybe 1/3rd - the rest of Summer

Today, we’re starting at the beginning

Background

Largely considered to be a letter from Paul

Probably written from Corinth, delivered by Phoebe to church in Rome

We don’t know much about this church

It seems it was founded by Jewish Christians, but not an Apostle

Maybe some of the Romans present at Pentecost

It became a very famous church

Suetonius (Swah-tone-ee-uh): Emperor Claudius kicked all Jews out of Rome

10-15 years after Christ Jews kept talking about this guy “Chrestus”

Many think he misheard the name, “Christus” - As in Jesus Christ

That means Christianity was so loud the Emperor threw them out!

Paul likely wanted to move west - to Spain and beyond

Probably establishing a home base in Italy for Europe

Sends a theological thesis ahead

Also, may have been afraid he wouldn’t make it there

He receives a warning in the Book of Acts about Jerusalem

He wanted to do TW, but he sent a letter just in case

This is a powerful book

Augustine saved = reading Romans 13

Martin Luther’s turning point = reading Romans 1

John Wesley started his real ministry when he read a commentary on Romans

Text

Romans 1:1–6 (ESV)

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

What does this tell us about the road to faith

Jesus, is the King of the Road!

More accurately, the King of everything! Including you...

Look at Paul’s first and most important title: servant of Jesus Christ

THEN he’s called to be an apostle

“Servant of Christ” is our most important title

This is not about Paul’s church or his theology, it’s not about him at all

This whole book is focused on God

Word “God” appears once every 46 words in Romans

More than any other NT book

This is all about God, so get that right from the start

And our salvation has always been about His plan for us!

Notice “The prophets talked about, Scripture foretells Him, David established His line...”

Everything is about Jesus

His power was proven… How? By the resurrection...

If you’re going to come back from the dead, that says something!

Anyone here ever see someone resurrected after being dead 3 days?

And we know this was Jesus’ doing, because He predicted it!

John 2:19 (ESV)

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

What Temple? The place they sacrificed, made atonement for sins...

He tore it down, because the ultimate sacrifice and atonement was handled

As a result, the Apostles have received authority from that very power

And they share the good news with the world, including Rome and East Peoria

So what does Paul get across to start this letter?

Our road is all about Jesus

Satan likes us to promote a self-centered gospel

A false gospel appeals to the desires and feeling of the person

When it should appeal to the glory of God

A false gospel focuses on health and wealth

Or now, it focuses on self-worth and self-actualization

When it should focus on self-realization and repentance

A false gospel says, “God loves you for who you are!”

When it should say, “God still loved you in spite of who you were...”

So am I supposed to sit here and wallow in how terrible I am?

Of course! No, because the problem still stands if you think that...

In that scenario, you’re still only thinking about you...

It’s not “I’m so great!” OR “I’m so horrible!”

It’s He’s so great and merciful...

That He loves even me!

Romans 1:7–15 (ESV)

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Paul is excited about these people!

He wants to have a disciplemaking, iron-sharpening-iron relationship with them

Look what he wants

I want to come to you, I long to see you, I have intended to come but have been prevented...

Show formula

What does he want? You might call that “TW” or “Time With”

We also see K4! (Scripture, Prayer, Love and Worship)

He’s writing them Scripture, but he also wants to preach!

They are always in his prayers

He wants to love them and worship with them with their Spiritual gifts and preaching...

That’s what Paul desires! He wants to grow with them...

And of course, help them to continue with their D3 (multiplication)

He celebrates their faith being heard of all over the world!

That group of Jewish Christians learned about Christ at Pentecost

Then went home and immediately stirred things up!

And so Paul is just as eager to get there and get to work!

What does that tell us?

Discipleship leads to salvation that leads to discipleship that leads to salvation that...

Salvation and discipleship cycle ad infinitum

(add in-fin-eye-tum)

Ad infinitum means “to infinity and beyond”

It’s a never ending cycle

There’s no way around it

If you’re discipling, you’re talking about salvation!

If you’re trying to get someone saved, it should turn into discipleship!

Paul was talking about his desire to take part in discipleship

Now watch him jump over to salvation...

Romans 1:16–17 (ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

The gospel is the “good news”

That Christ dies to save us from our sin and restore us to God...

Seems pretty clear to me! We are to share the gospel because it is the POWER OF SALVATION!

The one thing everyone wants - or should want!

The only way to get to righteousness, holiness and faith

The only way to get it, is with the gospel - which we are to share!

But Paul says something interesting...

Why would he write, “I am not ashamed of the gospel?”

Unless, there is an assumption, expectation or accusation that he would be...

It’s easy to spot sin in the world around us

Sometimes, people say things that bother us - Pink, Tom Cruise, Oprah, George Carlin...

From atheism Reddit:

Long time lurker, but I've had enough. That's it. They can take away women's rights, but they can't take away our right to protest.

Throughout it's history, Christianity has caused millions of deaths and holds society back with absolutely 0 benefits for anyone. I'm tired of these brainwashed people forcing their sky daddys magic book down everyone's throats. They believe women are nothing more than property and that is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

They hate women, hate gays, hate black people, they hate everything we are. They hate George Floyd. They just stripped women's rights and are happy about it. They want us to go back to the 1800s. Next they will want there slaves back. And don't call me crazy for saying that, because they just did the unthinkable and stripped away women's rights down to birthing machines only.

These people are a disease to society and we need to eliminate Christianity specifically if we have any hope of moving forward with a 21st century society.

We need to boycott this and fight back if we want to save women's rights. If you know any religious person, BREAK ALL CONTACT WITH THEM. They are hateful bigots promoting anti women sentiment. Once they notice they are getting excommunicated from society we can start actually advancing as a proper nation.

We need to stick together and boycott CHRISTIANITY!!!

Then they list how they plan to accomplish it all

Now, who’s angry?!

1 Peter 4:14 (ESV)

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

“Oh, we’re persecuted! We’re doing everything right and their doing everything wrong!”

“God must be so proud!”

Sometimes people are persecuted, and that is actually a blessing...

But then I look at the TV, Facebook, political rallies, whatever...

Yelling at pro-choice people that they are murderers

Shaking picket signs that say “God hates fags”

Screaming at trans people they’re going to hell

And droves and droves of people getting saved as a result!

That’s not what happens is it?

Question: What are you afraid of?

The world has no real power

Police officer dark barking story

The guy gave up because he believed there was a powerful dog behind him

In truth, it was just a cop he could easily outrun!

Sometimes were scared of this world barking at us

But when God shows up, it’s just mankind

Nothing to really be afraid of

But as long as we’re intimidated or threatened, we can’t just snap back

We’re actually hindering the gospel when we behave like that

2 things I notice we get wrong:

We hinder the power of the gospel when:

1. We are quiet

Why? Because we don’t want to fight, to judge, or to be disliked

Why would that happen though? Because of the gospel… other people don’t want to hear it

So I just won’t share it...

Question: When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone you know didn’t believe?

For too many of us, you probably don’t even know!

But that’s okay! There’s hope! You’re still alive! you can still share!

There are plenty of people who still need to hear it… I’m sure we haven’t run out yet!

I’ll get my picket signs ready, clever memes for Facebook, “Let’s Go Brandon” t-shirt...

And we’re off to fight the sinners!

I’ll put them in their place, make them look stupid, and if they fight back, they’ll go right to hell!

Right Jesus? Just like You did! Wait---

Let me see that Bible...

It’s got to be here somewhere… where He lit a sinner on fire right there on the spot...

See! Right there! He overturned tables! I’ll head to the pride parade and flip...

But wait, that was in the Temple with people who were supposed to be religious...

He was with prostitutes and He dined with them...

He was with tax-collectors and He stayed in their home...

He was with an adulteress and they were going to kill her!

…but then He let her go mercifully

You might notice that He does tell her, “Go and sin no more.”

But He didn’t do that until AFTER He showed her mercy and kindness and grace

Even defended her from the attacks of “the religious elite.”

We hinder the power of the gospel when:

2. We are angry

Here’s what the Proverbs tell us:

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)

1 A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:18 (ESV)

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 29:11 (ESV)

11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Now, it doesn’t say don’t answer - it doesn’t say to be quiet

It says to answer, but do it softly

It says to get angry and just start going off - is foolish

All it does it make more problems!

Here’s a good one!

James 1:26 (ESV)

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Who cares if you have the right answer, if you just going to be a jerk about it...

Make peace, speak with love, remember to be compassionate...

Brant Hansen: “Anger is extraordinarily easy. It’s our default setting. Love is very difficult. Love is a miracle.”

I know its hard, believe me I know!

But its what the Lord says

Conclusion

I’ll put it to you this way...

Paper mill fire hose story

He yelled go and wasn’t ready

The hose tossed him around - he got up and ran

Lucky it didn’t kill him!

The gospel we share is like that fire hose

It is the POWER of God!

That hose, when used correctly....

Stopped the spread of flames

Prevented new flames from sparking up

Saved livelihoods and lives

It saved the mill from destruction

But it could also make things worse if someone used in a reckless way

If someone was too worked up, emotional, driven by fear or overconfidence...

It would only do more damage

The gospel works the same way

It is powerful!

It stops the spread of hellfire

Prevents Satan’s new tactics from sprouting up

Has saved countless lives - both temporal and spiritual

But if we’re reckless, we can make things worse too

If we wield it without caution or care

If we are worked up, emotional or driven by fear or overconfidence

We often do way more damage too

The answer is to trust God

Be faithful and honest

Share the gospel with confidence and boldness, but not in ourselves

Share it with confidence in God

Remembering that He is sovereign and powerful

And nothing going on is beyond His control

Prayer