Hope Sabbath School: Lesson 2 - The Controversy (4th Qtr 2017)

[Music] [Applause] welcome to hope Sava school an in-depth interactive study of the word of God we're in the middle of a series of studies we just started on salvation by faith alone God's message through the Apostle Paul to Christians in Rome and also to us if you missed the first one in the series you can go to our website hope tv.org / hope ss catch up we are in a life-changing study today the background the controversy what what burden was there on Paul's heart that's a tie I need to give a clear Gospel message to the Christians in Rome we're glad you're with us we believe it will be life changing so welcome to Hope Sabbath School and welcome to the team I'm already excited you know this is such a powerful letter it causes the Reformation calling people back to salvation by grace through faith and not by works that we do can't buy a way to heaven can beat our way to heaven understanding this is so important and we're gonna look at the background the controversy that caused Paul under the Spirit's guidance to say I have got to write a clearer gospel treatise or message to Christians in Rome so we're glad you're with us for this series and we're always happy to hear from you we know of at least a hundred and fifty countries that watch hope sabbath-school we're glad you're part we'd love to hear from you write to us at SS hope at hope TV org share with us what God's doing through an in-depth interactive study of his word in your life here's a note from your win in Venezuela greetings brothers and sisters I write from Venezuela I am a young Adventist I ask for your prayers I'm going to get married soon everybody said amen please pray for me and my future spouse for God to bless us good prayer Wow I want to let you know how much I love hope sabbath-school these programs are good tools for understanding the Bible I hope you read my message life wellyou're when it happened we read it here god bless you he says and thank you well by the time you hear this message you may already be married but write to us again and share how god's blessing your love and your family and your growing in Christ thanks for writing to a human from Venezuela chin Yama Shin Yama writes from Zambia and says I would like to first of all thank the Almighty God for giving me the opportunity to write to you I'm from the town of Livingstone I love hope Sabbath school please continue to touch many souls through these lessons god bless you as we wait together for the second coming of Jesus amen I wish I could meet all of these people live don't you I just each one of you has a testimony to share and chin Yama thanks for writing to us from the beautiful country of Zambia I'm gonna say a WA e w a a WA a she's from Poland but living in my home original homeland of the UK and she says I've been in the UK for 10 years I would like to thank you for hope Sabbath school the programs give me hope and strengthen my faith I pray for you because you are missionaries of the good news may as many people know God he is wonderful and please pray for me and my husband since we gave our lives to Jesus and made the decision to be baptized we've we've had a lot of problems health legal financial but it all made me realize that we're going the good way may God bless you and keep you in your work and in personal life that's from Eva and yarek living in the UK god bless you you know it's true that when we follow Jesus it doesn't mean we'll never face any hardships this the theme song we're going to sing in just a few minutes though says what does it say all things work together for good to those who love God so hold on to that promise and by the way if you want to learn it you can download it from our website hope TV org slash hope SS cheap music mp3 file and I've found that to be a great encouragement in my own journey well here's a note from Judy in Georgia anyone from Georgia in the United States of America anybody been to Georgia Dustin you've lived in Georgia alright for a long time writes Judy I've been searching for a Bible based church I grew up in another denomination though there were very nice people in the denomination I was hearing more philosophy than scripture I hungered and thirsted for scripture based messages and for Bible searching studies amen what did Jesus promise blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness what Britney they shall be filled that's right that was the promise well here's what happened my previous cable provider was not working so I switched to DIRECTV now you know the hope Sabbath school is on DirecTV channel 368 water blessing I stumbled on the hope channel and Hope service school could have just been an accident right or could God work good just what I've been searching for you blessed me deep in my heart and soul and I know the same is true for others I'm telling everybody about hope Sabbath school your program is a God gift to all who seek to know more about God though I know there are beautiful people in other denominations you have helped me know where I want to plant my walk with God I got to keep reading after that hallelujah there are none in my hometown churches but there's one 30 miles away I plan to visit next Sabbath but the distance it's worth the drive by the way she writes when I'm unable to sleep at night I turn to Hope channel to my recorded studies this brings solace to my soul I go back to sleep with wonderful thoughts your dedicated panel of believers and your guidance is an anointed gift to us all amen praise God you are my surrogate family in gratitude Judy from Georgia amen amen one last note from a Fijian living in Sweden do we have an international group a Fijian living in Sweden we're so blessed with hope Sabbath school originally from Fiji but six six months ago we moved to Sweden it was difficult to find a church close by but we're meeting with a small group of believers we now enjoy fellowship with our new church family but on weeks when we can't go to church we watch hope Sabbath school by the way the she began by saying bula-bula I guess that's a greeting in fujian please pray for the church members in Sweden and thank you for sharing him by the way our six-year-old daughter loves to sing the scripture songs well I just want to say this from lessee hua Mei and Mary Yanni I just want to say especially to you Mary Yanni six years old sing nice and loud so we can all hear because right now we're going to sing our theme song for this series on the book of Romans it's taken from Romans chapter 8 verse 28 and verse 31 32 we know that all things work together for good to those who love God let's sing it together right now [Music] and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the call [Music] and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to his purpose which shall we say to these things [Music] against us who can be against he did not spare his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us Tommy and we know that all this work together for to those who are the called according to his purpose and we know that all things work together two girls who are called according to his purpose what shall we say to these things if God is for us who can be us who can be against us he did not [Music] Oh Howie so freely give us [Music] [Laughter] give me amen he loves us so much that's the message to share a God who loves us and has a plan for our salvation and I want to tell you in Paul's day and also in our day false teachers will come and say is not that simple either you've got to try to work your way to heaven or there's no hope for you there's no hope but we're gonna see that there is hope in Jesus as we study an inspired testimony that Paul wrote to Christians in Rome the topic today the controversy and I don't think it ended in the first century there's always people trying to turn us away from the truth that Jesus taught so I'm praying for a miracle today will you join with me yeah the Holy Spirit will teach us the truth that Jesus wants us to know let's pray father in heaven thank you that you didn't spare your own son but gave him up for us all and with him you'll freely give us all things you'll give us hope you'll give us direction in our lives you'll give us not only freedom from the penalty of sin but freedom from the power of sin a new life in Christ Lord bless us as we studied the Epistle to the Romans today this letter would be truth for us even in our day we thank you in the name of Jesus amen we're going to start in Romans chapter 1 Gary I'd like to ask you to start our study with Romans chapter 1 verses 16 and 17 and right at the beginning of his letter he makes a bold declaration and I want to ask you why you think he says that so early in the letter first in Romans chapter 1 verses 16 and 17 okay and I'll be reading from the New King James Version for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to self vation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written the just shall live by faith why do you think he begins Nicole by saying I'm not ashamed of this gospel that I'm pretty you proclaiming to you because there's a lot of I would say drama going on in that time and so he wants to let them know I'm not ashamed of what I'm going to talk to you about and I live by this I I completely believe in this and so you can take at face value when I tell you is the truth in what since God sent it's interesting and that in some of his letters like the letter to the Galatians who really focuses on what the false teachers are saying and confronts them and says let them be Anathem and let them be cursed for preaching false teachings here in Romans he actually just focuses on the message more than the false teaching but but your point is well-taken that the false teachings there and he says i'm not ashamed of what i'm going to tell you anybody else why do you think he starts right up front canada I'm not ashamed I think the culture that day was very intimidating I'm talking about a crucified Savior a resurrected Savior and also a coming Savior so Paul wanted to make it clear that he's on a shame of the crucified Savior there is artistic and then the coming Savior yeah so he's right and he's writing like you said it's a bit intimidating if you think he's right he's to Rome there's a whole Parthenon right there's like this whole collection of gods that they worship and and he's gonna say no there's no other name except Jesus right and I'm not ashamed of that anybody else Brittany just going along with what he was sharing Christianity at that time was a small sect that people of different religions looked down upon us who are you what are you believing and this is strange to us because paganism was a very large religion as well as Judaism but Christianity was something new and something small and and so maybe he's encouraging them that even though we have a small beginning it looks little this is powerful and this changes our lives and this is the truth it's kind of countercultural too isn't it because at least in Rome you worship the Emperor right and it's like no we worship a carpenter right and by the way he's a carpenter that was killed on a Roman cross I mean the logic of that who might insinuate you ought to be ashamed what do you think who might had senior you ought to be ashamed of preaching that the Jewish people they were persecuting the Christians at that point in time the Jewish Jewish people okay the Jews should pay say that you should be ashamed yeah because well they certainly I'd say cursed is every one that's hung on a tree right so they would not and he was not the Messiah they were looking for who else might have insinuated that Gary I would think Romans because the cross was for you know folks who were traitors to the country who had done some egregious crime so you're coming to my country teaching me about someone who was murdered or killed executed yeah executed on a implementation we used to you know put punished someone to put them down to let us know that they were a really bad person put them to open shame yeah yes Jamie also culture at the time humility was considered a bad thing it was something that associated with slaves and so it would be very difficult to speak to people in Rome about a humble Savior about other than some kind of an military victory or something yeah it would have been may be perceived as shameful yeah yes Kenna and also for the philosophy of the day that they Greeks it doesn't make sense yeah right it doesn't Paul say it's a stumbling block to one and foolishness to the others yeah but he says I'm gonna tell you like Nicole said I'm not ashamed this is the Gospel message that has been given to me and I'm going to boldly proclaim it to you so what was that gospel message where you say read the read the letter but if you could summarize Kyle this message I saw you're leaning you were hoping I would ask you right just just in a few words what is this message that he says I'm not ashamed by the word the word gospel means what right I'm not ashamed of this good news I'm telling you what what was that good news will help you there are big things out okay go loves you so much that he sent His only Son to give his life for you to save you forever and why not give your life to Him okay why would he need to give his life for us that that is a biblical teaching Stephanie well because we we are sinners we need someone to stand in our place we are sinners help me this in the book of the wages of sin Nicole the wages of sin is death and how many of us have sinned this is all in the letter that we'll be studying so back to the I appreciate the way you started that God loves you because that was not a common idea gods were angry and they did two selfish things and they exploited people in the Roman collection of gods right but this the true God loves you and he wants you to be with him forever amen and he's gonna rescue you so that you can live with him and experience eternal joy with him that's that's countercultural but it's it's the message that had been given to him yes constant Paul believed that so strongly that he was willing to be persecuted and and whipped and beaten and go to great lengths to share that message with people and that's where I also think about when he says I'm not ashamed he's really willing to go to even give up his life to share that message right and let's stay there for just a moment I was hoping someone would bring that why he was not ashamed why did he feel such personal conviction Trisha Lee because of his former life you know he had spent a lot of time working against this good news against the gospel and at one point maybe he thought it was a shameful thing for people to be converted to that way of thinking and so here he is now no longer ashamed of it no longer persecuting it he is an honor and a privilege for him why is she so good why did that change happen for him he was convicted and converted he met Jesus for himself and he had a transformation in his heart and he realized that it truly is good news and that he could not save himself from his own works because that was what he was living it under trying to save himself through the law only and now through grace he knows he's saved and he wants to share it with other people so he's not sharing a philosophy or a theory but a personal experience Britany that's what I was gonna share is that he had that experience with Christ himself on the road to Damascus and he met Jesus and he realized I've been going with a completely wrong direction and and he loved God to take him the opposite direction can anybody relate to to that pressure of feeling ashamed of the gospel like that would have to be someone who grew up in a Christian environment where you heard the message that God loves you and Jesus came to save you but but you also were living in in a secular setting not just totally Christian that there is that pressure to feel a little ashamed we should it be but anybody relate to that at all yes Justin no personally at our secular universities I feel ashamed sometimes because some of the classes they they mentioned evolution and a lot of the French stuff that are contrary to what I believe yes and for me to stand up and say that you know I don't believe in that it's a little bit difficult sometimes I feel ashamed you know and also even when they said exams on you know the day that I worship I feel ashamed to go to them and ask for for time off and then they were to change the exam date I I was talking to to some friends of mine and there some was taking a an example to SAT and and fortunately we live in a country where it's not only scheduled on Saturday but they also scheduled it on Sunday and there was quite a group of people there including some Jewish brothers and sisters who opted to take it on that day that doesn't happen everywhere does it you don't have that kind of freedom everywhere so thank you for being honest Justin how do we get past that fear that intimidation of like that's not what people believe and I want to be able to stand and say I'm not ashamed how do I get past that can anybody relate to it just the same okay so the just in case you think you know by the way there's lots of people all around the world say I can relate to that how do we get past that Brittany I think it's when we do go ahead and share and then we see that it makes a difference in someone else's life I know for me personally I've been afraid of sharing my faith and then when I do share and I see someone's encouraged by that or someone comes back later and says you know because you said that I've made this decision in my life then I'm like wow why was I ever ashamed look at the difference that God is making in their life through me someone who's timid to share my faith so you would say just take a deep breath trust in God step out and God will give you the encouragement the affirmation that you need we've got to move on but keep that in mind as he starts the gospel I'm not ashamed of what I'm going to tell you and he's going to talk about he's going to challenge their misconception some of them about salvation so let's go and look in another book in Hebrews chapter 8 where the author in the first six verses talks about better promises better promises and let's let's see what he says Alex if you could read starting in Hebrews 8 and verse 1 okay and I'll be reading from the King James Version now all the things which we have spoken this is the some we have such a high priest who is said on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens I'm minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched in not man for every high priest is retained to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore it is of necessity that this man had some what also to offer for if he were on earth he should not be a priest seeing that there are priests that offered gifts according to the law who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle for see saith he that thou make all things according to the pattern and show to the in the mouth but now had he obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises now when I first read that better promises I thought wait a minute are some of God's promises better than other promises no no he keeps all of his promises right I mean there's this first covenant and then there's the new covenant now who made the promises in the first covenant well God revealed himself at Sinai let's look in Exodus chapter 19 and verse 8 Jamie if you have that Exodus 19 and verse 8 the New Living Translation says Exodus 19 verse 8 the New Living Translation says and all the people responded together we will do everything the Lord has commanded so Moses brought the people's answer back to the Lord did they succeed in their promise no no what should they have said lord help us yeah we can't do this God it's got to be by your grace we're willing to accept it by faith and and God would say okay all of my biddings are enablings i will equip you know they said okay we'll do that and failed miserably the new covenant the better promises is not that God made bad promises and then he makes good promises it's the recognition that salvation has to be by His grace received through faith does that make sense now if we have time or time's going quickly and I said I'd love to hear some of those promises of God that have encouraged you to believe His grace for you and to accept by faith what he's done so keep it we'll come back to that if we have time because I want you to know if you look at yourself and say I can do this you're in trouble it wasn't long after they said all that the Lord had said we'll do that they were dancing around the golden calf committing all kinds of idolatry and even the blasphemy of saying that it was a calf that brought them out of Egypt you say Lord how did that happen when we trust in our own selves so the better promises are God's promises and we what promise should we make then what should our promise be should we make any promise to God what do you think trishal hmm I think in a previous study Nicole talked about receiving the blessings from God and I think the only promise we could even try to give is just I I accept I accept and I believe and that's all that we can give is our decision I think the rest so we just have to like Acts got to hell and I'll do that by your grace to do by your power I think that right like the father said I believe help me to believe more yeah I'll do that by your power too well the challenge comes to the early church because salvation is only by God's grace received through faith that's how it's it's not like you would save one way in the in the Old Testament and another way and there's only one way of salvation that was the sacrifice of the Lamb pointing forward to the Lamb of God right but let's look at the crisis in Acts chapter 15 and verse 1 Britain if you could read verse 1 for us what was the challenge there I'll be reading from the New King James Version Acts chapter 15 verse 1 and certain men came down from Judea and taught the Brethren unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved now I'm gonna have you to keep read reading on to 2:12 but the challenge is basically saying what it's not just by faith in Jesus that God's grace to receive not just that we're gonna add some other things okay let's keep reading we're now in acts 15 verses 2 to 12 therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and elders about this question so being sent on their way by the church they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria describing the comp the conversion of the Gentiles and they caused great joy to all the brethren and when they had come to Jerusalem they were received by the church and the Apostles and the elders and they reported all things that God had done with them but some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up saying it is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses now the Apostles and elders came together to consider this matter and when there had been much dispute Peter rose up and said to them men and brethren you know that a good while ago God chose among us that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe so God who knows the heart acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us and made no distinction between us and them purifying their hearts by faith now therefore why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear but we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles so these people Stephanie who stood up and said but know they also need to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses with those Christians or non-christians they were Christians Genesis it says the they were Jews who believed so so they're not saying don't believe in Jesus right what are they saying Jesus plus some of your works right how are they going to resolve this let's keep reading Nicole if you would it's like a drama unfolding and basically what what Peter's argument the holy spirits rested on them just like us so let's keep reading in verses 13 to 21 and I'm reading from the New International Version it says when they finished James spoke up brothers he said listen to me Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose the people for his name from the Gentiles the words of the prophets are in agreement with this as it is written after this I'll I will return and rebuild David's fall intent it's ruins I will rebuild and I will restore it that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord even all the Gentiles who bear my name says the Lord who does these things things known from long ago it is my judgment therefore that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God instead we should write to them telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols from sexual immorality from the meat of strangled animals and from blood for the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogue's on every Sabbath so a decision is made that they should refrain from idolatry and sexual immorality things that are strangled and blood and someone says well boy there's a lot of Commandments that aren't even mentioned does that mean we don't need to remember the Sabbath or we can steal or we can lie or we can take God's name in vain what's going on here Brittany the dispute at the beginning was over the law of Moses and circumcision it didn't even mention the Ten Commandments okay so obviously they're not discarding all of the all of the commandments anybody else yes Jamie they're almost like lifestyle issues so just the ways that you can live a better more holy life so you can better keep the commandments if you're not worshipping idols or and and that's their context isn't it there are in pagan environments there are idols there's meat offered to idols in the market and all of those kind of things sexual immorality was even part of the worship in these fertility cult religions so it's addressing some of the lifestyle issues that they're that they're dealing with how is that then communicated Kyle verses 22 through 29 you say well how do they that they didn't have emails and write they didn't have what texting social media right how did they communicate that to the new believers particularly the Gentiles okay and I'll be reading from the New King James Version then it pleased the Apostles and elders with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas namely Judas who was also named Barnabas barsabbas and Silas leading men among the Brethren they wrote this letter by them the Apostles the elders and the Brethren to the Brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch Syria and Cilicia greetings since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words unsettling your souls saying you must be circumcised and keep the law to whom we gave no such commandment it seemed good to us being assembled with one Accord to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul men who have risked their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we have therefore sent Judas and Silas who will also report the same things by word of mouth for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things that you abstain from things offered to idols from blood from things strangled and from sexual immorality if you keep yourselves from these you will do well farewell that's a early first century tweet right it's a little longer than a tweak right 140 but it's a text message it's a very short message and it's basically saying you've got the Gospel message that you're not saved by your works or by idols but by faith in in the grace of the Creator God who loves you and sent his son to save you but but you will distinguish yourself from the pagans around you if you don't participate in those things that are part of their pagan worship sexual immorality strength of food that certainly been offered to idols and some of those other issues so the message is sent out I have a question for you did you notice that they sent a man named Judas and Silas with them why do you think they did that what was their purpose anybody have an idea what did they it says they were men of held in high esteem they were leaders right justly if they had any questions a lot a letter for ever question okay since I was good answer so so they could answer some questions Kenneth also when the controversy broke it was Paul and Silas and Barabbas who are they and these people another so they want them to come and reaffirm what Paul and Silas are going to in the tests in the testimony of one or two witnesses something is established right so it's like well Paul you know when we send you a Barnabas and if you say well this what they decided maybe some enemies will go well we'd expect you to say that because that's what you were wanting to happen and they say well what did you talk to brother Judas here and brother Silas they can they can give a testimony right does that make sense so what are the what are the leaders in Jerusalem trying to do for these show unity right we're working together working together and we're wanting to protect the Gospel message that's been proclaimed now I couldn't help but thinking this is a dangerous question to ask but if sometimes we require things there are not salvation issues that we say well you can be part of our community but you have to also comply to these things and not just believe that we're saved by God's grace through faith now I know Jesus said teach them to observe all things I've commanded you so I'm not suggesting we throw away the teachings or the ten commandments I'm not suggesting that but are there some things that we could maybe try to say well if you're gonna be part of our group you have to do it like this that Paul Lombardo sir would say why are you adding that or even James the leader of the church to say you're adding a burden to them that God doesn't require Trisha Li it can happen when we take our eyes off of Jesus and instead of trying to encourage people to be come an image of Christ we're trying to conform them to become like us to make ourselves more comfortable or if you looking at like me and dress and talk and sound like me then we're truly one and we have to remember it's not to bring people into our own image but for us all to be into the image of Jesus and it's very different than what it is look at all of us here if you were trying to conform to any like who is it is it out of me is it Dustin who but Jesus is one person and if we keep our eyes on him then that's the true north that we have to focus on you know I like what Trisha Lee said and I'm smiling because I'm thinking what would people say if I had your beautiful hairdo it looks awesome on you you know but on me they would say what's up but I love what you said people want to get to the details which should you do like this okay and you're saying point them to Jesus let him guide them in the small decisions dustin i think also we need to think in terms of progression too I mean people should be growing so when you take somebody that's so drastically different from from the Christian Way of life like the the prisoner who is on the cross with Jesus I mean you know you can deliver the core the see you know you may not see it in their lifetime get to a certain level that looks like something that you recognize but there's there's the initial faith and then there's obedience which is the expression and those are two totally different things one is about salvation and the other is about walking into doubt Wow that's probably you know I had a flashback while Dustin was talking I about a young man when I was just a young pastor who was baptized and and he came to church with his with these clean blue jeans you know and a clean t-shirt and I saw a Saint heading towards him and I knew she was going to say to him if you got a dress like that don't even come and I had to run an intervention now by the way our codes were a saint and I didn't do that carelessly because what have we learned by God's grace he sees our potential doesn't he and she had growing to do but don't we have growing that we need to do but I had to run an intervention to kind of prevent I won't mention the lady's name from making it to Mike because I knew Mike had his best Jesus he wasn't being irreverent and he didn't have a t-shirt with some old rock group that he used to listen to it was just a plain white t-shirt and at some point later I was able to talk to this Saint sister and say you know aren't we happy that he's in church you know sometimes though we can get bogged down with minutia right trying to make everybody more like us rather than saying just look to Jesus Kyle something else just building off what she said that I learned from this is they were really they took the time to listen to the report of Paul as what was happening with the Gentiles and and I think a lot of times in our churches we don't listen sometimes we just kind of we just kind of think we know we know and we don't really listen to to to people and if we would take the time to listen and to really consider where people are and to show them the grace and the patient you know cause like like our brother said we were all on a journey so we need to really give that grace to listen to people to show them the love of Christ and to let them grow in their journey let's go to Galatians chapter 1 he doesn't Paul doesn't talk extensively about the challenge in his letter to the Romans but he does and and he gets really excited isn't the right word upset maybe would be a better word he gets very upset when he hears that most teachers have come Stephanie the first 12 verses there let's remember that as we think about his love for the church in Rome and staying faithful to Jesus and I'll be reading from the King James Version Paul an apostle not of men neither by men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead and all the brethren which are with me unto the churches of Galatia grace be unto you be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from the present this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father to whom be glory for ever and ever amen I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ but though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed as we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed for do I now persuade men or God or do I seek to please men for if I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ but I certify you brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man for I neither received it of man neither was I was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ why is he so upset about the false teachers and by the way we know that the false teachers didn't just visit visit Galatia right this was written to the Galatians they were visiting ever in fact Paul had told the elders in Ephesus that that false teachers become like wolves right yea wolves attacking the flock right trying to draw people after them why why does he use such strong language when speaking about these false teachers can you say well that's your opinion this is my opinion we all have different views you know kind of a you're right I'm right we're all right what why is he so intense Brittany because they're leading people who are new believers away from Christ are people who wanted to believe in Jesus they're leading them away from him and same with Jesus Jesus pointed out those people who were stealing or guiding people the wrong direction away from salvation and he's thinking about the price of the soul I was thinking of some strong language Jesus gave when he said if you cause one of these little ones to stumble do you read what he said was hang around your neck and the view into the sea right put a put a big rock a millstone around your neck would be better and and drowned in the sea than to cause these little ones to stumble so it's it's not about him protecting his theological reputation it's about salvation exactly it's about salvation Nicole it's a matter of life or death I mean it's not just about you know you you're okay tomorrow but it's really about eternal Salvatore no damnation and actually not being a part of the kingdom of Christ life or death issue yeah and that's why he's willing to speak so forcefully herald- thing that can come out of this is they can start spreading that false gospel to the people around the community so it will have a worldwide impact so everybody's getting the wrong message as a result of these false teachers it only takes one or two people to and they may share it you know what with good intentions because they that's what they've been taught even if it's not true so the sooner that can be stopped the better right this false gospel that maybe teach well let's look at a few texts that clearly we we had Kyle give us a brief summary of the gospel in 50 words or less but let's look at a few of the texts in Romans that really share the simplicity of the gospel Romans just an if you could read Romans 3 for us verses 21 to 24 have someone else look at Romans 5:1 and 2 and Romans 10:9 2:13 condensed version here right like the tweet that the the little text message that came out of the Jerusalem Council this is this is the good news that he's willing to even sacrifice for or die for him and get upset when people say well kind of like that but let's add this and this and this Romans 3:21 2:24 I'm reading from the New Living Translation but now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago we are made right with God by a place in or faith in Jesus Christ and this is true for everyone who believes no matter who we are for everyone has sinned we all fall short of God's glorious standard yet God was undeserved kindness declares that we are righteous he did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins I love that wording that how did it undeserved what was the the wording of that his kindness of undeserved kindness undeserved kindness what's another word for that that's grace that's unmerited favor that that's God's love in action right what we could not do now now careful careful we're gonna study more about how to live you know that we should not be conformed to this world Romans 12 but be transformed by the renewing of our minds we're going to talk about that new life but it is not our behavior that makes us right with God you hearing the difference there the new life comes from the living connection with God but it is not the behavior that makes us right with God all right what about Romans 5 verses 1 and 2 Jamie the New Living Translation says therefore since we have been made right in God's sight by faith we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us because of our faith Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory and that amazing you know one of the last requests of Jesus in his great prayer in John 17 is that they would be with me and see my glory think about that and not one of us if I'm reading my Bible correctly when we get there and see his glory will say I deserve this with tears running down our cheeks we'll say thank you Jesus right that's the Gospel message if we think we deserve it we won't get there because we won't be open to the grace that you talked about that he wants to give us all right one more verse in Romans 10 we're gonna be studying this for this series but just a snapshot of this Gospel message he's not ashamed of Romans chapter 10 Gary do you have verses 9 through 13 yes I do and I'll be reading from the New King James Version Romans 10:9 through 13 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved for with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation for the scripture says whoever believes on him will not be put to shame for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same lord over all is rich to all who call upon him for whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved I love that person whoever that would include certainly certainly in his thinking Jew and Gentile but we we get more specific among the Gentiles and say it includes everyone right there's no one excluded by the way that's not just talking ethnicity that's also talking about socio-economic yeah socio economics or our past history you know Kyle I'm just thinking you know Paul says somewhere he's the chief of sinners right and it's I think his words are so powerful when you read them because he's speaking from his own testimony in his own life at one point he had lived by the law he was trying to earn his salvation and killing Christians to show has elysée way yeah and then Jesus changed his life and now he's living for that true gospel which is the righteousness that comes by faith would you read that verse for us that you were just quoting it's in first Timothy chapter one and verse 15 thanks for talking I'm glad you're welcome first Timothy 1 verse 15 give us a moment to find it it is startling but Saul now Paul could never forget the grace live and shown to him hey man that's another reason like you said he's so passionate about it man he knew how sincere he was trying to earn his way to heaven even even by persecuting Christians but he was sincerely mistaken mm-hmm what's his testimony in first Timothy 1 verse 15 okay I'm reading from the New King James Version this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief anybody want to argue with him and say I think I'm a worse sinner than you are is that the point you say well he put people to death hmm he forced people to blaspheme the name of Jesus mm-hmm do you ever look back over mistakes you made in your life and just kind of shake your head is there anybody besides me that does that you say Derek really have we not all done things that we received of I agree what does Grace do Forrest Nicole hope because I hope that what we've done before does not dictate who we are now and who are gonna become human and we're gonna be what Jesus wants us to be when when he returns thanks for that smile - yeah like my dear friend who now sleeps in Jesus CD Brooke said you know I'm not the man I should be but I thank God I'm not the man I used to be I've been changed amen anybody else here just a word of testimony here as we close our study what what Jesus has done did you ever feel pressured to kind of turn away from Jesus and and he somehow he brought you back anybody ever feel that pressure Justin talked about it in an academic setting with secular teachers or you're thankful that God doesn't count your past against you some would just want to say thank you to Jesus for what he's done for you as we conclude our study Stephanie well I don't know if I could read three verses you can I couldn't okay Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 through 16 Hebrews chapter you know I love it when people say what about this verse because it tells me that we've been reading our Bibles right yeah and I was just I would recently I was speaking with someone who felt just that they weren't worthy okay we don't have a lot of time but we're going to read it ahead briefly comment on it you're in Hebrews chapter 4 that's right verses 14 through 16 the treated and I'm reading from the King James Version seeing then that we have a great high priest that is not that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession for we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need so encouraging so what does that do for a friend who says Stephanie you look so holy and live with Jesus all the time but you don't know all the things I've done what it does is it says that we all need Jesus and we can come boldly to his throne of mercy and find that grace why can we come boldly because of Jesus because of His grace like Karl started out god loves you whatever false teaching you have about a God who hates you I mean if God hated us he would not have had a plan of salvation God loves us he wants us to be with him forever and it's not based upon how well you perform but upon accepting his grace through faith and then letting him work you into a new creation and not to save yourself but to bring glory to his name that's my prayer for you and and for me too it's a daily journey and also for your friend the one that you're thinking of right now maybe it's a spouse or a child saying god I want them to know that good news - let's pray we can share it boldly let's pray together father in heaven thank you so much in the midst of all of the false teaching swirling around us that we have heard the simple Gospel message of a God who loves us sent his son to save us wants us to be with him forever to see his glory to know the joy and peace that it's only found in him God may we accept that and walk in that new life every day and may we also be able to share that good news just like Paul did with those around him in Jesus name we pray amen life-changing journey take what you've learned go out make a difference to the lives of those around you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause]

Channel: HopeSabbathSchool

Views: 19,685

Rating: 4.7852349 out of 5

Keywords: seventh day adventist, hopesabbathschool, hope sabbath school, Bible study, Christianity, religion, God, Jesus Christ, Paul

Id: dGIXEsYDZeY

Length: 59min 5sec (3545 seconds)

Published: Mon Oct 09 2017