"Universal Unrighteousness" Romans 3.9-20; 6.23

Sunday August 23, 2009 Message from Emmanuel Ministries in Dade City, FL.

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Universal Unrighteousness (Romans 3.9-20,6.23)

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"Remain Faithful" (1 Timothy 6.20-21)

1 Timothy 6.20-21 “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.” (ESV)

The Duty

• Charged to Timothy: a Pastor, but more importantly, a Christian (applies to all Christians)
• Guard: keep safe, cherish- a place of importance implied; keep wholly to the truth as it is under attack from the world.

The Deposit

• “entrusted to you” – the Word of God
• Preach the Word, be prepared, use it with integrity and LIVE IT
• “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4.1-5 ESV) (v.3-4 emphasized)
• “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1.22 ESV)
• On the church level- “The most important measure of any church is how it handles the Word of God.”
• On the Christian’s level it is similar; how do we cherish and respond to the Word of God?

The Danger

• Avoid:
• irreverent babble- not just language, but devaluing the godly; idle words, gossip, slander, hurtful words, lying
• contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge much of what passes for truth is not truth, but convenience: abortion,
• Many prefer lies- foretold: 2 Timothy 4.3-4; “How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?” (Psalm 4.2)
• Accepting lies leads some to “swerve form the faith”: When lies are accepted and the Word of God is compromised, people are led astray.

We are to guard and cherish the Word of God. It is what leads to eternal life. It’s not just a concept or thoughtful words, but powerful words: “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.” (Romans 1.16 ESV)

C2C: God has entrusted us with His Word. He requires commitment- it’s time to reject lies, and be faithful to His word and calling.

Emmanuel Ministries Notes 8/02/09

Today we had a good service. I barely lasted through the worship time- my voice was struggling. However, it ended up to be a good time of worship in song ending mainly a Capella. The message was easy to preach, though the content could be seen as offensive to some. That was not my concern. I intend to preach God's Word no matter what society decides is appropriate.

The message notes are listed in an earlier post. God was giving me strength to get past any voice problems and giving me confidence to proclaim His Word. I thank Him for the opportunity. It is a major blessing.

It was difficult being away for two weeks; in another two weeks I will be unable to preach due to my grandmother's funeral. That will be difficult as well. It was good to see the folks at the ministry and to see Márcia again. We miss her and her family when we are away. They are great friends to us. I am happy to be working with her again.

"And Such Were Some of You" (1 Corinthians 6.9-11)

⁹Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV)

Context (v.1-8)

These verses speak of lawsuits among believers; the prevalent issue being the actions and character of believers. There was a practice among these Christians of mimicking the world in bringing lawsuits against each other. The upcoming verses shed light on why the practice is wrong.

The Excluded (v.9-10)- Excluded from God's Kingdom

• Those who have not forsaken a lifestyle of sin are slaves to their sin (Romans 6.16, "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" ESV)
• Those who are slaves of sin will not enter Heaven

The Empowered (v.11)- Empowered by God as His children

• And such were some of you: a defined change; a transformation. (Romans 12:1-2, "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. ² 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." ESV)

• BUT YOU WERE:
• washed- a spiritual cleansing from sin’s power
• sanctified- a break from sin, being “set apart” related to being made holy
• justified- being judged as righteous by God by Christ’s righteousness
  

• ...in the name of the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of our God
• Salvation’s work is found only in Christ’s name (Acts 4:12) and through the Spirit of God: “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV).