Peace of God- Ephesians 2:14-18 #sermon #bible
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Romans 5- Children of God
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:9-11
There is a false teaching that everyone is a “Child of God” while this is a great thought, this is not Biblical. As the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tell us “we were enemies of God” , the Apostle Paul also says “He put to death their hostility” (Ephesians 2:16) Hostility to what? To God, before you became saved, you hated God, you hated his holy word, you hated his only begotten Son, you hated the Holy Spirit, because you were carnally minded, in love with the world and the flesh
These two natures don’t coincide, this is why as an “Enemy of God” you can’t be a Child of God. To tell the unsaved they are a Child of God, is an insult to our Heavenly Father, who blasphemes his name on a daily basis. So why do we care about the unsaved? Because we were all made in the “Image of God” (Genesis 1:27) and God wants everyone to become saved (1 Timothy 2:4) So how do we become a Child of God? As Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3)
It’s only through Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on the cross, that we can become Children of God. As the Apostle Paul teaches us here “being now justified by His (Christ) blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Christ)” Jesus paid the penalty for your sins and justified you before God the Father. The only reason we can be in the presence of God is because of Christ and His holy works on the cross.
So what else did the cross do for us? “We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Jesus)” We were reconciled back to God through Jesus Christ, we were not always Children of God but enemies, but Christs death on the cross reconciled us. This is why Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation (John 14:6) Without Christ you can never be reconciled back to God, you can never be justified for your sins, you can never be saved from the wrath that is to come for your sins.
Consider what the Apostle Paul says here “4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [b]“Abba, Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir [c]of God [d]through Christ.” (Galatians 4:4-7) Through Christ, you have been reconciled, you have been redeemed, you have become Born Again, and adopted as Children of God through our Lord Jesus Christ and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, Amen!
Romans 3- Nullify The Law?
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:27-31
Who can be saved? Well as the Apostle Paul says “Everyone who calls upon the name of The Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13) There is only One Way to Salvation, Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) And this salvation from God is offered to anyone who repents and puts their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16) This is The New Covenant in Christ (Luke 22, Hebrews 8) that Jew and Gentile can be a Child of God through faith in Christ (Galatians 4:4-6)
But what about The Law? Does the grace of God eliminate the moral Law of God? No, as we discussed previously, The Law reveals the nature of God and man. How do you know you are a sinner in need of a Savior? Look to The Law of God as a mirror, and the Holy Spirit will reveal your sinful nature. So are we saved then by “Keeping The Law”? No , look what the Apostle Paul says here “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.” You are saved by grace through faith, not by keeping The Law. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Nobody can Keep the Law and The Law will never bring you salvation. However its through The Law you are convicted of sin and in need of repentance and salvation of Christ
As the Apostle Paul states “We conclude that man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” You can’t earn your salvation, you can’t work your way into Heaven, its only by genuine faith in Christ that you can be saved and be justified before God. Humans like to save themselves, humans like to deliver themselves, but you are completely unable to. As Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) You need to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, you need a new heart and mind, you need The Law written on your heart, this will never happen by human works in trying the “Keep The Law”
I heard it once said “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the God of Matthew, Mark , Luke, and John. There is only One God, and He is God over the Jews and Gentiles. How are they saved? The Apostle Paul states “Shall justify the circumcision (Jew) by faith, and uncircumcision (Gentile) through faith” The Jew is saved by faith in Christ, the Gentile is saved by faith in Christ. There is only one means of salvation!
So the Apostle Paul then asks the question “Does this make The Law void through faith”? Certainly not, we establish The Law” Meaning you can’t understand your depravity without The Law, You can’t understand the nature of God without The Law, you can’t understand your desperate need for Jesus Christ without The Law, repent and put your faith in Christ for salvation, Jew and Gentile, Amen!
Romans 3- Jesus our Propitiation
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26
So earlier the Apostle Paul taught us, what and why Christ is the good news for us all. Today the Apostle Paul teaches us how Christ is the good news. Jesus took your place on that cross, as Paul said “God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His (Christ) blood” It’s interesting when you look at the other English translations NIV states “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of His blood” The Amplified Version says this “whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith” As you look at the different translations, you get the understanding Christ died for your sins on the cross, and by our faith in Christ and his sacrifice we are declared righteous with God
The word propitiation is very interesting, Gotquestions.org says the word means this “The word propitiation carries the basic idea of appeasement or satisfaction, specifically toward God. Propitiation is a two-part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to him.” The only way we can be reconciled or redeemed to God is by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this is why Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) This is what Christ has done for you, because He loved you and chosen you before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)
Consider these scriptures about propitiation “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) The Apostle John states Christ is the propitiation or atoning sacrifice for us and the entire world! Remember what John the Baptist stated about Jesus “Behold The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)
The author of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, stated the same thing “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17) Jesus Christ, our Lord, our King, our High Priest, made the propitiation, the atoning sacrifice for our sins, the sins of the people, the world. This is a difficult concept for us to grasp, that the Son of God loves us enough to die for our sins, to redeem and forgive us
What did Christ do for guilty sinners like me and you? As the Apostle Paul says here “That He (Christ) might be Just and the Justifier of him (Us) who believes/has faith in Jesus” We are redeemed and justified by our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the propitiation for our sins, who has reconciled us back to our Father, and given us the Holy Spirit, to be Children of God, Amen!
Romans 3- The Good News
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 3:21-24
What is the gospel message? We are told to preach and share the gospel to everyone, but do you know what the gospel even is? The word “gospel” simply means good news, so what is the good news? Well you might say “Jesus died for your sins” and this is good news, but does the world understand this good news?
Well the Apostle Paul , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes it clear “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” All means all, correct? Every single person has fallen short of God, meaning we are all sinners, except The Lord Jesus Christ. Any other belief is against the Word of God. Everyone needs a Savior, everyone needs forgiveness and atonement for their sins. Everyone in the world is already condemned for their sins, headed to eternal Hell, with no hope and fully justified by our own actions. As the Apostle John said “He who doesn’t believe is condemned already” (John 3:18)
So when you start to understand all this, when you start to understand your level of depravity based from Gods moral law (The Ten Commandments) You understand that you desperately need a Savior. So how can we be forgiven? How can we be reconciled back to God? The only way is through our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) This is why Christ is the only way to salvation, there is no other way except by faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9)
As the Apostle Paul says here “The righteousness of God , which is by faith of Jesus Christ, upon all of them that believe” This is why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became flesh and died for your sins on the cross. And on the 3rd day, He rose again and ascended at the right hand of God the Father. The only way you can be saved from eternal damnation is by faith in Jesus Christ. You can’t save yourself, there is nobody righteous, and your works will never save you, its only by faith in the works of our Lord Jesus Christ
So when you understand this, you understand why the gospel of Jesus Christ, is the greatest news ever! I’ll end with the words of the Apostle Paul “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” You are saved and justified , not by your own works, but by the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the best news ever! Amen!
Romans 2- Nobody is Righteous
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Romans 2:17-20
Why is the gospel message so offensive to the world? The word gospel means “good news” so why doesn’t the world see it as good news? The reason is most of the world doesn’t see itself as a sinner, in fact most people think they are good people deserving all the blessings from God. However as Gods Law (The Ten Commandments) has revealed, we are all sinners in need of a Savior
The Jewish people believed this lie also, they believed because they were children of Abraham, they were already righteous. Jesus said to them “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32) What was their response “We are Abrahams descendants, and never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say we will be made free?” (John 8:33) Jesus revealed everyone who sins is a slave to sin, including the Jewish people. However even though they were the experts at the Law of God, they didn’t consider themselves to be sinners
This is what the Apostle Paul is saying “Indeed you are a Jew and rest in the law, and make your boast in God” The Jews were given the Law through Moses yet they didn’t even believe the Law applied to them because they were Abraham’s descendants. This is the same with us Gentiles, even though we have knowledge of the Law, as Paul addressed previously, we still sin and disregard the Law.
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Romans 2:21-24
The Apostle Paul, who was a Pharisee himself, points out their hypocrisy. The Jews teach the Law, yet they themselves continually break the Law, which is dishonouring to God. The reality is nobody can keep the Law (Galatians 3:11) The Law reveals that we are all sinners, in need of a Savior, Jew and Gentile. (Romans 3:20) As Jesus said “Nobody is good (morally excellent) except God alone” (Mark 10:18)
Your righteousness comes through faith in Christ not yourself (Romans 3:22) This is why the gospel is so offensive to the world, this is why the entire world needs to repent and put their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (Mark 1:15) Amen
Romans 2- Wrath of God
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Romans 2:5-8
The world will ask “Why do I need Jesus”? What most of the world doesn’t understand is everyday they are storing up wrath against themselves as they continue to rebel and live in sin against God. As the Apostle Paul says here “according to your hardness , stubborn, and impenitent or unrepentant heart” People who refuse to repent of their sins, have a hard heart to God, “you are treasuring or storing up wrath” Everyday you are adding more and more wrath to your final judgement
The world will say “Nobody can judge me” the reality is there will be day of judgement for everyone. As the Apostle Paul says “the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God” People need to understand God will not be mocked, what they reap they will sow” (Galatians 6:7) People believe the lie told by Satan in the garden “You will certainly not die” (Genesis 3:4) The world believes the deception from the Father of Lies, and continues to rebel against God to satisfy the lusts of their flesh, storing up wrath daily
As the Apostle Paul states “Who (God) will render (judge, repay) everyone according to their deeds” This should put the fear of God into everyone, your actions and words will come to light and be judged. So much for the person crying “Don’t judge me”, that person is already condemned by their own sins. As it says in the gospel of John ““He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) Without Christ you are already condemned because of your sins
However there is good news (gospel) that Christ became flesh and died on the cross to pay for the penalty of your sins (2 Corinthians 5:21) This is why it is the Good News, most people don’t understand why its the best news because they don’t understand they are condemned in their sins already. As the Apostle Paul says here “To them by patience continuance (persistence, perseverance) in well doing seek for glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life”
Christ will give you eternal life, are you seeking him (Matthew 7:7) Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord, become Born Again (John 3:3) filled with the Holy Spirit , to make you a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7) a new heart for God to love Him with all your mind , heart, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30) Amen
Romans 2- Don’t Judge?
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:1-4
A popular thing we hear from the world today or even within Christianity is “Don’t judge me” , if you make any mention of sin or repentance, the person automatically assumes you are judging them, why? Because they are being convicted by the Holy Spirit for their sin, as Jesus said “He (The Holy Spirit) will convict the world of its sin” (John 16:8) This is why anytime you preach the true gospel or the Word of God, people are going to be offended, because they are being convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit
So are Christians not to judge anyone, well yes and no. The reality is judgment is a part of life. As soon as you walk into a room, you are being judged. As soon as you started reading this blog, you judged, judgement is a part of life, its part of the way we analyze and make decisions as humans. And ultimately everyone will be judged by The Lord one day (Romans 14:10-12) If you think your going to escape judgment , I have bad news for you, everyone will be judged in the end.
So how do we reconcile these scriptures by the Apostle Paul, well he’s basically reinforcing what Jesus already taught us. As people love to take the words of Christ out of context “Judge not or you will be judged” (Matthew 7:1) Now most people stop there when quoting this, but Jesus has an entire teaching on this. “For the same way you judge other, you will be judged” (Matthew 7:2) Ah so now its starting to make more sense with some more context, its not that you are never going to be judged or never judge, you must judge righteously. As Jesus continues “why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, and pay no attention to the log in your own eye” (Matthew 7:3) Ok more context, don’t be condemning people if your living in sin also. Get right with God before you tell others how to live for God
Now look what the Apostle Paul says “for whatever you judge someone else, you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things” We can’t be hypocrites , as the old saying goes “practice what you preach”, if you are judging people for their sins, and you are living in those sins also, you are condemning yourself. Pull the log out of your own eye, repent and get Born Again in Christ (John 3:3)
The Apostle Paul asks the question then “Do you think you will escape the judgement of God”? (v3) By pretending to be righteous and condemning others, do you not think your going to stand before The Lord also? Remember the grace and mercy God has shown you, remember to demonstrate this to others also, allow the Holy Spirit to do the convicting, and put your faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, Amen
Romans 1- Total Depravity
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Romans 1:23-25
Idolatry has always been a major issue with humanity. Even if you go through the history of Israel, they kept creating and worshipping idols. God would command them to repent and remove their idols, they would and then go back to worshipping their idols. Its no different today in the Church. There have been many idols created within the Church, many people have created a false Jesus into their own image.
As the Apostle Paul says under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man” Are you worshipping the real Jesus Christ of the Bible? Or are you worshipping a false Jesus you have created in your own mind? That was created over tradition and false doctrine? If we are wrong about Jesus, doesn’t matter what we are right about!
The world loves to worship the creature rather than the Creator. We see this through everything, money, entertainment, sports, you name it, people have made an idol out of it. Eventually God has had enough, “God also gave them up to uncleanness or sinful desires, through the lusts of their own hearts” People love their sin more than they love God, eventually God will allow them to worship their sin. This is why you see the total depravity in humanity.
People ask what is wrong with this world? What happened to society? This is what happened, God gave them over to their sins, the people act like human animals looking to please the flesh at any cost. Carnally minded and headed to eternal destruction, they have no care in the world, except to please the flesh. As Paul says “to dishonour their own bodies between themselves” sexual immorality, transgenderism, homosexuality, all fruits of the flesh
They have changed the truth of God into a lie, this is what we see from a Romans 1 society also. Total depravity has become normalized, there is no spiritual discernment because they rejected the true God for their own idols they have created. They served the creature more than the Creator. There only hope is to be Born Again in Christ and be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, to create a new heart and mind, the gospel must be preached! Amen!
Romans 1- No Excuse
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, Romans 1:20-22
The Word of God says “A fool says in their heart, there is no God” (Psalms 14:1) Many people today believe there is an easy escape from the wrath of God, to just pretend God doesn’t exist at all. They believe if they create crafty arguments to refute the existence of God, this will make them exempt of their sins. But don’t be deceived, God will not be mocked, what you reap is what you will sow (Galatians 6:7)
The Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the evidence of God’s existence is clearly seen in Creation, therefore we are without excuse on judgement day. The human idea that we can trick or persuade God in believing we didn’t know He existed is blasphemy. God knows the intelligent design of His creation reveals the Creator. All the Bible says “The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1)
One thing I would like to point out is that in the KJV translation, we see the reference to the “Godhead” this is a reference to the Triune God, I find it interesting that “newer” English translations take out the reference to the Trinity. Among other scripture, because The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all part of Creation as they stated “Let Us Make Man in Our Image” (Genesis 1:27) So the Atheist who is made in the image of God, rejects and blasphemes his Father and Creator, we will be held without excuse on judgement day, as every knee will bow to The Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 2)
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, this sums up the state of humanity. Ever since the garden of Eden, when man tried to be like God, to the tower of Babel, where man tried to reign like God, to today where man tries to eliminate God, we have become fools. Many in their depravity, deny the basics of common sense, that nothing can’t create anything. Yet the minds of the world, push this agenda to the masses, the scientific impossibility that nothing could become or create anything, this defies all science and common sense. This is why God considers these people fools, they are not being honest, because they love their sin more than they love God
Their foolish hearts have become darkened, and this describes the state of the world. The only way they can be enlightened is through Christ, they must become Born Again otherwise they will perish in their state of depravity, Amen
Unashamed of Jesus 