26-1011sc Transcript

(0:04) Well, let’s go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. (0:08) Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for this opportunity we have to be here to study your Word, (0:15) that you provided us through the Holy Spirit. (0:18) The Holy Spirit worked with the writers who penned this.

(0:23) We ask your blessings upon us as we work with translations, (0:30) that we pray that you are watching over and protected and make sure that they were accurate (0:37) and provide us with the information that we need to have. (0:41) We’re very grateful for the fact that we are blessed with the ability to read and to understand, (0:49) and we pray that you will enhance that. (0:52) We ask for understanding and insight and to be able to comprehend Paul’s writings (0:59) and what he’s trying to get across to us.

(1:02) We ask your blessings in these things, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen. (1:09) Well, I understand, in my mind, we’re ready for Romans 15th chapter.

(1:16) Any questions about what we’ve covered so far? (1:19) You think I need that? (1:25) No, I don’t. (1:29) I mean, we’re on a five pews deep here. (1:42) I do have a strong voice, especially when I get excited.

(1:51) I don’t know if I need my glasses. (1:53) They don’t really help me. (1:58) I’ll get them out just in case.

(2:05) I’m working with the New International Version at this point. (2:20) So as we reflect upon what he’s going to share with us, (2:26) we know that we need to be concerned about our fellow Christians. (2:31) And one of the things that I got to thinking about while I was studying this, (2:37) every time I read through here, I think I get a new concept or a new idea to talk about.

(2:46) And as I share with you, I try to read Romans through at least once a week (2:52) to be ready for our discussion today. (2:56) But the main thing is I think that he’s concerned about you as an individual, (3:03) me as an individual, us as an individual. (3:07) And so when you became a Christian, what were you concerned about? (3:18) And I know for myself, I was concerned about being right with God (3:23) and being in relationship with Him and Him being able to hear my prayers (3:30) and having my sins forgiven because I knew that my sins separated me from God.

(3:38) And I also knew at the time I was baptized, I was 12 years old. (3:44) So what did I know other than what a kid knows, you know, (3:47) and what he sat through many Bible classes taught by his peers. (3:57) And so they sit there, and you hear some of their concepts and their interpretations (4:03) about what Paul’s talking about and how Christians ought to be.

(4:10) So thinking in terms of Steve Cain, how am I as a Christian? (4:20) And so as I study and as I study, I realize, especially in Romans 6, (4:25) he points out how that we’re dead to sin and we’re raised to walk in the newness of life. (4:37) So comprehend that. (4:41) How do you comprehend what is the newness of life? (4:43) What was wrong with the old life that now all of a sudden I’m in a new life? (4:52) So what does that mean? (4:57) Well, apparently the old life was the way I was walking, you know, with my friends, (5:04) behaving and acting with my friends and doing things with my friends and so on.

(5:11) Is there anything wrong with that? (5:16) Somebody on the other end dropped the phone. (5:21) So anyway, yeah, there was. (5:32) I basically talked the way they talked and did some of the things that they did, (5:40) and they were not in harmony with what God wanted me to be.

(5:45) So I’m saying to myself, I’ve got to shed that and take on what God wants me to be. (5:54) And so he wants me to be free of jealousy, envy, and so on. (6:03) And we know what those things are, especially as we read in Galatians, the fifth chapter there.

(6:11) And so he wants me to do that, so I have to be able to do that. (6:21) I’m trying to think exactly how I want to come out of this. (6:28) So the newness of life is walking righteously in the sight of God and being righteous.

(6:39) So I’m concerned about me and how I’m living and whether or not I’m pleased with the sight of God. (6:52) And so then over the years, I’ve learned that as I’m walking and concerned about my relationship with God, (7:01) that Jesus is interceding for me. (7:04) He’s on the right-hand side of God, and he’s interceding for me.

(7:10) And what is he doing as he’s interceding for me? (7:14) He’s pleading my case. (7:18) And so I’ve learned in 1 John that as long as I’m walking in the light, as he is in the light, (7:23) his blood will continue to cleanse me. (7:26) So I realize that at this point, in my mind, I’m right with God.

(7:39) And so someone comes along and says, (7:47) Steve, you don’t observe Christmas, do you? (7:52) You don’t observe Easter, do you? (7:54) Well, we do. (7:56) We don’t pass up on gifts, and we don’t pass up on the Easter Bunny. (8:00) We don’t pass up on that stuff, you know.

(8:02) We know all about Santa Claus, and we all know about the Easter Bunny. (8:08) But no, we don’t observe Christmas as a religious holiday, and we don’t observe Easter as a religious holiday. (8:16) But some of us do.

(8:19) And so someone comes along and says, Steve, you don’t observe those things. (8:23) What kind of a Christian are you? (8:29) So what are they doing to me? (8:34) They’re condemning me, aren’t they? (8:36) They’re judging me. (8:38) And they’re saying that’s a flaw.

(8:41) Well, there’s other things that, you know, congregations do. (8:47) Congregations put rules and regulations in place, and they expect you to line up with them. (8:58) So how does that change your relationship with God? (9:06) How does that change you? (9:08) How does that change me? (9:11) Well, as I read, where did they get that? (9:16) There’s no stipulation in the Bible that says I have to observe Christmas.

(9:20) There’s no stipulation in the Bible where it says that I have to observe Easter. (9:27) Now, of course, we know that we observe Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection every Lord’s Day. (9:32) And so we’re doing that because that’s what Jesus instituted, and we’re doing that.

(9:38) So how does that interfere with my relationship with God? (9:43) And that’s, I think, what God wants us all to think in terms of what interferes with your relationship with God. (9:58) So Paul points out here in Romans that it doesn’t. (10:06) Who judges us? (10:10) What’s going to separate us from the love of God? (10:15) What separates me from the love of God? (10:18) The fact that you don’t appreciate the fact that I don’t observe Christmas or Easter, or I don’t do this or I don’t do that.

(10:30) How does Paul say? (10:32) Who stands before God? (10:37) The servants. (10:39) We’re classified as servants, aren’t we? (10:41) I’m a servant of God. (10:43) So what does Paul say in Romans about a servant? (10:48) Who has the right to judge the servant of someone else? (10:55) We don’t.

(10:57) That servant stands before his own master. (11:02) And if his own master hasn’t condemned him, he’s not condemned. (11:08) So where do you stand with God? (11:11) Isn’t God your master? (11:14) So do I have the right to come along and judge your performance and your behavior and your way of working? (11:21) Does that interfere with your stance for God? (11:26) So what Paul’s trying to point out, I think, to us is don’t let anybody else interfere with your relationship with God.

(11:38) Am I making myself clear? (11:42) Don’t let anybody else interfere with your relationship with God. (11:48) And that’s the reason why he says don’t judge. (11:53) Because if you’re judging, you’re judging someone else’s servant who stands perfectly right in the sight of his own master.

(12:04) And you’re standing perfectly right in your own master. (12:07) How do I know that? (12:09) Because as long as you’re walking in the light, as he is in the light, Jesus' blood continues to cleanse you. (12:15) And he is on the right-hand side of God doing what? (12:21) Interceding for you.

(12:24) What does that mean? (12:27) He’s making excuses for you. (12:28) He’s standing up for you. (12:30) He’s defending you.

(12:35) And as long as Jesus is defending you, you don’t have a thing to worry about. (12:43) You don’t have a thing to worry about. (12:46) So do I have the right to judge anybody? (12:52) No.

(12:53) But I can make observations, can’t I? (12:58) And I can point out, isn’t that what Paul points out in Galatians, the fifth chapter? (13:05) Take a look. (13:06) He tells us. (13:08) And this is the important part for us to know.

(13:19) Maybe it’s the fourth chapter. (13:21) I’m not sure. (13:26) It could be the sixth chapter.

(13:31) It is the sixth chapter. (13:32) I’m sure it is. (13:35) It is the sixth chapter.

(13:39) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. (13:52) What does that mean? (13:54) You’re not going up to him and condemning him. (13:57) You’re going up to him and pointing out to him that he might want to reevaluate what he’s done.

(14:07) But you’re not condemning him, and you’re giving him every reason to ask for forgiveness to God (14:13) and evaluate what he’s doing and make amends to God and adjust his behavior. (14:24) Because he points that out to you. (14:26) You who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.

(14:32) He cautions you. (14:34) But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (14:39) Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

(14:45) If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. (14:51) In other words, when I come to you, am I judging you? (14:56) Do I think that I’m perfect? (14:58) No way. (14:59) But some people do think they are perfect.

(15:05) And they think they have the right to point out your flaws out to you. (15:15) So, I think this is what Paul is trying to point out to us (15:18) when he talks about the fact that we need to be concerned about our relationship with our fellow brothers and Christ. (15:28) So, he’s pointing out about the fact that there are some who are weak and some who are strong.

(15:35) And the 14th chapter is the one who talks about the one whose faith is weak and so on. (15:42) So now we’re slipping into the 15th chapter. (15:45) Any comments? (15:47) Yes, Jim.

(15:48) I think people who have that really harsh attitude towards others about being righteous tend to get it [wrong] too. (16:00) Conversely, they have a bad, I mean, a confused opinion [of God’s grace]. (16:07) And, for them too, I’d rather be the brother in ignorance than the one being judgmental.

(16:16) That’s right. I agree with you. (16:20) And we do need to know what grace is all about.

(16:24) The fact that God has given you the opportunity to be reconciled to Him is His grace. (16:31) It’s reaching out to us. Unmerited favor.

(16:36) You don’t have to earn it. It’s there. Take it up.

(16:40) Take Him up. (16:40) Take Him up on the fact that He’s willing to forgive you and give you the opportunity to come back and be with Him. (16:47) Isn’t that what I believe the 13th chapter says? (16:52) Or the 12th chapter, rather.

(16:54) The 12th chapter says, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, fully acceptable to God. (17:00) And so that’s what you as an individual, in your mind, is concerned about. (17:06) Is my behavior acceptable? (17:11) And that’s one of the things that we need to be thinking in terms of.

(17:17) Yes? (17:18) [Scott:] Back here in Galatians 6, we’re talking about [restoring someone gently]. (17:29) And then [watch, watch yourselves, or you also] may be tempted. (17:35) And, you know, I used to think, at first glance, you might think that you’re going to be [caught in the same sin they are.]

(17:41) But [that] isn’t what he’s talking about. (17:45) Because if you look at verses 3 and 4, (17:49) [Paul] said (vs 2), carry each other’s burden. (17:52) And in this way [you fulfill the law of Christ.] (17:56) As we restore, carrying each other’s burden.

(17:59) So in verse 3, if anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. (18:05) There’s [the temptation]. (18:08) How would you do that (deceive yourself)? (18:09) Well, I’m better than he is.

(18:18) Each one should test their own actions. (18:22) And then they can take pride in themselves alone without comparing themselves. (18:30) [Steve:] Right.

(18:31) And that’s the other thing, too. (18:33) The real sin is comparing yourself with somebody else. (18:40) He wants us to compare ourselves with whom? (18:44) Jesus.

(18:45) That’s who he wants us to compare ourselves with. (18:48) And when we compare ourselves with Jesus, we fall woefully short. (18:54) Woefully short.

(18:59) So, you’re talking about, in relation to the sixth chapter there, you’re fulfilling the law. (19:07) What fulfills the law? (19:09) What does Paul tell us fulfills the law? (19:13) Loving one another. (19:15) That fulfills the law.

(19:17) So, if we come into the relationship of brothers and sisters, (19:23) we need to think in terms of love. (19:26) Being concerned, as I pointed out, that describes God. (19:33) God is agape.

(19:36) He loved us first because he first loved us. (19:43) So, I need to be concerned about love and loving my brothers. (19:50) So, he’s not only talking about brothers and sisters in Christ.

(19:55) He’s talking about mankind. (19:59) We need to love mankind and be concerned about them. (20:03) And that’s what I think he’s going to be talking about here in the 15th chapter.

(20:07) As we pick up, we’ve only got two chapters to go. (20:13) And we’ll have accomplished this in record form for me. (20:20) Because I’ve been known to drag this one out for a year.

(20:27) So, as we get into the 15th chapter. (20:33) So, we want to, the whole theme basically is loving one another. (20:39) Love your neighbor as yourself.

(20:42) Isn’t that what Jesus said when he was confronted by the, (20:52) this is not the Sanhedrin, this describes, (20:56) they said, what is the greatest commandment? (20:59) And Jesus says, love thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (21:04) It didn’t even stop there, did it? (21:06) But the second one is likened to that. (21:09) Love thy neighbor as thyself.

(21:11) And so, John, in his first gospel, or in the Gospel of the Epistle, 1 John, (21:18) what does he say? (21:19) I have a new commandment, but it’s not really a new one. (21:25) What is it? (21:26) Love one another. (21:30) So, the whole theme basically is agape.

(21:35) Love one another. (21:36) And that means be concerned about the welfare of the other person. (21:42) Be concerned.

(21:44) So, we’re looking at that. (21:47) So, let’s pick up with Romans, the 15th chapter. (21:55) We, who are strong, what kind of strong (22:00) are we talking about?

(22:03) Strong in the faith. (22:05) We, who understand what Christianity is all about, what God wants us to do. (22:12) We, who are strong, that includes loving one another, being concerned about the other person.

(22:19) We have that ability. (22:21) We, who are strong, ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (22:31) Isn’t that something? (22:35) That goes contrary to what we’re taught.

(22:43) That goes contrary to what, if you go out into the world, that goes contrary to what you get as far as philosophy is concerned. (22:54) Go to a counselor. (22:55) Go to someone who, and stand up for yourself.

(23:02) Don’t be such a pansy. (23:04) Go ahead. (23:05) So, we, who are strong, ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

(23:15) Verse 2. (23:16) Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. (23:23) See, he’s talking about not only our brothers and sisters. (23:26) He’s talking about mankind.

(23:29) Who is my neighbor? (23:31) That leads Jesus into the story about the Good Samaritan. (23:36) Who is my neighbor? (23:39) And so, we need to think in terms of what Jesus taught as far as when he was asked, who is my neighbor? (23:46) And so, for even Christ did not please himself, but, as it is written, (23:55) the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. (24:02) Unquote.

(24:04) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, (24:09) so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures, and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope. (24:19) What has he just said there? (24:21) How many people think that the Old Testament is not for us to read today? (24:33) Oh, that was in the Old Testament. (24:35) We are in the New Testament now.

(24:39) But he just said here that we can get an awful lot out of reading the Old Testament, and knowing the Old Testament. (24:50) So, the Old Testament is important. (24:53) Quite frankly, when I was growing up, sitting in the audience of the adult Bible class, (25:04) the Old—the New Testament is the only way.

(25:07) The New Testament is the only way. (25:09) We will not. (25:11) No.

(25:12) They studied the Old Testament. (25:15) Almost every time I would go there, they would go into the Old Testament. (25:20) So, I have a strong background in the Old Testament.

(25:26) But they really studied the Old Testament in its form. (25:31) For everything that was written—verse 4—for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, (25:40) so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures, and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope. (25:48) And I like the concept that we can learn about endurance out of the Old Testament.

(25:56) What is endurance? (26:00) Hmm? (26:02) Perseverance. (26:06) Holding the course. (26:08) Standing firm.

(26:10) Even when things are rough. (26:12) Right. (26:13) And there are times when—there are rough times through the Old Testament.

(26:19) Oh, yes. (26:20) And, yes, there are those that endure through those rough times. (26:28) They persevere.

(26:30) Yeah. (26:30) What are we told about trials and tribulations? (26:35) Paul points that out in the 5th chapter of Romans. (26:38) James points that out in the 1st chapter.

(26:41) What is so important about trials and tribulations? (26:47) They promote perseverance. (26:50) And perseverance, when it’s complete, makes us a complete, not lacking anything. (26:58) So if we persevere, they give us the ability to be complete.

(27:04) We can stand. (27:06) So, encouragement, they provide us, might have hope. (27:14) And there again, I like to make a sermon out of hope.

(27:21) So the hope that he’s talking about is not a wishful, I wish this, I wish that, I hope. (27:28) You know, a little girl sitting on the corner, waiting for her dad to come and pick her up, (27:35) and says, why are you sitting there? (27:38) My dad is supposed to come and pick me up, but he’s late. (27:41) He told me he’d take me to King’s Island.

(27:46) I hope. (27:49) Anyway, that’s the hope, you know. (27:52) But the hope that we have is the fulfillment of our desires.

(27:59) We have that. (28:02) So let’s pick it up, verse 5. (28:04) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind (28:13) towards each other that Christ Jesus has, so that with one mind and one voice, (28:21) you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (28:26) So what is the benefit of reading the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? (28:35) What are the benefits of reading them? (28:37) He just gave it to us, didn’t he? (28:39) He gives us the opportunity to see how Jesus endured.

(28:46) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind (28:51) towards each other that Jesus Christ has, so that with one mind and one voice, (28:59) you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (29:04) And I believe that God provides us with trials and tribulations to see how we’re going to react to them. (29:18) I think he does that on purpose.

(29:21) We’re passing. (29:21) We want to get a passing grade. (29:24) What is the purpose of testing? (29:27) Also, how do we glorify God? (29:36) So we’re all on the same page.

(29:39) Thinking and believing the same thing. (29:46) God is glorified by that. (29:50) [Not when we’re divided] and dissecting each other.

(29:58) That’s not glorified, is it? (30:00) Because we’re divided. (30:02) Right. (30:04) And so that’s the main thing, to glorify God.

(30:11) We want to behave in such a way and manner that our behavior, because we are children of God, (30:19) we claim to be Christians, and we know we are, our behavior will determine how somebody else views us. (30:27) Do you really believe in God, and do you really glorify Him? (30:31) Why do you do this? (30:34) Why are you using the Lord’s name in vain? (30:38) That doesn’t glorify God, and you’re not glorifying God by using that. (30:42) So if we can behave rightfully, we’re glorifying God because we are demonstrating being children of God, (30:51) and people can see us, and they can see that we are children of God by the way we behave and act and conduct ourselves.

(31:00) And so the way we behave and act and conduct ourselves is glorifying God. (31:06) And so in my private prayers, I always ask that my behavior has glorified Him. (31:17) And I also know that if I’m behaving the way I’m supposed to be behaving, that other people will say, (31:26) ah, he’s a Christian, and in so doing so, they’re glorifying God.

(31:32) But God is also glorifying Himself by the way He behaves with us, how He intercedes with us. (31:42) And I like that divine intervention, providence, and preservation. (31:44) That’s my mantra.

(31:49) So it gives Him the opportunity to do that. (31:52) Any other observation besides mine? (31:57) Well, if we really are honest, I mean, we look back on our past life, if we can really be honest, (32:10) we can see what God has worked in our favor and has blessed us and provided for us, strengthened us. (32:21) You know, we may come to that point, feel like we’re going to give up the whole thing, but we still keep going.

(32:33) Right. And that is what your neighbors see. (32:38) The neighbors see what God has done for you, and they say, He is a child of God.

(32:44) And they’re glorifying God because of that. (32:48) Isn’t that what, I forget where I read this, but when the Israelites are going to be coming back to Jerusalem, (32:59) and God has made sure that they are rebuilding the temple and everything, (33:04) the people will round about them and say, Aha, God is glorifying them. (33:14) God is being glorified because He has brought them back to Jerusalem.

(33:19) So God is being glorified by the way He looks after you and me, the way He looks after us. (33:28) So He is being glorified because people will look and they’ll say, (33:32) Only God was able to bring that about. Only God.

(33:39) So then it goes on, verse 7, (33:51) So this is why I preempted my Bible class with, He’s accepted you. (33:59) And so let’s individualize. (34:03) Identify yourself with Him.

(34:06) He’s accepted you. You’re reading it. (34:11) He’s accepted you in order to bring praise to God.

(34:16) For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, (34:24) so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed. (34:31) And moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God through His mercy, as it is written. (34:40) So therefore, that’s the reason why I’ve been talking the way I’m talking, (34:46) is because I read this.

(34:48) I read this before class. (34:56) We’re glorifying God too. (34:59) We’re glorifying God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(35:04) Accept one another then, just as Christ has accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (35:12) For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, (35:17) so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed. (35:22) And moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God through His mercy, as it is written.

(35:30) And then he quotes the various scriptures to point this out. (35:36) So, we know that God made promises to various patriarchs along the way. (35:43) He made a promise to Abraham.

He made a promise to Isaac. (35:47) He made a promise to Jacob. (35:49) He made a promise to David.

(35:52) And He made several promises along the way. (35:57) We have to have evidence that He fulfilled them. (36:04) He’s made a promise to you and me.

(36:09) What is the promise that He’s made to you and me? (36:16) In my sermon that I preached about faith, what is the promise He made to you and me? (36:23) That we will be with Him in heaven. (36:28) That’s the promise. (36:30) And He’s going to keep that promise.

(36:33) How do I know? (36:35) Because He’s kept His promise to everybody else along the way. (36:40) And we have record of Him being a promise keeper. (36:43) And so, we know that being God, He will keep His promise.

(36:50) For you and I, who are children of God, we are going to inherit heaven. (36:59) He’s promised that to us. (37:03) So, I keep telling Sandy, I said, Sandy, we’re going to heaven.

(37:13) We’re going to heaven. (37:15) Got a reason to live, right? (37:18) Got a reason to look forward to. (37:20) We’re going to heaven.

(37:22) So, He’s a promise keeper. (37:24) And that’s what Paul wants us to recognize, is that He’s made this promise and He’s on record. (37:32) He’s gone on record to make that promise.

(37:35) He’s promised us heaven. (37:39) Any observations? (37:41) No, just like it says, God has said, I will never forsake you. (37:51) I will never forsake you, yeah.

(37:53) And so, we have that assurance that what we got to do is not leave Him. (38:01) Right. (38:02) Walk in the light that He is in the light.

(38:05) As long as we’re doing that, His blood will continue to cleanse us. (38:08) You don’t have to worry about it. (38:12) Okay? (38:16) Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles.

(38:19) I will sing the praises of your name. (38:22) Who’s saying that? (38:26) Yeah. (38:27) And who is He going to praise? (38:30) God.

(38:31) He’s the object of the praise. (38:34) Therefore, I will praise you, God, among the Gentiles. (38:37) I will sing the praises of your name.

(38:41) And again, it says, rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people. (38:47) And again, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. (38:51) Let all the peoples extol Him.

(38:55) That’s us. (38:57) Let’s extol Him. (38:58) And again, Isaiah says, the root of Jesse will spring up, (39:03) one who will arise to rule over the nations.

(39:07) In Him, the Gentiles will hope. (39:11) And there again, what is your desire? (39:14) Your desire is to get to heaven. (39:17) And how are you going to get to heaven? (39:19) The only hope you have is Jesus.

(39:27) Put all your eggs on Jesus. (39:29) Put all your eggs in one basket. (39:32) It’s Jesus.

(39:34) He’s the one who’s going to make it possible for you to get to heaven. (39:38) There’s no other way. (39:40) There’s no other name under heaven whereby man may be saved, according to Acts.

(39:47) So, where’s their hope? (39:50) Their hope is God extending it to them through Jesus. (39:57) And that is what it’s all about. (39:59) God extends to us the hope through Jesus.

(40:03) And Jesus is the fulfillment of that hope, the only way that we can get there. (40:08) So then he points out, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace (40:15) as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (40:24) What a wonderful statement.

(40:27) What a wonderful statement. (40:29) So, God is the one who’s extending to us the hope of heaven through Jesus. (40:36) And He will fulfill.

(40:39) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. (40:47) Put all your faith, put all your trust in Him, (40:49) so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (40:56) And I don’t think we preach enough about the Holy Spirit and the role of the Holy Spirit.

(41:03) In fact, I think sometimes we deny the hope of the Holy Spirit, (41:10) the power and what the Holy Spirit does for us, (41:12) because of the way the Pentecostals deal with the Holy Spirit. (41:18) And I think that over the years, and of course, when I was growing up, (41:23) you didn’t think in terms really of putting the Holy Spirit in a role of salvation per se. (41:30) But the Holy Spirit has more power than one can realize.

(41:41) I don’t teach the Holy Spirit. (41:48) Any comments besides mine? (41:55) So, the Holy Spirit has been instilled in you for several reasons. (42:03) What is the primary reason? (42:06) Not necessarily the primary reason.

(42:10) As Paul points out, I believe in the Ephesian letter, (42:13) it is given to us, instilled in us, as an earnest of being saved. (42:22) What does earnest mean? (42:26) It’s a down payment. (42:28) He’s guaranteeing us salvation.

(42:32) So, the Holy Spirit has been put into each individual who has been baptized (42:37) for the forgiveness of their sins, to rise and walk in the [newness] of life. (42:43) The Holy Spirit then is given to them as an earnest. (42:49) God is saying, this is my guarantee to you, (42:51) you are going to be saved and you’re going to be in heaven with me.

(42:56) That’s why the Holy Spirit is put into you in that place. (43:00) There are several other reasons, I believe. (43:04) I don’t know whether I need to venture out on that in this class or not.

(43:09) But I believe he’s also giving us the ability to put behind us sin (43:19) and give us the ability to say, I like bowling terms. (43:26) When I was bowling, I used to bowl faithfully, (43:31) and I thought maybe I might be a pro at it someday, and I gave that up. (43:38) But when you’re bowling and you’re having a bad game going, (43:44) you’re having open frames, open frames, open frames, (43:47) and you’re only getting six, seven pins at a time, (43:51) you come back and you draw a line like this.

(43:56) What is that? (43:58) That’s a fence. (44:01) And what does a fence mean? (44:04) From here on out, you’re going to strike out. (44:08) Your luck is not going to jump over that fence.

(44:12) You’re bad luck. (44:13) You’re going to have good luck. (44:16) So, can I say that? (44:18) When we become a Christian, we’re to walk in the newness of life, (44:22) and the Holy Spirit is designed to give us the ability to say, (44:29) sin is dead in your body.

(44:33) You do not have to sin. (44:37) You can say no, and he gives you the power to say no, (44:41) and he gives you the power to break the hold of that sin, (44:45) whether it’s addiction or whatever it is. (44:48) He can give you the power to break that sin.

(44:52) Sin is dead. (44:58) Isn’t that what he says? (45:00) Therefore, there is now, therefore, no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. (45:05) And we are dead to the law.

(45:08) We’re dead where there is no law. (45:10) There is no sin. (45:11) And we have the ability to say, I’m no longer going to do that.

(45:17) No, I am going to walk in the newness of life. (45:26) Isn’t that what newness of life is all about? (45:33) Can you comprehend that? (45:35) We’re going to walk in the newness of life. (45:38) That means we dedicated our lives to God, (45:42) and we’re no longer going to give our bodies or anything a part of us (45:49) to the servants of sin anymore.

(45:53) We’re going to walk in the newness of life. (45:55) And the Holy Spirit is given to us to empower us to be able to do that. (46:05) Am I speaking out of bounds? (46:09) I don’t think so.

(46:11) Come on in. (46:22) He’s given us that ability to do that. (46:26) So, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him (46:33) so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(46:44) What kind of power does he have? (46:47) What is that power supposed to do? (46:50) By the power of the Holy Spirit. (46:53) What does Jesus say about…​ (46:56) Jesus gives us a job description of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John, (47:04) I believe it’s the 16th chapter, (47:06) where he talks about what the Holy Spirit is going to do. (47:10) He’s going to bring back the remembrance of the things that Jesus taught them.

(47:17) He’s also going to convict us of sin. (47:20) He’s going to convict the world of sin. (47:24) How does he do that? (47:29) That’s his problem.

(47:31) Let’s don’t hinder him. (47:33) Let’s don’t, by our own teachings, restrict him and put restrictions on him. (47:40) Because I think that’s one of the things that we have a tendency of doing, (47:45) is restricting the Holy Spirit by our own teachings.

(47:50) We don’t put any restrictions on the Holy Spirit. (47:53) Let him do his job. (47:56) That’s his job.

(47:58) My time is up. (48:00) We can pick up with verse 14 next week. (48:03) Thank you so much. (48:04)