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Romans part 14: Faith Changes, by Pastor Greg Byman

2/28/2021

Are you an imposter Christian? If so, you’re not the first, and you’re not alone. The early church struggled with this, and the apostle Paul offers a solution in Romans 6:1-14. Listen to “Faith Changes” by Pastor Greg Byman, delivered on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at St Joe Community Church in Fort Wayne. Today’s message is the 14th in a series on the book of Romans and available for free, like the rest of the St Joe sermon library. Just go to your favorite podcast platform or download directly from www.StJoeCommunityChurch.org.

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Faith Changes
Romans 6:1-14
Faith in Jesus Christ Changes Us!

Faith Changes Us!
1. We can’t continue to sin     vs 1
-God’s abundant grace is not given to us so we can continue in abundant sin!
-Sin NEVER glorifies God- the end does not justify the means
-Once we are saved, we are forever changed to become like Jesus
-True believers begin to become who God has already made them
-Sanctification- the process of becoming freed from sin or purified

2. We are united with Jesus
-Born again
-Baptized into Christ vs 3
-Newness of life =we enter into a new sphere which is life,
        instead of death!   vs 4

3. Sin does not control us
-vs 6 Old self was crucified, killed
-body ruled by sin is rendered powerless
-vs 7 freed from sin
-vs 8-9 Christ’s death was our death, His resurrection was ours too!

4. We have a new life!
-vs 10 Christ died once for all, He now lives forever united with His
   Father
-vs 11 consider yourselves dead to sin! We must accept this truth!
-consider yourselves….alive to God in Christ Jesus!
   -We are alive spiritually, empowered to say no to sin!
   -this is “in Christ Jesus”= in a personal relationship with Him
     -He is the Savior, but must also be OUR PERSONAL Savior!

How to experience faith changes
1. Put your faith in Jesus Christ alone
-the just will live by faith   Romans 1:17; 3:26
-we are saved by grace, a gift, not through obeying God

2. Stop obeying sin
-vs 12 Therefore- since God saved us by His abundant grace
    -do not let sin be in control of your body!
    -sin is powerless, stop saying yes to sin!
-2 Corinthians 5:15 we live for Jesus now, instead of for ourselves
-Faith changes a person! -No change might indicate no real faith!

3. Submit fully to Christ vs 13
-We live in an ongoing spiritual battlefield!
-our body can be used for evil or godliness
   -we are either helping or hurting the cause of Christ with our lives
-Stop letting Satan use any part of your life to fight against God
-Let God use every part of your life to fight for His perfect will

4. Trust God by faith! Vs 14
-don’t turn sanctification into legalism
-We are “under grace” now as a follower of Jesus Christ
   -We have the power to overcome sin
   -The Holy Spirit is now living inside us, to show us what to do
-John 14:15-17, 23-25 If we love Jesus, we will keep His commands
-John 16:12 “…He [the Holy Spirit] will guide you into all the truth”

Unbeliever- place your faith in Jesus Christ right now!

Believer- Let Faith Change You day by day!
-stop justifying all the reasons why you can’t stop sinning

Imposter- wake up! The Holy Spirit is convicting you of sin!
-Your faith is fake, you must turn to Christ today!
-Make a real commitment to follow Jesus Christ, stop playing games
   -stop trying to follow rules to impress God

Make your decision real and public Today!

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Romans part 13: Bad News, Good News!

2/21/2021

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Bad News, Good News!
Romans 5:12-21
Intro

Bad News
Everyone has a problem: we are sinners
-sin- missed the mark, not perfect, lawbreaker
-We became sinners naturally through Adam
-Adam sinned
-Adam passed his sinful nature on to us
More rules magify how sinful we are

We face certain death and condemnation
-Everyone died from Adam to Moses
-Mortality is still 100%

Good News
Jesus Christ solved our problem
-God offers the gift of Jesus Christ
-God treats us better than we deserve (grace)

Jesus offers certain hope
-opposite of what Adam gave us (certain death)!
-justification
-righteousness
-life

How do we receive God’s gift?
Place our faith in Jesus Christ

Put Jesus Christ in authority over our lives
-as we live out our lives privately, in the church, in our homes, in the world!

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Romans part 12: The Love of God, by Pastor Greg Byman

2/14/2021

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The Love Of God
Romans 5:6-11
Introduction
Today is Valentine’s Day!

God loves you more than any human ever could!

How to respond to God’s Love
1. Accept God’s Great Love
-God reaches down to you and me through His Son
   -God is love! 1 Jn 4:8a Love is His very nature!
   -He sent His Son Jesus to demonstrate His love
      Jn 3:16, 1 Jn 4:9-10
-God loves us just at the right time- today, right now!

-God loves is greater than any human love!
   -Earthly love only goes so far- vs 7
        -no one is lining up to die for death row inmates!
        -that is exactly where every human stands before God!
   -Paul mentions Christ’s death 5 times in these 6 verses

-Jesus died for the ungodly- total opposite of perfect, pure
   -We are born hostile to God, rebellious, separated from Him

-Jesus died for us “while we were still sinners” vs 8
    -We missed the mark in life, came short of doing God’s will

-Accept God’s Great Love!
   -Romans 1-4 we must simply place our faith in Him
   -Romans 3:23-24 We who have sinned are justified by grace!

2. Apply God’s Love
-Stop living in fear
   -We are declared righteous/justified by Christ’s blood vs 9
      -legally acquitted of all our sin; no longer guilty
   -We are reconciled with God vs 10
      -Jesus made peace between God and us
      -this term is rarely used in other religions- man-made deities
        don’t personally relate to humans, unimaginable!
-Stop making excuses-
   -vs 9 If we are justified, then we don’t face God’s wrath!
        -stop living as if God is out to get you, punish you!
        -stop sabotaging your future by living in your past!
             -God has erased our guilt, our shame!
   -vs 10 If we are reconciled then we are saved right now!
         -stop making excuses for your sin, for not growing up!
         -Jesus empowers us to overcome sin!
              See Hebrews 7:25 and Romans 8:34
         -Jesus personally walks with us, lives inside of us!
         -Jesus is a prayer away every moment!

-We must stop beating ourselves up and living in defeat!
-Stop making excuses for living a shameful, carnal life!

3. Give God’s Love
-Declare your gratitude vs 11
   -We rejoice- boast in God, not in ourselves!
   -We give God all the credit when others see good in us
   -Humbly proclaim that Jesus is your personal Savior!

-Love others like God does 1 John 4:7-8
   -Be the first person to initiate reconciliation!
   -Forgive completely- let them go, erase their guilt!
   -Practice humility- seek forgiveness immediately when wrong!
   -Ask Jesus for help! Godly relationships require God’s help!

How will you respond to God’s love right now?
1. Make it personal



2. Make it public!

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Church Elders: Why, Who, What?

2/7/2021

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Click to download Pastor's Notes in MS Word format.

Church Elders: Why, Who, What?
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Everything rises and falls on leadership
Everyone follows someone   -self, or someone else!

A leader always emerges when another leader disappears
-lack of preparation can lead to poor/wrong leaders

God has appointed Jesus to lead the church
-Jesus is the Chief Shepherd!

God calls out men to lead under Christ’s authority
-1 Peter 5:1-3 Elders, Shepherds, Overseers
-Sometimes called “Under-Shepherds”, under THE Shepherd

Local churches are led by Elders/Shepherds/Overseers

Why? The reason for elders
Biblical Reason: New Testament Pattern
-Titus 1:5 Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in every church

Practical Reason: Someone has to lead!
-Unspiritual leaders may emerge- incompetent, unspiritual, wolves!

Who?   1 Timothy 3:1-7 qualifications (see also Titus 1:5-9)
Above Reproach- overall above average character
Faithful in Marriage- one woman man
-for sure means not married to more than one woman
-could mean not divorced and remarried, a common interpretation
-it does mean everyone agrees he is faithful to marriage!
Self-controlled- temperate, balanced life
Sensible- prudent, wise,
Respectable- the dignity and respect of his peers
Hospitable- loves strangers, isn’t into cliques, associates with all
Able to Teach- skilled at teaching, not necessarily a “preacher”
Not addicted to wine- not interested in alcohol, self- controlled
Gentle (not a bully)- doesn’t pick fights, isn’t abusive
Not quarrelsome- isn’t looking to beat people in conversation
Not greedy- money is his servant, not vice versa
Manages household well- children, home, possessions, maybe people
   -overseeing a church is similar to overseeing a family
Not a new convert- qualified leaders take time to mature
Good reputation among unbelievers

What? process of appointing elders and practical work of elders
Elders are affirmed by the church
-Elders oversee the selection process
-All church members nominate men they believe are qualified
-Elders conduct ordination interviews
-Church votes to affirm men who were affirmed by the Elders

Elders serve as needed by the church
-It is common for elders to serve for a set number of years, then rotate
-Senior Pastor/Elder serves indefinitely

Elders oversee all spiritual aspects of the church
-Preach, Protect, Pastoral Care
-Elders at St Joe serve under the authority of the whole congregation
-They DON’T micro-manage nor do all the work
    -everyone is a minister!

What Now?
Pray for and support Elders Hebrews 13:17

Support healthy accountability 1 Timothy 5:19

Nominate potentially qualified men -Give names to elders

Consider your own calling!
-if you are asked by your church to serve
-if you are led by the Holy Spirit to become an Elder

Here is the resume of a potential church pastor…

Before his conversion to Christ he was complicit in a murder

This man had been in prison frequently (Acts 16:37, Acts 24:7).

He has started more than one riot in a city (Acts 19:28).

He has been in frequent troubles with the local authorities (Acts 24).

He has frequent health issues (2 Cor 12:7).

He was not accepted and not trusted by most of the Christians early on and many were even afraid of him (Acts 9:26).

He was believed to have mental health issues by the local authorities (Acts 26:24).

He has been accused as being an insurrectionist by the local leaders (Acts 24:5).

He has been accused of being a leader of a cult or sect (Acts 24:5).

Everywhere he went, he seemed to cause problem and once he even quoted a world philosopher in trying to witness about Christ (Acts 17:28).

He was teaching doctrines that were contrary to the religious leaders of the day (Acts 24:5).

Would a man like this be affirmed by our local church??

This was the resume of the Apostle Paul!

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Romans part 14: Faith Changes, by Pastor Greg Byman

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Romans part 13: Bad News, Good News!

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Romans part 12: The Love of God, by Pastor Greg Byman

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Church Elders: Why, Who, What?

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