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!
​

​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!
 
 

​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!
 
 

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!