How To Find Jesus:  Lessons from the Wise Men
Matthew 2:1-12
Intro
 
 
 
How to find Jesus
1.  See the Signs
-Wise Men saw the star- miraculous phenomenon
-Witness of creation- Romans 1:20
Possible signs that are leading you to Jesus
   -Life changing event
   -Lack of purpose
   -Lack of true satisfaction
   -Conviction- guilt from your sin
 
2.  Search the scriptures
-Wise men looked for answers from God’s people
   -They used scripture to answer the Wise Men
-Search the Bible to answer your questions
   -Prophecy of the Old Testament
   -Testimony of the New Testament
   -study your own Bible
   -go to our website to “Who is Jesus?”
   -ask a Christ follower in our church that you trust
 
-The Wise Men searched until they found Jesus!
   -they trusted the scriptures- went to Bethlehem
-Keep searching for Jesus through the testimony of
   His followers, through His church, this church!
   -let the evidence lead you to Jesus!
 
3.  Surrender yourself
-Wise men searched until they found Jesus!
-Wise men immediately knelt and worshiped Jesus
-Wise men gave generously to Jesus
-Wise men dedicated their future to Jesus
 
 
What is your next wise step?
See the signs
-What are other people telling you?
 
-What circumstances are revealing your need to change?
 
-How has everything else you have tried failed to satisfy?
 
 
 
Search the scripture
-Is there anything more you need to learn about Jesus before you give your life to Him?
 
-You may really need more information
 
-Or, you may be using this as an excuse to keep rejecting Jesus
 
 
Surrender yourself to Jesus right now!
-surrender your whole life to Jesus
 
 
-surrender all you have to Jesus
 
 
-surrender your future to Jesus
 
 
 
 
 
 

Stop Trying!
Romans 3:9-31
The righteous will live by faith   Romans 1:17
 
 
 
Stop Trying To Be Good Enough!
1.  No one is good enough  (Romans 3:9-18)
-Actions and attitudes condemn us all
 
-Paul quotes the OT, aiming at self-righteous Jews
   -knowing the law didn’t make them perfect
 
-Today, we are told people are born with a  blank slate
   -Society/Government/Religion makes good children go bad
   -vs 10-18 says we by nature do bad, everyone!
 
-Any solution to world/society problems that rejects God, His Word, and Jesus Christ, will fall short!
   -Rules cannot cure the human heart
   -Good people may spring up, but they still aren’t good enough
 
-A Judeo-Christian worldview has led to the most moral, benevolent and just societies and governments- but they still fall short of perfection!
-Abolition of slavery, human rights, elevation of women legally, sanctity of human life, all have sprung up from the soil of a Christian worldview.
-However, a worldview isn’t enough- America still falls short of the glory of God!  We are still sinful, still unjust, still destroying human life in the womb, still corrupt
-Government rules and rulers won’t fix our hearts!
 
2.  We have no defense   (Romans 3:19-20)
-Illustration:  have you ever been caught doing wrong? 
   -unable to talk, you willingly accept judgment
-“every mouth” will “be shut” in front of God!
-The Law will condemn us!  (whether external or internal)
 
Stop trying to be good enough!
3.  Jesus removed our guilt    (Romans 3:21-26)
-God announced His plan through the Law and Prophets!
 
-vs 22  “The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ”  
   -John 14:6  Jesus is the only way, truth, life!
 
-vs 23-24  A compare and contrast analysis
   -We all sinned, we all fall short of God’s glory  (vs 23)
   -HOWEVER, God justifies us freely, by his grace (unmerited
     Favor)  through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
-Heb 10:10 “sanctified…through Jesus Christ once for all”
 
    -received through faith-  trust, surrender
 
-God remains righteous-  not a corrupt judge overlooking sin
 
-God declares righteous the one who has faith in Jesus!
   -Give up
 
 
Christian, Stop trying to be good enough!
4.  We cannot boast in ourselves   (Romans 3:27-31)
-Stop trying to steal God’s glory!
-Hebrews 10:14  For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
-Ephesians 2:8-9  saved by grace through faith….not from works, so than one can boast
-Luther:  by grace alone, through faith alone, to God alone be the glory
 
Stop Trying And Start Trusting!
1.  Trust what Jesus did for you- place your faith in Him
 
2.  Keep trusting what Jesus did for you- live for Him
​

​Stop Trusting Rules and Rituals
Romans 2:17-29
Introduction
 

 
Knowing the rules (the Law) isn’t enough  vs 17-24
Knowledge can make us arrogant
-we think we are a guide, a light, instructor, teacher
-we look down on others who don’t know what we know
-we feel morally superior,
 
Knowledge can blind us to our own sin
 
No one cares about what we know!
 
 
Ritual isn’t enough  vs 25-29
Outward obedience cannot replace inward faith
-Jews expected circumcision to give them salvation
 
-Today, someone might think baptism saves them
 
 
God examines our hearts
-Have I fully admitted my wrongdoings to God
-Am I trusting completely in Jesus Christ to forgive?
-Have I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ completely?
 

Our failure doesn’t stop God’s plan
The Jews had it made!
-They knew God’s plan before anyone else
 
-God chose them to be a guide, light, instructor, teacher!
 
 
The end does not justify the means
-God does not need my failure to make Him look good!
 
-Example:  Adam and Eve brought God glory before they sinned
   -They lived in perfect relationship with God
   -They were completely obedient to God in the Garden
       (until they ate the forbidden fruit)
 
My past sin was never God’s plan for my life!
-My sin…
            -reminds me of how much I need Jesus
            -teaches me that wrong living has consequences
            -negatively affects other people
            -was never God’s plan for my life!
 
 
Stop Trusting Rules and Rituals!
Place your whole faith in Jesus Christ!
-Romans 1:17  The righteous will live by faith
 
Repent and be baptized to declare your faith!
-don’t depend on outward works to save you
-illust:  wedding rings don’t make us married
 
Thank God for how much you know about Him!
-Be a true guide, light, instructor and teacher!
-Stay humble: knowing you needed someone just like you to lead you to Jesus Christ

​The Tragedy of Rejecting God Part 3
Romans 2:1-11
The Righteous Will Live By Faith!
Humankind naturally rejects faith in God    Romans 1:18-32
-Part 1:  We suppress the truth, worship false gods   vs 18-23
-Part 2:  We worship our heart desires and creation   vs 24-32
 
Rejecting God leads to tragic lives
-We violate God’s natural design for our lives
-We destroy human relationships
-CS Lewis “[They] enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have
  demanded, and are therefore self-enslaved.” 
 
Today, The tragedy of trusting GOOD instead of God
-Read Romans 2:1-11
-note: Paul uses a diatribe literary device- “argument with an imaginary critic”
 
The tragedy of trusting Good instead of God!
1. Good blinds us of our bad  vs 1
-self-righteous people judge others without judging themselves
-“you do the same thing!”   the same sins (maybe 1:29-31)
-Matthew 7:1-5  you see their splinter, don’t see your log!
-note:  Jesus DID say evaluate (Matt 7:15-20)- the fruit of
   someone’s life determines if you can trust him/her spiritually
   -judging character is different than judging to gain moral
     superiority over others.
 
2.  God judges good based on truth  vs 2
-No one is good enough to pass as perfect
-Moral standards don’t save us
-No one can escape the truth!
 
3. Good gives false security  vs 3-5
-Good is generally rewarded in this life (see Proverbs!)
-But temporal blessings don’t erase God’s judgment of sin
   -good people mistake God’s patience for approval
   -good people become hard hearted, don’t see their sin
   -They will receive God’s wrath unless they repent
 
God will repay fairly  vs 6-11
Paul uses a chiastic literary arrangement, the main point is at the beginning and then restated at the end (vs 6 and 11)
1.  Eternal life to those who pursue what is right
-vs 7, 10
 
2.  Wrath and destruction for those who pursue evil
-vs 8, 9
 
3.  Those who “knew better” will be judged first!
-Jews, then Gentiles/Greeks   vs 9, 10
 
 
Stop trusting in GOOD!
1.  Agree with God- good isn’t good enough!
-Romans 3:23
 
2.  Believe in Jesus- He died to pay for our sins
-Everyone will be judged by their works!
   -No one can escape the wrath of God
-Putting our faith in Jesus makes us righteous!
   -A Christ follower is judged by Christ’s works
   -We are made perfect in God’s sight!
-Ephesians 2:8-9-  Trust the gift of God’s grace!
    -Good works don’t save us- that would diminish God’s glory
 
3.  Commit your whole life to Jesus Christ
-knowing is not good enough, we must repent and follow
-Matthew 3:8  “Therefore produce fruit consistent with
   repentance. 
-James 2:17  “In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is
  dead by itself”
-Stop using your own standards of good and evil
-Surrender to God’s truth
-Make Jesus your forever boss

The Tragedy of Rejecting God Part 2
Romans 1:24-32
The righteous will live by faith!
This is the theme of the entire letter to the Roman church
-nobody can be come perfect by themselves
We receive righteousness by putting our faith in Jesus
-He came to earth, died for our sins, rose from death
 
Rejecting God has tragic consequences!
-last week- we suppress truth, worship creation instead of the
   Creator, and become foolish in our thinking
-God’s wrath (punishment) is currently displayed in humanity
 
Today:  God gives people what they ask for!
 
Observations from Romans 1:24-32
1.  God gives us what we want!
-“God delivered them over”  vs 24, 26, 28
-illust:  God ceases to hold the boat as it is being dragged by the
   current of the river” 
-CS Lewis:  “[They] enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have
   demanded, and are therefore self-enslaved”
-God permits us to continue in and to plunge more deeply into
   the sin we have chosen, which begins with our rejection of
   God Himself, and the testimony of His existence in nature
 
2.  We worship the “desires of our hearts” vs 24
-Sex and worldly pleasure become our gods- 
-The Roman church and most of the world was a sex saturated
   culture, much like today
-Sex is our god- we measure the identity of people based on
   how they like to have sex, rather than how they were naturally
   born.  Personal heart feelings are the ultimate authority
 
3.  We worship creation instead of the Creator  vs 25
-We worship ourselves, exchange the truth of God for a lie
-Or we worship creation, and then devalue human worth as
   equal, or worse, to less than the value of earth itself.
 
4.  Rejecting God leads to unnatural sexual relations
-vs 26-27 are the clearest NT teachings on human sexuality
-“natural sexual relations” are rejected for unnatural sex
      -sex between people of the same sex
-1 Cor 6:9-10,   vs 11 says some were delivered from this
-Leviticus 18:22-23 condemns homosexuality
-There is no translation of this passage that justifies same sex
   monogamy. 
-God meant for sex to bond a man and woman in marriage for
   life, and to build humanity through procreation.
    -Having sex for only the sake of sex destroys and disfigures
      the natural building blocks of relationships and society
-Paul is not ashamed of the gospel, not ashamed to tell the
   truth, and neither should we today. 
 
5.  Rejecting God destroys human relationships
-vs 28-32 describes a life of self-validation at the expense of
   others
-Note:  this list is no better or worse than sexual sin.  Anyone
   attempting the sexual moral high ground to be righteous will
   quickly be brought low by this list of vices!
-We exchange the authority of God for the authority of the
   individual self- which leads to all kinds of exploitation and
   even murder!
-Cheering on evil behavior is even more tragic!
   Matthew 18:6-  woe to you who offend children!
 
We can escape this human tragedy!
1.  Stop denying the witness of nature and your conscience
-you are suppressing the truth and know that sin deserves death
-Without Christ, we are slaves to our flesh, an enslavement to a
   corrupt nature that is naturally seeking relief, but because of a
   refusal to worship the Creator, will never find it.
-God is letting you see that only He can satisfy your hunger
 
2.   Trust the love of God (Romans 5:8)
-He is trying to get your attention!
 
3.  Place your faith in Jesus Christ now!
​

​The Tragedy Of Rejecting God
Romans 1:18-23
Everyone worships something or someone
Every people group and society creates a religious system
-Actual idols- carved images- are common worldwide
-We have an innate drive to live for something important
-What do we worship today?  Fame, money, talent, sports, sex
 
Today we will see the results of refusing to believe in God
 
Read Romans 1:18-23
 
Why is Life Tragic?  Vs 18-19
The problem of suffering and evil are real
-many attempt to blame God, others, but never themselves
 
God’s wrath is revealed today
-this is not a distant future judgment
 
Everyone is unrighteous (not right)
-Romans 1:17 says “The righteous will live by faith”
 
Humans naturally “suppress the truth” about God
-Theory of Evolution says we didn’t need a creator to exist
-refusal to accept any authority above self
-Christianity is openly mocked today- not popular
-Social Justice and Liberation movements have been formed absent of any “God-driven” mandate
 
Godless lives are tragic
-resulting in a sense of hopelessness, fatalism,
-lack of self worth
-refusal to live for anything eternal or lasting
-human worth boils down to personal choice
   -we can murder babies in the womb if we choose
   -we can euthanize ourselves or others
 -Evolutionary thought has led to dehumanizing of certain races
     -Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, Jewish Holocaust, Genicide
 
There is no excuse!  Vs 20
Nature reveals God   His eternal power and divine nature
-Atoms reveal the Trinity-
-Intelligent design- the details of nature could never have been a
   result of change!
 
The Steps toward personal tragedy   vs 21-23
Refuse to glorify or show gratitude towards God
-Reject God as your creator
-Refuse to believe you were made in His image
-see the natural world as a right, not a gift
-refuse to thank God for revealing Himself to you
-deny your inner conscience that naturally convicts you
   -suppress your guilt, explain it way, blame others for it
 
Claim to be wise on your own
 
Worship anything other than God
-Reality:  you are controlled by whatever you worship
   -anything other than God is abusive, a prison, never satisfied
-Isaiah 44:9-20- the folly of worshipping idols
 
We can escape this tragedy!  Vs 21
-depression, fatalistic attitudes, destruction of relationships,
  devaluing of human life, eternal separation from God
Glorify God
-See the God of creation instead of making creation a god!
-Acknowledge that God exists and is worthy of worship
-Seek the Lord while He may be found
 
Give Thanks to God
-for making us in His image
-for the wonder and beauty of his creation
-for letting us know who He is!  God could have hidden from us!
 
Place your faith in the Good News of Jesus Christ!
-Stop trying to manufacture your own righteousness
-Accept God’s unconditional love and forgiveness
-Surrender your life to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

​What is the Gospel?
Romans 1:16-17
Romans 1:3-4 explains the gospel
God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins
Jesus physically resurrected from death
You must believe/trust in Jesus Christ to receive salvation
-forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with God, eternal life
Live by faith today to be declared righteous by God!

Romans 10:9-10 explains how to respond to the gospel
Believe/Trust in what Jesus did for you
Openly confess that you have surrendered to Jesus

Romans 1:16-17 explains why the gospel changes lives
The Gospel is the power of God for salvation
--Following the ethics of Jesus can reform us temporarily
-Placing our faith in Jesus for salvation transforms us forever!
-our problem- we are trusting in ourselves to change us
-this is prideful, disrespectful to God
-this isn’t working- world is still in chaos
-Next week- we will see how rejecting God destroys society
The Gospel saves everyone who believes
-all people groups are invited to be reconciled to God!
-first for the Jew, then the Gentile- God’s progression
-Israel is God’s chosen people- as an example for us!
-Everyone who believes in Jesus is Chosen too!
-We are all part of the Human Race- from Adam, then Noah
-God wants us to enjoy depend on others unlike us
-complete one another, don’t compete with one another!

The Gospel reveals God’s righteousness vs 17
-The rightness and perfection of God
-The gospel shows God’s is a perfect promise keeper
-The gospel empowers us to reflect God’s righteousness
-We have victory over sin
-We are the “aroma” of life or death to people- 2 Cor 2:14-16

The Gospel must be received by faith alone
-This letter will provide evidence to back this up!
-stop offending God by trying to be good enough on your own
-stop trying to earn God’s love!
-this behavior is destroying relationships

The Gospel must be lived out by faith alone
-We depend on Christ’s saving power every moment!
-The righteous will live by faith see also Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11
-draw “Gospel Centered Life” diagram
Have you placed your faith in the Gospel?
We must not be ashamed of this Good News! vs 16
-Why someone might be ashamed to publicly share Jesus
-Intimidated by the culture
-Not convinced Jesus is the Savior for everyone
-Living in disobedience- too convicting personally
-Hasn’t really repented and trusted in Jesus for salvation

Final Thoughts
Are you ashamed of the gospel?
Have you placed your faith in the

​Romans part 2
By Pastor Greg Byman
St Joe Community Church
August 30, 2020
 
Qualities of Spiritual Leaders
Romans 1:8-15
God’s Truth is Timeless
Every generation faces the same issues and struggles
 
The Bible provides truth for living in every generation
 
Our faith in God can have a worldwide influence (vs 8)
 
The Apostle Paul demonstrates timeless qualities of spiritual leadership
-A good example for healthy accountability
 
Spiritual Leadership is Spiritual Influence!
-Everyone influences someone (more than one!)
-Question:  HOW are we influencing people spiritually?
 
Qualities of a Spiritual Leader (Influencer)
vs 11-15
Provides spiritual gifts to the church  vs 11
-serve through the gifts given by the Holy Spirit
-provide general spiritual gifts to believers
 
Strengthens the church  vs 11
-am I building up or tearing down the faith of others?
-do I bring gas or water to a fire (conflict)?
-Philippians 4:8-9  Do I lead others to focus on the right things?
 
Gives and receives encouragement  vs 12
-Spiritual leaders must influence through encouragement!
-Spiritual leaders need encouragement too! 
 
Wants to be fruitful  vs 13
-Fruitfulness = new people placing their faith in Jesus Christ
-note:  Paul had a mission to share the Good News everywhere
-Fruitfulness and Faithfulness go hand in hand
 
A spiritual leader is not bias or prejudice  vs 14-15
-Jesus came to save everyone! “For God so loved the world…”
-We don’t choose who God gives us to share His Good News
   -We DO choose our response to who God puts in our path!
-1 Corinthians 9:19-23  “all things to all people…[to] save some”
-Am I helping everyone in my community find and follow Jesus?
    -Or am I encouraging racial strife and segregation?
 
Am I leading people towards Jesus Christ?
Have I placed my faith in Jesus Christ?
-I can’t give what I don’t have!
-I can’t lead people where I am not being led
 
How am I spiritually influencing others around me?
 
How am I spiritually influencing in my local church?
 
Who do I tend to avoid or exclude when I serve others?
-with my words
-with my investments
-with my time and energy
 
Is God calling me to go?
-Paul had a life calling to preach the gospel in new places
  And among people different than he was (non-Jews)
-Has God given you a burden
   -For a specific people group or geographic location?
   -For a specific place where the gospel is not well established?
-Do you sense a call to start a new church beyond ours?

Introduction to Romans
Why study Romans now?
1. Romans is a timeless letter to every church
-The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this letter
-Paul addressed issues specific to the Roman church
-These issues are also important to every church!
 
2.  Romans is a letter for every people group
-We need a message of unity in a climate of division and strife
-Jesus is the Savior for all of humanity, not any one race
 
3.  Romans declares Good News!
-“the gospel” is the main theme of the entire letter
-we need good news in a time of negativity and confusion
 
4.  Romans explains how to properly relate to government
-Paul doesn’t dwell on the pagan nature of Ceasar
-Paul expresses God’s purposes for establishing government
-The letter explains how to live within any governmental order
-The focus is on living within God’s kingdom rule through faith
   and obedience to Jesus Christ our Lord
 
5.  Romans explains the degrading results of rejecting God
-He describes a sinful culture that sounds much like today
-We shouldn’t be overwhelmed by our godless culture
-Paul doesn’t dwell on this sad reality, and neither should we
 
6.  Romans calls out prideful Christians
-Today, some Christians have an us/them mentality
-Everyone is justified by faith in Jesus Christ! 
-We cannot boast in legalism or codes of Christian conduct
 
7.  Romans describes our security and victory in Christ
-Fear, instability and fatalism dominate our culture today
-Romans declares we are secure in God’s gracious love for us
   through our faith in Jesus Christ
-Paul writes how we don’t have to live a defeated life because of
   the power God grants us through our faith in Jesus Christ
 
Observations from Romans 1:1-7
God calls us to trust and follow Jesus Christ
-Paul is a special called Apostle under the Lordship of Christ
-Every Christian is called to follow Jesus as Lord
-This is a supernatural calling
-We must respond by faith to this calling
 
The Good News of God is all about Jesus Christ
-Jesus was a real person in history who died and rose again
-Jesus was announced by the OT prophets as the Savior
-Our faith is rooted in a real person who solved our real
   problem of being separated from God because of sin.
 
The Good News is for everyone!
-Gentiles- every people group that is not Jewish
-Jews-  even Jews must trust in Jesus Christ to be saved
 
 
What should we do now?
Read Romans on your own!
-write out your thoughts, questions, encouragements
 
Respond to God’s call on your life!
-Place your faith (trust) in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord
 
Receive God’s love, grace and peace
-Loved:  you are already loved!
            -based on who you are, NOT what you have done
            -You are a saint in God’s eyes because of your faith!
-Grace:  unmerited favor, acceptance by God
-Peace: true peace that helps us in crisis and chaos
               A peace that settles our hearts to know we are ok
-Lord:  We have ONE boss, ONE authority who is Jesus
     -this clears up the confusion of trying to obey multiple voices
          that are competing for our allegiance today