What do you call someone that has some body part that does not function properly or is missing? Proper terms include "handicapped" or "disabled," though some now consider those to be insensitive and politically incorrect language. Such people tend to label the function that is impaired and say the person is "challenged" in that area. For example, a person with poor eyesight is "visually challenged," a person with poor hearing is "acoustically challenged," and a person with a bad leg has a "mobility challenge."

 

Turn to Romans 12. This morning I want to continue in our study of the nature of the church and begin a study of spiritual gifts. Starting in verse 3 we read the following:

 

In our study of Romans last week, we looked at the foundational principle that is to guide us in our relationships with one another in the church. In fact, it is the foundational principle that should also guide us in our relationship God and all other people.

 

I have noticed a curious report over the last few years in which American High School students are tested and then compared with students from other countries. These reports have caused quite a stir among educators because for quite a few years American students have been lagging significantly behind in Science and math as compared to those from other nations. This math and science "deficit" has resulted in several programs that are trying to boost those scores. There was, however, one area in which the American students were rated top in the world. Self-esteem. Though the students were performing poorly compared to those of the other nations, they did feel better about themselves than those other students felt about themselves. In this case, self-esteem and actual performance were not directly related. The strange thing is that only a few conservatives thought that this indicated a problem. Perhaps it would be better if our students did not feel so good about themselves and so would work a little harder to perform better. But that idea is contrary to the philosophy of the educational elite which greatly values a high self-esteem.

 

In my last two messages I have told you the stories of missionaries and their efforts to reach the unsaved with the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Both Jim Elliot and Stanley Dale were men that were living and holy sacrifices, acceptable unto God. In both cases, these men not only lived for God, but they eventually died as martyrs as well. In a world that has turned inward and selfish, such sacrifices as these men and their families made in moving to distant lands and living in primitive conditions is thought of as foolishness. These men and their families went out to gain something the world does not understand - the pleasure of serving their Creator and desiring to hear from God at the end of their lives, "Well done, though good and faithful servant." Jim Elliot was correct when he said, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose."

 

Don Richardson's book, The Lords of the Earth, tells the story of missionary Stan Dale and the effort to bring the gospel to the Yali people who lived in Irian Jaya's Snow Mountains, far from any mission base. These were a people engulfed in fear of their demon-gods. Their evil practices included cannibalism.

 

Some of you have heard the story of Jim Elliot, but for others of you, maybe most of you, this may be new, because the events took place more than 46 years ago.

 

This morning we come to a very important theological truth. God keeps His promises. He has not cast away the nation of Israel. He still has a plan for that nation's future. Obviously, this is very important to those who are Jewish. To those of us who are Gentiles, that may not seem very important, yet it is. Why? Because God's faithfulness to the nation of Israel is a demonstration of His trustworthiness. If God keeps His promises to Israel, then we can also trust Him for the promises that He has made to us as followers of Jesus Christ. If God will not keep His promises to Israel, then we cannot trust Him to keep His promises to us. Being able to trust God is a very important issue.

 

Over the last month or so we have been studying God's relationship to the nation of Israel as explained by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Romans. It is not uncommon for people, especially those who are not Jewish, to read through Romans and then wonder why Paul includes chapters 9, 10 and 11. By chapter 8, Paul has explained the gospel and its wonderful benefits, and in chapter 12, Paul begins to apply the truths of the gospel to daily life. So why three chapters dealing with Israel? There are two basic reasons.

 

God's timing is marvelous. This evening we will have one of our missionaries with us. Alex Knauss, who has served with Trans World Radio for nearly 20 years, will be speaking in our evening service. This morning, we come to one of the great missionary texts. God has been faithful to send His messengers out with the gospel message. Turn to Romans 10.

 

Over the past several weeks, as we have been studying Romans 8 & 9, we have seen Paul emphasize God's sovereignty in salvation as a means to encourage and comfort believers. Those who have placed their faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ have been delivered from their bondage to sin and its condemnation of death and made free to live by the Spirit of God in righteousness. The new nature that we receive at salvation makes us aliens and strangers in the very world to which we were born. We have an increasing longing to depart from this world and be with our Savior in heaven, where our citizenship now resides. God's sovereignty guarantees that the promises that He has made us will come true.

 

This morning we come another passage that is very theologically deep and often misunderstood. As I have said over the past few weeks, I believe the reason for the misunderstanding is that theologians want to understand the infinite God within a framework that they can comprehend. The result is that they interpret Scriptures within the logic of their theological framework instead of what those Scriptures actually reveal about God. We must always remember that God is beyond us. His ways are higher than our ways and often beyond our understanding (Isa. 55:9). He does not have to make logical sense to us. We need to accept and believe what He has revealed about Himself in the Scriptures. Please keep that in mind this morning as we study the last half of Romans 9. While I hope to help you understand what God has said in this passage, I know that you may still leave here still trying to make sense of it all, for when we come to the issue of God's election and man's responsibility for his own choices, both are true.

 

How important is the salvation of others to you? How much are you willing to give of yourself in seeking to see others rescued from their sin and its eternal damnation? This morning we will look at an example that will challenge us to think more seriously and be more giving toward the salvation of others.

 

This morning we come to one of the most encouraging texts in the Bible. It is a revelation of God's sovereignty and character with direct application to His loving relationship and promises to the Christian. Turn to Romans 8:31 and follow along as I read through this passage.

 

I want to begin this week by repeating something I said last week, for we are going to be looking at two verses that have been the center of a lot of theological debates. I believe that the major reason for this, as with the majority of theological debates, is that man wants God fit within his own theological system. He then interprets Scripture in light of the logic of his theological system rather than in careful consideration of its grammatical and historical context in order to know God as He reveals Himself, whether He fits our system or not.

 

This morning we come to Romans 8:26-30. This is a text that contains verses that are greatly debated in theological circles. The major reason for this, as with the majority of theological debates, is that man wants God fit within his own theological system. Passages of Scripture are then interpreted in light of the logic of that theological system rather than in careful consideration of its grammatical and historical context in order to know God as He reveals Himself whether He fits our system or not.

 

Anticipation. At times this is not such a good word if you waiting for something to happen that you know you will not enjoy, like a trip to the dentist. At other times it is a wonderful word that describes the mixture of hope, joy and pleasure usually stirred with a bit of anxiety and sometimes even a little frustration as you await some good event to take place. Children anticipate the coming of their birthday and Christmas because of all the special attention they will receive. Parents are currently anticipating the starting of school in a few weeks. The kids are also anticipating the return to school, but perhaps with slightly different emotions than their parents. Teens anticipate becoming adults even though all of its freedoms are also bound by new responsibilities. An engaged couple anticipate the celebration of their wedding day along with the beginning of their married lives together. There is the anticipation of the arrival of a new baby. For the new mom that is a mixture of emotions because she knows there will be some pain before that bundle of joy is placed in her arms. Young adults anticipate the starting of their careers and middle age folks start dreaming about what it will be like to retire.

 

Turn to Romans 8. We will be looking at verse 12-17 this morning where Paul contrasts living in the flesh and its results with living by the Spirit and its results. Paul begins this section by explaining the believer's relationship to the flesh.

 

This morning we come to a wonderful section in the book of Romans. Paul will still be dealing with many of the same issues we have been looking at in the past several weeks, but as we come to Chapter 8, Paul states the result of being justified by faith in Jesus Christ in emphatically clear terms. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

 

This morning we are going to continue in our study of Romans 7. This is a passage in which we must be very careful to pay close attention to Paul's line of reasoning, otherwise we can quickly become confused and then come to conclusions opposite of what Paul is saying. People often interpret Scripture passages according to their preconceived theology rather than according to the context of the passage. This is a section of Scripture in which that has often happens. We must be careful not to fall into the same trap.

 

This morning we start into a section of Romans that can quickly become confusing if you are not diligent to carefully follow Paul's line of reasoning within its context. Too many people end up confused or with theological error because they try to understand a verse or a short passage as if it was independent of its context. The same rules of interpretation apply to the Bible that apply to any other book. You must understand the theme of the book and the theme of the chapter in order to properly interpret the paragraph you are studying.

 

Turn with me to Romans 7. We will be studying verses 1-6 this morning. As you are turning there, let me briefly remind you of the context of this passage.

 

The year is 1849. The place is the state of Virginia. You are 24 years old. Your father was born in the country now called Angola. He was captured during a battle with another tribe and then subsequently sold to slavers and eventually ending up in Virginia. Your mother was born in the land called the Congo, but she was captured in a raid on her village and also subsequently sold to slavers and eventually also end up in Virginia. All you have ever known is slavery, but your parents have talked about what it was like to be free and you know it is something that you want for yourself.

 

From my viewpoint, one of the great tragedies of American Christianity is that so many who profess themselves to be Christians do not seem to have even a basic understanding of what it means to be a Christian. For many, they are "Christians" only in the general cultural context that they were born in America and are not pagans, Islamic or Hindu. Others were born to parents that professed to be "Christians," and they would go to a "Christian" church of some sort at least once in awhile even if only at Christmas and Easter. Others are very active in their churches and may even be very conscientious about fulfilling their religious duties. However, in all reality they live in utter defeat when it comes to actually following Christ. Why? Because they are not following Christ but the religious system they been taught. And take heed, this can be as true for someone raised in a Fundamental or Baptist Church as in the Catholic church.

 

Death. Even in a society in which the harsh reality of its personal nature has been diminished by making it an entertainment element in drama, which moves it a step into the world of make believe, and by moving those who are dying into the more sterile environments of hospitals and nursing facilities where professionals deal with the death process instead of us, the word still has a cold, bone chilling sound to it. Death. As much as anyone might even make a calculated effort to distance themselves from its reality, it is still there and cannot be removed. The news of the death of someone we do not know is a distant reality we can set off to the corner of our mind, but what can you do about the people you know that suddenly are no longer around because they have died. If it be an older relative or friend of the generation of your grandparents or parents, you look in the mirror and realize that your own generation will face the same fate. If it be someone of your own generation, denials cannot remove the haunting knowledge that you could be the next one being lowered into the cold ground. If it be someone younger, you realize that you are living on borrowed time and it is running out.

How can a person live in peace in the midst of turmoil? That is a relevant question for us to consider, given the tensions that have escalated in our society between different groups and our nations current war on terrorism. Racial strife, class warfare, a cultural civil war and continuing terrorist threats all increase the level of stress and anxiety in our nation. Add in business and interpersonal conflicts that are a normal part of living, and it is no wonder that people can often seem so strained, worried, and even irritable. Is that the way Christians should live? Or should there be a marked contrast between them and non-Christians.

Over the last few months we have been studying Paul's introduction to the Gospel, and last week we examined God's righteousness in the justification of sinners by their faith in Jesus Christ. Last week's sermon was a bit intellectual because of all the theological words that had to be defined, such as justification, redemption, propitiation and atonement. I suppose Paul could have continued his presentation in such theological terms, but Paul's goal is that his readers understand the gospel so that it makes a difference in their lives. For that reason, Paul sets forth in chapter 4 the greatest example possible of what it means to be justified by faith through its application in the life of Abraham.

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one. " 13 "Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving," "The poison of asps is under their lips"; 14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 Destruction and misery are in their paths, 17 And the path of peace have they not known." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

We live in a society that greatly values equality. That is understandable given that the founders of our nation thought this was important enough to include the statement, all men are created equal, as a fundamental presupposition for the nation to exist. The founders meant that every person has the same intrinsic value. Today, there are many that have latched onto the socialist idea of equality of outcome. A lot of political pressure is thrown these days by different groups in their efforts to gain equality of outcome at the expense of others. However, the fact is that this socialistic idea can never be achieved because people vary too much in intellect, physical ability, economic resources and social standing for there to ever be equality of outcome. Even if you redistributed everything evenly, it would not take long for some to increase what they have while others would squander what they were given. There is only one area in which all mankind is equal, and apart from divine intervention, all will achieve an equal outcome. Turn to Romans 3:9.

In our study of Romans over the last several months, we have seen Paul develop his case for the Gospel message. Remember that the theme of Romans is the Gospel message as Paul states in 1:16,17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it [the] righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous [man] shall live by faith." The Gospel message is about the righteousness of God in providing a means of salvation for sinful man who otherwise remains under His just condemnation.

What is the value of religion? An interesting, and somewhat disturbing poll was reported in last weeks National Weekly Edition of The Washington Times. It was conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and released March 20. Some of its results: 80% of Americans rank religion as "beneficial," but 65% also say that religion bears a "great deal" or a "fair amount" of blame for wars and conflicts. 61% believe that children need religious training to grow up morally upright, but half of them argue that belief in God is not necessary for adult morality. 67% said that America is a "Christian nation," but 75% said that "many religions can lead to eternal life."

What is the most important event in all of human history? The answer to that will depend on what the individual believes is important. A military historian might point out to any one of many significant military battles. An American historian might point out to any one of many events that mark the founding of this nation. An egotist might point out the date of their own birth or some other event in their life. A devoutly religious person might point out the date of birth of the founder of their religion, or some significant event in the founding of that religion. Even in Christianity, many people will point out the birth of Jesus as the most important date in history and then emphasize the point in the way they celebrate Christmas. But none of these events, including the birth if Jesus, is the most significant event in all of human history.

One of the most common questions used by people to deflect the gospel message is "What about the pagan?" Though some may be asking this out of a sincere heart, and many may not realize the implications of their question, the question is in actuality a challenge of God's justice and goodness. Can God be just and good if He condemns to eternal wrath those who have never heard the gospel? The answer, as we shall see today, is "YES."

One of the more common attacks made by non-Christians against the God of the Bible is that He cannot be good if He condemns those that have never heard the gospel. They view such people as innocent, and that any God who would condemn such people as evil is not worthy of their worship.

How utterly sinful can man get? The answer to that is in Romans 1:28-32, our passage for study this morning. The surprising thing about it is that God's description of utter sinfulness would include many people in our society that receive respect and honor. That is evidence that our society is in great need to hear the gospel message.

Mention the word, "homosexual," and a variety of emotions can be evoked. For those who are positive toward it, homophiles, there is often pride and a sense of a call to win a battle for equal (though actually "special") rights. There are also those who are fearful of it, properly labeled homophobic. Their fear may drive them to rabid activism against it or to the opposite extreme of shunning those who practice it. There are others who oppose it, often incorrectly labeled as homophobic, whose emotions are ones of revulsion and pity. Then there are those who practice homosexuality. Their emotions range from boastful pride to shame and guilt.

Last week we began to answer the question, "Where do evil men come from?" The answer is that because of sin nature we inherited from Adam, all people begin life with a bent toward evil. Ephesians 2:1 tells us that we were all "born dead in our trespasses and sin." Each of this confirms that sin nature with our own acts of rebellion against God. We break the laws He has given us and do not keep His commandments.

Where do evil people come from? That is a theological question that actually has many political ramifications. How we respond to those who do evil will be based on our understanding of the cause of their evil. For example, in our own nation there is a continuing debate on the question, but by and large, our society responds off a philosophy that believes that people are innately good and that the corrupting influence came upon the individual from without. The ramification then is that people are not really responsible for the crimes they commit. The perpetrator of the crime is also viewed as a victim. In compassion, we desire to help all victims, so have renamed our penal institutions as "correctional facilities" instead of jails. A jail is a place where you either await trial for judgement and consequential punishment for evil committed, or where such punishment takes place. Correctional facilities seek to rehabilitate the criminal.

A question that non-Christians have often posed, and that even many Christians are sometime uncomfortable with, is the nature of the character of God in His relationship to the non-believer. The Bible is very clear that God will judge the non-believer, but the question is one of whether that is fair or not. Can God be good and righteous if He judges the non-Christian for His sin, especially in light of the doctrine of election as expressed in such verses as John 6:44 ( "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him) and Ephesians 1:4 (He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him). If man cannot be saved unless God elects or chooses that individual, then is it fair for Him to judge those whom He has not so chosen? Paul will address this specific question in Romans 9, but he actually lays the foundation for answering that question and others right here in the beginning of his presentation of the Gospel message in Romans 1.

In preparation for our service this morning I was trying to find a hymn that would match the text we will be looking at, Romans 1:18, which deals with the wrath of God. I was a bit surprised to find out that there are only four songs in our hymn book that make reference to God's wrath or anger at all, and only two of those were in the context of being saved from His wrath. Only two songs spoke of the condemnation of sinners while no hymn spoke of God's judgement and only one referenced Him as judge. Clearly, as evident in one of the latest and more popular hymnals, God's declared response to sin is not a popular subject.