A Message by Pastor Michael Palmer

Given to Green Ridge Baptist Church

January 24, 2010

 

 

BE WISE, STAY STRONG

REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT

Romans 16:17-27

       

I.        BE WISE AND STAY STRONG THROUGH LEARNING SOUND DOCTRINE

Anyone who is saved is saved by understanding biblical truth about themselves, about Jesus Christ, about the Cross, and their absolute need for Him.  We must have some sound doctrine in order to be saved!

 

Once we are saved we grow in grace and knowledge—we understand more through learning sound biblical doctrine (or teaching).  Everything in the church rises or falls as whether the congregation knows and applies sound doctrine.

 

II.    BE WISE AND STAY STRONG THROUGH KEEPING WATCH FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A WRONG MOTIVE, A WRONG DOCTRINE AND CAUSE DIVISIONS AND HINDERS GOSPEL PROGRESS

 

1.     “New” teachers can come in to the body with an agenda to promote a particular doctrine to the exclusion of other doctrines

-         Unbalanced

-         Critical of others who do not see everything their way

-         Gain a following

-         May eventually leave and start a “more pure” group

 

2.   These new teachers or self-appointed church watchdogs with an unbalanced doctrine will become divisive and put obstacles in the way of wholesome kingdom growth

-         Obstacles = skandalon

-         Adding things to the gospel that gets in the way of those who are merely trying to obey the Bible and follow Jesus Christ

-         The Pharisees did this to the max!

§         Extra-biblical requirements

§         Holy days, diet restrictions, etc.

-         People in local churches can do this

§         By interjecting personal preferences into the way we do church

§         Judging other because they do not act or look like you do

§         Limiting the programs (ministries) of a church based on the “comfort ability actor” of how we have always done things!

 

3.     Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

-         Their motivations is for their own appetites -  not Jesus Christ

-         Sometimes it is for financial gain, power over others, or just general self-gratification

-         Some practice a looser life style, sometimes more luxurious than needed

-         Their methodology is that of deception – smooth talk and flattery, appear to be kind loving (helpful) to others, etc.  Therefore, it requires a wise person to discern what is going on.

 

4.     Apostles of Deceit

-         They claim special revelations

-         They claim to be little gods

-         Some will eventually make Christ “more human” or less than fully God

-         Some make their spiritual life and their “life’s abundance” a work of man’s faith while diminishing God’s grace

-         Often it is a gospel of greed

 

5.     Have nothing to do with them

 

III.         BE WISE AND STAY STRONG BECAUSE IN CHRIST WE PARTICIPATE IN THE VICTORY CHRIST HAS WON! (see verse 20)

 

IV.           REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT – GOD’S GRACE! (vs. 20, 24

 

Saving Grace

·        Electing grace

·        Redeeming grace (1Pet. 1:18-19)

·        Efficacious grace – calling a dead sinner to life!

John 11 – Lazarus   Matt. 19:26

That is what the Holy Spirit does today.  He works through the preaching of the Word of God to call to faith those whom God has elected to salvation and for whom Jesus Christ specifically died.  Apart from those three actions—the act of God in electing, the work of Christ in dying, and the power of the Holy Spirit in calling—there would be no hope for anyone.  No one could be saved.  Because of those actions even the most depraved of blaspheming rebels can be turned from his or her folly and find salvation.

 

Persevering Grace - Phil. 1:6; John 10:27-30

 

We Must Grow in Grace

·        Keep Jesus at the center of our lives

·        Be settled in the great doctrine of grace

·        Exercise the gift for serving others and promoting the Gospel that God has given all of us

 

V.  REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT – GLORIFYING GOD THROUGH THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL

·        We proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ

·        Only that has the power to change lives resulting in “obedience to the faith”

·        Jesus Himself establishes His people through the proclamation of His gospel

·        The mystery was that of the person of Jesus Christ and how salvation would be accomplished in Him – the whole Old Testament is about “the One who is to come”

·        If we simply glorify Jesus and make our life, this church, all about Him, He will work in a mighty way.