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Life in the SpiritPublishedby Wayne
on February 7, 2010
in Romans, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series
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An exposition of Romans 8:1-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was brought to the fellowship of Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 7, 2010.
Introduction:

If you go to Mardels or any number of Christian Bookstores you will find entire sections dedicated to the work of the Holy Spirit.  You will find books on the filling of the Holy Spirit, on how to walk victoriously in the Spirit, how to be led by the Spirit and a number of books on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Now when you are there and you see someone on that aisle wearing a trench coat and dark glasses…they are probably a Baptist!  Because we’re just not into that sort of thing.  That’s what those other folks do.  And you know they are really “off track” doctrinally.  It seems too often we, as Baptists, are like those disciples of John found in Acts 19:2.  When asked if they had received the Holy Spirit they replied, “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  Talk of the Holy Spirit “frightens” us because there is such abuse.  I’m not deny there is great abuse in this area.  But we have nothing to fear from the 3rd Person of the Trinity.  The work of the Spirit is essential.  Apart from the working of the Spirit of God there would be no salvation.  It is the Spirit that quickens us making us alive and enabling us to see the beauty of Christ and the wonder of the Gospel causing us to flee to Christ for life.  It is the Spirit of God who indwells every believer conforming us to the image and likeness of Christ, teaching us to observe all that He commanded us, and moving us toward sanctification and glorification.  The work of the Holy Spirit is essential to your growth and maturity as a Christian.  Apart from the presence and power of the Holy Spirit you cannot be what God has called you to be.  This morning we are going to consider “life in the Spirit.”
Now we hear that phrase and because of our context we think of tongues, healing crusades, prophetic utterances and let’s go ahead and acknowledge it  - nonsense! If you are God’s child you have been called to live and walk in the Holy Spirit.  It is not an option.  It’s not an elective - something you can choose to do or not do - it is required.  But you can do it without ever “jumping a pew” or speaking in an “unknown tongue.”  I want to show you what life in the Spirit is all about and we find it in Romans chapter 8.
Text: Romans 8:1-17
In Romans 7 Paul speaks openly and honestly about his on-going struggle with sin.

There we discover the tension in salvation present and not yet.

We are saved but we are also being saved.

We are declared righteous in the sight of God because of Christ but we are not yet perfected.

In our journey toward holiness we struggle.

We often slip and fall.

At times we yield to sin and thus fall victim to its passions and desires.
Paul ends chapter 7 with a cry, “Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?”  But this is not a cry of despair.  This is not a hopeless surrender.  It is a shout of affirmation because he goes on to say, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”  Victory is not secured by means of our heroic struggle with sin but rather by God’s gracious provision in Christ.
Romans 8 is then marked off by two great statements.

One at the beginning and the other at the end.

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”

“…nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No condemnation at the beginning.

No separation at the end.

And no defeat in between!
Paul makes reference to the Spirit some 20 times in this chapter.

This morning I want to focus our attention on the first 17 verses.

It is here that we discover…
Thesis: Genuine saving faith rejoices in the life altering work of the Holy Spirit.

There are two things I want to point out from our text.
Paul, with a prophetic voice, boldly declares our freedom and deliverance through the work of the Holy Spirit.  (8:1-4)
Paul, with pastoral concern, outlines the Spirit’s work on our behalf.  (8:5-17)
There are 4 things attributed to the work of the Spirit.
Through the Spirit we’ve been granted a new mind - (8:5-8)
Through the Spirit we’ve been given new life - (8:9-11)
Through the work of the Spirit we are driven by a new dynamic - (8:12-13)
Through the work of the Spirit we are made heirs of a glorious new family - (8:14-17)
Amazing GracePublishedby Wayne
on February 7, 2010
in Non-Series, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series
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From Genesis 2:15-3:10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was brought to the fellowship of believers at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 3, 2010.
The Law and the BelieverPublishedby Wayne
on January 31, 2010
in Romans, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series
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An exposition of Romans 7:1-25. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 31, 2010.
Introduction:

As Christians what is our relationship to the Old Testament?  I know that there are those who think all that really matters is the New Testament.  There are others who take that even further and say what really matters is the “red letter” words.  “You just need to read what Jesus said,” is their motto.  As if the words of Jesus stood in opposition to the rest of the inspired record.  Others think it a crime if you only carry a New Testament as if by doing so you were ignoring everything else God had said.  I remember having struggles with our homeschool basketball program because we had kids who could not play from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday.  No, we didn’t have any Jewish families we had some Adventists and 7th Day folks.  They even needed to know what kind of hotdogs we where serving in the concession stand.  Where they beef or pork?  I remember some Adventist friends in Fort Worth who were all excited about a new product that looked, felt and tasted like ham but wasn’t ham, so they could eat it.  I never understood why, if it was wrong to eat pork, you wanted to eat something that looked like pork, had the texture of pork and tasted like pork but technically was not pork!  Just what is to be our relationship with the Old Testament law?  We are agreed that we are a people of the Book.  By that I mean the whole Book both the Old and the New Testament.  We are a Bible people not just a New Testament people.  But does that mean the laws of the Old Testament apply to us the same as it did to ancient Israel?  Is it wrong for us to eat shell fish?  Are we sinning because we wear a cotton blend?  Must I give up my cheeseburger?
On the other hand am I free to just ignore what God has spoken in the past?  Am I to understand that to be under grace rather than law means there are no rules?  Am I to approach the Old Testament in cafeteria fashion taking what I like and leaving behind what is less desirable?  It’s not an easy question to answer.  Paul is clear, the law does not save.  It never has and it never will.  That was never its intent.  Rather the law was given to reveal the sinfulness of sin.  Its purpose was to unmask us as sinners and expose us as those needing a savior.  We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of our sin is death.  We, because of our sin, stand under the wrath of God.  We are weighed and found wanting.  We are guilty as charged and the sentence is death.  But God has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.  God manifested a righteousness that is outside of us, apart from the law and becomes ours by faith.  By our faith and trust in God’s gracious provision in Christ we are declared righteous and have peace with God.  But is that an excuse for lawlessness?  Is it a free pass?  How are we to relate to God’s law?  That is what our text is about.  Our text this morning is Romans chapter 7.
Text: Romans 7:1-25
Romans 4 speaks of God’s provision in Christ.
Romans 5 speaks of the result of God’s provision - peace with God, union with Christ.
Romans 6 deals with how we are to respond to grace - press on toward holiness, obedience.
Chapters 7 and 8 speak of the believer’s struggle with sin (7) and his victory in Christ (8).
This morning I want us to explore the believer’s struggle with sin in light of his relationship with God’s law.  As we explore this section we’ll discover…
Thesis: While the law no longer has a claim on us the law continues to be God’s instrument for refinement and purification.

There are three things I want us to note.
 Because of our union with Christ the law no longer has its claim on us.  (7:1-6)
 The law serves God’s good purpose of convincing and convicting us of sin bringing us to the end of ourselves.  (7:7-23)
 Our victory comes not from our heroic struggle in fulfilling the law but rather through God’s gracious provision in Christ.  (7:24-25)
Who Am I and Why Am I Here?Publishedby Wayne
on January 29, 2010
in Non-Series, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series
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An exposition of  Genesis 1:26-31. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 27, 2010.
A Missionary Report from IndiaPublishedby Wayne
on January 24, 2010
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This report by Jacob and Elizabeth Boss was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 24, 2010.
Freedom Through EnslavementPublishedby Wayne
on January 24, 2010
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An exposition of Romans 6:15-23. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 24, 2010.
Every one is a slave. The only question is whose slave are you?
The Fear of God, part 2: Fear and TrustPublishedby Wayne
on January 21, 2010
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From Isaiah 40:12-31. This Message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 20, 2010.
Are All Christians Alike?Publishedby Wayne
on January 17, 2010
in Questions, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series
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Questions #10 - This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 17, 2010.
 Sermon Notes » 
Introduction:

We began this series awhile back with me saying that God is at work in every Christian.  That is the reason for the hope we have.  That is the basis of our assurance.  Because the One who began a good work in us will complete, we are assured of future glory.  It is not left up to us.  We do not save ourselves - God saves.  The same grace that brought life to us brings sanctification or holiness.  Every Christian will bear fruit.  Jesus said if you abide in me, and I in you, you will bear fruit.  I am the vine you are the branches.  Life is in the vine.  Thus He said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
So all of that to say, when God saves us He begins a work in us.  Salvation, or better conversion, is only the beginning.  We are to press on toward holiness.  Being conformed to the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus.  The promise of Scripture is that we will grow in holiness.  That our appetite for the things of God will increase.  Because God works in us “both to will and to do” (Phil. 2:13).  He gives us both the desire and the ability.  We cannot fail.  We will ultimately be presented to the Father pure and spotless because of Christ and because of God’s gracious work in us.
Now here is the question.  If that is true.  If God is at work in every Christian and if every Christian grows in holiness and righteousness does that mean all Christians are alike?  Are we all the same?  It is the same God, with the same power, moving toward the same goal - are we the same?  It seems like a logical question.  I heard about a young lady who thought everyone would be the same in heaven.  After all the Bible says when we see Jesus we will be like Him.  She took that to mean we would have the same appearance and we would know the same things.  I’ve heard others speculate that in heaven everyone is 33 years old because that’s how old Jesus was when He died.  What does the Bible mean when it says, “We will be like Him?”
A God of Endless Variety
Then what does it mean when it says we will be like Him?
So what difference does the differences make?
What does it all mean?

While we have a responsibility to love and encourage one another and while it is good, right and necessary for us to rebuke and instruct one another - growth and rewards are God’s business not ours!
You have no right to judge another man.
You have enough to worry about considering your own life and growth.
At the same time don’t be discourage if your fruit doesn’t match another’s.  Don’t worry if you lack the understanding that another has.  Continue to strive with the understanding that God is at work in you and therefore you cannot fail.  You will not be judged according to another’s works but according to yours.  You will not give an account for why someone achieved something that you did not.  Were you faithful to what God called you to?  That’s all that matters.  Leave it in His hands and rejoice because He is at work in you.
Grace and HolinessPublishedby Wayne
on January 17, 2010
in Romans, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series
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An exposition of Romans 6:1-14. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 17, 2010.
 Sermon Notes » 
Introduction:

It is a common objection, “You Baptists and your ‘once saved always saved’ theology promote a cheap grace.”  Some say, “I wish I was a Baptists and all I had to do was say a prayer and then live anyway I want for the rest of my life without a care about eternity.”  Such mischaracterizations are, at best, ill-informed.  I will grant you a number of people have thought that was our position.  A good number of folks have foolishly stake their souls on such false notions as evidenced by the great discrepancy between our church roll and actual attendance.  But it is not now nor has it ever been our position that salvation is a matter of “saying a prayer” and nothing further required.  Yes, we believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.  Salvation is the work of our great and merciful God.  God saves.  We do not.  We are helpless and hopeless in our sin.  We can do nothing to secure our salvation.  It is not a matter that we are drowning and someone throws us a life-preserver in the gospel and we taken hold of it for life.  Rather we lay dead on the floor of the pool and Christ comes to us, breathes life into us and grants to us life eternal and abundant.  But that is not the end of things - it is merely the beginning.  The same grace that rescued us then begins a transforming work in us that will ultimately present us to the Father pure and holy.  We are saved from the penalty of our sin as we come to faith in Christ.  We then begin a journey in which we are being saved from the power of sin as we grow in holiness.  Ultimately we will be saved from even the presence of sin when we enter into glory.  When we talk about salvation we are talking about all of that - your justification, sanctification and glorification.  I’m bringing this up because when you preach the gospel as it appears in Scripture it can lead to misunderstanding.  Let’s face it, it sounds too good to be true.  “I don’t have to do anything?  I just believe?”  Well if that is true and if where sin abounds grace abounds all the more…then let’s have a party!  Let’s eat, drink and be merry because it doesn’t matter we are saved by grace.  Well not so fast.  Our text this morning is found in Romans chapter 6.
Text: Romans 6:1-14

Paul has made us aware of our condition - we are sinners, deserving of God’s wrath.

Yet God has manifested a righteous, apart from the law and it is ours by faith.

This is because Christ lived and died for us.

When we come to faith in Christ we have peace with God.

We are assured a glorious future.

It is all because of God’s costly gift of His Son.

Chapter 5 ends with a statement of grace’s sovereign, victorious reign over sin (5:20-21).
Look at those two verses: Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Note - where sin increased, grace superabounded.
Paul’s experience had been consistent.  When he preached the gospel in its pure form his critics twisted and perverted his words into something all together different.  In anticipation, he brought up the objection himself in verse 1 of chapter 6.
The question before is what about the relationship between grace and holiness?  If salvation is by grace alone, nothing further required, then why live a holy life?  What incentive could there possibly be for a life of righteousness?  If you do not have to do anything to get salvation or to keep it - why would you strive for holiness?  Can you see that this is a understandable question?  Can you see that it is a very practical question?
The problem, of course, is that it fails to recognize a fundamental truth.  That truth being:
Thesis: A genuine experience of grace leads to a life of increasing holiness.
How is that?  In what way does the one follow the other?  That is what our text is about.

I want you to note three things as we work our way through this text.
 Grace brings us into union with Christ and that union radically changes everything.  (6:1-4)
 Our union with Christ demands that we begin to look at sin from a radically different perspective.  (6:5-11)
 This new relationship demands that we now offer our lives consistently to God in the pursuit of righteousness.  (6:12-14)
Grace does not lead to lawlessness.  Far from it.  A genuine experience of grace leads to an ever increasing life of holiness.
The Fear of God (part 1)Publishedby Wayne
on January 16, 2010
in Non-Series, Sermon Podcast and Sermon Series
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A Wednesday-evening devotional. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on January 13, 2010.
« Older Entries
The Plowman

Life in the Spirit

Amazing Grace

The Law and the Believer

Who Am I and Why Am I Here?

A Missionary Report from India

Freedom Through Enslavement

The Fear of God, part 2: Fear and Trust

Are All Christians Alike?

Grace and Holiness

The Fear of God (part 1)

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