The Plowman

 

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An exposition of Romans 16:25-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 20, 2010.

Introduction
There are appropriate and inappropriate responses.  I remember one night at the dinner table I didn’t care for what we were having for our evening meal.  My dad said, “You need to be grateful for what you have.  There are a lot of kids in this world who would love to have what’s on your plate.”  I said, “Well you can ship this to them because I don’t like it.”  That’s the one time my father hit me.  The back of his hand across my smart mouth said, unmistakably, “THAT’S NOT APPROPRIATE!”  I had told the professor that if I missed class in the next few days it would be because our first child was due any time now.  Upon returning to class for the first time after Zac’s birth Dr. Dominy approached me with a big smile, “Well boy or girl?”  “It’s a boy!  We named him Bert (my professor’s first name) because he doesn’t have any hair either.”  Immediately after thinking, “I hope I didn’t actually say that” - I knew - not an appropriate response.

Responses say a lot about those who so respond.  Obviously my responses reveal a lack of control and a smart mouth.  I’ve known, and you know, people who cry at the drop of a hat.  Sensitive, caring people who feel everyone’s hurt and have an amazing capacity for empathy.  You also know people who “fly off the handle” with the least little provocation.  Everything is a big deal.  The smallest question is received as the greatest attack.  Somewhere between always crying and never crying is a balanced position.  Somewhere between always mad and never mad is a healthy, reasonable response.

As Paul comes to the end of his letter to the church at Rome we find an appropriate response.  It is the most natural way to end the letter.  Here is this grand and glorious statement of the gospel.  It would hardly seem appropriate if Paul concluded by saying, “Thanks for listening.  You’ve been a great audience and we’ll see you down the road.”  That just wouldn’t do this letter justice.  No, Paul’s closing doxology is a fitting end to this glorious letter.  Our text this morning is found in Romans 16 beginning at verse 25.

Text: Romans 16:25-27
Paul began by saying man is a sinner.
His sin is so pervasive that he is totally or radically depraved.
Man is sinful beyond his ability to effect a cure.
He cannot save himself - more than that he cannot contribute to his own salvation.
But God, in grace and mercy, in kindness and love has provided a means of salvation.
God has given his Son, the Lord Jesus, who is both the sacrifice and the one offering sacrifice.
Salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ alone.
As a part of this great saving work the Spirit takes up residence in every believer.
He cries, “Abba!  Father!”
As a result there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
And there is no separation - for nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus…
God is faithful to His people and His promise (9-11).
With this new life come certain obligations or responsibilities (12-15).

With chapter 16 Paul sends greeting to his various friends there at Rome (1-16).
He calls on the church to be “on guard” against those who cause divisions (17-20).
Other’s send their greetings (21-24).

Then comes this burst of praise to close the letter.  That is our focus for this morning.  Paul’s heart started to sing once before (11:36).  It was Paul’s custom to close his letters in his own hand.  We know this because of 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18.  With his closing remarks we are reminded that…

Thesis: The only legitimate response to the message of God’s saving love is a sense of profound worship.

There are two things I want to point out quickly.

1. The worshiping heart rejoices in God’s establishing, enabling power.  (16:25-26)
2. The worshiping heart stands in awe of God’s glory.  (16:27)

 

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An exposition of Romans 16:1-23. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 13, 2010.

Introduction
One of my favorite philosophers is the great Yogi Berra.  Yogi has been credited with great insights like, “It ain’t over until it’s over” and “when you come to a fork in the road take it.”  Of course Yogi also said, “I didn’t say all those things I said.”  But my favorite “Yogism” is, “You can observe a lot just by watching.”  You have to admit that is true!  You can also learn a lot just by listening.  You can learn a lot about a person by what they say.  You learn what is important to them and what they value just by observing their conversations.  This is especially true in “unguarded” moments.  Off hand comments.  Incidental statements.  That means there are things to be learned in those passages we often skip over in the biblical text.  Text like the close of Paul’s great letter to the church at Rome.  The apostle has given this great statement on the gospel.  He has delivered this profound theological treatise on salvation by grace through faith, then he called his readers to live a life founded upon those truths.  As he concludes his monumental work he sends greetings to some of the faithful in Rome.  Our tendency is to skip over those remarks or give them a cursory read.  But that is a mistake.  To do so is to miss something helpful.  Here, in these closing remarks, is a great insight into the heart of this great servant of Christ.

Last time we considered the marks of a missionary heart as we worked through chapter 15.  We saw that the missionary heart views all of life as service to God.  Every act is a sacrificial act, a priestly service to Christ and his kingdom.  Further the missionary heart is focused on the glory of God, it dares to dream big and knows the task cannot be accomplished alone.  But that is not the whole story.  Those 4 characteristics are vertically oriented.  They are concerned with God and his glory.  What about the horizontal?  What about concern for our fellow man?  What about our heart for other believers?  That will be our focus this morning in chapter 16.

Text: Romans 16:1-23
He is a towering figure in the Scripture.
A man of great intellect - holding what will be the equivalent of multiple doctorates.
A man of unquestioned spirituality.
Author of roughly half the New Testament.
A pioneer for the gospel and the kingdom.
But what I’m interested in, for our purpose this morning, is his heart.

Allow me to point out three marks of a missionary heart from our text.

1. A missionary heart loves profoundly.  (16:1-16)
2. A missionary heart is passionate about the truth.  (16:17-20)
3. The missionary heart is contagious in its enthusiasm.  (16:21-23)

So we have the heart of a missionary - loving, passionate about truth and contagious in its enthusiasm.  Does that describe your heart?  If a visitor attends your Sunday School class, your Bible study - is that the impression they leave with?  How about a worship service?

 

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An exposition of Romans 15:14-33. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 30, 2010.

Introduction
We’ve been commanded to “take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.”  We are told to preach the Gospel to all the world.  That is not a unique assignment given to a select few, that is our Lord’s call to all the people of God.  We, you and me, have an obligation to be on mission.  “Oh, I’m not called to the mission field.”  Really?  Are you a Christian?  Then you are a missionary.  You are called.  It was Spurgeon who said, “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.”  Where is your mission field?  It is all around you and the fields are white unto harvest.  It used to be popular to have signs at the exist of churches reading, “You are now entering the mission field.”  I like that.  It is certainly true and it was a good reminder that we are always and everywhere on mission.  But the truth is the mission field was in the hallway leading to that door.  It was in every classroom.  It was in the worship center.  Anywhere there is a person who has not yielded his or her heart to Christ and become engaged in the worship of the true and living God there is a mission field.  The passion, the heartbeat, of the church is to spread the name and the fame of our God.  Some will be called to give their lives in foreign lands for the sake of that glorious name.  If that is God’s call to your heart you must not settle for anything less.  Others will serve on short-term trips to various peoples.  Others will never set foot in a foreign land but they will weep over the peoples of the world and bath them in the tears of their prayers.  Some will preach in cathedrals and country churches.  Some will fill stadiums and convention halls.  While others will cradle babies and sing them sweet gospel songs and tell them of Jesus who died and rose again.  Some will knock on doors and boldly testify of God’s saving power.  Others will quietly serve their neighbor and gently speak of Jesus’ love.  But this one thing is certain none of us can claim exemption from missionary service.

Whether it is across the street or across the globe, whether it is through bold proclamation or quiet service we are under orders to take the message of God’s love revealed in redemption through Christ’s blood to our world.  We are a people on mission.  And the task is not complete until every living soul is actively engaged in the worship of God or we are called home.  His is an amazing story.  He “got it.”  He understood that he was called.  It was his consuming passion and thus he is a great example for us to follow.  Our text this morning give us some insight into the great missionary heart of the apostle Paul.

Text: Romans 15:14-33
Paul is nearing the end of his great letter to the church at Rome.
He has demonstrated our desperate need.
He has made clear God’s great provision.
He has revealed that salvation is by grace, through faith.
He has laid out the sanctifying work of the Spirit.
He has declared that God is faithful both to his people and his promise.

Paul has also spoke clearly about the life we’ve been called to live.
We’ve seen that church is about living the faith together.
This passage reveals somethings about the heart behind Paul’s ministry.

How do I know if my heart is where it needs to be?  How can I be sure my mind is focused as it should be?  I want to be on mission - how do I get there?  As we walk through this passage together I want to point out 4 marks of a missionary heart.

1. The missionary heart views all of life as service to God and that life is to be lived for the benefit of others.  (15:15-16)
2. The missionary heart remains focused on God’s glory.  (15:17-19)
3. The missionary heart dares to dream big.  (15:20-29)
4. The missionary heart knows the mission cannot be accomplished alone.  (15:30-33)

 

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An exposition of Romans 15:1-13. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 23, 2010.

Introduction
If you knew that you had 24 hours to live what would you do?  It is an interesting question.  One day left on this earth, how would you spend it?  One thing is certain your answer would reveal what is important to you.  Your answer would tell us what really matters to you.  The truth is none of us know what we would do.  We can speculate.  We can say what we would hope that we would do but there is no way of knowing with certainty what we would do if put in that circumstance.  Of course the other thing is none of us knows how much time we have left.  But there is one who knew exactly how much time he had and we know what he did.  After three years of ministry Jesus announced his time had come.  He set his face as a flint and he marched toward Jerusalem for the last time.  His disciples begged him not to go.  They said this is the wrong time.  “The authorities are determined to kill you.  Don’t go.  Not now.”  Jesus said, “Now is the time.”  He was welcomed in triumph on that Sunday as he made his way into Jerusalem.  By Friday he had been arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to die.  How did he spend his last day?  With his disciples, teaching them about the kingdom of God and he prayed.  What did he pray?  It is recorded for us in John chapter 17.

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.  (17:11)

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me…”  (17:20-21)

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one…  (17:22)

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.  (17:23)

It is significant, given the circumstance, that this was Jesus’ prayer.  Think about it.  There is so much he could have been praying for but foremost in his mind was that the church would be one.  His prayer was for unity within the body of Christ.  Why was that so important?  Because it has a direct bearing on the church’s message and credibility, “So that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”  The quality or degree of our unity will either attract or repel the world.  They will either be draw to our message or drive from our message by the quality of our life together.

The church, because it is made up of people like you and me, has struggled with this from the beginning.  The church of Galatia was fragmented due to legalism.  The church at Corinth chose sides based on favorite leaders.  Pergamum was divided and diluted because believers had married unbelievers.  Things were so bad in Laodicea that our Lord just said they made him sick.  Many believe there were real problems in Rome.  Some have suggested that petty bickering and bitter rivalry caused some members to turn on others and even give them over to the authorities declaring them traitors to the Empire.  The modern church doesn’t fair any better.  Churches divided over the color of carpet or which side of the auditorium the piano belongs on are all too common.  Thus Paul’s message to Rome is as important and pertinent today as it was 2000 years ago.  The need is for unity.  Our text is found in Romans 15 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Romans 15:1-13

Again we are talking about life as God intends it.
The church is about our living the faith together.
This is the laboratory where we learn to love and forgive.
This is the place where we butt heads and learn to get along.

In chapter 14 Paul makes it clear we are not to sit in judgment of one another.  When it comes to disputed matters or matters of conscience we are to be convinced in our own minds and grant freedom to others to disagree or see things differently.  Further we are not to be the source of our brother’s failure.  Love reigns in liberty.  I choose to limit my freedom for my brother’s sake.

As we consider the opening section of chapter 15 I want us to see that…
Thesis: The church that genuinely honors Christ diligently seeks to display biblical unity.

2 things are clear as we follow Paul’s argument.

1. Unity demands that we follow Christ’s example of patience and selfless sacrifice in dealing with one another’s weaknesses and failures.  (15:1-6)
2. Unity demands wholehearted acceptance of others with the goal of establishing a fellowship filled with joy, marked by peace and abounding in hope.  (15:7-13)

Conclusion:

• This is a tall order but it is not as if we have nothing to guide us.
• We have our own experience of grace and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
• And this is to what end?
• 15:3 - that we might be a place filled with joy, marked by peace and abounding in hope.  That is the fruit of genuine biblical unity and that is to be the goal of this fellowship.

 

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An exposition of Romans 14:13-23. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 16, 2010.

Introduction
It’s the thing that brings beauty to the symphony.  It is what enables each individual instrument to shine and yet become part of a greater beauty.  Harmony or unity within diversity.  No one wants to go to a concert and hear a monotone performance any more than they want chaos.  Each instrument doing its own thing without regard for the others is just noise, it’s grating and irritating.  But the whole, brought under the control of the conductor, playing off one another and working in harmony is exquisite.  So it is within the church.  “How beautiful it is for brothers to dwell together in unity,” the Scripture says.  On the other hand there is nothing as ugly, irritating or discouraging as a divided, dysfunctional and disjointed church.  The Bible is clear when you come to faith in Christ you are not left to your own devices.  You are made part of the whole.  You are made part of the body of Christ and God intends that you join with a local body of believers where you share your life, give your talents and seek to grow and mature in your faith.  The church is the place where we live our faith together.

Thus the church is essential to our well being spiritually.  You cannot be the person God has called you to be if you are not vitally and essentially tied to a local church.  Now listen to what I said.  I did not say you cannot be a Christian.  I said you cannot be the person God has called you to be if you are not tied to or connected with a church.  It is here in the laboratory of living together that we learn how to love and how to forgive.  It is here in the daily business of life together we knock the rough edges off each other and begin to look more like the Lord Jesus.  But life together is not easy.  Sometimes you make me mad.  Sometimes I tick you off.  We say stupid things to each other.  We can be uncaring and hurtful.  We are, after all, flawed children of Adam.  The issue is, what do we do about it?  How do we respond to the hurt and the disappointment?  Too often we in the church exhibit more of the power of the world to divide then we do the power of the Gospel to make us one.  As Dr. MacGorman used to say to us in seminary, “A divided church has nothing to say to a broken world.”

The church is to be a place of harmony.  A place of love, compassion and acceptance.  It is here we ought to feel the freedom to fail.  It  is here we ought to feel the freedom to confess our sin knowing that we are going to find love and acceptance.  It is here we ought to be able to confess our doubts and fears knowing that there are others who’ve traveled this road and know those same doubts and fears.  We ought to be able to question and express our differences knowing that iron sharpens iron.  It is here we ought to hear the sweet song of the Gospel bringing peace to our soul.  Sure we are all different.  We are each unique but together, under the Lordship of Christ, we are to be God’s symphony.  Our text this morning is found in the 14th chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Rome.

Text: Romans 14:13-23
This is life as God intends. Last time looked at “disputed matters.” Those questions not spelled out explicitly in the Scripture. Those areas where there is room for honest disagreement between genuine believers. Issues about which we may have strong feelings but issues not worth dividing over. Paul continues that line of thought.

Last time was about how we ought to look at things.

• We are to embrace fellow believers as brothers & sisters to be loved and not as projects of reform.
• We are to ensure that our own hearts are right when it comes to disputed matters.
• We are to remember that we will each stand before God and give an account for our own life.

This morning we turn our attention to the demands of biblical unity.  How do we build on the foundation Christ has laid?  What are we to do to maintain the unity of the Spirit?  As we explore our text we are going to discover that…

Thesis: Biblical unity demands an eternal perspective, a steadfast determination and a guiding conviction.

There are three demands of biblical unity found in this text.

1. Unity within the body demands a steadfast determination not to be a source of stumbling.  (14:13-15)
2. Unity within the body demands a fixed point of reference anchored to that which is eternal.  (14:16-18)
3. Unity within the body demands a settled conviction about the importance of edification and self-sacrifice.  (14:19-23)

 

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An exposition of Romans 13:8-14. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 2, 2010.

Introduction
What they accomplished is nothing short of extraordinary.  In a relatively short period of time they went from an obscure religious offshoot to a major player.   It was completely against the odds.  The other astonishing thing was that it crossed racial, political, ethnic and social boundaries.  What was it that propelled the church from obscurity to the limelight?  Of course it was the hand of God but what did God use to so impact the world?  It was the power of transformed lives.  It was the wonder of new life in Christ.  Specifically it was the wonder of a “new people” formed by the love of God.  You have to understand the world in which the church was born was a very divided world.  Language, religion, national animosities, differences of sex split the world up into alien fragments.  You had the learned and the unlearned, the slave and the master, the barbarian and the Greek each stood on opposite sides of a great gulf connected only by hostility and animosity.  It was into this world Christ issued a new commandment, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”  The result?  Through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit barbarian and Scythian, bond and free, male and female, Jew and Greek, learned and ignorant clasped hands and sat at one table and considered themselves “one in Christ Jesus.”  A people marked by love, driven by a sense of urgency and growing in holiness.  This morning we consider the marks of a transformed life and our text is found in Romans chapter 13.

Text: Romans 13:8-14

It is a tall order - offer your bodies a living sacrifice…(daily, continuously).
When we come to faith we assume some obligations.
It is not a matter of “believing in Jesus” and then go to heaven when you die.
As the people of God there are things demanded of us.
We are called to live according the law of Christ.
We are to bear the family resemblance.
That is what this last section of Paul’s letter to the Romans is all about.
In light of Romans 1-11 live this way.

With that in mind I want to point out three marks of the transformed life from this passage.

1. The life transformed by the touch of God’s grace is motivated by a profound sense of indebtedness.  (13:8-10)
2. The life transformed by the touch of God’s grace is driven by a sense of urgency.  (13:11-12a)
3. The life transformed by the touch of God’s grace is animated by a desire for holiness.  (13:12b-14)

Thesis: The transformed life is a life motivated by love, driven by a sense of urgency and animated by a desire for holiness.

 

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An exposition of Romans 12:9-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 18, 2010.

Introduction
It sounds easy enough but boy is it ever difficult.  I mean when you look at it on paper you say, “Sure, that’s right.”  Putting it into practice is the problem.  Standing up here on sitting in a class room it is easy to say, “We need to love others.”  No one is going to disagree with that.  No one is going to say, “No.  I think we need some good old fashion hate!”  The problem is when I put a face to the statement.  The Bible is clear I do not have the luxury of choosing who I love.  In fact I’m told to love my neighbor as myself.  And the context tells me my neighbor is anyone in need.  The Bible says I’m to love the body of Christ, the church.  But folks at church are not always lovable.  The worst thing is the Bible says I’m to love my enemies.  Now that is just ridiculous.  “Well pastor I’d rather die than do that.”  That’s good because you’re going to have to die if you are going to do it.  We’ve been considering the life we’ve been called to as the people of God.  “Wait!  There are demands?  Obligations?  I thought I just prayed the prayer and I was good to go.”  No, faith in Christ is the beginning of a journey.  It is the start of a brand new life.  A life lived in obedience to the law of Christ.  A life of progressive holiness that will end in glory.  The road is often difficult.  There are steep climbs and deep valleys.  There is sunshine and rain.  It is not a life for the faint of heart but it is the life we’ve been called to.  Our text this morning is found in the 12th chapter of Romans.

Text: Romans 12:9-21

Paul began this section by saying, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.”  This is not a “one time” offering but rather a continual offering.  It is a daily dying to ourselves and our agenda and choosing to live for Christ.  Verse 3 and following then outlines what that means.  It means that we see ourselves as we really are in light of Christ.  We see ourselves vitally and dynamically connected to others and are willing to give ourselves in service for God’s glory and the good of His church.  This morning’s text takes that a bit further.

In the text before us we discover that…

Thesis: The life transformed by the Spirit of God passionately loves the Church and profoundly loves the world.

Wait a minute.  Doesn’t the Bible say you cannot love God and love the world?  Doesn’t the Bible say you are either the friend of God or the friend of the world but not both?  How can you say love the church and love the world?

Well, let’s look at the text. There are two things I want to point out as we make our way through this passage.

1. The transformed life devoutly and devotedly loves the Church.  (12:9-13)
2. The transformed life astonishingly and profoundly loves the world.  (12:14-21)

Loving the Church and loving the world go together.  They are the demands of the life we’ve been called to.  If Romans 12:1-2 are true - this is the result.  Lives renewed and transformed so act.  By God’s grace and for His glory.

 

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An exposition of Romans 12:3-8. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 11, 2010.

Introduction
What does it look like?  How am I supposed to act?  What are the rules?  These are all legitimate questions when considering what the Christian life is all about.  Okay we are different.  We’ve been changed by the grace of God - but how are we different?  Are the Amish right?  Are we to shun the world and forego modern conveniences?  Like the Pentecostals are we to avoid makeup, jewelry and make sure we dress modestly?  Are the Word of Faith folks right and we should walk in health and prosperity?  Is there a list?  Maybe a pocket guide to righteous living so that I have it for easy reference.  So many voices, so many views who’s right?  Where do I go for clear direction?  As with all such questions we go to the Word of God.  But what you will find is that it is not as “cut and dried” as you may want it.  It is not about rules.  It is not about lists.  It is deeper than that.  The issues are far more complex than most want to acknowledge.  Living the Christian life is not easy.  It is demanding.  It requires steadfast determination and patience.  It starts with who you are and then naturally unfolds what you do in light of who you are.  Paul wrote to the church at Rome to lay out his gospel, the message God had given him.  He wanted to lay the ground work for what he hoped would be a long and fruitful ministry there.  The first 11 chapters are filled with profound doctrinal truths.  He begins with the radical depravity of man and then reveals God’s gracious provision in Christ.  He explains that the gift of life must be obtained through faith and that faith brings radical change.  The Spirit of God is placed within us and cries, “Papa!  Father!”  The Holy Spirit then begins to work our sanctification or holiness.  This is a life-long process that has its ups and downs.  But always moves us towards holiness until ultimately presenting us holy and acceptable to God.  Paul also makes it clear that God is always faithful to His people and His promise.  Then in chapter 12 the focus moves from doctrine to duty, from theology to practice.  The two must not be seen as separate for they are inseparably linked.  The one flows into the other, the latter grows out of the former.  With chapter 12 the issue becomes, how am I to live in light of chapters 1-11?  What is required of me?  What does Christian living look like?  Our text this morning is found in Romans 12 beginning with verse 3.

Text: Romans 12:3-8

Romans 12:1-2 is a call to commitment.
Reminding us that:
Commitment is based on the mercies of God in Christ.
This commitment demands our total being (love so amazing demands my life, my soul, my all).
This commitment requires that I say, “No” to the spirit of the age and “Yes” to the Spirit of God.

This morning’s text builds on that foundation.  What does it mean to live with a transformed mind?  This life surrendered to the Spirit of God, what does it do?

I want to point out three things from the text.

1. Genuine Christian living demands an honest self-assessment in light of the person of Jesus Christ.  (12:3)
2. Genuine Christian living demands that you see your life vitally and dynamically connected with others.  (12:4-5)
3. Genuine Christian living demands that you unhesitatingly and unselfishly use your gifts for God’s glory and the good of His church.  (12:6-8)

Thesis: Genuine Christian living requires honest evaluation and Christ-centered service focused on others.

 

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An exposition of Romans 12:1-2. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 28, 2010.

Introduction:
What is expected of me as a Christian?  What level of involvement does my faith demand?  Is it possible to give my heart to Jesus and be saved and then later commit to more?  Can I trust Jesus as Savior now and as Lord later?  Now you certainly wouldn’t expect the same from me as a lowly church member as you do the pastor?  Is there a chart that shows the various commitment levels?  It seems to me there is a lot of confusion about commitment and expectations within the church.  Part of that confusion is due to not understanding distinctions between assignments within the church and commitment.  Responsibilities and commitment are not synonymous.  The pastor may be expected to visit the sick and those in the hospital, prepare three sermons a week, do the counseling and oversee the administration of church business but that is a matter of assigned responsibility not commitment.  Due to the amount of time required to focus on those task he is paid to free him to concentrate on those responsibilities but all believers are to be as committed as the pastor.  Every Christian is to be committed to Christ and to His church with all of their being.  There is not a level for average member and then you step up to above average, then you enter the realm of exceptional member by being made a deacon or Sunday School teacher or youth worker and then, by God’s grace, you move to the exalted level of church staff,  with each level demanding more and more commitment.  Just what is required of you as a Christian?  That is the focus of our text this morning found in Romans chapter 12.

Text: Romans 12:1-2

We’ve come to a new section within Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians. We’re moving from the doctrine to duty. We’re moving from theology to practice. But don’t think the two are unrelated - they are not. The one flows from the other.
Duty is built on doctrine. Theology moves us to practice.

Just what is required of the believer?  What are responsibilities?  What is Christian commitment?

We are going to consider the basis, the demands, the requirements and the fruit of Christian commitment as we work our way through these 2 verses.

1. First, the basis: Christian commitment is in response to the mercies of God in Christ.  (12:1a)
2. Christian commitment demands your whole being.  (12:1b)
3. Christian commitment requires your saying no to the spirit of the age and yes to the transforming work of the Spirit of God.  (12:2a)
4. Christian commitment enables you to discern the will of God.  (12:2b)

 

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An exposition of Romans 11:1-36. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 14, 2010.

Introduction
It has been a theological battleground for centuries.  In more recent times it has been a point of heated debate, inflamed rhetoric and a test of orthodoxy.  What about Israel?  Are the Jews still God’s “chosen people” or has the church replaced Israel as the people of God?  Have the Jews “sinned” away their opportunity so that God has turned His back on them or is there a future glory?  It is an emotionally charged issue.  People tend to hold firm convictions on this.  Good and godly people have stood on both sides of the issue and both sides have their extremists.  On the side, of those who believe the Jews remain God’s chosen, are those who in essence believe that the church will be raptured out and God will pick up where He left off with Israel and they will reestablish temple worship and salvation will come through Old Testament means.  On the other hand are those extremists who believe there is no future whatsoever for the Jews, that they have been written off.  I can’t square either of these two views with what the Bible teaches.  I’ve stated before and I’ll restate it now, “I do not believe that God has two people.”  Historical, traditional dispensationalism teaches that the Jews and the church are two separate peoples.  Dispensationalism says the church is a parenthesis in God’s plan.  He set aside what He was doing, inserted the church, will take the church out of the picture and pick up where He left off.  The spiritual blessings and promises given to Abraham are given to the church but the earthly promises (the land, kingdoms etc) belong to the Jews.  As I read the Scripture God has a people all of whom are children of promise, heirs of Abraham by faith, Jews and Gentiles.  Now, does that mean I believe God is finished with the Jews?  You are going to have to stay tuned to find out.  Our text this morning is found in Romans chapter 11.

Text: Romans 11:1-36
Paul is setting forth his gospel.
This is the message he is preaching on his travels and in his writings.

He spends the first 8 chapters showing we are sinners, God has made provision in Christ, we have to embrace that gift by faith, that gift transforms us, and we cannot lose it.

Then in chapters 9-11 he deals with the question of the Jews.
What about Israel?
Are they God’s people or not?
Has God failed in keeping them?
Has God been faithful?

These chapters are not without controversy and many choose to skip over them.  That would be a mistake.  There are important lessons for us in these chapters.  Lessons about God’s mercy and grace.  We must not approach these chapters only to answer the question of whether the Jews are “in” or “out” for to do so is to miss the greater issue.  To do so is to miss the beautiful portrait of God found in these chapters.

In fact here is what I want you to see in Romans 11…

Thesis: When responding to questions concerning Israel’s future, Paul’s answer causes us to look beyond the surface and stand in awe of God’s great and gracious work.

The real issue is not Israel - it is God.
The approach ought not to be, “What about Israel” but “What about God?”
If Israel is in - why are they in?
If Israel is out - why are they out?
If they are in is it because of Israel or because of God?
If they are out is it God’s fault or is Israel to blame?
This book is about God.

With that in mind allow me to point out three things we learn about God as we work our way through Romans 11.

1. God always remains faithful to His word and His people.  (11:1-6)
2. Even His judgment is ultimately for the good of His people.  (11:7-24)
3. God works in such a way that our only response is to stand in awe of His grace.  (11:25-36)

Paul began Romans 9 with a heartfelt lament for the state of his people.  By the time he ended his discussion of Israel’s future in Romans 11 and considered the glorious possibility that God was not finished with Israel, Paul’s heart was stirred to a glorious doxology - 11:33-36.

Is there a future for Israel?  You bet there is by God’s grace and for His glory.