The Plowman

 

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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.

 

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An exposition of Romans 9:1-33. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 28, 2010.

Introduction
Can you believe the weather we’ve had this year?  Oklahoma weather has always been crazy but this year seems to take the cake.  One day the sun is shining, it’s warm, flowers are blooming and the next day we are covered with snow and ice!  Just last week I was in my office near the end of the day.  I had come back from lunch about 3 hours earlier and it was nice and warm outside.  I didn’t even bother to wear a jacket.  After working at my desk for a couple of hours I looked out the window.  The sun was behind the clouds, I could see the tree limbs bending to the wind.  When I stepped outside I wondered, “Where is my coat?”  Temperature had dropped at least 20 degrees and I was in shock.  That’s not unlike the experience one has moving from Romans 8 to Romans chapter 9.  Chapter 8 is all sunshine.  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  No condemnation, no separation and in between - no defeat!  What a glorious word.  What comfort.  What encouragement.  What peace.  Then comes the dark clouds of chapter 9.  Paul’s heart is broken over the lostness of his brethren, according to the flesh.  He is burdened to the point he could wish himself accursed, damned, for the sake of the Jews.  As you work your way through the chapter there are questions about God’s faithfulness and justice, teaching on sovereign election and God’s sovereignty in showing mercy to some and hardening others.  Romans chapter 9 is not for the faint of heart!

As I worked my way through the text trying to outline the chapter here is what I came up with:

• A burdened and broken heart - 9:1-5
• A somber and troublesome question - 9:6-13
• An even more disturbing answer - 9:14-29
• An undeniable conclusion - 9:30-33

While this is a theologically heavy chapter don’t let that frighten you away.  This is a wonderful chapter affirming God’s power and sovereignty which are essential to our having any hope or confidence.  At the heart of chapter 9 is the question of God’s faithfulness.  In responding Paul appeals to God’s sovereignty as the basis of our hope.  The truth of the matter is that if God is not faithful to His word, we cannot count on Romans 8 being true!

Once again there is the danger of focusing on the question of election and missing the larger truth.  I’m not saying it is nonessential or unimportant.  I’m saying too often we focus on the wrong aspect of the truth and neglect other applications.  At the heart of this chapter is the question of salvation and how it is we come to faith in Christ.  I’m afraid there is the tendency to analyze such passages to death.  We want to dissect this doctrine, analyze its particulars and methodically explain it when it is intended to inspire worship and adoration!  I’m convinced this is a text that ought to inform our understanding of the gospel and evangelism.  Far from discouraging evangelism, the truths of this passage ought to inspire it.  Rather than distract us it ought to empower us.

As we work our way through this chapter I want you to keep this in mind…

Thesis: Biblical evangelism demands a full-orbed Gospel.
Full-orbed means a well rounded, complete and faithful, taking everything into consideration.

Text: Romans 9:1-33
There are 3 things I want to point out, in light of this text.

1. A full-orbed gospel understands “lostness” and knows the pain of a broken and burdened heart.  (9:1-5)
2. A full-orbed gospel boldly grapples with the weighty issues of theology in seeking to be faithful in applying the biblical text.  (9:6-29)
3. A full-orbed gospel comes to rest on the doctrine of salvation by faith because of God’s mercy and grace.  (9:30-33)

What then shall we say?  What are we to conclude?

Those who didn’t pursue righteousness - found it.
Those who did pursue it - never did.

Why?  How?
Because salvation is by grace because of faith.

 

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An exposition of Romans 8:28-39. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 21, 2010.

Introduction
According to the Scriptures we are to be a “peculiar” people.  That doesn’t mean “strange” or “weird.”  It means that we stand out as different.  A people “marked off” as belonging to some unique group or a particular identity.  It means that we think differently than those around us.  We have another way of interpreting the world, of assessing value, and determining what matters and what does not.  Our faith is not just a set if ideas or concepts that we believe to be true but a life that we embrace.  We embrace truth and that truth affects the way we live.  We actually believe there is a God and that belief impacts how we live our lives.  We actually believe that there is a heaven and a hell; that sin is more than an attempt to define evil; that Jesus really was the Son of God who came to save us from the wrath of God; and those beliefs are cherished and “lived out.”  Because of that we look, act and think differently.

One of the things that ought to stand out, and stand out even more as the days grow more wicked, is our optimism and hope.  Of all the people on the planet we ought to face the future with confidence and courage because we know where this is heading!  We know that history is going somewhere.  That there is a person who is directing this show and it will end at His throne and it will bring Him glory.  I’m not talking about a shallow, superficial, pollyanna kind of optimism but rather a deep and abiding confidence that all things work together for our good and His glory.  Our text this morning is found in Romans chapter 8 beginning with verse 28.

Text: Romans 8:28-39
This is a comforting and yet disturbing passage.
Comforting because it so powerfully assures us of God’s presence and work.
Yet disturbing because it uses a word that is bothersome - “predestination.”

What I hope to show you is that this is a very comforting passage assuring us a some wonderful truths.  Truths that will provide shelter in times of storm.  Truths that will anchor your soul in times of doubt, heartache and turmoil.  This is another of those “mountain peak” passages in Scripture.  Do you remember I said, a couple of weeks ago, that this passage is set off with “no condemnation” on one side and “no separation” on the other?  We’ve talked of the comfort from knowing there remains no condemnation for those who are in Christ - now we are assured that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we work our way through this text we are reminded that…

Thesis: As the people of God we are to be marked by an unshakable confidence and an abiding comfort.
Let me point out two things from this text.

1. Our confidence rests in God’s sovereign and gracious work.  (8:28-29)
2. Our comfort is born of God’s preserving love.  (8:31-39)

Our confidence rests in God’s sovereign and gracious work.
Our comfort is born of God’s preserving love.

Thus we are marked by an unshakable confidence and an abiding comfort.

 

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An exposition of Romans 8:18-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 14, 2010.

Introduction
It is not the sort of thing we think about.  We prefer to push it out of our minds and put off dealing with it as long as possible.  But I’ll tell you when I think about it.  I think about it when I’m standing in the hospital hallway at 2:30 in the morning.  Or when sitting in an ICU waiting room anticipating the doctor’s morning report.  I think about it when I’m pulling up to the house of that total stranger who has no idea I’m about to knock on their door and change their life forever by announcing the death of their loved one.  “What’s next?”  “What is there after this life?”  “What are we to make of eternity?”

Now, death is not the only thing that causes me to consider eternity.  I also think about it when I’ve had enough!  You know what I mean.  When I’ve had it up to here.  When it’s been a rotten day on top of a rotten month and I just want to slap the next face I see.  When I think, “I just want all of this to be over.”  You have to admit there is something about tragedy and heartache that simplifies life.  Pain has the unique ability to clarify issues.  You would gladly trade it all - the house, the car, the job just for some peace.  When all hell breaks loose in your life and you are toss about by the winds of pain and sorrow - you look up and you give thought to the world to come.

But here is the thing, as the people of God we are to be different from the world around us.  Part of the work of the Spirit in us is that we have a new mindset, a new life, a new dynamic at work in us and we see the world differently.  We are possessed of a joy beyond understanding.  We have a hope that is steadfast and sure.  That hope, that joy makes a difference now and forever.

As we continue our walk through the 8th chapter of Romans I want to show you that…

Thesis
Part of what it means to live by the Spirit is to live expectantly in anticipation of our future glory.
Our text this morning is found in Romans 8 beginning at verse 18.

Text: Romans 8:18-27
As we move through this text note the connection between groaning and glory.
We live in a fallen world.  Sin has brought devastation and that devastation affects all of the creation.  As Christians we are not immune.  We are not given a free pass.  We do suffer.  We experience genuine heartache.  But look at what Paul says in the opening verse of our text.

8:18 - that is an extraordinary statement.

Picture an account ledger - in one column “the sufferings of this present world” in the other “the glory that is to be revealed”.  Paul says the glory far outweighs the sufferings of this life to the point that there is no comparison between the two!

We must lift our eyes and look to the glory yet to come.

Let me point out three things.

1. Even the creation longs for that glorious day.  (8:19-22)
2. We, as the adopted heirs of that glory, long for its fulfillment in the resurrection.  (8:23-25)
3. The Holy Spirit enters into our burden and expresses our hope and longing.  (8:26-27)

Conclusion
A glory awaits us that exceeds our wildest imagination.  You and I are going to be creatures so glorious that if we saw such ones today we would be tempted to fall down and worship them!  Because of the greatness of such a glory and because of our weakness we groan.  But we’re not alone.  The whole of creation groans awaiting that day.  The Spirit himself groans.  And one day our groaning will be replaced with glory.

 

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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.

1. Paul, with a prophetic voice, boldly declares our freedom and deliverance through the work of the Holy Spirit.  (8:1-4)
2. 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)

 

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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.

1. Because of our union with Christ the law no longer has its claim on us.  (7:1-6)
2. The law serves God’s good purpose of convincing and convicting us of sin bringing us to the end of ourselves.  (7:7-23)
3. Our victory comes not from our heroic struggle in fulfilling the law but rather through God’s gracious provision in Christ.  (7:24-25)

 

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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?

 

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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.

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An exposition of Romans 5:12-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 10, 2010.

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