As we begin 2024 it is good to be reminded which way the world is going and how grace wins the day. We begin the book of Romans.
Romans 1: Greeting
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Longing to Go to Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you---
12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
13 I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
16 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 for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves,
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Romans 2: God's Righteous Judgment
1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.
3 Do you suppose, O man---you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself---that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works:
7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.
11 For God shows no partiality.
God's Judgment and the Law
12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth---
21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the law dishonour God by breaking the law.
24 For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Things to think about…
1. The Apostle Paul had never been to Rome at the time of writing this letter. He is eager to get there though and preach the gospel as he says in Rom 1:15. Look at Paul’s words of grace and thankfulness to the Romans. Paul is about to say some very tough things in this letter, but his love for the Roman Christians is undeniable. He prays for them and as an Apostle wants to impart some spiritual gift to them, Rom 1:11. The whole purpose in writing is to encourage them and build them up in Christ. Continue to pray for and encourage others in our church. If the Lord has put someone on your heart, why not send them a message or give them a phone call and affirm your encouragement and support. What authority does the resurrection have? Paul’s answer – It declares Jesus Christ to be the Son of God in power, Rom 1:4. Our message of the cross must include the victory of the resurrection.
2. Paul wants to visit the church in Rome for three reasons – to give them a spiritual gift, to be mutually encouraged and to evangelise, Rom 1:11-13. Consider our role to each other and our city. I praise God that at CBC we have the same desires.
3. Have a look at Rom 1:16 and 17. Martin Luther of course was saved and relieved of his unbearable burden of works that was given to him through Roman Catholic dogma. Do not be ashamed of the gospel – it has saved you and it will save others. Paul’s reasoning is that God’s righteousness is revealed by faith which is given to those who hear it – from faith, for faith. The gift of faith through God’s grace. There is no greater liberty for the human soul than what is expressed in these two verses. Paul reminds us of our identity – we are ‘righteous’ because we are made so by the blessed gift of ‘faith’ in Christ, Rom 1:17. What more could we want? If we are ‘right’ with God, what else should concern us?
4. Paul goes on to say that men suppress the truth in their unrighteousness, Rom 1:18 – even the truth about the deity and the Lord’s eternal attributes. We certainly see this overt rebellion with the militant atheists that refuse to acknowledge any god. Our Lord therefore hands them over to moral rebellion and to worship the creation. This is certainly seen in the worship of nature, which is based on an atheistic, evolutionary worldview. This essentially gets rid of any concept of God. It is a type of humanistic ‘get out of jail free’ card. But look at the fruit of being handed over to this in one’s life, Rom 1:28ff. In Rom 1:18-32 the fault of rejection of God lies with the unbeliever who has wilfully hardened his heart in the face of the evidence. An atheist needs to be told he is rejecting the ‘evidence’ through a biased heart.
5. It is a tragedy when some are handed over to a debased mind, Rom 1:28. Even worse when this fruit, Rom 1:29 is evident in the lives of those who say they are believers in Christ. Those who gossip, slander and are disobedient to parents are listed with those who murder, Rom 1:29. It is all rebellion in God’s eyes. Christ is a builder, Satan is a destroyer. As Christ’s people it is better to build for Christ by our words and actions.
6. The letter to the Romans very much declares God’s sovereignty and that we are called out by His grace, however Paul in Romans 2 speaks about being justified by our works, Rom 2:6, 13. Paul speaks about judging others by the law, Rom 2:1, but essentially call out those who live by the law as law breakers and therefore hypocrites, Rom 2:3, 17-29. Martin Luther called the book of James an ‘epistle of straw’, because he considered justification by works in conflict with justification by grace. It is important to hold these two things in hand as we seek to honour to honour the Lord. We all sin, Rom 3:10-12, but we should never presume upon the Lord’s grace; His kindness and forbearance and patience are the things that should lead us to repentance, Rom 2:4.
7. Paul had a great concern that the gospel was being misrepresented by those who claimed to follow after God. He quotes Ezekiel, Ezek 36:20, 23 by saying, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” Rom 2:24. The nations blasphemed God when Israel did not follow His laws. The same of course is true with regards to Christianity. We have seen this to be the case over the years with the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse within religious institutions, as well as the moral failings of pastors and church leaders. The world sees this and despises the church and therefore its message. Hypocrisy truly is a cancer to spiritual life and reformation. Yes, the world is hypocritical as well, but as Paul says, such things should not be named among us, Eph 5:3.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups off over the school holidays.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for the new year that 2024 may be when the Lord visits his people. May He begin with me.
2. Pray for the families that have lost loved ones in the storms over the last 2 days. Pray for Christ’s peace.
3. Pray for the new arrives at Christmas to CBC, may they find a home with us.
4. Pray that the contacts made at carols would continue to join with Christ.
5. Please continue to pray for Glenys Zawada – out of the Wesley Hospital. Back for rehab as a day patient in early Jan.
6. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
7. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
8. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
9. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. New people coming to church over carols and Christmas – pray some would stay and join the church.
2. Praise God for Christmas Day and the carols and the new contacts made.
3. Praise God for all the work that went into carols. Special mentions – Dan Horne – stayed till late packing and unpacking sound equipment, Rosie Dunn – face painting, Nafisah and Krystal Beatty – Sherbet Stall, Band members Jeromy, Mark, Ric, Zac, Josh, Ben, Suzy, Ashley as well as Bec on computer. Great effort everyone. Doug Horne with sound – big effort. Finally to everyone who cooked – Che, Ric, Dan and who packed up – thankyou.
4. Praise God Doug has known some relief to his headaches.
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
2. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for December...
Q. 15. Who wrote the Bible? A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.
