Introduction

• Romans 1:5; 16:26

Why do we obey God?

Because we love Him!

• I John 4:7-11, 19-21; 5:1-3 - Loving God means loving our brethren and vice versa. Loving God also means obeying Him.
• John 4:31-34; 8:28-29
• John 14:29-31 - Jesus was submitting to crucifixion because of His love for the Father.
• John 17:4

Because His laws are good for us.

• Deuteronomy 6:24
• Proverbs 6:27-35 - God’s marriage law points us away from trouble.
• Proverbs 23:30-35 - Stay away from alcohol.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
• These are the only laws you can follow without hesitation. They are for our good!

Because we want to be saved.

• Ecclesiastes 12:14
• Ecclesiastes 11:9
• Hebrews 5:8
• James 2:20-24 - Belief here clearly includes obedience.
• James 1:26, 21, 25 - We must obey to be blessed.
• Matthew 7:21

Introduction

• Hebrews 5:11-14 - Mature people get that way by practice.
• II Peter 3:18

Examining yourself

• Haggai 1:1-9 - Consider your ways!
• Psalms 119:59
• Lamentations 3:40
• Is it possible we could sit down once a week and examine ourselves?
• Matthew 7:1-5 - Do some self-evaluation first!
• II Corinthians 13:5
• How about making some self-evaluation cards?
  • Am I using my money for good? Luke 10:35
  • Have I been gossiping? Proverbs 26:20
  • When people see me, do they see the joy a Christian should have? Galatians 5:22
  • Do I encourage others to serve the Lord? Acts 11:23

Praying

• Praying in Acts
  • No one was “above” praying to God.
    • Acts 1:13-14; 6:4; 20:26
  • Prayers were actually heard by God.
    • Acts 10:4, 31; 12:5; 8:22
  • Prayer was a habit.
    • Acts 1:14; 2:42; 10:2, 30, 9; 12:5, 12; 16:25
• Suggestion: plan a special, focused prayer each day

• How to do this:
  • Make a list
  • Set a time
  • Use an app

Reading the Bible

• Hosea 4:1-6
• Psalms 119:105
• I strongly encourage every person to read the Bible at least on a weekly basis!
• Nothing will give you an overarching understaning of the Bible story like reading the Bible itself.
• Nothing will familiarize you with the Bible like reading it:
  • the words the Holy Spirit chose
  • the phrasing
  • the repitition of certain things
  • the details or lack of details in certain stories
  • the unfiltered descriptions of God, people, and sin
• How to do this
  • Choose a good translation
    • (I recommend: ESV, NASB, NKJV, etc.)
  • Designate a time.
  • Decide on a plan.
• Bible reading plans
  • The Classic: Just pick it up and read it.
    • 1,189 chapters (3.3 per day or about 23 per week)
  • Use a special daily reading Bible
  • The Story
    • Abridged Bible (imperfect summaries, footnotes)
    • Possibility: read full New Testament and The Story Old Testament
  • Use an app
    • YouVersion
    • Olive Tree
    • Word of Promise
    • Dwell
• Deuteronomy 17:18

Introduction

• Psalms 51:1
• Psalms 23:4

Psalms 19:1-6 - Creation proves there is a Creator.

• Psalms 19:1 - The heavens continue to declare the glory of God.
  • Genesis 1:1
  • Romans 1:19-20
• Psalms 19:2 - See Hebrews 1:3.
• Psalms 19:4-6 - Let us take time to admire and appreciate God’s creation.
  • Psalms 8:3

Psalms 19:7-11 - The Creator has a will for us.

• God is the source of truth.
• James 2:12
• Hebrews 1:1-2
• Psalms 119:27
• Ephesians 5:17
• God’s word should be the strongest influence in our lives.

Psalms 19:12-14 - We must obey His will.

• Psalms 19:12 - Hidden sin: sin you don’t realize you’ve committed
• Psalms 19:13 - Presumptuous sin: sin committed willfully, in full knowledge that it was sin
• Romans 6:22-23
• Ignorance of sin will not be an excuse at Judgment.
• Luke 6:46
• Psalms 14:1 - What is the difference between being an atheist and being someone who claims to be a Christian but does not obey Him?
• James 2:26

Luke 23, continued

Luke 23:50-56 - Joseph of Arimathea

• He used his money for good.
  • Matthew 27:57-60 - This was Joseph’s own tomb.
  • Isaiah 53:9 - It was prophesied that Jesus would be with a rich man at His death.
  • Mark 15:46 - Joseph brought a linen wrap for Jesus’ body.
• He struggled with enormous peer pressure.
  • Mark 15:42-47 - Joseph was a prominent member of the counsel.
  • John 3:1-2 - Joseph was in a similar position to Nicodemus.
  • John 19:38
  • John 12:42
• He heart was on God’s agenda
  • Luke 23:51

Luke 24

Luke 24:1-12

• Even the apostles were surprised by the resurrection.
  • They should have known, but it did not connect with them.
  • Luke 18:32
  • Matthew 28:13
• The swoon theory
  • The idea that Jesus didn’t really die - He was revived while in the tomb.
  • This does not match the facts at all!
• “He has risen”
  • Acts 2:23, 36 - He is Lord and Christ!
• Importance of Christ’s resurrection
  • Romans 1:4
  • Romans 4:24-25
  • Romans 10:9
  • I Corinthians 15:17
  • Philippians 3:9-11
  • I Thessalonians 1:10
  • I Peter 1:3
• Counting time
  • Leviticus 23:32 - Sunset to sunset was one day.
  • Time was counted inclusively, so part of one day was counted as one day.
  • Example:
    • Day 1: Acts 10:3
    • Day 2: Acts 10:9
    • Day 3: Acts 10:23
    • Day 4: Acts 10:24, 30 - “four days ago”
  • Jesus’ enemies understood what He meant. Matthew 27:63-64

What is the doctrine of original sin?

“Since, therefore, the curse, which goes about through all the regions of the world, flowed hither and yon from Adam’s guilty, it is not unreasonable if it is spread to all his offspring. Original sin, therefore, seems to be a hereditary depravity and corruption of our nature diffused into all parts of the soul.” - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 2, Chapter 1

“As the result of Adam’s transgression, men are born in sin and by nature are spiritually dead.” - Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 20

• Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6-7, 14-19, 22-24
• We still feel the consequences of Adam’s sin today. But we do not read of the guilt of sin being passed on in Genesis.

Romans 5 is the key text

• Romans 5:1, 12-21

The TEXT (Romans 5)

• Augustine was the main early writer that talked about original sin. He was working from a Latin translation that had “in whom all sinned” in Romans 5:12. This is generally regarded as an inaccurate translation and possibly led to his misunderstanding of the verse.
• Romans 5:13-14 - We all did not sin in the same way Adam did.
• Romans 5:15-16 - If we believe we are all condemned by Adam’s sin, we must also believe all are automatically saved by Jesus’ sacrifice and no one goes to hell.
• Romans 5:18-19 - Christ justifies all men when we do what He requires of us to take advantage of the blessing.
• Romans 5:20-21 - Will we follow Adam’s path of sin or Jesus’ path of redemption?

The CONTEXT (Romans)

• Romans 1:18
• Romans 2:1, 23
• Romans 4:5, 7
• Romans 6:3-4, 11-12
• Romans 11:22
• Romans 6:23

OTHER TEXTS (the rest of the Bible)

• Matthew 19:14 - Why would Jesus say this is children are born in sin?
• Ezekiel 18:20 - The person who sins will die.
• Romans 14:12