I John 2:15-17

We need to sensitive ourselves to sin.

• Jeremiah 6:15; Ephesians 4:17-20 – These people had become callous to sin.

• Ephesians 5:3-6 – The immoral and impure will not enter heaven.

• I Kings 12:28; 15:25-26 – These types of sins tend to get worse with each generation.

We need to use the Bible as the standard of morality.

• Galatians 5:19-26

• II Peter 1:8

• When is the last time you changed because of something you read in the Bible?

We need to take courage! Brighter days are ahead.

• II Thessalonians 1:6

• Romans 12:2

• Let’s strengthen our trust in God and lead our families toward heaven.

Acts 14:8-15:35

Acts 14:9 – Some argue that this verse indicates a person must have faith in order to be healed, but this is not the pattern we see in the rest of the New Testament (see Acts 3:1-10; Luke 7:12-15). There is no record in the New Testament of someone trying to miraculously heal someone and failing because the recipient lacked faith. When the disciples failed to cure the demon-possessed boy, Jesus blamed the disciples for their lack of faith, not the boy (Matthew 7:14-21).

• Matthew 9:20-30 – Sometimes faith of the healed was mentioned and sometimes not.

Acts 14:21-22 – It must surely have been a great encouragement to the disciples to see Paul and Barnabas return to the cities where Paul was nearly killed.

Acts 15:1-18 – There was a big question about the role of the law of Moses. Notice that this was not a matter to be voted on. The apostles and elders led the people to the right conclusion.

• Acts 15:6-11 – Peter tells of his own experience with Cornelius.

• Acts 15:12 – Paul and Barnabas tell about preaching to the Gentiles with signs and wonders (Acts 13:46-48; 14:2-3, 27; 15:3).

• Acts 15:13-18 – James appeals to prophetic statements. Amos said the Gentiles would be called by God’s name.

Acts 15:20, 28-29; 21:25 – The emphasis here seems to be on avoiding things involved in idol worship.

Causes of an acceptable church

• Faith, foundation of service

  • Hebrews 1:6; Romans 5:1; John 8:24; Romans 10:17

  • II Peter 1:5-11

• Love, the motivation for service

  • Matthew 22:37-39

  • I Corinthians 13:1-8

  • I John 4:1-5:1 – This love for God is what motivates us to worship Him.

• Hope, the inspiration of service

  • Romans 8:24; 5:5; 12:12; Hebrews 6:19

Effects of an acceptable church

• People who follow Christ

  • I Corinthians 11:1

  • Luke 6:46

  • Matthew 7:21

  • Matthew 15:9

• People who are examples to others

  • I Thessalonians 1:6-7

  • Matthew 5:16 – How concerned am I about being a good example?

• People who sound forth the word of God

This is what is takes to make an acceptable church anywhere.

Deuteronomy 10:12

Mark 10:45

Allegorical

• Metaphor using known term for broader message

• Price of releasing someone

  • From punishment or obligation

  • From being captive

• Must be careful

  • Understand the broader message

  • Take care not to exceed the message

• Other terms used

  • Redeemed

  • Debt cancelled

  • Purchased/bought

  • Reconciled

• Included: Jesus died on the cross for us

  • It has lessons for our learning

  • It has great meaning for us.

• Not included:

  • Who kidnapped us?

  • To whom was the ransom paid?

Ransom was part of the law of Moses

• Exodus 21:28-30 is an example

• Ransom paid to save from capital punishment

• Amount agreed upon at conviction

• Other examples

  • Ransom of firstborn in Numbers 3

  • Psalms 49:5-9, 15

Nature of ransom

• Measure of perceived worth or ability to pay

• Sometimes fixed or formulated amount

• Often negotiated

All of us are under similar condemnation

• Romans 3:23; 6:23

Ransom can remove our sentence of death

• Just as in the law of Moses

• Jesus is the ransom – I Timothy 2:1-6

• That ransom frees us from sentence of death

Our ransom set by God

No negotiating

Ability and willingness to pay

Establishes what we are worth to God

• What is your soul worth? Mark 8:34-36

• Jesus’ temptation – Matthew 4:8-10

• The price God paid for us – Mark 10:45

• WHY?

What are we to God?

• His creation – Genesis 1:26-27

  • He made us

  • We are made in His image

  • All that He made, He gave to us – I Corinthians 3:21-23

• Combined work of the Godhead – Genesis 1:26

• We are loved of God

  • Love so great as to offer His Sin for us

  • Ephesians 5:1-2

• We are desired to be friends – John 15:12-13

God’s love for us runs deep

• Blesses the just and the unjust – Matthew 5:44-45

• Deeply desires to ransom us – Isaiah 30:18; Romans 5:8

How is His ransom received?

• Hear God’s Word – Romans 10:17

• Believe His Word – John 20:30-31

• Repent of sin – II Corinthians 7:10

• Confess faith in Christ – Matthew 10:29-33

• Be baptized into Christ – Romans 6:3-4

• Walk the new life in Christ – Matthew 28:19-20