Looking to Jesus

Redeemed by God’s Grace

 Ephes. 1:7-8 (KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; [8] Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

 Only by God taking on human flesh and shedding His own blood for our sins, can we be redeemed. God has lavished this grace on us in all wisdom and understanding. He didn’t just do it out of emotion.

The Way of Salvation

(The Roman Road)

Romans 3:23 (ESV) 
    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

Romans 6:23 (ESV) 
    For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 (ESV) 
    but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) 
    because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 

Psalm 119:9-16

How do we stay pure?
We stay pure by keeping our way according to God's word.
We should have a desire to seek the Lord and obey Him.
We are to put God's word in our heart, by memorizing it and meditating on it.
God's word in our heart will help us overcome temptations.
Ask the Lord to teach you.
Tell others about the Lord and what you have learned from His word.
God's word should mean more to us than all earthly riches.
We should meditate on the word.
The word should be a great delight to us.

Spiritual Disciplines

We will one day be like Christ. (Rom. 8:29, John 3:2)
But we are grow in Christlikeness until that day. (Heb. 12:14)
It takes discipline.
The goal of the spiritual disciplines is godliness.
Without that goal, it's in vain. (Col. 2:20-23, 1 Tim. 4:8 )
God uses people to change us. (Prov. 27:17)
God uses circumstances to change us. (Rom. 8:28)
God uses the spiritual disciplines to change us. (1 Tim. 4:7)

To be continued

Acts 13:38-42 (King James Version)


38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

1. Forgiveness of sins is through Jesus Christ.
2. Forgiveness of sins is for all who truly believe.
3. Believers are forgiven of all sins.
4, This forgiveness of sins is hard for some to believe.
5. The forgiveness of all sins in Christ is a marvelous work.

 

Thoughts on universalism

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering-- since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

(2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 ESV)

 

What is eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power?

Aionios (from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

Perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well). Eternal, forever, everlasting, world (began).

If eternal is not forever, than what is eternal life? Is it just temporal life? What good is that?

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

(Philippians 3:17-19 ESV)

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

(2 Thessalonians 2:5-12 ESV)

If all people will eventually believe in Christ – either before or after death, then why does this passage say that God will send a strong delusion on those who reject Christ, so that they will believe what is false?

I. Attitude of Prayer

Col. 4:2 (ESV)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Our prayer life calls for steadfastness, watchfulness and thanksgiving.

1. Steadfastness



1 Thes. 1:3 (ESV)




remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.




This steadfastness comes from the hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that hope, we can persevere in our walk with Him, including our prayer life.




James 1:3-4 (ESV)




for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.




Steadfastness is produced in our lives when our faith is tested. As we go through trials, we learn to trust God and we learn that He answers our prayers in His time.



2. Watchfulness



1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)




Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.



3. Thanksgiving

Philip. 4:6 (ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 

2. Environment of Prayer

 

Luke 5:15-16 (ESV) But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. [16] But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

 

Jesus went off to be alone with His heavenly Father. We too need times where we are alone with God in prayer.

 

III. Intimacy of Prayer

John 11:21-22 (ESV)

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."

 

 

Jesus had such a close relationship with His Father that the Father gave Him whatever He asked of Him. That’s an intimacy where the Father’s desires are also the Son’s desires. We should have such an intimacy with God that we desire what He desires and when we pray for those desires, we receive them from God.

 

4. Dependency of Prayer





 




Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)




You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.




Philip. 4:6-7 (ESV)




do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.




True prayer is a life of total dependency on God, where we keep our minds focused on Him and keep taking everything in our lives to Him, trusting in His divine plan and providence.




 







5. Basis of Prayer

 

Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV)

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

When we go to God in prayer, we go to a God who is ready to give us His great grace and mercy in our every time of need.

How often are we in need?

So how often can we come to God in prayer?

We have access to God in prayer because of the great work that Jesus Christ has accomplished for us on the cross. He has opened the way for us to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith", having cleansed us of all our sins by His blood.

2 Cor. 5:21 (ESV)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus Christ bore our sins so that we could receive the very righteousness of God. How awesome! What amazing grace!

Hebrews 10:14 (ESV)

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

It says here that Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross, has perfected us for all time. If we have been made perfect in God’s sight for all time, then can we ever again be made imperfect in God’s sight? If we now have the righteousness of God in Christ, can we ever again be unrighteous in God’s sight?

Philip. 3:9 (ESV)

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Our righteousness is not based on keeping the law, but on faith in Jesus Christ, who alone has kept the law of God. Apart from Him and faith in Him, we would never have any righteousness before God.

Therefore, being in Christ, we have access to the Father at any time. Otherwise we would be doomed. If we had to keep ourselves righteous, we would have no hope. We would never be able to enter into God’s presence to spend time with Him where He can change us from the inside out.

 

 

Condemnation or Righteousness?

John 8:1-11

It’s easy to condemn sin in others. It’s not so easy to demonstrate mercy and compassion to those who have fallen into sin.

This incident (in the text) illustrates John 1:17. This verse contrasts the Law given through Moses and the grace & truth that came through Jesus Christ.

All the law can do is point out our sin and condemn us for it. Grace and truth provides mercy and forgiveness and also points the way to freedom from sin.

According to 2 Cor. 3, the Law is the ministry of condemnation, while the New Covenant is the ministry of righteousness. Only the New Covenant can bring about true righteousness.

 

The Problem with Human Reasoning

Luke 5: 21-22

(Luke 7: 36-50)

Human reasoning is very limited. It tends to limit God. Also, it tends to be based on what can be seen, while faith is the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)

The things that are seen are temporal, while the things that are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:18)

"The foolishness of God is wiser than men" (1 Cor. 1:25a) God has not chosen the wise but the foolish. (1 Cor. 1:26,27)

Our faith does not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (1 Cor. 2:5)

[b]Mat 16:25 ESV
(25) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.[/b]


The abundant life in Christ is experienced when we are willing to give up our life and be given over completely to Christ as our Life.

[b]Rom 8:6 ESV
(6) To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.[/b]


In order to experience abundant life, our thoughts must be focused on the things of the Spirit, the things of God, not on fleshly things. And we must walk in total dependency on the Spirit, not on our flesh (our old ways).

[b]Jer 17:7-8 ESV
(7) "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."[/b]


Making the Lord our only trust brings true happiness. When we put our complete trust and hope in Him, we will begin to bear fruit and experience abundant life.

[b]Pro 11:28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.[/b]

The person who trusts in his riches instead of God will fall, but the one who has been declared righteous by faith and continues living by faith, will have an abundant, fruitful life.

[b]In the Cross is Freedom[/b]

Romans 8:1-4 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Believers are free from condemnation because the Lord Jesus Christ has borne our sins and paid the penalty for those sins in our place. It is because of the cross that we are no longer seperated from God and are free of the fear of punishment. We can now walk in an intimate relationship with our Lord.

[b]Love Your Neighbor[/b]

Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" [26] He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" [27] And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." [28] And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
[29] But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" [30] Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. [32] So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. [34] He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. [35] And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' [36] Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" [37] He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

Some people think that as long as they are loving the people closest to them, or most like them, they are doing OK. But, Jesus loved us when we were totally alienated from Him. And He tells us to love those who are different from us.

In this passage, 2 religious people ignored a man in need who was probably of their ethnicity(Jewish), while a Samaritan (despised by the Jews), took pity on this man and went to extremes to help him.

Without Excuse

[b]Rom. 1:18-23[/b]

Romans 1:18-23 (ESV)
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 honor 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 reptiles.

God has made Himself known to all, therefore all are without excuse. When one who knows about God refuses to honor Him or give Him thanks, he/she is under the wrath of God.
Some are too proud to worship a God they can’t control, so they make up gods they can control (or so they think), and make up doctrines according to their liking.

Of course, infants and the mentally retarded would not be accountable for not honoring God even though the mentally retarded probably honor Him more than those of us who are not retarded.

[b]The Importance of the Cross[/b]

The message of the Cross is the most important message of Christianity. In fact, it is the one essential message of Christianity. Without the cross, there would be no christianity.

The church today has become too focused on issues of this life instead of focusing on the gospel of Jesus Christ which is ultimately the answer to every problem we face.

My main prayer for the church today is that we would get back to the gospel as our # 1 priority and quit preaching so much about politics, "self-help", positive thinking, prosperity, healing, and even the how-to's of attaining victory over sin when the answer to everything ultimately is found in the message of the cross.

[b]The Deity of Christ[/b]

Matthew 1:23 (ESV)

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel"

(which means, God with us).

John 1:1-18 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

[9] The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. [11] He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [15] ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.' ") [16] And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Romans 9:5 (ESV)

To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Col. 1:15-17 (ESV)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Col. 2:9 (ESV)

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

Titus 2:13-14 (ESV)

waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

2 Peter 1:1 (ESV)

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

1 John 5:20 (ESV)

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

[b]The Purpose of the Law [/b]

Rom 5:20
20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase
NASU

So many people seem to think that the law was given so that we could be made righteous by
somehow living up to it.

That is not at all what God's Word says.

This verse says the purpose of the Law was to reveal how great our sin is and just how sinful we are.

Rom 3:20
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
NASU

This verse says that we can't become righteous before God by keeping the Law.

Again the Law shows us our sin.

Rom 7:7
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."
NASU

Gal 3:19
19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
NASU

To sum up, the purpose of the Law was to reveal our sin and how much we need a Savior and the abundance of God's wonderful grace in providing One.

[b]Forgiveness of Sins[/b]


Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

We have forgiveness in Christ through His blood, period.

Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

We are to forgive each other because God has already forgiven us for all that we have done against Him.

Col 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

We were born into this world dead in our sins. But God has made us alive in Him after having taking care of the sin issue once for all. Otherwise, we could never have eternal life because we would lose it the next time we sinned.

Rom 4:7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.

Rom 4:8 "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account."

In Christ, our sins have been forgiven and will not be counted against us.

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

1 John 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Jesus Christ is our Advocate when we sin and He has satisfied (propitiated) the justice of God in our behalf and in behalf of the whole world.

1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Christ paid for our sins once for all, so that we now have total access to God.

Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

After Jesus died to make purification of sins on our behalf and arose from the dead, He sat down at the Father’s right hand.

His work is finished!

Heb 4:10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

We are to rest from our works because Christ has done all the work that was needed to redeem and save us from our sins.

Heb 7:26For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

Heb 7:27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

The old testament high priests had to offer sacrifices daily for their own sins and the sins of the people, but Jesus Christ who is holy, innocent, undefiled, and separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens, offered Himself once for all for our sins.

Heb 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more."

Heb 8:13 When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Under the new covenant, God is merciful to our iniquities and remembers our sins no more. With the arrival of the new covenant, the old covenant is becoming obsolete and is ready to disappear.

Heb 9:12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Christ has obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The blood of Christ cleanses our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God.

Heb 9:15 ¶ For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under thefirst covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Heb 9:16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.

Heb 9:17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

The new covenant could not go into effect until the death of Christ on the cross. Therefore, teaching before the cross was under the old covenant.

Heb 9:22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Heb 9:25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.

There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood and Christ shed His blood only once, therefore, there is no more forgiveness to be executed , or Christ would have to come back and die again which is he is not going to do.

His work is finished!

Heb 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Christ has offered Himself once for all for our sins and when He returns, there will be no reference to sins, because sins have been dealt with.

Heb 10:10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

We have been sanctified (made holy) once for all.

Heb 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,

Christ offered one sacrifice for sins for all time and sat down.

His work was finished!

Heb 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

We have been perfected once for all.

Heb 10:18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Once our sins are forgiven in Christ, there is no more forgiveness to be executed.

Heb 10:19 ¶ Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

Heb 10:20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,

Heb 10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

Heb 10:24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

Heb 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Therefore, we now have confidence to enter the very presence of God, calling Him "Abba, Father". And we are now to keep meeting with other believers to encourage one another.

[b]Paul’s Letter to the Romans
Part 2[/b]
Romans 1:7-17

Romans 1:7-17 (ESV)
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. [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.
[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."

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been made holy in God’s sight. That holy identity is our motivation for giving ourselves completely to Him and allowing Him to live that holiness through us.
Grace and peace are ours in Christ.
Our faith should be evident to those around us.
We should give all we have to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who need it.
Believers should be strengthening and encouraging each other.
We should be willing to share the Gospel with all people. It’s a debt we owe.
The Gospel of Christ brings salvation to all who trust completely in Him.
Righteousness comes from faith and brings about more faith.
The person who has been declared righteous by faith is to then live by faith.