Genesis | Order And Fullness

Genesis 1:3-25

Fall Study: Genesis 1 Through Genesis 11:

Last Time: The God Of Beginnings.

This Time: The God Of Order and Fullness.

Some Of The Topics In The Next Few Weeks:

Mankind Is Made In His Likeness.

Mankind Receives Bounty And Boundaries.

Mankind Has A Purpose Thru Worshipful Partnership.

Mankind Is Deceived By Pride.

Mankind Receives Grace In Judgment.

By The End Of This Study In Genesis:

We Should Know With Full Certainty:

Mankind Is Not A Little Higher Than A Monkey.

Mankind Is A Little Lower Than The Heavenly Beings.

That God Is Great:

On The Earth.

In The Heavens.

And He Alone Is GREAT !!

That God Is Good Because He Is Majestic:

In His Care. He Is Mindful Of Us. He Seeks Us.

In His Creation. He Created Us. He Sustains Us.

So From Chaos To Order Then Fills The Earth:

The First Day—Light.

The Second Day—Sky.

The Third Day—Dry Land and Plants.

The Fourth Day—Lights, Sun, Moon, and Stars.

The Fifth Day—Fish and Birds.

The Sixth Day—Land Animals and People.

From Formlessness To Form.

From Emptiness To Fullness.

What Is The Viewpoint And Intention Of Moses In This Scripture?

Note: Do Not Get Bogged Down Trying To Reconcile The Creation Account With Modern Science And Miss Why It Is Given To Us At The Very Beginning Of God’s Revelation.

LET'S NOT MISS THE VIEW GOD INTENDED TO GIVE US.

John Calvin Writes:

The Intention Of Moses,

In Beginning His Book,

With The Creation Of The World,

IS TO RENDER GOD VISIBLE TO US IN HIS WORKS.

NOTE:

We Know God, Who Is Himself Invisible, Only Through His Works.

God Invites Us To The Knowledge Of Himself.

He Places The Fabric Of Heaven And Earth Before Our Eyes.

He Renders Himself, In A Certain Manner, And Is MADE KNOWN In Them.

The Creation Account Should Point Us To The Creator Who Alone Is Worthy Of Our Worship, Enjoyment, And Obedience.

Moses’ Purpose Was:

When We Think About The Creation Account.

When We Observe The World Around Us.

We Should Focus:

On The Greatness Of God.

On God Who Brought It All Into Being.

On The Fact God Literally Spoke It Into Existence.

Clearly God Is The Great Subject.

Creation Is Merely His Handiwork.

Creation Is To Tell Us Of Him.

We Can:

Enjoy His Creation As General Revelation.

Read His Specific Revelation Thru The Written Word.

Discover The Compatibility Of Creation With His Word.

Moses Did Not Write To People Who Were Isolated From The Competing Religious Views Of Their Day.

Israel Had Been In Captivity For 400 Years In Egypt Where The Sun And A Pantheon Of Other Gods Were Worshiped.

The Canaanites Worshiped Fertility Gods, Warrior Gods, Gods Who Guaranteed Healthy Crops, Gods Of The Moon And Stars.

They Offered Food And Even Their Own Children To Their Gods.

They Would Kill and Murder And Sacrifice To Appease Them.

The Part Of Scripture is Against This Backdrop Of False Religions

LAST WEEK: THE COMMENCEMENT OF CREATION: 1:1-2.

THIS WEEK: THE CONTINUATION OF THE CREATION WORK 1: 3-5.

1. THE CREATION ACCOUNT REFUTES MANY ERRORS OF FALSE RELIGION.

Moses Asserts That God Alone Created All That Is.

He Didn’t Consult With Anybody.

He Didn’t Have To Answer To Anybody.

He Just Spoke The Word According To His Purposes.

He Just Called Into Being All That Exists.

A Great Contrast To Ancient Pagan Stories Of Origins.

Pagan Stories Portray A Great Struggle Between Powerful Forces.

Their Stories Portray One God That Finally Wins And Creates The Earth.

BUT, Genesis Reveals God An Effortlessly Command That Created It.

And God Said...

He Is Sovereign Over Creation Because He Commanded It To Be.

He Is Separate From Creation Because He Made It By His Word.

God Created The Sun, Moon, And Stars. He Is Over Them.

So Why Would We Worship Creation over The Creator ?

The Universe Is A Mere Servants Of The Powerful Creator.

The Creator Assigned Their Functions.

The Creator Assigned A Fixed Purpose By Him.

Creation Does Not Have Any Ability To Determine Human Destinies.

The Creation Account Refutes Other Common Religious Errors.

God States:

He Created The World And Is Separate From It.

He Is Over His Creation And Put Man Over It.

He Granted His Creation To Be Fruitful and To Multiply.

He States His Creation Is Good.

He Determines Mankind To Be Male And Female.

GOD REFUTES:

The View That The Creation Is One With God And Is Divine.

The View That Mankind Should Worship The Creation.

That He Created Matter Refutes That Matter Is Eternal.

That Matter Is Evil Because God Said His Creation Was Good.

That The Ability To Be Fruitful And Multiply Refutes Fertility gods.

That Human Life And History Have No Discernible Meaning.

That There Is No Objective Ground Of Truth Or Of Morals.

That Mankind Is Male And Female And Other.

That The World Is All By Chance.

All Of These SAME Errors Of False Religions Continue To Reappear.

Through The Centuries They Are Refuted In Genesis 1.

2. THE CREATION ACCOUNT EXALTS MANY OF GOD’S ATTRIBUTES AND PURPOSES.

As We Look At What God Has Made.

As Science Probes Deeper Into The Mysteries Of Outer Space.

As Science Probes Deeper Into The Mysteries Of The Atom.

It Should Stagger Us With God's:

Infinite Power,

Wisdom,

Intelligence,

Creativity,

Glory.

Theologian Matthew Henry Said:

The Height Of The Heavens Should Remind Us Of God’s Supremacy And The Infinite Distance Between Us.

The Brightness Of The Heavens And Their Purity Should Remind Us Of His Glory, And Majesty, And Perfect Holiness;

The Vastness Of The Heavens, Their Encompassing Of The Earth, And The Influence They Have Upon It, Should Remind Us Of His Immensity And Universal Providence.

What Are Some of The Attributes and Purposes Of God in Genesis 1 ?

God Is Sovereign And All-Powerful.

He Is Eternal And Self-Sufficient.

He Is The Only Un-Caused Being Who Is In Need Of Nothing.

God Is Intelligent.

God Is Orderly.

AGAIN: Formlessness To Form: | Emptiness To Fullness:

Days 1-3 His Remedy For Formless. ( Environments )

The First Day—Light.

The Second Day—Sky.

The Third Day—Dry Land and Plants.

Days 4-6 His Remedy For The Void. ( Inhabitants )

The Fourth Day—Lights: Sun, Moon, and Stars.

The Fifth Day—Fish and Birds.

The Sixth Day—Land Animals and People.

God Is Personal.

He Is Not A Mere Cosmic Force But A Personal Being.

He Made Mankind In His Image As A Personal Being.

He Made Us With Reasoning Power, Language, Awareness of Him.

God Is Good.

God Saw That It Was Good:

It Shows The Personal God’s Care For Us.

It Shows The Preparation Earth To Make It Habitable For Man.

It Shows He Looked Upon His Creation Of Mankind As Good.

So The Creation Account Shows Us Some Of His Attributes.

3. THE CREATION ACCOUNT CALLS US TO WORSHIP, ENJOY, AND OBEY THE CREATOR.

The Heavens Are Telling Of The Glory Of God.

The Heavens Declare The Work Of His Hands.

As Those Who Know The Creator Personally.

Because We Have Been Reconciled To Him Through Faith In Christ.

Even Though It Is Marred By Man’s Sin: WE CAN:

Truly Rejoice In And Enjoy The World That He Has Made.

Live Daily In Submission To His Will.

Be Instructed Of His Will In His Written Word.

Fulfill The Purpose He Has Ordained For Our Lives.

Enjoy God Through The Beauty Of His Creation.

Be Responsible Stewards Of The Earth's Resources.

It Is The Nature Of The Creator God:

To Turn Chaos Into Order,

To Turn Emptiness Into Fulfillment,

To Turn Darkness Into Light.

He Still Uses His Word To Break Through The Chaos And Darkness Of The Human Condition, Flooding It With His Saving Light.

His Spirit Hovers Over Lives, Preparing Them For God To Make Of Them A New Creation.

Genesis | The God Of Beginnings

Genesis 1:1 thru 2.

Genesis 1 Through Genesis 11:

Some Of The Topics In The Next Few Weeks:

The God Of Beginnings.

The God Of Order and Abundance.

Mankind Is Made In His Likeness.

Mankind Receives Bounty And Boundaries.

Mankind Has A Purpose Thru Worshipful Partnership.

Mankind Is Deceived By Pride.

Mankind Receives Grace In Judgment.

By The End Of This Study In Genesis:

We Should Know With Full Certainty:

Mankind Is Not A Little Higher Than A Monkey.

Mankind Is A Little Lower Than The Heavenly Beings.

God Is Great:

On The Earth.

In The Heavens.

And He Alone Is GREAT !!

God Is Good Because He Is Majestic:

In His Care. He Is Mindful Of Us. He Seeks Us.

In His Creation. He Created Us. He Sustains Us.

THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CREATION WORK (1:1-2)

A. The Creation has no PRE-EXISTENCE.

Nothing Became Something.

B. The Creation was with PURPOSE.

The beginning of everything in the created realm as it WAS, IS, or SHALL BE.

C. The Creation was with POWER.

ELOHIM (Hebrew), describes His strength, power, and majesty.

Elohim is the name of God which supports the idea of a Triune God at work in the creation.

Out Of Nothing God Creates Everything.

In The Beginning: Translated As "Origin".

Genesis Sets The Stage For The Redemptive Story Of The Bible.

Opens With God Confronting Chaos And Disorder.

Continues With God Bringing Order And Beauty In Creation.

Genesis Is Part Of The 1^st Five Books Of The Old Testament.

Scripture Tradition Point To Moses As The Author Of The Pentateuch.

Exodus 24 Says That Moses Wrote The Book Of The Covenant.

Moses Is Commanded By God To Write Down What He Is Told.

Reaffirming That All Scripture Is Inspired By The Holy Spirit.

And Jesus, Quoting Exodus 3:6, Identifies Moses As The Author.

Moses Is Seeking To Show:

The God Of The Bible Is Greater Than The False Gods.

The False Gods Are Simply A Part Of God's Created World.

The Truth Of Creation As A Theological Summary.

The Creation Account Is Not A Scientific Summary.

It Is Obviously Not A Record Of The Universal History Of Man.

It Records A Development Of Divine Purpose For Abram.

It Is History Written With A Special Purpose.

It Verifies A Record As Ordinary History Of An Ordinary People.

It Indicates God Charging An Ordinary People With God’s Plan.

It Briefly Shows The Connection Between Adam And Abraham.

It Indicates All Descendants Were To Be Realized In God's Plan.

NOTE:

Moses Grew Up In The Egyptian Palace.

He Has Knowledge Of The Egyptian Beliefs About Creation.

Understanding Origins Is Important To All Of Us.

Understanding Origins Is Foundational To The Rest Of The Bible.

If Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 Don’t Tell Us The Truth, Then Why Should We Believe Anything Else In The Bible?

If It Says In The New Testament.

That The Creator Is Our Redeemer.

But God Is Not The Creator.

Then Maybe He’s Not The Redeemer Either.

So What We Believe About Creation And About Genesis Has:

Implications All The Way To The End Of Scripture.

Implications With Regard To The Truthfulness Of Scripture.

Implications As To The Gospel.

Implications As To The End Of Human History,

All Wrapped Up In How We Understand Origins In The Book Of Genesis.

The Matter Of Origins Are Absolutely Critical.

It Is Critical To All Human Thinking.

It Is Critical To How We Conduct Our Lives As Human Beings.

Without An Understanding Of Origins,

Without A Right Understanding Of Origins,

There Is No Way To Comprehend Ourselves.

Without Understanding Origins, There Is No Way To:

Understand Humanity,

Understand The Purpose Of Our Existence.

Understand Our Destiny.

If We Cannot Believe What Genesis Says About Origins, We Are Lost As To Our Purpose And Our Destiny.

Did God Create The World?

Did Chance Without A Cause Evolve Into This Existence?

I. Christians Should Appreciate The Implications Of Genesis Concerning The Study Of The Origin Of The Universe:

Some Think:

That Matter Is Eternal And That It Always Was.

The World Was A Part Of God.

That The Planet Is Divine.

The World Is An Extension Of God Himself.

Genesis Makes It Clear That This Is Not The Case.

God Created The World And Is Distinct From It,

God Created The World And Is Very Concerned For It.

God Created The World And Is Not Confused With It.

God Shaped His Creation From Formlessness Into Order.

II. Christians Should Pay Attention To The Nature Of Primordial Matter.

God Moves His Original Creation From Disorganization To Organization.

Primordial Matter Is That First Matter That God Brought Into Being.

Totally Chaos And God's Steps In To Organize It With A Plan.

God Alone Brings Form Out Of Formlessness.

God Alone Sustains It.

III. Christians Should Appreciate The Significance Of The Order/Structure Of Creation.

Appreciate The Significance Of The Order.

Appreciate The Structure Of Creation.

Fullness Is Brought Into The Creation.

A. The Creation Has No Pre-Existence.

B. The Creation Was With Purpose.

C. The Creation Was With Power.

Genesis 1:1

One Of The Chief Principles Of Bible Study Methods Is That Context Helps Us Find The Meaning Of A Passage.

There Is No Context To Be Had As This Is The Beginning.

At The Beginning Of Scripture, The Holy Spirit Through The Prophet Moses Introduces Us At Once To God In The Essential Fullness Of His Being.

It Is God And God Alone Being Introduced.

It Is God Creating Something Out Of Nothing.

It Is God The Subject Of The Hebrew Creation Account.

Then, The Evidence Of God Speaking Breaks The Silence.

The Revelation Of God's Nature Is Known Through Creation.

A Remarkable Creation Narrative Because God Is The Focus.

No Myths: Like Mesopotamian And Egyptian False Gods.

No Lies: Where The False Gods Are A Part Of The Created Order.

Genesis 1:2

Verse 2 Helps Us See The Process And Power Of God In Creation.

Again: The Divine Purposes Behind Creation.

A. God Created All Things For His Own Purpose.

God Spoke The World In Existence For His Own Pleasure.

Revelation 4: For Thou Hast Created All Things For Thy Pleasure.

B. God Created All Things For His Own Glory.

God's Glory Will Eternally Be The Main Reason For All Existence.

Isaiah 43: For I Have Created Him For My Glory.

Again: The Application For Each Of Us.

A. We Are A Part Of God's Purpose In Creation.

God Has A Plan For This World That Includes Us.

B. We Have A Reason For Our Existence.

We Are To Give Glory To Him.

C. God's Eternal Plan Centers Around A Relationship With Him.

He Desires That We Might Spend Eternity With Him.

Serving One Another

  With Christ Our Example.

All For The Glory Of God.

Romans 15:1-7.

Remember: Romans Chapters 12 thru 15 is the CONTEXT of these recent lessons.

The Overarching Theme: Therefore I Urge You, Brothers, By The Mercies Of God, To Present Your Bodies A Living Sacrifice, Holy, Acceptable To God, Which Is Your Spiritual Service.

Don’t Be Conformed To This World, But Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind, So That You May Prove What Is The Good, Well-Pleasing, And Perfect Will Of God.

SIN, SALVATION, SANCTIFICATION, SOVEREIGNTY.

Now SERVICE: The Object of Service.

God's Glory Is The Object of Service.

From Sovereignty | To Service.

From Promises Fulfilled | To Paths Pursued.

From Righteousness Restored | To Righteousness Applied.

From Righteousness IN ELECTION | To Righteousness DISPLAYED.

From Slaves to God | To Slaves Serving God.

From Doctrine | To Duty.

From Life by Faith | To Service by Faith.

ROMANS 15: 1 thru 7.

ROMANS 15:

Verse 1. STRONG FAITH WILL PLEASE OTHERS.

Verse 2. LET EACH OF US PLEASE OUR NEIGHBOR.

Verse 3. FOR EVEN CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF.

Verse 4. SCRIPTURES GIVE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

Verse 5. SCRIPTURES GIVE US INSTRUCTION.

Verses 6 thru 7. SCRIPTURES DEMANDS HARMONY.

VERSE 1: STRONG FAITH THAT PLEASES OTHERS.

We Who Are Strong In Faith:

Have An Obligation To Bear With The Failings Of The Weak.

Should Help Those Who Are Weak.

Need To Be Patient With The Weakness Of Those Who Are Powerless.

Should Be Aware That Others May Not Be So Strong And Have Doubts.

BUT NOT MATTER WHAT: In All This, We Should Not Just Do What Pleases Us.

The Implication Is That The Strong Are To Show Unconditional Love.

That Love Which Reaches Out And Picks Up The Weak Brother Because It Seeks His Highest Good.

It Does So Expecting Nothing In Return.

The Strong Believer Is Not To Be Pleasing Himself.

That Is, He Is Not To Be Gratifying His Own Selfish Desires.

Our First Concern Must Be For The Weak Brother’s Edification.

Our First Concern Must NOT Be For Self-Gratification.

Even If This Involves Personal Sacrifice And Self-Denial (saying "NO" To Self}.

VERSE 2: LET EACH OF US PLEASE OUR NEIGHBOR.

Let Each Of Us Please His Neighbor For His Good, To Build Him Up.

Each Of Us Should Live To Please His Neighbor. This Will Help Him Grow In Faith.

Each Of Us Should Please Our Neighbors For Their Good In Order To Build Them Up.

But Do What Pleases Them And Is For Their Good. We Should Do Whatever Helps Everyone Grow Stronger In Faith.

The Strong Should:

Try To Please Them.

Patiently Instruct Them.

Build Them Up In The Faith.

Show A Standard Of Conduct.

Love Them.

Not Treat Them As Second-Class Citizens.

Not Get Angry At The Weak.

Not Defy Them.

Not Cut Them Off From Love And Concern.

This Pleasing One’s Neighbor In This Context Refers To The Act Of The Believer:

Foregoing A Legitimate Act Because That Weaker Christian Thinks It To Be Wrong.

Because It Removes A Source Of Temptation To Him To Do That Thing.

Because It Makes His Attempt To Live A Life Pleasing To God Easier.

But Only In The Instance Where The Weaker Christian Would Be Edified Or Built Up In The Christian Life.

VERSE 3: FOR EVEN CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF.

Paul Appeals To Christ As The Supreme Example.

He Never Pleased Himself But Always Did The Will Of The Father.

He Took No Thought For Himself And Always Put Others First.

Since Christ Loved And Died For All Who Would Trust Him, Then We Should Love And Please All Our Brothers In Christ, For We Are One.

BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED THEE FELL UPON ME:

Hebrews Chapter 12 Verse 2: Our Lord Who Instead Of The Joy Then Present With Him, Endured The Cross.

- Christ Did Not Please Himself But Took The Insults Meant For God.

- Jesus Fulfilled The Scriptures Taking Reproach That Were Cast Against God:  

Cursing, Dishonor, Unbelief, Denial, Hostility, Shame, Rebellion.

Are We Willing To Please The Lord Despite Misunderstanding, Ridicule, Slander, Deprivation, Persecution, And Even Death? To Please Our Neighbors And Build Them Up?

VERSE 4: THE SCRIPTURES GIVE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

The Old Testament Teaches Of Hope And Encouragement.

It Means That God Intends The Old Testament To Benefit Christians.

It Means That We Need To Study Both Testaments.

The Old Testament:

Relates The Story Of God’s History With His People.

Reveals God’s Power, Faithfulness, And Love.

Provides The Foundation For Understanding The New Testament.

Looks Forward To The Messiah Who Is To Come.

Teaches The Faith And Faithlessness Of God’s People.

Inspires By Their Stories.

Comforts By The Psalms.

Judges By The Prophets.

Gains Hope For The Believer From The Promises.

The Scriptures Help Us To:

Endure And Be Steadfast.

Survive The Difficult Times Of Life.

Know That God Redeems The Faithful.

Know What Is Right.

Be Assured That God Is With Us.

Tell The Story Of Jesus’ Life, Death, And Resurrection.

Proclaims The Promise That God Created Us For Life Eternal.

All Scripture Is Given By Inspiration Of God That Is Profitable:

For Doctrine. For Reproof.

For Correction. For Instruction In Righteousness.

So That The Man Of God May Be Perfect And Thoroughly Furnished.

VERSE 5: THE SCRIPTURES GIVE US INSTRUCTION.

WHY WE SHOULD STUDY THE OLD TESTAMENT?

ALL THE SCRIPTURES ARE:

1. For Our Instruction.

The Old Testament Stories Are Designed To Teach Us By Graphic Illustrations How God Taught Men To Live, Not To Please Themselves, But To Please God.

Be Willing To Learn:

What The Scriptures Teach.

That Encouragement Comes By The Truth Of Scripture.

Often Provide Full Assurance Of Hope.

2. Intended By God To Give Perseverance And Encouragement.

God Will Give You A Perspective On The Hard Situations You Face.

God Will Give You A Perspective That Helps You Endure.

3. For The Purpose Of Sustaining The Christian In Daily Living.

VERSE 6 and 7: A PRAYER TO BE IN HARMONY DESPITE DIFFERENCES OF CONVICTION.

When There Are Differences Of Conviction And Practices:

Agree On Doctrine But Accept Differences On Practices.

Pray For The Unity Of Believers:

Live In Complete Harmony With Each Other.

Encourage Us As We Wait For His Promises.

Join Together With One Voice.

Be Of One Mind.

Be Of One Mouth.

Giving Praise And Glory To God.

Accept Each Other.

Christ Died For Both The Weak And The Strong.

Therefore, Accept Each Other. Just As Christ Has Accepted You.

So That God Will Be Given Glory.

Love Fulfills The Law

Living In the Light

Romans 13: 8-14

ROMANS CHAPTERS 12-15. THE CONTEXT

Paul Admonished Earlier, “Therefore I Urge You, Brothers, By The Mercies Of God, To Present Your Bodies A Living Sacrifice, Holy, Acceptable To God, Which Is Your Spiritual Service.

Don’t Be Conformed To This World, But Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind, So That You May Prove What Is The Good, Well-Pleasing, And Perfect Will Of God.

Christians Are To:

• Love Our Enemies.

• Subject Ourselves To The Authorities.

• Love One Another.

• Behave Through Appropriate Conduct.

• Throw Off The Works Of Darkness.

• Put On The Armor Of Light.

ROMANS 13: 8-14

ROMANS 13:8-10. LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW.

ROMANS 13:11-12. TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP.

ROMANS 13:12. THROW OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS.

ROMANS 13:13. WALK PROPERLY AS IN THE DAY.

ROMANS 13:14. PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

ROMANS 13:8-10. LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW.

LITERALLY MEANS:

Do Not Keep On Owing Anyone Anything.

Paul Was Not Forbidding Christians To Borrow Or To Loan.

Paul Was Rather Saying That We Must Settle Debts Promptly.

Except An Obligation To Love One Another.

Paul Does:

Not Mean To Limit “One Another” To Other Christians.

Does Mean To Extend It To All With Whom We Come In Contact.

Extend Hospitality To Strangers:

Bless Those Who Persecute You.

Do Not Curse Those Who Persecute You.

Repay No One Evil For Evil.

Respect What Is Honorable In The Sight Of All Men.

Be At Peace With All Men.

If Your Enemy Is Hungry, Feed Him.

If He Is Thirsty, Give Him A Drink.

YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

The Giving Of Love Fulfills Three Purposes.

First:

It Blesses The Person Who Receives Love.

Many People Are Desperately In Need Of A Kind Word.

Many People Need Some Demonstration That Someone Cares.

Second:

It Becomes A Powerful Witness For Christ.

Third:

Love Fulfills The Law.

• Love Doesn’t Harm A Neighbor.

• Love Therefore Is The Fulfillment Of The Law.

The Person Who Loves A Neighbor Will Not:

1. Commit Adultery Against A Neighbor's Spouse.

2. Murder A Neighbor.

3. Steal From A Neighbor.

4. Covet A Neighbor’s Possessions.

5. Harm A Neighbor In Any Way That Is Inconsistent With Love.

ROMANS 13:11-12. TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP.

It Is Already Time For You To Awaken Out Of Sleep.

For Salvation Is Now Nearer To Us Than When We First Believed.

It Is The Dawning Of The Age That Follows Christ’s Resurrection.

Be Awake And Alert:

• To Greet The Coming Of The Dawn.

• To Prepare For The Second Coming.

• To Realize The Second Coming Is Imminent.

Paul Never Claimed That Jesus Would Appear In His Lifetime.

Paul Did Claim That Jesus Comes Like A Thief In The Night.

He Counseled Christians To Keep Souls And Bodies Sound.

He Taught To Be Blameless So That They Would Be Ready.

He Spoke Of The Second Coming As It Is Now Nearer.

ROMANS 13:12. LET’S THROW OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS.

It Is Not Enough To Put Off Works Of Darkness.

We Must:

Put On Armor Of Light.

Live In The Light.

Do This To Prevent The Darkness From Returning.

Be Armored For Battle.

We Can Expect:

Frequent Temptations.

Constant Probing Of Our Defenses.

Dangers Arising From The Unexpected.

Lifelong Battle Against Evil.

ROMANS 13:13. LET US WALK PROPERLY AS IN THE DAY.

Walk Decently. Not In:

Reveling (Carousing).

Drunkenness.

Sexual Promiscuity (Sexual Immorality).

Lustful Acts (Unbridled Lust).

In Strife And Jealousy.

Paul Admonishes Us To Behave Honorably, Honestly, Decently.

ONE:

Such Behavior Is Appropriate To Whose We Are.

We Are Children Of Light | Children Of The Day.

We Are Not Children Of The Night | Children Of Darkness.

SECONDLY:

Such Behavior Is Important To Our Christian Witness.

Others Turn FROM Christ When:

Believers Claim To Be Of The Light But Behave Like The Darkness.

Others Turn TO Christ When:

Believers Love Others As Christ Taught Us To Love.

ROMANS 13:14. PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

A Threefold Title Placing Emphasis On The Lordship Of Christ.

What Happens When We Make Him Lord Over Our Lives.

Temptation Loses Much Of Its Power.

Temptation Continues | Christ Will Help Us Overcome.

We Begin To Look To Christ FIRST For Guidance In Major Decisions.

We Begin To Avoid Dead Ends And Blind Alleys.

We Seek To Honor Christ In Our Relationships.

We Make No Provision For The Flesh and Its Lusts.

We Focus On Using Our Body For Godly Service.

LESSON POINT:  

LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR FULFILLS THE LAW AND PREPARES US 
FOR THE DAY OF HIS SOON RETURN.

REVIEW THESE SCRIPTURES AGAIN: Romans 13: 8-14.

FULFILLING THE LAW THROUGH LOVE:

Don’t Be In Debt To Anyone.

Except For The Obligation To Love Each Other.

Whoever Loves Another Person Has Fulfilled The Law.

The Commandments: Don’t Commit Adultery, Don’t Murder, Don’t Steal, Don’t Desire What Others Have, Any Other Commandments.

Are All Summed Up In One Word:

You Must Love Your Neighbor As Yourself.

Love Doesn’t Do Anything Wrong To A Neighbor.

Therefore, Love Is What Fulfills The Law.

THE DAY IS NEAR:

As You Do All This, You Know What Time It Is.

The Hour Has Already Come For You To Wake Up From Your Sleep.

Now Our Salvation Is Nearer Than When We First Had Faith.

The Night Is Almost Over, And The Day Is Near.

So Let’s Get Rid Of The Actions That Belong To The Darkness.

Put On The Weapons Of Light.

Let’s Behave Appropriately As People Who Live In The Day.

Not In Partying And Getting Drunk, Not In Sleeping Around And Obscene Behavior, Not In Fighting And Obsession.

Instead, Dress Yourself With The Lord Jesus Christ.

And Don’t Plan To Indulge Your Selfish Desires.