Smith Chapel Church: Recent Episodes
When a person comes to truly understand the gospel of God, when they grasp through the Spirit the truths freely revealed to us by God in the gospel concerning God, sin, themselves, and salvation in Christ, and when they experience the life-giving power of God in the new birth, it produces such an eagerness to proclaim this good news to others who are perishing. And this is eagerness is joined with an obligation, and it is all founded upon a confidence in the power and promises of the God who saves sinners. That is what Paul is saying to the Romans in our text this morning. He is saying that he finds himself overwhelmed with a sense of gospel duty coupled with a readiness and eagerness to carry out this duty, and as he strives eagerly to carry out this gospel duty he is upheld and fueled by confidence in the power of God to bring dead sinners to life through the preaching of this glorious gospel. -What we see here is a proper understanding of the gospel produces duty, eagerness, and confidence in gospel proclamation.
A Christian's identity is, first and foremost, rooted in what God has done. If you are a believer here this morning, your identity is no longer rooted in the worlds categories, your identity is now found in Christ.
In this passage Paul is showing us that when God saves you by His grace in Christ, He also calls you to His mission in the world. In other words, when God calls you to participate in grace, he also calls you to proclaim the gospel of grace. God has given you grace in His Son for the advancement of the gospel in the world, for the sake of Jesus Christ.
The gospel is the good news of what God has done to reconcile sinners to himself through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
Paul is not a paid spokesman here, trying to sell a product, he is not trying to convince you to come get your gospel shot, because hey, who doesn't like burgers-- He is a living testimony to the transforming power of the gospel of God. He is not peddling some religious mumbo-jumbo, trying to line his silk pockets with the donations of the hearers. He himself has tasted and seen that the Lord is good, that the man who trusts in Him is blessed. He himself has seen that to live is Christ and to die is gain. He himself has been brought face to face with the risen Christ and come to be controlled by His love. This gospel he proclaims has transformed him- He declares this transformation in these words-. -Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,- Romans 1-1.
In this passage, the writer is saying, -come weak, needy, poor sinners, turn your eyes to the gracious provision God has made for you in Christ as the supreme, sympathetic, and all-sufficient High Priest. Hold fast, and draw near, to the throne where grace reigns, to find mercy and grace to help you in your time of need-.
When Paul points to the -call- as an aspect of the believer's identity he is saying, if you are a believer, you have been personally, powerfully, effectually, and irrevocably summoned by God, to life and salvation in Christ, by the Spirit, through the gospel.
The identity of a Christian is, first and foremost, rooted in what God has done for, and to the Christian. If you are a believer here this morning, your identity is no longer rooted in the worlds categories, your identity is now found in Christ. -Having told these Christians in Rome of His gospel testimony, having summed up his gospel message, and gospel mission, Paul now finishes his opening of this letter by addressing the Believers in Rome specifically and in doing so he reminds them of their identity in Christ. An identity he sums up in three ways, Beloved of God, Called, Saints.
In this passage Paul is showing us that when God saves you by His grace in Christ, He also calls you to His mission in the world. In other words, when God calls you to participate in grace, he also calls you to proclaim the gospel of grace. God has given you grace in His Son for the advancement of the gospel in the world, for the sake of Jesus Christ.
The gospel is the good news of what God has done to reconcile sinners to himself through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
In this passage we see that constancy and confidence characterize the prayer of faith, but this is not a faith in prayer, but rather a faith in God.
In this message we consider the wisdom of Puritan Minister Samuel Lee regarding practical steps in seeking the conversion of your children.
There is no place for romanticized, unrealistic imagination, or celebrity, or isolation, we have a real life to live, a real gospel to proclaim, a real church to serve, and a real need for one another. --So, as we look at these brethren, and what Scripture tells us about them, I want you to consider yourself, and your role in the body. If Paul were familiar with you, and were to write your name at the end of a letter to the church, what would He say- Would you be among the faithful- Would you be listed among the fervent- Or would you be among the false and idle brothers-
As we move from the Godward petitions to the man-ward petitions, we see that while the heart of true christian prayer is the glory of God, The essence of true Christian prayer is the expression of our dependance upon God for everything--We see this in the petitions for provision from the Father, purification in the Son, protection and provision by the power of the Spirit.
The Normal Christian life is to be a life of separation and distinction from the world, but also of representation and proclamation to the world
In this message we consider the pattern of prayer as it relates to the Godward petitions set forth in the Lord's Prayer.
In this passage we consider the relationship of prayer to the life of the believer. The Presumption of prayer made- the characteristics of prayer considered- the heart of prayer set forth.
In this episode we consider what it means to desire Jesus in connection with -Looking unto Jesus-
In this message we consider the first gospel, proclaimed in Eden after the fall of man.
In this episode we consider the first positive step in looking unto Jesus- Knowing Jesus. What does it mean to know Jesus- How does this help our looking unto Him- How can we grow in the knowledge of Jesus-
In this episode we discuss the first step of looking unto Jesus, namely looking away from everything else.
The Meaning of a Husband's Love- The Model of a Husband's Love- The Manifestation of a Husband's Love- The Means of a Husband's Love.
Then the Christian life, is a transformed life. A life of Christ-centered affections. A life where a person dies to the things of this world, and lives by faith, supernaturally, for the world to come. And according to Paul, this is not some -super Christianity- this is not some radical, outlandish, missionary Christianity, reserved for the elite few, this is just normal Christianity, it is the only true Christianity, but it is the result of a supernatural transformation, what Paul calls here in Colossians 3, -being raised to life in Christ-. ----The transformation comes first. Remember, the pattern of Scripture is never to press the duties and character of the Christian life first, but to press the work of God in saving sinners, then the duty of Christian Obedience, flows out of the new life a believer has in Christ. That's is what Paul is teaching the Colossians and us as well. He has spoken on how being raised with Christ transforms the affections, produces the mortification of sin, and now - in our passage this morning, we see that the true gospel, which treasures Christ above all, also transforms the way we live together as a church. It show us what the church looks like when Christ is all in all.
Having described the fullness of salvation in Christ, and the freedom in Christ, the apostle now begins to press upon the Colossians, and every believer, the implications of fullness and freedom in Christ. It is not a fullness and freedom to live according to preferences, but to live a life of loving obedience and growing conformity to Christ. That is, it is not fullness and freedom to live how you want, but how you ought. --Because just as the false teachers were wrong about Christ and salvation, they were wrong about how to live. As we heard last week. Beginning here in chapter 3, Paul begins describing the normal Christian life, the implications that the gospel brings to bear on every aspect of life- internally, externally, relationally, in the church, in the family, and even at work. And while the culture at large, or even the so call -evangelicalism- of our day may describe it as fanatical or radical, it really is just normal biblical Christianity.--Paul begins by characterizing the Christian life as a heavenly, Christ-centered life, where the heart, mind, and affections are fixed on things above and not on things of the earth.
The word -filled- here means complete. Paul is telling these believers, -You are complete in Christ. Christ is all in all, and you are complete in Him. In Christ you have all that you need. Christ has promised, purchased, and provided everything the believer needs, and everything the sanctified soul longs for. Complete in Christ, that is the identity and standing of a true believer. --Axiom- So in this passage, Paul begins to unfold this completeness in Christ to say to the Colossians, and to us as well, -You do not need to supplement Christ to create a certain reality, you need to realize the reality of fullness in Christ, and live from that reality-. Paul paints the picture of complete salvation in Christ by reminding the believer that in Christ they have died to sin, been made alive to God, been forgiven and pardoned, and have victory over the Evil one.
The prayer of the heathen set forth as a negative example of prayer- vain repetitions prohibited- a reminder of the Father given
The priority of prayer presumed in the text, and modeled in the life of Christ. The necessity and delight of prayer considered.
What is prayer- -Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Jesus Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to His Word, for the good of the Church, with submission in faith to the will of God.- - John Bunyun
The basis, characteristics and response to the sovereignty of God considered- a call to rebel sinners issued- a comfort to the saints administered
In this message we consider the definition, necessity and relevance of the sovereignty of God.
In this passage, as Paul opens the heart of this epistle, He is saying to the believers, 'in Christ, you have all that you need, beware of anyone who says otherwise'.-Here in these few words before us, Paul is as a watchman on the wall, sounding the alarm, and employing the only defense that is sufficient to protect the believers from the enemy invasion. He does so by issuing a warning, identifying an error, and administering the weapon of Gospel truth. And we today, just as the church then, need to hear this warning, identify this danger, and administer the gospel as our defense.
In this passage Paul is teaching the Colossians, and us as well, that just as salvation is by grace, through faith, in Christ alone, sanctification is by grace, through faith, in Christ alone.
Suffering for the true gospel glorifies the true Christ and builds up the true church- therefore suffering ought to be met with joy.
As Paul turns to the theme of reconciliation, He calls us to consider the truth about God and the truth about man, to say if you have a wrong view of God or a wrong view of man, then you have a wrong view of reconciliation. And if you have a wrong view of reconciliation, you have a wrong view of the Gospel itself.
In this passage Paul sets forth the glory of Christ to say if this is not the Christ you believe in, you have a false Christ, a false gospel, and a false hope.
What does Christ say to the faithful church- Hold fast. In doing so, Christ makes it plain, the mark of a church that please Him is not popularity, attendance, or reputation, but faithfulness to Christ and His Word.
In this passage Christ is warning His people, that a passive tolerance of false teaching and open sin in the Church, provokes the righteous indignation of the Lord of the Church.