Oct 18 2009

War

Posted by Anthony Crumley

Sermon by Joe Clark on Sunday, October 18, 2009.


Oct 16 2009

Romans 2:3

Posted by Anthony Crumley

Do you suppose, O man–you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself–that you will escape the judgment of God?

The implied answer to this question is no.  Yet, people suppose everyday that the answer is yes.  Believing that because they live a moral life God will not judge them.  They recognize it is wrong when people steal, murder or commit adultery.  They don’t do these things themselves but they do other things that God says are sins.  From His perspective they are doing the same kinds of things.  As a result, they will not escape the judgment of God.

We do not escape the judgment of God by recognizing the difference between right and wrong.  We escape His judgment by recognizing and believing in Jesus, the Son of God.

Romans 2:2Romans 2:4


Oct 15 2009

Think On These Things

Posted by Anthony Crumley

Obviously, the things that we think about are very important.  They have a significant impact on how we feel and the way we act.  In order to become what God wants us to be and to experience fullness of life in Christ, our minds must be renewed and transformed.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  (Rom. 12:2)

But that is not the way you learned Christ!–assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  (Eph. 4:20-23)

As believers in Christ, our thoughts should be different from the world’s and from what they were before we knew Christ.  Our natural tendency is to think selfish, sinful and corrupt thoughts.  We have to purposefully focus our thoughts on Christ and godly things.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  (Phil. 4:8)


Oct 14 2009

Romans 2:2

Posted by Anthony Crumley

We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things.

What things?  The things mentioned in verse 1, correctly judging the wrong doings of others while doing wrong also.  We can be confident and sure that the judgment of God will condemn all religious and moral people who agree with God’s law at one point and violate it at another point.  All of our goodness is not capable of making us acceptable to God.  In fact, it tends to make us unacceptable because we reveal our knowledge of good which justifies God in condemning us for our sin.  Only believing in the death of Christ to pay the price of our sin can make us acceptable before God.

Romans 2:1Romans 2:3


Oct 6 2009

Politics and the Gospel

Posted by Anthony Crumley

What if legalizing abortion, gay marriage, and removing prayer and bibles from schools were Satan’s secondary objectives?  What if his primary objective was to replace the proclamation of the gospel by Christians with political discourse and debate?  What if he is using these hot button topics to divert Christians from the gospel, which is the only thing he really fears from us?   If these are his true goals and priorities then he is executing his plan with amazing effectiveness.

Why are so many public prayers in churches focused on fixing the political system rather than effective proclaiming of the gospel?  This reveals a fundamental mind shift away from the gospel as the solution to the world’s problems.  While our country’s motto is still “In God we trust.”, it seems the church’s motto has become “In politics we trust.”

How often is the issue of discussion between believers and unbelievers the gospel of Jesus Christ rather than some hot button topic like abortion, gay marriage, or prayer in schools?  This simple measure reveals how far the Church has strayed from its God given mission.

For some odd reason, we Christians think that non-Christians should see the world from the same perspective we do.  We spend our time trying to convince them through debate or coerce them by legislation to our point of view.  This is entirely the wrong way to proceed.  We don’t change them to our perspective by convincing them or coercing them.  We do it by converting them.  The only way to covert them is by telling them about Jesus and asking them to believe on Him.  It is then Jesus’ job, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to change their perspective and convince them of the truth.

Do we think that creating another set of laws will save our country?  If the law of God could not save us, do we think that the laws of the United States of America can?  What the law can not do because of our own weakness, Jesus can do because of His perfect righteousness.  The law reveals our sinfulness but Jesus alone can provide us with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Some will object that if we don’t focus on political means that we are throwing up our hands in defeat and allowing Satan to take over our country.  Since when is lobbying for legislation fighting the good fight?  What ever happened to the gospel of Jesus Christ being the power of God unto salvation, both of individuals and our country?  When did the weapons of our warfare become political weapons rather than spiritual ones?  When did we begin to wrestle against flesh and blood rather than spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places?

God has given us one offensive weapon to fight with.  It is not our sharp tongues nor is it the United States Constitution.  It is the sword of the Spirit which is the bible.  The bible alone can reveal to us our thoughts and desires that are contrary to God.  It is there that we learn of Jesus and how He provided for our salvation.   It is through that document, and none other, He has provided all that people need to live lives of godliness and get along well with each other.

Is it wrong for Christians to be involved in politics?  No, as responsible citizens of the United States of America we have an obligation to be involved.  But the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope of mankind and must be the focus of ALL that we do and say.


Oct 5 2009

Serve One Another

Posted by Anthony Crumley

There is the idea that happiness and fulfillment in life come from freedom and success.  While there is some truth in this idea, the end result is often a selfish and self-serving lifestyle that is ultimately unfulfilling.  To find true happiness and fulfillment we must use our freedom in Christ to serve others rather than to serve ourselves.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Gal. 5:13, 14)

To be successful in God’s economy we must learn to serve one another.  The most successful person to God is the one who is the servant of all.

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (Matthew 20:25-28)


Oct 4 2009

There Will Be Trouble

Posted by Anthony Crumley

Sermon by Joe Clark on Sunday, October 4, 2009.


Oct 1 2009

Romans 2:1

Posted by Anthony Crumley

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

It is a common belief that people who are good and moral in this life will surely be accepted by God.  He would not condemn a moral person to hell, would He?  The thinking is that their morality justifies them before God.

Yet, the truth is that their morality actually condemns them.  By agreeing with God’s law at any point we show knowledge of His law and become responsible for all of it.  Then when we break His law at any point we are condemned by it.  When we say someone’s act of murder is wrong, we condemn ourselves at every point that we break God’s law, even though we never commit murder.

The only way a person can become acceptable to God is by believing on Jesus Christ, His Son, who alone has fulfilled the law at every point.  Jesus took upon Himself our sins so that we can be made acceptable to God by His righteousness.  He died on the cross for us so that we can live through Him.

Romans 1:32Romans 2:2