after faith: proof

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 2:14-26.   After faith comes into a person’s life, there will always be things that the person does that demonstrate the validity of that faith.  These works could never be the basis of that person’s salvation, but they can prove that the salvation is genuine.  To justify someone is to declare him righteous.  While Paul argued that only faith justified a person before God, James argued that works will inevitably surface in the saved person’s life as evidence of his faith before the world. 

LORD, make us people who demonstrate the validity of the faith we have in you – by the works that we do.

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after faith: impartiality

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce Harvest  James 2:1-13.  James continues to show what it is supposed to look like after faith in Christ has come into a person’s life.  One of the differences is that believers see each other differently.  They do not judge by the externals.  That is why partiality is so wrong.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross.  Poor Christians are just as significant in God’s eyes as rich Christians.  Their present status and eternal destiny is the same.  Faith in Christ makes equals of us all.

LORD, help us to demonstrate our faith in you by having the same care for one another – regardless of our differences.

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after faith: his creatures

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 1.   The purpose of James’ letter was to encourage a group of Jewish churches to stay true to their faith in Christ, and allow that faith to control their actions.

 

 

  1. Faith should produce steadfast living in times of testing.  Believers are God’s creatures – and the 1st century Jewish believers were “a kind of firstfruits” of that harvest (1-18).
  2. Faith should produce righteous living that demonstrates its genuineness.  The believer’s righteousness is positive – in that it helps the needy (like orphans and widows).  It is also negative – bridling the tongue, and keeping the life unstained from the world (19-27).

LORD, make us creatures who demonstrate our Creator’s faithfulness and righteousness.

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evangelism: celebrating the team

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

evangelismRomans 16.   Lest we get the mistaken assumption that Paul was single-handedly bringing the Gentile world to Christ, he includes the names of over 30 of his co-workers in this chapter.  This serves as a reminder that the work of bringing people to Christ is not reserved to a few special people.  Even those specially gifted and called as Paul was require a great number of helpers and supporters.  This chapter celebrates Paul’s team.  Whose team are you on?

LORD, show us the role we have in getting your gospel out to the world.  Help us to willingly invest ourselves in your work, and gladly share that work with others.

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evangelism: ministry and fellowship

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

evangelismRomans 15:14-33.   We have seen that the whole of Romans has to do with evangelism.  As Paul begins to conclude his letter, he describes that work using two metaphors.

 

 

  1. Paul’s work of bringing the gospel to the Gentiles is a ministry – a priestly service where he offers the Gentiles as a sanctified living offering to God (14-21).
  2. The Jews in Jerusalem who have shared the gospel with Gentiles have share spiritual blessings, so it seems right that new Gentile believers should share their material blessing with them.  They are part of the fellowship (22-29).

LORD, help us to minister to you by sharing your gospel with others.

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evangelism: perspective on edification

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

evangelismRomans 15:1-13.  How we get along with other believers has a definite impact on our evangelism.  When the watching world sees us biting and devouring each other over our differences, they think less of the gospel that we preach.  When they see us being servants to one another – as Christ was to his people – they will be more inclined to listen to our words. 

LORD, help us to follow Christ’s example, and so reach others with the message of his atoning sacrifice of grace.

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evangelism: perspective on differences

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

evangelismRomans 14.  Paul encourages believers in Rome to get along with each other by refusing to let differences be a cause for division.  There will be differences among believers, but we dishonor our mutual Lord when we use those differences for judgment and criticism.  We should seek to build each other up instead of tear each other down because of differences of preference.  When the world sees a church of very different people united in love for each other, it takes notice.

LORD, help us to love each other and so show the world where our love comes from.

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evangelism: perspective on the state

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

evangelismRomans 13.  Paul encourages believers to submit to the authority of the state here.  He argues that:

  1. God will punish law breakers (1-7).
  2. Obeying the law is a way of loving your neighbor (8-10).
  3. The time is short, so believers should “walk properly” (11-14).

How could Paul encourage the believers to submit to the evil, God-dishonoring Roman empire?  Remember that he had taught them to “repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” (12:17).  Leave vengeance to God. Be light even when the government is darkness.

LORD, help us to reach our authorities with the light of your gospel.

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evangelism: perspective on Israel

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

evangelismRomans 11.  Here Paul seeks to explain why so many of his own countrymen have rejected the gospel, while so many Gentiles are accepting it and getting saved.  He states:

 

 

  1. God is still sovereign over the salvation process – as he was during Elijah’s time (1-10).
  2. Israel is an example to Gentile believers that they should not become proud, but fear being cut off for unbelief (11-24).
  3. Israel’s disobedience is partial – so their present hardening is partial.  God’s gift of salvation can return to them (25-36).

LORD, we pray for the salvation of your people, Israel.  May all nations come to know the king before it is too late.

Posted in ethnic Israel, evangelism, faith, fear, sovereignty of God, witness | Tagged | 1 Comment

evangelism: perspective on success

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

evangelismRomans 9:30-10:21.  The children’s story of the tortoise and the hare teaches that success does not always come to the ones who are best equipped.  The same is true of spiritual success: finding salvation.  Paul was a Jew.  He knew that his own people had everything they needed to find salvation from the grace of God.  Yet so many of them stumbled over the stumbling stone: Jesus Christ himself (9:33).  By contrast, the Gentiles – like the Romans to whom Paul is writing – had disobeyed at every point.  Yet, when the heard about Christ – they put their faith in him.  Both groups were guilty of disobedience to the Law, but believing Gentiles found success – because of their faith in Christ.

LORD, help us to proclaim your gospel because believing in Christ is the only difference between spiritual failure and spiritual success.

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