Romans Chapter 3:28-4:3

Dear Sir, there always faithless… By clustered membership of the faith alone is not my words, this is what does this mean we don't ever have to do anything good is not what I mean. The moment you change what you believe and who you trust and then everything changes.

Welcome to cross a bridge with Dave McGee. Good works are not the basis for salvation, but they are the roots of our salvation today. Pastor David encourages us to look at that fruit as we continue in the book of Romans chapter 300 was announced today to begin. Romans chapter 3 let's pick it up. Verse 28 is, therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law or is he the God of the Jews only is he not also the God of the Gentiles, since there is one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith do we then make void the law through faith. Certainly not on the contrary, we establish the law to start on my grace is belief a theological term of antinomianism and that's pretty much a were saved by grace and go do whatever doesn't matter what you do that, that's not right.

That's heresy. What the Bible teaches. Once alerts as we know what best face you can be forgiven. You can have a clean slate. Then I give you the freedom to do what's right.

You're not set free to do whatever you please set free to do what's right in the cervical now you can trust mechanical room keep and if you are you gonna come to a place where just signed a work use the word condemnation only explain this to terms condemnation and conviction. Give an example of condemnation listlessly messed up this week going out to lender so part of you thought man messed up.

I want to go to church like an ass, we quit that's condemnation condemnation pushes you away from the Lord pushes you away from his grace pushes you away from his mercy the part of you say well you know I messed up this week. Can't wait for Sunday.

Can't wait to going to church have some worship time with you and getting the word can get refocused again. That's conviction.

Conviction draws you to God, condemnation pushes you away from God and of the whole thing was just a legal structure newsstand can then guess what you can run from God. But the moment you begin to understand that through grace when you mess up you can run to God. Well friend that changes everything. Reality in its kind interesting when we mess up.

Gonna run your gonna run when you mess up that the unit we we got is interesting.

Some animals their first instinct is to flee like a horse or deer or fatal. They hear a noise, they run away and then the lid back to was especially about horses getting used to because every time you pass them on public they think there's a monster going to jump up and you gotta get you used to. We have that same tendency to run question is friend unit run to God, you gonna run from grace makes it possible to run to and that changes everything.

Then you want to begin living for the Lord, because you can throw off this yoke of condemnation upon start my later book of Romans chapter 8 verse one also verse beautiful verse. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit you will go on the new living translation for that. This is so now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. No condemnation.

This is so awesome if you walked in here this morning with a bunch of guilt and shame over stuff that's happened. You'll have to walk out like the end of the service you can come up or you can dump and let go of it is, you weren't built to carry that and if you continue to carry it crush no more than you could go out and start carrying vehicles out in our parking lot around assignment work once I go to work you carrying your guilt and shame when Jesus was harmonious. It come to me all you who are burdened and heavy laden, he didn't say hey you know I don't get rid of your burden. Don't be so heavy laden, and then you can come to me.

Somebody said come to him as you are. Come to him with whatever's going on in your life and then God will forgive you why to reward you for good deeds. No because you change the way you believe this is so, so important of the phase foundation because we've change this and I hear the sometimes and you know they say will what about this. What about that what what about repentance we change the definition of repentance. Now what a lot of people define repentance as good behavior. Originally, that was not what repentance meant in the Bible not biblically literally in the Greek it means to change your mind, change what you believe. I'm asking question how long does it take to change what you believe someone your pastor is probably moment may be involved in you know a girl or boy or whatever that you just knew you know that they were the wine or whatever you just you just you believe that you trust that had faith in and in a moments notice what you believed, changed and everything else followed. Same thing with Jesus you come to Jesus and and you change what you believe you change the way you think about the Lord and hear Paul trying to dismantle the one thing that keeps you from accepting the gracious gift of salvation from God is thinking. You can earn as long as you think you can only guess what you your charter the money come to the place you go, you know, I can earn I stand can then is there another way, Jesus. Actually, there's no factors, only one way is not to your works.

This is important understand is how what you base your relationship with the Lord on reveals what kind of Christian life based upon works you be miserable people are trying to base a relationship on God and works in there.

Just think they're just miserable. They're angry better. They been back like they been like baptizing vinegar and pickled or something that they're just in the harsh hateful why because you're going to lie for this frustration of trying to earn the righteousness of God when he plainly says that it's not happen in the moment you give up say no if I can do what I do dances. I'll bestow my righteousness on so you have to act scripturally you have to answer this question, is it behaving or is it believing is it behaving a believe court in this book is believing now. Let's be sure were clear, believing leads to a change in behavior. It leads to a change in behavior.

Jesus never said I get all your problems worked out and then you can come to me know.

He said he came to seek and save that which was lost as to where and how we've adopted this in churches. It's like some people have the assault. The process that you know the charges go that's where you go when you got it all figured out how it's not you go when you're the most messed up you've ever been in your life to get the answers to receive forgiveness is the place to run to when you mess up the place you run from behaving or believing next life lesson God's grace sets us free to do what's right and to do God's work friend. If you stood condemned by your past sins.

What can you do for the kingdom of God.

Nothing you stand can then stand guilty but God does want to live there and stay there. So me give you grace when we set you free to worship me to love me to love other people to be motivated and the good things you do. Not much on her righteousness be motivated by love.

Paul points out first printed these as you know, if you do this and you do that you give your body the burned and you're not motivated by the love it's not what an astounding statement strong statement. How are you motivated by love what lover you motivated love for God because of his love for you. That's how you rise above these things because when you understand God is willing to forgive you of all these other things we talked about their something happens and you can't believe you're willing to forgive me but I want to serve you to start letting go. These things are hold me back, and then you begin to be un-overcome her in these areas. God is a being overcome her economies come to me and I'll make you an overcome in this passage in Romans chapter 8 verse 37 says, yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Thank you for listening to cross the bridge with David McGee will return to David's teaching in just a moment the tragedy in Benghazi.

The bombings in Boston in the current unrest in Egypt are all vivid accounts of terrorism each time an event like this occurs, it often causes us to respond with fear. But it doesn't have to because God knows your future and you can to with David McGee's teaching entitled know your future immune to terrorism.

You'll come to understand the realities of radical Islam while rejoicing in God's promises for your future. Don't allow fear to consume your life. Instead, find hope with this month's special offer.

Know your future be immune to terrorism know your future is available as a CD or DVD, and is our gift to you when you call today with a donation to cross the bridge ministries is because of your continued faithful support that were able to broadcast across the nation.

With the life-changing word of God to help support cross the bridge and receive your CD or DVD copy of know your future call 877-458-5508 or go online to cross the bridge.com and now let's return to pastor David's verse by verse teaching in the book of Romans chapter 4 verse one says what then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh other words, what has he found in his journey of faith. What has he discovered as he discovered it through human effort studies able to achieve perfection as he found that is through faith.

I could ask a question of each person and have you found that through good works you can achieve perfection thinking persimmon here and you're being honest or listen and you're being honest yes I know I tried to achieve perfection through good works. I can't get there and that's not just you, that's me, that's everybody else that's what this passage is talking, not even Abraham was dependent upon God's grace now again that verse 31 is a saint. Okay, so there's great so let's all do away with anything God has to say law silencing the law and grace are our partners of you with because if it wasn't for the law, you would know that you need a grace again were talking about this this term justification being justified and and again reminding justification is a legal term meaning, just as if I'd never did it, just as if I never did print it. It's not just a question of God loving yourself.

He removes your sentence as far as the east is from the west you go out on a clear day somewhere like Montana or somewhere we can see the horizon on both sides got saying that's how far removed you from yourself. I struggle with this is a young believe I had things that's okay got. I accept you for gave me of this lesson, but there was there was some incidences of my life.

The Going to got going. God please forgive me this everyday God please forgive me this.please forgive me. I didn't understand every time I brought up time is like what didn't say anything, but as a business day after day filing that still small voice. The Lord for support was not enough store owners doing me was about was not enough for you that I bled, was crucified, knows be hung on the cross for your sentence and now in the way that you're praying for forgiveness or sample got accepted forgiveness for this group ascends but I want accepted for this cent was my death on the cross. Not enough to cover this in as well. It broke my heart support. I'm so sorry accepted forgiveness for all of the and I know now truly that you forgiven me all the say hello start talking about this. There is being saved by justification only through faith. Solo Fidelis was one of things that came out of the Reformation only by faith, not by works only by faith. Faith does lead to worse, with only faith justification by faith and you hear that you go just crazy talk crazy.I don't think Shirley will start going great because you you just told him they came there and I can earn salvation can earn salvation or by just don't all man don't do that. There when you realize how much God loves you. In order to make this offer to some changes some changes verse to prove Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God of Abraham himself had earned it. He could brag about this, this, not a misconception. So I was think okay in the New Testament. You saved by grace and by faith. But not just because a Bauer Canadian yesterday by grace yesterday by faith with Jesus and God. Think of it this way, they can have if you will grace on credit. In other words he believed in God. They had faith in God. Abraham had faith in God yet seen the day of Jesus that could receive the full forgiveness of sins yet but have faith and receive forgive Jesus Christ out 2000 years ago we get to go back in time. If you will. The cross transcends top gods outside of time and matter in space so we can go back and ever since forgiven Abraham to go for and have his sins forgiven.

If you enjoy the benefits before the payment. If you're living in a house that you certainly understand the conflict as you probably don't know now you got but you're enjoying the benefits of the house without completely paying for same sort of concept with Abraham, but they started attaching once faith blesses its faithless circumcision is faithless good works is faithless and faithless. Anything folks. That's what Paul say any of your center was faithless… Faithless church membership is faithless baptisms for tenant. No, it's not faith alone because once you start making that list that list just grows and grows and grows and grows and again this is not my word. This is what God's word says now does this mean we don't ever have to do anything good.

It's not what it means. The moment you change what you believe and who you trust and then everything changes your heart your mind begin to change your behavior over time against the chain. The next life lesson hopefully will help. Good works are not the basis for salvation are the fruit of salvation. So once you come aboard and receive forgiveness in your behavior begins to change. Then you have this desire to go to church and do these other things. But that's not your basis for salvation for what does the Scripture say Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Abraham had good works. He immediately left. He left his family left this place is got to go someplace. I was a good work, but he did say he believed God that God was going to give them a sign talk about this one next week when he was 100 years old and his wife was 90. That's faith friends will talk more after he had a son he was willing to take human sacrifice have been faith in God that God would resurrect this faith if it was good works. He didn't go through the sacrifice. It was a failure. It wasn't a test of works. It was a test of faith and he passed with flying colors. Why because he was simply willing to believe there's a beautiful picture that this verse is taken from Genesis chapter 15 verse six is a direct quote and in the numbers as is any believe in the Lord and he Counted it to him for righteousness. He was credited in other words, imagine if you will leave all sound of your singers tractor was at work when you get to heaven. They watch a movie of your life.

Everything you've ever done wrong. That's a nightmare and imagine I'm not just talking about the things that other people know you done everything you've ever done wrong. Imagine being in front of God. He has it on the list. He has a list everything you've ever done wrong since you were a little things you did to your brother, your sister, your mommy, daddy, cousin Jan drunk all everything is looking at this list. How are you feeling at that moment probably pretty overwhelmed.

But then God turns to negotiate only see one word written here it's Jesus unsealed his when it says and he talked about Adam, Abraham, and he believed in the Lord, that the word there and you speak Hebrew, whether you know it or not, the word there in the Hebrew for believed is a man or a mom when you say amen what you mean is so be it. Your agreeing with the prayer, so be. In other words, God said they Abraham. Abraham this is the way it's going to be. He said, so be generous and this is your part and whole salvation process. Jesus died for you and your part is, so be accepted. Says I'm willing to forgive you of all your sense, so be accepted. Forgiveness of others.

God says this is a deal this is forgiveness.

This is grace. This is mercy only give you all these things in your part is amen, amen.

So be so be it. This is a reason they call the good news and it's not hey mom, I'll try harder, run faster, jump higher, is not hey you know well you jump 2 feet how you got a clear 6 feet before you get in is just agree with what got us that perhaps change your mind of your thinking, you can earn it change your mind this morning. Sonata can't earn it. I accepted, and all that is yours's amazing thing all the deal even on the belief thing you know we attach we get we get religious about the way you got believe without a doubt I were shared openly to that.

When I came to the Lord. The first time I was filled with doubt and doubts about God necessarily.

Well, maybe doubts about God's ability to forgive me be honest, but he still accepted me and let's be honest if it took come into the Lord. Without a doubt, no bite on the faces plan could've ever gotten safe because every one of us. When we came to them were like man I hope this is true I owe this really is the deal and is we realized it was we were amazed like the man he is son had some health issues and Jesus said nothing is impossible for those that believe in the man I love this verse.

He says you know what I do believe, help my doubt help my doubt you can come to the Lord with your doubt, but also come to them with your belief say Lord I do believe in everything changes like a story I heard this disc had wife and had a son, was a lover of art and collected Artie done really well in business collected masterpieces, Rembrandts and Picassos and he would sit with her son.

Look at these things was wife passed so the times of the sun got even more precious as they would look at the masterpieces and talk about the shading in the light in the different things in the well war came in. Son decided he won the fight for his country and going to the fight, but he died followers devastate extent still spent a lot of time in remembering the times of the sign couple weeks after son passed somebody came by him as a friend of your son and I'm not an artist but he really enjoyed art not under something that he liked and I thought you might want to have Jonah portrait of the man. Son, the man said this is this is a treasure paid the man handsomely for he removes something else from off of the fireplace and put this humble but accurate portrait of his son up there and would spend hours looking weird later with no wife, no offspring. The man passed away and was abuzz as all these masterpieces were to be up for auction. All these are people from all of the world comes auction the guy opens up with this portrait of the son. Our guys are like all man, let's get to the masterpieces of get to the good stuff Gus is no there's an order to the auction. This is one of my bid for the portrait of the Senate bid $500 in my safe semi bit $400 and by setting your $300 to do here $200 gardener been a friend of the family love.

The father loves the son shall give it to. I don't have a lot of money, but I give you $200 because you know I love that boy and it looks just like him and I want that for $200 Mensa $200 go once or twice sold for $200 knee runners, Downey's adoptions are nard people should not you got all these Rembrandts and Picassos that's that's what we came here is another actually were the following clause in the man's will that the portrait of the son would be the first thing up for auction and whoever got the son got everything got all the other masterpieces got the houses got the grounds got everything friend whoever gets Jesus gets it all. You get everything you get forgiveness. You can enjoy a relationship with the Lord God doesn't say hey come to me with this death grip. He said you know if you got a weak grip doesn't matter. Just reach out for Nancy, and get everything worked out and come to me, friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous. So congratulations you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you if this was your first time praying that prayer with Pastor David we would love to hear from you. You can call us toll-free at 877-458-5508 to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Also, if you been blessed by cross the bridge ministries would you consider supporting us with a financial gift when you call with your gift. Make sure to ask them about this month's special offer entitled know your future be immune to terrorism. This insightful teaching will fill you with hope and also help you understand the truth about Islam donate today and will send you a CD or DVD copy right away as a way of saying thank you for your support. Our number is 877-458-5508 677458508 or go online to cross a bridge.com. While there, take a moment to sign up for David's free email devotional or browser large library of teacher again. Our website is cross a bridge.com. Thank you for listening and we hope will join us again next time. As we continue to cross the bridge