Stand Firm in the Gospel of God

Time of crisis in our nation want to read a Scripture of Scripture which we all need to hear not only to hear but to obey this morning looking at the third theme in our four themes. Lord willing, will think of the final next Sunday, the first thing was obey the word of God.

So as we read the Scriptures you don't know which one I'm going to read some of the one that we advertise in looking up you don't know what Scripture I'm going to read what is a Scripture in the New Testament so I want you to obey the Scripture obey the word of God and that the second thing which we thought of last week was preserve the unity of the spirit that we are to be people of peace, people of love. Popular vegetation in our homes in the church and in society we have to preserve the unity of the Spirit and then the third theme which is the focus this morning is stand firm in the gospel of God will be the work of God preserve the unity of the spirit and no stand firm in the gospel of God so here it is. First Peter chapter 2 verse 13. Here is the word of God to us today. Very relevant Scripture, and we believe that it is the word of God be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, did you hear that you're going to obey that you are being it the subject. Notice what Peter says, for the Lord say to every human institution. He's writing to Christians there scattered if you know the context of first Peter scattered throughout the known world. Because of the followers of Jesus Christ are persecuted thereunder from the Roman Empire with an evil empire persecuting them and here he writes to them not to be insurrectionist's not to focus on that.

But he says be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, brothers and sisters I remind you, whether you're a Republican or a Democrat or independent.

Whether you're a political activist, or whether you have zero interest in in politics. Here is the word of God to is because I think many today in our nation who profess the name of Jesus Christ, who in fact use the word of God for their own political ends have forgotten this Scripture we need to we need to be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution.

Yes, the Congress, yes, the president yes the governor yes the principal of the school. Yes, your employer, the subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution within it be to the Emperor as supreme, or to governors are sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good for this is the will of God. Virtually every day. I have conversations with people and am grateful for them and often comes down to this John pastor and I want to do the will of God. I am confused as I was at UH and I don't want to do the will of God will use a little of God in this very practical way to do it for this is the will of God may not be your will yourself oiled yourself determined that a bit of an agitator you want to get on social media and insult people to engage in fruitless debate to be involved in some kind of hate speech to adopt some kind of silly conspiracy.

All of that nonsense. This is the will of God, not by doing good. You should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people is not amazing their foolish people around in the first century there were ignorant people is not true today certainly is. I tried to give up social media, but I'm aware what's going on. There's a lot of foolishness, a lot of ignorance. Ignorance about the history of this country. Ignorance about many many things and they here is the here are the first century believers that are persecuted for their faith that under the heel of Rome spread out from their homes and he saying to them this is the will of God, whether you to do to retaliate to the tub evil for evil absolutely no as Jesus taught in the sermon on the mind would want to do that with some of our enemies and we are to do good in the middle of turmoil can I say to us and them in the middle of all is going on in the nation right now is that when it be wonderful if the millions and millions of professing Christians. Those who take the name of Jesus Christ, who claim to be followers of Christ would do good nor evil or difference that would make this country, where millions profess the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but are not acting as followers of Jesus Christ. Because when you're doing evil when you're battling if you're in insurrectionist and supporting that you're going right against the word of God, but some of you don't like missing this, but here it is. This is the will of God, that by doing good. You should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people live as people who are free we Americans pride ourselves and are thankful for this freedom freedom as Americans, but Peter is talking about the greater freedom of freedom of being a follower of Jesus Christ. We been freed from sin would no longer under the shackles of the enemy.

We are free.

The freedom that Jesus gives you will know the truth that Jesus and the truth will make you free.

It is the truth not lies of the devil. And here is truth. You are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, which is what many people are doing with free I have the rights as the First Amendment private right to do such and such a right to say such such and such. You may have a rights. What are you using that rights are you using that freedom as a cover-up for evil people to be writing to the country. We believe the Bible is a living word of God unsay well it was written 2000 years ago.

Yes, it was written 2000 years ago. But if the apostle Peter was standing on this pulpit today. I believe this is what the Scripture is he would read the Scripture unit don't use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God literally living as slaves of God, you are a servant of God, you're a slave of God. Verse 17 honor everyone you doing that.

Everyone personally disagree with a person who is directly opposed to your views on that everyone love the brotherhood without of that last week that we are in the brotherhood of the church, the community of believers and to love people. This is one of the characteristics of the church of Christians that we love the brotherhood but then he says fear God with everything you do you do the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom.

Have we forgotten that we living in the fear of God seemed to me that we are seems that we've largely forgotten God that we use God to put out on the selfish ends or for political ends.

We quote scripture out of context and wait say were followers of Jesus is saying, fear God. Honor the emperor on this thing like Christians who persecute us.

Just as Peter, you are to be in to be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. This is what we're called to were called to do good work called to love others. We do that we must stand firm in the gospel of God first Peter five first Peter five verse 12 of the Scriptures refused unit is by so very nice and faithful brothers are to God and have written briefly to you, exalting and declaring that this is the true grace of God stand firm and it and surely he's referring among other things, in the passage I just read in first Peter two with the stand firm in the gospel were to stand firm in the grace of God were to stand firm in the teaching of Scripture and not find ourselves drawn then to ungodly and un-biblical attitudes and actions.

Just because others are doing it when we difference their theme for 2021. Third theme is the stand firm in the gospel of God. This followers of Jesus Christ is important that we are known as people of love, not bigotry, not prejudice, not pride, but people of conviction that is conviction based on the word of God is like teach the word of God so that you have convictions that you understand this is not what John Monroe just believes her Calvary church with is the living word of God and it pierces us that and perhaps the Scripture. I just read you didn't really want to hear know that because that's the nature of the word of God into two edged sword cuts as it exposes us say strong, you're behaving like this. Listen to the word of God live in a very rapidly changing culture, Don. We were believes in the laws and opinions of my silent people say what it means to be in the right side of history. All of that quickly changing and the support in this followers of Jesus that we understand the culture that we understand what's going on so that we can engage the culture to the biblical and in a gracious and persuasive way, but we must never assimilate with a culture nothing. This is largely what is happening today.

There are many who profess the name of Jesus Christ on adopting attitudes and actions which are really quite ungodly that we've allowed ourselves to be conformed to the culture.

It may have a a big deal of Christianity, but it it is in.so much of it is in direct conflict with the word of God and we stand not on some kind of cultural Christianity, not some Americanized Christianity. We stand firm in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and can remind you that Jesus calls you to be different. Jesus says that you are to be lights in the world. Lights illuminating the darkness salt permeating the culture that is that often we are in direct conflict with the culture instead of selling ourselves out to the culture we are and often in direct conflict with it and we are to shine in the darkness and the salt is to be penetrating the corruption standing firm in the gospel of God.

No time to first Corinthians chapter 15 Buster Hathaway referred this to us. This standing firm.

Peter says in first Peter five standing firm in the grace of God. When you do that is the grace of God, the truth of God stand firm in its think of what you hear and of whether it's is conforming with the holy Scriptures. First Corinthians 15 verse one note remind your brothers of the gospel I preached to you, which you received in which you stand. That's it.

And, by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain of the holdfast of this. What is it Paul, for I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was voted that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures that he appeared to Cephas than to the 12. It is probably comes the current was he going to say Paul is an intellectual.

We understand the Old Testament Scripture understand the philosophies of the day and he can engage the best of the debaters are not on terms but when it comes to calling their corrupt sinful city. What does he do. He reminds them that he preach the gospel. This is the gospel. They received, this is the gospel in which they stand to say this is the gospel, by which they are being saved and it is of first importance number one. The gospel primary importance and says Paul in verse three I received it. Paul got the gospel who gave him the gospel regarding from God himself. This is not by gospel. Although Paul can identify with the gospel.

So much of the sometimes those referred to as as my gospel is the gospel of God that has its origin in God's "comes to Corinth, he says in first Corinthians 2 verse two, he decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul's message Christ crucified of all of the things that he could have said it's Christ crucified. Paul understood because the gospel comes from God, it cannot be changed, and Frank says Paul in Galatians 1. Even if an angel from heaven comes and preaches another message rejected. He says even of an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary, contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed Galatians when it but I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached to you, is not man's gospel but I didn't receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1 verses 11 and 12. That is, says Paul, is a supernatural message coming from God himself. This is God's gospel. The gospel of God and therefore, if you believe that is either it is the gospel of God. We must stand firm in the gospel of God. The gospel were just the message Paul devised if it was a message which came from an ancient philosopher if it were just the latest cultural trend we could rejected. We could adapt to its we could revise it. No, says Paul, here is the gospel. It is ones and all delivered and therefore we must stand firm in the gospel of God because it comes from God himself, but just think of what God and his grace is done with this. The gospel means good news. God looking at us from heaven is sending diving goods use a reverse want to emphasize in this is also saying to sanctity of life Sunday. I want to emphasize that God is our sovereign creator God made you that's very basic. I mean very basic today.

The gospel is very basic is off first importance that God is our sovereign creator know that of course is denied by motor more people.

Charles Darwin with his account of the origin of human beings considered, there's no need to resort to a creator not in any other external agent's theory of natural selection made it unnecessary to have a creator to explain the origins of life. Charles Darwin was concerned. No need for divine design. No need for a design architect, we can explain why life comes here you think of it.

The idea one of the reasons why evolution is so acceptable that one level that didn't one species can evolve from another doesn't seem too difficult to grasp. Look at a and then look at yourself or someone else we could be our next meeting.

Understand you want one. Sweet ones really like this once reacted like that is not weird speak with its that's true they can they make it makes sense and in this way. Of course that biblical account of Genesis is rejected.

Human beings are not really that different from animals regarding to the evolutionists to some of us, myself included, it seems rather far-fetched life and act originated from a single single celled organism and then progresses upwards and onwards, an ever increasing complexity to culminate in man himself that led to me dates quite a jump with evolution has become widely accepted our members and schoolboy high school as we were studying science and studying biology and bisecting worms and cockroaches and finally we were able to get our grandson-to it and we were taught that it is. See you started with a with the amoeba on your work competent into rats and then we didn't.

And then there's a and then there's human beings in the popular adage I don't hear it so much nowadays but when I was in school was science has disproved the Bible and decedent. If you are sensible educated person you rejected creation, rejected the whole idea of God, but evolution makes sense explains that were created by blind and purposeless material processes and we are accommodation of chance events and impersonal natural laws because Mars is a closed system of material causes and effects and that can be influenced by anything outside of it so you don't need God and God is a figment of our imagination. People dreamt up God because they couldn't account for the natural processes but now we can through evolution and product, and God is then rejected is a product of a prescientific age and if you been taught evolution disease 11 about it to me the more I learned about it, the deeper my faith in God came as its high school. We went through it is all of this doesn't make much sense. The Bible begins very first verse on the lead. I quickly don't read it but ill of the Bible begins Genesis 11 is the first book in the Bible first verse was it say in the beginning God created times God created the heavens and we stand firm and that that God is the creator of everything, including ourselves. Psalmist says some hundred verse three know that the Lord his God. It is he who made us are not we ourselves, says John and his brilliant prologue all things were made through him and without him was not made anything that was made. Paul and that magnificent doxology in Romans 11 by saying, for from him and through him and to him are all things God is the clear, that is, the sustainer is the goal of everything to him be glory forever. God is the sovereign. The dog is the most important reality that is in fact the grind of all of the other reality is that creator is the absolute ruler over everything over his works over creation over the whole universe. God is in control. The supreme is unique is the designer is the creator is the eternal God is the sovereign creator of all things, and we stand firm in the gospel of God. This message comes from God. Yes, we believe in God. Not only do we believe in God. We believe that he is the sovereign creator, therefore we reject the abolitionist theory accepts the word of God in the beginning God created the heavens – but I want this to take to take this more personally sovereign God. Yes, he made everything, but in particular he made us in his image grasp this Genesis want you can all find that your Bible Scripture may have difficulty getting the book of Zephaniah Genesis 1st page in the Bible the Bible that we need to see this is wonderful. Genesis 1 verse 26 then God said notice. God is a God who speaks God is a God who reveals himself, God speaks we must listen.

We must obey God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the so God created man in his own image in the image of God he created him male and female he created them. Notice that with all of this transgender business.

God created them male and verse 31 and God saw everything that was made and behold it was very good and there was evening and there was morning and the six-day we are made in the image of God, the sanctity of human life, which we celebrate the day arises out of being made in the image of our Canadian some animal rights activists want to say that animals are just as important as human beings we are to have dominion over the animals wish to be kind to animals. The robbers tells us that sober. So be kind to your dog. Be kind to your cart is coming you can be to goldfish but that whenever you have a pet I be kind to but that is a huge difference between an animal and the person was the main difference was created by God, human beings uniquely are made in the image of God. Therefore, every human being, including that person that you disagree with every human being including a person who insults you, every human being is made in the image of God and therefore has inherent dignity and value. We believe that we must we must stand firm in the gospel of God, the God who created us in his image.

No, I realized because of sin, as described in Genesis 3. The image of God in sending you his mind and scarred but it's still there. No we are not perfect representations of God, no, we do not matter perfectly, very virtues of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are still imperfect in our actions and attitudes, but nonetheless every person is made in the image of God, not that is tremendous relevance than tremendous relevance.

How you speak to people tremendous route relevance and how you treat your elderly father mother or grandfather.

I've had people say to me, even Christians really. I can see my my mother you know she's she's got dementia. She doesn't really know me and and is really difficult for me to go in and see your mother, aged, perhaps with dementia. She is made in the image of God on how we treat the elderly how we treat other races as an individual. I mean, comes with a little different background to the different color of skin is different features from me, we may find that we may speak a different language. Nonetheless, whoever that person is.

I'm to treat with dignity and value. There is no place here for racism for superiority of one race over another. Absolutely not.

Every single person is made in the image of God.

I think tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day. A reminder in this great country we still have racist attitudes yes from all races. I understand that as part of her fallenness that we want to separate ourselves from people we want to think were superior. We want to reject them. Don't do that that individual is made by God and is made in the image of God. This is very relevant. How we treat the disabled is I'm so glad we've got a minister at Calvary for the special needs were brothers and sisters whom some disability with her. That's physical or psychological or mental, that there still made in the image of God to be treated with love and respect tremendous relevance as to how we treat the poor and homeless person you meet.

Remember that man that woman is made in the image of God and of course has tremendous relevance as to how we deal with the unborn, that unborn child that little girl that little boy and his or her mother's womb is made in the image of God that brings dignity. We stand firm on the sanctity of life and the sacredness and dignity of all human life.

And furthermore, when you think about you being made in the image of God to shoot subjects in the vinegar then turn in detail being created in the image of God's purpose and meaning. Each life is created by God for his glory that gives purpose of yard and one of the deacons testimonies that his marriage is line for sport is for the glory of God. An understanding God places us here and that were made for the purpose you are made for the purpose God created you for a purpose. I'm created for a purpose.

Now here because of some cosmic accident is evolutionist would say no wonder so many people don't have any purpose. The French existential is used to argue that really life that is absurd if I'm just the result of a cosmic accident was a purpose would die due lives absurd likes to joke and I have to think to get myself in some no belief you hear for a purpose that is a very heavy subject to him and tell an amusing story right.

It's about a got Scotsman golf you that golf was invented in Scotland. What you knew that most good things were, but there we are so that's why were so humble, so I Scotsman was demonstrating the game of golf. Pres. Ulysses Grant writing about golf Scotsman was was illustrating the game and he put the ball in the tea, he teed up Andy – huge hits the ball totally misstates in his nervousness with the president watching the grind and this on the dirt went up to the presidents beard. Undeterred Scotsman known for the determination.

Some are enemies would say our stubbornness, but none for the determination Scotsman continued still very nervous tried it a few times and again three or four times. Totally missed the ball. The president looked at this and said you know, there seems to be a fair amount of exercise. In this game but I failed to see the purpose of the ball was pretty funny.

I failed to see the purpose of the ball mean we we we were geared to certain things in the purpose, what, why, why am I here and there was my purpose is a wonderful thing that God has created you listen to its students. All of us. But God's major for purpose. Whoever you are. He knows you knows your name. Laughing about you is arranged for you to be on this planet, this time for a purpose made in the image of God, unique creation and that means we treat every individual with dignity, with respect which we cherish one another and we do that, not based on what they do not based on where they come from. Based on this, there may image of God. Remember that yes we believe in a creator. We stand firm in the creator who created us for a purpose of the center of your existence is your psychological well-being, which is what the vast majority of people seem to think that they can do something that makes them feel good makes them happy.

If they authenticate themselves then they do that sort of got God in the center of the life of the field of God that Peter talked about not doing everything is an active glory to the Lord, but the psychological well-being.

If that is the case, I can understand and the seven surprising that an unborn child can be disposed is a piece of unwanted tissue is happens we can followers of Jesus. Human life is made in the image of God. From the moment of conception we stand firm in this we stand firm for the sanctity of life. We stand firm in the gospel, the good news of God created by God made in his image as Peter said, stand in the grace of God was the grace of God with our solvent written creator has a plan for our salvation, racist is magnificent great grace upon grace God made me made me these image mainly for the purpose of I don't go my own way.

Genesis 3 history of humanity without exception, which Satan will come shortly blown it set of living in the field of God. We live in fear of others really put our own happiness. We we put God away. We may not openly deny the existence of God.

But we we live as if we were God are so yet God and love and grace.

Seeing her hopeless dialogue has devised a plan for your salvation with back in first Corinthians 15 Paul reminds them. He said I preached the gospel to you which you receive. Yes the gospel originates with God is good news comes from God many philosophies, many religions, many opinions, many points of view in our society, not culture, but the gospel is unique and comes from God himself as a divine message is the gospel of God will stand firm and that and this means that that we don't tamper with the gospel.

The people who want to kind of change the gospel to make it more user-friendly was facing the gospel is hard-hitting and wants to be told that their sinful and there's other things of judgment different things.

So let's reconstruct the gospel to make it more palatable that if it was a human message you could do that soon I was okay.

2000 years ago, but people are different.

So let's come up with our own message.

Let's rebrand it.

No, you don't rebrand the gospel. If you try to change the gospel you will no longer have a gospel is a supernatural message coming from God himself is origin is not in us is not in Calgary church is not in our human tradition is not in some confession of a church is in God himself is why Paul says this is of first importance. First Corinthians 15 verse three is a first importance. The gospel writes, don't miss it. This is what I came to call in for Paul is saying I preach that you received it as 1/3 means by which are being saved. Stand firm, and it don't deviate from the gospel. It is our first importance communal compromise on the gospel. Absolute none could make it more palatable.

Many churches do many preachers who we can do that brothers and sisters. We must stand firm in the word of God sent firm in the gospel of God. That was the content of the gospel is about Jesus Christ the gospel of God concerning his son Jesus Christ. Moses had Paul defines and describes it. I delivered to you as a first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with temperature. Yes, this is God's way of salvation. This is the means by which you are being saved. Understand this, the God and his grace.

Seeing your dilemma sends his son into our world, we celebrate that at Christmas but we celebrated every day of our lives that God comes to us. Jesus Christ is God sinless God dies on the cross.

He says for your sins. Notice that not gospel is not just the Jesus died.

It is that he died for our sins.

People don't like the word sin today is that the real group makes people uncomfortable were told. I mentally I speak too much about sin will continue speaking about sin, because the gospel involves sin good to see his is about the forgiveness of our sins. The cleansing of our sin, but that happens through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross so the cross of Christ is central to the gospel that God commands his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

If you don't acknowledge your sin. There could be no salvation will come to Jesus as they help you through life come to Jesus so he got a better job come to Jesus so you can get a Christian husband or wife is on the gospel gospel is more fundamental to who you are. Your made in the image of God that God created you, you're accountable to God, but spiritually speaking, you lost your dad in your sin, and Christ comes now and does what only he can do as a perfect God man dying for our sins, demonstrating that he's God on the third day he was raised from the dead, proving that his work on the cross is perfect.

Accepted by his father as he ascends to his father and is seated at his right hand. Perfect salvation itself. Turn from your sin and believe the gospel and receive Christ sins may be forgiven. We have eternal life because our Lord Jesus Christ has done what only he can do. He's gone ahead of us into debt to think you can defeat that course starts over. 19 but other diseases demonstrate that you can defeat that you're afraid of death and Joe of course right Christ, we should be a magnificent Lord Jesus Christ goes into dad and dies. Our dad goes in the darkness of the devil and death itself and Congress imposes he takes the sting of death out. I know he calls us to follow us. And as you follow Jesus Christ. He never asked you to go when he has not. First, God, life into dad and feared that the Lord Jesus Christ is gone there is Concord and is risen from the dead and says I'm the resurrection and the life you follows me are in the resurrection of life, though you were dead, yet shall resurrection life and this is the gospel that we place our faith in Christ. My sins are forgiven. I receive eternal life now I receive the Holy Spirit now the Spirit of Christ, indwells me and whatever may happen. This I know that Christ will never leave me.

I keep my eyes on him and he gives me eternal life because he has conquered death and is alive forevermore and that we prayed for us and we prayed for some families here's were going through bereavement and all of us have experienced the loss of a parent, child, friend, the dreadful reality that this person is is no longer with us Prentice-Hall in our hearts and then we remember that the trust is in Christ, and there with the Lord Jesus Christ for we sent firm in the gospel how important it is with all of the changes going on that we stand firm in the gospel understanding were created by God made in his image to him that we cannot buy our own efforts and intentions get to God and praise God for his grace. So it is by grace that you saved through faith in.

On the other of yourself is the gift of God. The wages of sin is that, by the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

You see the use of the gospel received eternal life. Don't tell me just because you were raised in a Christian home. All is well know no wonderful to be raised in a Christian praise God for that question is not the home you come from the state of your heart and have you personally placed your faith in Christ done that do that do that now all of us have said no not all of us have taken us in life with all of us have sinned and come short. Apart from Christ. We have no here's the good news Christ is come, and offers you eternal life. If you repent and cry to him for salvation enemy. The mother, the deceiver line my the been very successful to the nation. Recently he's a murderer from the beginning to trust in Christ, the resurrection and the life.

He defeats that the darkness and the devil says if you come to me will give you eternal life asked you to come. This is the gospel of God and we stand firm in the gospel. Why in the gospel. Sinners are saved in the gospel. The loss of funds in the gospel. The dead receive new life in the gospel. The guilty are forgiven. In the gospel that the files are washed in the gospel. The condemn are justified. This is the gospel of God, believe it, receive it, live it, stand firm in the gospel of God. We pray with me to never receive Christ. We God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Trust the Savior.

No do it now.

As a follower of Christ, asked God that he would reaffirm your faith in our faith.

Waivers doesn't look around and with car top, sometimes in these things we need to confess that the Lord and pray use an individual's, a family that we as a church, particularly the leaders of Calvary church with all of us will stand firm in the gospel of God you pray with me. Father I pray for those who still lost hope really are with her purpose. Pray that they will receive Christ, pray for many here who are followers of Christ sins Penobscot eyes of Jesus may relate to strengthen our faith from father, we want to do good in the society we want to do your will. As we read that we want to be light and salt is difficult for us is easy for us to compromise and we ask your forgiveness. Ask your strength.

Give us wisdom. Wisdom that comes from above so that we know when to speak and spread to remain silent, that we know what it is to answer, to give a reason for the hope that is within us. But to do that with meekness to do that with patience to do that, radiating the love of Christ.

We are blessing be on us in Christ