The Model of Saving Faith

Old Testament Scripture Reading Joshua 2:8 – 15 (NASB) Josh 2:8  Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, Josh 2:9  and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. Josh 2:10  “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. Josh 2:11  “And when we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Josh 2:12  “Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, Josh 2:13  and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” Josh 2:14  So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” Josh 2:15  Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. New Testament Scripture Reading Romans 4:7 – 17 (NASB) Rom 4:7  “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. Rom 4:8  “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.” Rom 4:9  Is this blessing then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS RECKONED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Rom 4:10  How then was it reckoned? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; Rom 4:11  and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be reckoned to them, Rom 4:12  and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. Rom 4:13  For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Rom 4:14  For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; Rom 4:15  for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. Rom 4:16  For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, Rom 4:17  (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. Study Notes Transforming Power Statements: #1) Because of the doctrine of ‘original sin’ cleansing and forgiveness can only be done by God; and must also, therefore be by grace and not works, because no amount of works or Law keeping can be retro-active. #2) Furthermore, because even when we have been saved, since we are not ‘omniscient, we still commit sin and break God’s Law and need continual forgiveness and cleansing along the way. #3) These facts apply to Jews as well as to Gentiles and the Scriptures prove that God has and does grant pardon to both the circumcised and uncircumcised as well and that He always has for all who have faith in the likeness of Father Abraham, and even before.

© Straight Gate Ministries www.teachingbible.com www.teachingbible.org www.teachingbible.net teacher@teachingbible.org

Don’t let your gifts and talents sit unused…

The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I gained five more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

What are the talents God has given to you?

Are you one of those that doesn’t seem to recognize their own talents?

What are you doing to grow your talents?

I write to you today to encourage you to use the very gifts and talents that God has so graciously given you. Do you know that He too can take them away?

Consciously make yourself aware of your special gifts. “If you don’t know then you betta ask somebody!” Get some feedback from your friends, co-workers, and family. Simply ask them what they think that you are good at. Usually it’s so plain to see that it’s invisible to us.

You must know your gifts! You must know your gifts so that you can develop your gifts into what God purposely gave them to you for.

Now, everyday that you have left on this earth, make an effort to do something with your gift. You are not only developing your gift, but now you’ll be watching yourself grow through this process.

Matthew 25:20-21

Reprinted from Poetically Yours blog

Poeticailly Yours is the intellcutal property of Jana Gamble

Realizing The Reign of Righteousness

Old Testament Scripture Reading Hosea 13:12 – 15 (NASB) Hosea 13:12  The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; His sin is stored up. Hosea 13:13  The pains of childbirth come upon him; He is not a wise son, For it is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb. Hosea 13:14  Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight. Hosea 13:15  Though he flourishes among the reeds, An east wind will come, The wind of the LORD coming up from the wilderness; And his fountain will become dry, And his spring will be dried up; It will plunder his treasury of every precious article. New Testament Scripture Reading Romans 5:19 – 21 (NASB) Rom 5:19  For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Rom 5:20  And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Rom 5:21  that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Study Notes Transforming Power Statements: #1) What could never be done by man at any time was done by Jesus Christ once and for all who believe, that is to satisfy God by righteousness. #2) God’s quest for mankind, since He loved them, was to give them that which He required and that which they could not ever produce as a means of a “Free Gift”. #3) Only through Jesus Christ is it possible for righteousness to reign which is greater than the reign of death that still exists from Adam to present for all who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

© Straight Gate Ministries www.teachingbible.com www.teachingbible.org www.teachingbible.net teacher@teachingbible.org

Walking Securely In the Spirit ( Romans 8:1-9)

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Rom 8:3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Rom 8:4 in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Rom 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Rom 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, Rom 8:7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; Rom 8:8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Study Notes

Study Notes: #1) The flesh, which is the spirit of the old fallen nature, continues to militate against the perfect will of God in the life of all who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus the Messiah, and those who have believed the gospel must learn to overcome it’s evil impulses by wilful obedience to the will of God through the Spirit and the Word of God. #2) The Holy Spirit is God’s free gift to each and every one who believes the Gospel and is the seal of the salvation that God provides for free to everyone who is in Christ Jesus. #3) The gift of the Holy Spirit offers comfort and security to all true believers and is a great thing to be treasured in all generations. To download Sermon