Christ Covenant Church

(Romans 15:4) “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.” = What timeless instruction (truths/principles) is established by what is written? LEGEND: 1) Christianity is Judaism 2.0 (a marriage-covenant relationship of gain and maintain) NOT Roman Catholicism 2.0 ( a merit-based system of earn or burn) (Eze 16:59; Gal 5:6 w/21; Phi 2:12; 2Pe 1:5-11), 2) We gain positional/vertical justification (i.e., enter into a restful state/right standing/saving covenant with God) only through observance of God’s clean or sabbatical laws; those laws whose function is to cleanse/remove the stain/curse of our sin before God): [2.1.] OC = “the works of the law” (atoning sacrifice, a covenant sign [circumcision], atoning holidays [Passover-Pentecost, Yom Kippur], and spiritual separation [unclean foods and people], [2.2.] NC = Faith in Jesus Christ as our once-for-all atoning sacrifice which upholds the other clean/sabbatical laws through its new application/expression of: baptism (covenant sign – Col

(Romans 15:4) “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.” = What timeless instruction (truths/principles) is established by what is written? LEGEND: 1) Christianity is Judaism 2.0 (a marriage-covenant relationship of gain and maintain) NOT Roman Catholicism 2.0 ( a merit-based system of earn or burn) (Eze 16:59; Gal 5:6 w/21; Phi 2:12; 2Pe 1:5-11), 2) We gain positional/vertical justification (i.e., enter into a restful state/right standing/saving covenant with God) only through observance of God’s clean or sabbatical laws; those laws whose function is to cleanse/remove the stain/curse of our sin before God): [2.1.] OC = “the works of the law” (atoning sacrifice, a covenant sign [circumcision], atoning holidays [Passover-Pentecost, Yom Kippur], and spiritual separation [unclean foods and people], [2.2.] NC = Faith in Jesus Christ as our once-for-all atoning sacrifice which upholds the other clean/sabbatical laws through its new application/expression of: baptism (covenant sign – Col

(Romans 15:4) “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.” = What timeless instruction (truths/principles) is established by what is written?*Special note regarding the two forms of justice/justification necessary for gaining and maintaining a saving covenant relationship with God: 1) positional (vertical) = Right standing w/God gained thru the clean laws and covenant signs (OC: sacrifice, circumcision, ceremonial separation//NC: faith-expressing baptism in Christ [our sacrifice, circumcision and ceremonial separation]); 2) practical/penal (horizontal) = Faithfulness to the moral commands (including penalties) and covenant signs as maintenance (OC: sacrifice and ceremonial separation//NC: LT).

(Romans 15:4) “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.” = What timeless instruction (truths/principles) is established by what is written?Romans 21. It is not just those who know God’s righteous decrees - yet approve of sin (1:32) who are “without excuse” (1:20) and unable to “escape the judgment of God”, but also those who are hypocrites (i.e., people who “practice the very same things” they condemn in others) (1-3; Paul’s specific audience = Jews, those in covenant/right standing w/God – [17-25 “you”]).2. Interpreting God’s “kindness and forbearance and patience” toward you when you are in sin as the sign you don’t need to repent – or that you have somehow escaped His wrath and judgment, is the false presumption of a very “hard and impenitent heart” that is “storing up (or accumulating additional) wrath for [itself] on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment is revealed” (4-5).3. Paul did NOT preach the faith-alone gospel (i.e., that only faith was needed for justificatio

Romans 11. Those who are truly “set apart for the gospel of God” as imitators of “Paul” the “apostle” possess a message that teaches both Jews and Gentiles receive salvation through: 1.1. faith/vows of allegiance or loyalty (to King Jesus) (14-17 “from faith [for the “Jew”] to [Gk., eis = An indication of scope, 1Th 2:16] faith [for the “Greek” or the “barbarians”]) = Everyone now gains their right standing w/God (i.e., the “power of salvation” or “the righteousness of God”) the same way – thru belief/faith. This was a major change in respect to both who and how salvation was gained. In the past, it was to the Jew (exclusively) and according to the “works of the law” (i.e. circumcision - the sign given to Abraham and passed on thru Moses as necessary for entrance into covenant w/God and receiving forgiveness/cleansing thru its corollaries – separation and sacrifice; Rom 2:25-29, 3:1, 3:23-21, 4:1-12; See also Eph 2:11-22; 1Co 7:19; Gal 2:1-16, 5:2, 6:15; Gen 17:9-14). Paul’s emphasis on this aspect of salvati

Safely navigating our souls to the shores of heaven requires we spy the lies that lead to shipwreck and the truth those lies often conceal.1. You don’t have what it takes to live for God and get to heaven (2Pe 1:3).2. The Devil poses no threat to the Christian (1Pe 5:8).3. The consensus of pagans, our thoughts, our spiritual beliefs and our feelings are all things we can trust when attempting to discern truth (Joh 17:17; Isa 8:20).4. The Bible is your only spiritual authority (Neh 9:7-8; Jer 3:15).5. Stop trying to carry the heavy burden of obedience to the Law and start resting in God’s free grace.

Safely navigating our souls to the shores of heaven requires we spy the lies that lead to shipwreck and the truth those lies often conceal.1. You don’t have what it takes to live for God and get to heaven (2Pe 1:3).2. The Devil poses no threat to the Christian (1Pe 5:8).3. The consensus of pagans, our thoughts, our spiritual beliefs and our feelings are all things we can trust when attempting to discern truth (Joh 17:17; Isa 8:20).4. The Bible is your only spiritual authority (Neh 9:7-8; Jer 3:15).5. Stop trying to carry the heavy burden of obedience to the Law and start resting in God’s free grace.

Safely navigating our souls to the shores of heaven requires we spy the lies that lead to shipwreck and the truth those lies often conceal.1. You don’t have what it takes to live for God and get to heaven (2Pe 1:3).2. The Devil poses no threat to the Christian (1Pe 5:8).3. The consensus of pagans, our thoughts, our spiritual beliefs and our feelings are all things we can trust when attempting to discern truth (Joh 17:17; Isa 8:20).4. The Bible is your only spiritual authority (Neh 9:7-8; Jer 3:15).5. Stop trying to carry the heavy burden of obedience to the Law and start resting in God’s free grace.

Safely navigating our souls to the shores of heaven requires we spy the lies that lead to shipwreck and the truth those lies often conceal.1. You don’t have what it takes to live for God and get to heaven (2Pe 1:3).2. The Devil poses no threat to the Christian (1Pe 5:8).3. The consensus of pagans, our thoughts, our spiritual beliefs and our feelings are all things we can trust when attempting to discern truth (Joh 17:17; Isa 8:20).4. The Bible is your only spiritual authority (Neh 9:7-8; Jer 3:15).5. Stop trying to carry the heavy burden of obedience to the Law and start resting in God’s free grace.

Safely navigating our souls to the shores of heaven requires we spy the lies that lead to shipwreck and the truth those lies often conceal.1. You don’t have what it takes to live for God and get to heaven (2Pe 1:3).2. The Devil poses no threat to the Christian (1Pe 5:8).3. The consensus of pagans, our thoughts, our spiritual beliefs and our feelings are all things we can trust when attempting to discern truth (Joh 17:17; Isa 8:20).4. The Bible is your only spiritual authority (Neh 9:7-8; Jer 3:15).5. Stop trying to carry the heavy burden of obedience to the Law and start resting in God’s free grace.

In Matthew 6:19-24 Jesus reveals the power our discretionary and belief loyalties possess not only for determining who we truly serve (who we are loyal to as King), but also for producing the salvation-essential attributes of affection (for God) and conviction (in regard to the Word of God). Our confidence that loyalty is indeed His subject is confirmed by His conclusion (24 “serve…be devoted to” = be loyal to).

In Matthew 6:19-24 Jesus reveals the power our discretionary and listening loyalties possess not only for determining who we truly serve (who we are loyal to as King), but also producing the salvation-essential attributes of affection (for God) and conviction (in regard to the Word of God). Our confidence that loyalty is indeed His subject is confirmed by His conclusion (24 “serve…be devoted to” = be loyal to).

Act 17:22-31These verses represent Paul’s Mars Hill (Areopagus) address to the Athenians. In it we find six “shiny” words to think/talk about when you spend time after the sermon stuffing your face and fellowshipping for Easter.Why I refer to them as “shiny” = They are words that (in their context) evoke the kinds of conversations we need to be having with the people in our world today. They (I believe) are the conversations that bring the most needed forms of light to our dark and confused world. The song, Shiny Happy People (by R.E.M.) has also been playing in my head. (22) "Religious" = Possessing a system of morality (right and wrong). That is all the word “religion/religious refers to: a person’s moral beliefs. As humans, we are moral creatures by nature (creatures concerned with right and wrong). This is what makes us different than the animals.1.1. What therefore Paul says to the Athenians is true about all humans. We are all very religious. This includes people who would claim they are “not religious.

1. The King’s math1.1. Christ = King (Luk 23:1-2)1.2. Love = Loyalty (Joh 14:15)1.3. Upgrade = Sacrifice (Phi 2:5-11)1.4. Holiness = Intolerance (of sin) (2Co 7:1)1.5. My King is King > All other Kings (gods included) (Mat 28:18).1.6. My King’s reboot > than your best life now. (Rev 21:1-5).1.7. Serve the King = savor the Kingdom (Phi 1:21-23)2. The King’s inquiry2.1. Do you serve the King? (or, I serve the King, who do you serve?) (1Jo 5:19)2.2. Why would anyone be so stupid not to serve the King? Only the King can offer a life free from pain (Rev 21:4 versus the Atheist/religions of the world = Free from pain at death – not during life. The reality for the Atheist/religions of the world = Rev 20:15).2.3. What happens to you if the King returns in 2046? (2Th 1:7b-10)3. The King’s speech3.1. The King is not your holy toilet.3.1.1. As long as I confess my sin to King Jesus, I don’t have to worry about consequences b/c He takes care of it. He is my holy toilet. Text often used to support this kind of thinking (

Nobody gets to heaven by themselves. Why? Because Christianity is a team sport. We need to be on the King’s team, the church. More than that, we need to be doing our part to see that the King’s team is a success. Here then is what you need to know about the King’s team and your place on it:Every church member is important to the team’s success.(1Pe 1:18-19) = The King purchased you for the team at the incredibly high price of His own blood. What does that mean? Jesus believes you are important to the team’s success (e.g. The Browns recent acquisition of Deshaun Watson for a guaranteed $230m [most guaranteed money in NFL history] = The Browns believe Watson is important to their success). Jesus would not have done given His precious blood for someone He didn’t believe could have a major impact for His team. Hence why Peters says (1:13a “prepare your minds for action”) = Get ready to make an impact for the team you were purchased at a high price to pay for – to show you are worth the price that was paid versus

Though we cannot know the exact day or hour (Mat 24:36), the evidence strongly suggests that we be prepared for our King to return in approximately 25 years.Year 6000 will mark the end of human history and the return of our King.(2Pe 3:1-10):1.1. We need to remember that Jesus and the apostles predicted His return (1-2).1.2. Sinful people ignorant that God has already made good on His promise to destroy this world will laugh at our claims of the King’s return and the final destruction of this world in fiery judgment (3-7, 10).1.3. God wants us to have some sense of when Jesus will return so as to be ready versus eternally perish (9; Mat 24:32-36 = Though [once more] we cannot know the exact day and hour, we can know when we are “near” – i.e. within 40 years, “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” = The King’s first return in 70 A.D. [~40 yrs later]).1.4. We must not overlook the “one fact” most important to determining when our King’s final return is near [~40 yrs?]: the ancien

 (Act 5:42) = Notice there are two different venues where the apostles met with the church for teaching and preaching: 1) “Temple” = larger venue (Act 5:12 – “Solomon’s Portico” = Court area outside the Temple): On the Lord’s Day, the entire church came together for corporate worship (~15k people), 2) “house to house” = smaller venue: During the week, church members wb divided into smaller groups and meet in different houses. Hence the reason the text says this was taking place “every day.” Every day of the week was devoted to some form of meeting. Either corporate worship or a community group. The large number of church members, the small size of the 1st century house and the fact that everyone relied on the apostle’s direct teaching (nothing had yet been written down), meant different community groups “every day” of the week just to get through all the people. Here then is the biblical basis for community groups: the practice of the early church: Temple court for church on Sundays - and every other day of t

Jesus was the perfect man. But what kind of man (or human) was He? What things did He care about? What things did He not care about? Where or with whom did He spend His time? How did He respond or react to others? How did He come across to others? How did people view His words or the way He spoke?Our investigation into the (human) person of Jesus has as its purpose not simply the gaining of knowledge, but more importantly, its application through imitation. We are commanded (in 1Co 15:1) to imitate our King. The reason? b/c imitation is the greatest expression of worship and adoration/love. IOW: we show our loyalty to Jesus best by our imitation of His humanity. It is in this way also that we imitate (and show loyalty) to God since, through His humanity, Jesus perfectly pictured or explained the character of God (Joh 1:18).As a human, King Jesus:Was careful to receive or act on anything as truth that could not be sufficiently supported in God’s court.Didn’t care about the evil going on in government only the

Jesus was the perfect man. But what kind of man (or human) was He? What things did He care about? What things did He not care about? Where or with whom did He spend His time? How did He respond or react to others? How did He come across to others? How did people view His words or the way He spoke?Our investigation into the (human) person of Jesus has as its purpose not simply the gaining of knowledge, but more importantly, its application through imitation. We are commanded (in 1Co 15:1) to imitate our King. The reason? b/c imitation is the greatest expression of worship and adoration/love. IOW: we show our loyalty to Jesus best by our imitation of His humanity. It is in this way also that we imitate (and show loyalty) to God since, through His humanity, Jesus perfectly pictured or explained the character of God (Joh 1:18).As a human, King Jesus:Was careful to receive or act on anything as truth that could not be sufficiently supported in God’s court of Law (* correction to last week*Luk 18:18-19; Joh 5:31* s

Jesus was the perfect man. But what kind of man (or human) was He? What things did He care about? What things did He not care about? Where or with whom did He spend His time? How did He respond or react to others? How did HE come across to others? How did people view His words or the way He spoke?Our investigation into the (human) person of Jesus has as its purpose not simply the gaining of knowledge, but more importantly, its application through imitation. We are commanded (in 1Co 15:1) to imitate our King. The reason? b/c imitation is the greatest expression of worship and adoration/love. IOW: we show our loyalty to Jesus best by our imitation of His humanity. It is in this way also that we imitate (and show loyalty) to God since, through His humanity, Jesus perfectly pictured or explained to us the character of God (Joh 1:18).As a human, King Jesus:Was careful to receive or act on anything as truth that could not be sufficiently supported in God’s court of Law (Mat 19:16-17; Joh 8:2-11; Jam 4:11-12 w/5:9 =