We received our "how to" video on Sunday concerning the New Birth. God brings New Life - salvation - via the Holy Spirit (we saw this from Eze. 37) through the proclamation of the word of God. When the Word of God, the message of Jesus Christ, is proclaimed, the Spirit is unleashed with life-saving power. 1 Peter 1 told us that the imperishable seed that causes us to be born again is the word of God.
Remember, we're not in control of this. This isn't a magical formula. It's the act of worship that God honors with his life-saving power.
I mentioned towards the end of the message that the Holy Spirit has a very specific mission, to bring honor and praise to the name of Jesus Christ. That's why he doesn't breathe new life apart from the message of Jesus Christ; messages that don't focus on Jesus Christ bring Jesus no honor or praise. Where do I get that the Holy Spirit is looking to honor Jesus?
In John 15, Jesus said the Holy Spirit is coming to "bear witness about me." That's what the Holy Spirit is about. He's coming to lift my name, my message high. He doesn't have his own mission; he's about Jesus' mission. And also, in John 16:14 Jesus says, "he will glorify me, fo rhe will take what is mine and declare it to you."
Here are just a couple of verses that show us that the Holy Spirit is about lifting high the name of Jesus Christ.
What do you think of 1) this, 2) the sermon and 3) the homework? Love to hear your thoughts.
Blessings.
Pastor Brian
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Why we need the New Birth
On Sunday, we learned that the scriptures define the problem as being "dead in our trespasses and sins" (see Eph. 2 and Col. 2 in particular). Another analogy is that we are "spiritually blind" from seeing the glories of Jesus Christ (see 2 Cor. 4). Nothing natural can reverse the effects of death or blindness. Nothing short of the supernatural power of God can reverse or change people from death to life, from blind to seeing.
Our urging, our fervency, our slick programs, our ... you name it, can not produce the salvation people need. I'm struck by Paul in 2 Cor. 4; he says, "we refuse to practice cunning or tamper with the word of God... we will renounce all disgraceful, underhanded ways... instead, we will (as the NIV puts it) put forward the truth plainly." Plainly. Just, "here's the gospel." If its veiled, its veiled. If God has opened their eyes, they'll see.
I'm not suggesting we don't work at being effective evangelists. I'm not saying we shouldn't look to removed obstacles to faith for unbelievers. But our hope is the supernatural power of God to save sinners. When the Philippian jailer cried out, "what must I do to be saved?" the apostles didn't say, "check this box; pray this prayer." They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved." We must do similar things.
Give your feedback. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this or the sermon.
Blessings.
Pastor Brian
Our urging, our fervency, our slick programs, our ... you name it, can not produce the salvation people need. I'm struck by Paul in 2 Cor. 4; he says, "we refuse to practice cunning or tamper with the word of God... we will renounce all disgraceful, underhanded ways... instead, we will (as the NIV puts it) put forward the truth plainly." Plainly. Just, "here's the gospel." If its veiled, its veiled. If God has opened their eyes, they'll see.
I'm not suggesting we don't work at being effective evangelists. I'm not saying we shouldn't look to removed obstacles to faith for unbelievers. But our hope is the supernatural power of God to save sinners. When the Philippian jailer cried out, "what must I do to be saved?" the apostles didn't say, "check this box; pray this prayer." They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved." We must do similar things.
Give your feedback. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this or the sermon.
Blessings.
Pastor Brian
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The insides of a born again Christian
Throughout our New Birth sermon, we are going to make specific references to the difference the New Birth makes in a person. What do those "born again" love? What do they desire? What do they do? How do they live? What do they do when they sin?
I'm using my imagination here, but what would a born again Christian's insides look like if you opened them up? That's what we talked about on Sunday. This is what you'd see:
1. You would find them completely washed clean from the stain of their sin. According to Titus 3:3-5, the New Birth washes us. Not only are we forgiven of our sins, but we are even scrubbed clean from the stain of our sin.
2. You would find a new heart, per the promise of God in Eze. 36 (among others). People born again don't operate with the cold, dead heart they've always had. They are given a new one.
3. You would find a new resident in a person's heart, the Holy Spirit. God said, "I will put my Spirit within you" in Eze. 36. In the NT, we saw how the Holy Spirit was poured into the hearts of those God was converting.
God makes us alive to him and dead to sin by cleansing us, giving us a new heart and pouring his Spirit within us.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
I'm using my imagination here, but what would a born again Christian's insides look like if you opened them up? That's what we talked about on Sunday. This is what you'd see:
1. You would find them completely washed clean from the stain of their sin. According to Titus 3:3-5, the New Birth washes us. Not only are we forgiven of our sins, but we are even scrubbed clean from the stain of our sin.
2. You would find a new heart, per the promise of God in Eze. 36 (among others). People born again don't operate with the cold, dead heart they've always had. They are given a new one.
3. You would find a new resident in a person's heart, the Holy Spirit. God said, "I will put my Spirit within you" in Eze. 36. In the NT, we saw how the Holy Spirit was poured into the hearts of those God was converting.
God makes us alive to him and dead to sin by cleansing us, giving us a new heart and pouring his Spirit within us.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
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