FROM THE RADIO PROGRAM

CALL TO WORSHIP

As preached by Bernard Timmerman

 

In the last number of weeks we have tried to see what the word of God tells us about the sinfulness of man in Romans chapters' one, two and the first part of chapter three. Then, in verse 21, we begin to see that new and living way; the righteousness of God without the law.

 

The law of God tells us what is God's will. In it, we should see his way is so holy and perfect that we know we can never find favor without God. But God has given another way, a different righteousness than the law demands of us. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.

 

God's way of salvation is by faith; not works. It is trusting in another even though we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We can be justified, or made just, freely by his grace. In Christ Jesus God gives us unearned, undeserved blessing. It is through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. He has been made the propitiation for our sins. He has made payment for the sinner (you and me) on the cross. This is the one and only basis that we can be righteous before God. This is why we speak of justification by faith. We can be children of God only by faith. Our works will never bring us peace with God. Only believing that Jesus Christ shed his blood for our sin can give us that peace.

 

Do you have fear? Are you trying to appease God with your worship? Are you perhaps proud of what you are doing? There is no need to fear if we believe that Christ Jesus God's Son came down to earth, took on him a form of a man and died on the cross for us. If we believe that, then there is no room for boasting either. In Romans 3 verse 27 we read, "where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay but by the law of faith." That is God's way of saving us. Though we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, we can know that there is a Savior in heaven. He came down to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, and then died on the cross. He also was raised from the dead. As we read in another part of the bible, "He ever liveth to make intersession for us." In believing this we do not deny that God's holy law is good. As Paul asks in verse 31, "Do we then make void the law of God?" He answers the question in the same verse stating, "God forbid yea we establish the law."

 

For us to love this great salvation, we must come back to God and be in agreement with him. We must confess that his ways are right. He calls us to love him and our neighbor. We have done neither. We would rather lie that tell the truth. We will steal before we will give. We will hate but are slow to love. Because of this, God is angry with us. We can never pay for our sin in any of our foolish ways. Many things that we have learned to do, even that we think are right, are sinful in His sight.

 

He calls us to worship him in Spirit and in truth. There is only one way we can begin to do that. It is by faith in Christ Jesus. He had our sin laid on him. This is where our right beginning must be; in Christ by faith.

 

Many do not want to believe that. Christ is spoken of as being to the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness. But to them which are called both Jews and Greeks and all other nations as well, he is Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. I Corinthians 1:23-25.

 

Oh do you believe the gospel? It is the good news that God gives you. The good news that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God died for our sins according to the scriptures. All the old prophets, Moses and others, spoke of Him. They told of his coming. Now we believe he has come and suffered for our sins. By faith we can and must believe that. It is the only way in the world to be saved, not by working, but by believing.

 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house!

 

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