Romans 8:1-17 Rescue by Dr.Tiong Tung Hui dated 17.9.17

Struggling with sin
Ch 7:12   ..the law is holy
Ch 7:14  ..the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual
Ch 7:15   I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Galatians 5:17
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

1. Rescued from sin
 

Romans 8:1-4
Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Why do we feel condemned?

What does it mean “in Christ Jesus”?

John 5:24
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

Justification
Pronounced as righteous, acquitted from guilt, on the ground of Christ’s death

2. Empowerment by the Spirit Romans 8:5-11

Two different mindsets

Sinful/Carnal mindset                                           Spirit mindset

Do what the sinful nature desires                          Do what the Spirit desire

Ends in death                                                         Life and peace

Hostile to God                                                       God lives in you

Does not submit to God’s Law                             The body is dead but Spirit is alive ( because

Cannot please God                                                 of righteousness )

Does not belong to God

3. Adoption Romans 8:12-17

Sonship and New Relationship Roma 8:15-17

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are God’s children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Galatians 4:7
So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir

John 15:20
Remember the words I spoke to you:
‘No servant is greater than his master.’
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

Why a New Commandment – Love One Another by Pastor James Leong dated 3.9.17

The Old Testament has two commandments about love:

Matthew 22:37-40, Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18

Why Jesus wanted to give a new commandment regarding love?

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you
Love One Another, as I have loved you, that you also Love One Another.”

By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have Love for One Another.

     A.      There are differences

Love your neighbour	Love one another
Love as one loves oneself	Love as Jesus loves
One person act can fulfil the commandment	Need both parties to act to fulfil it
Love all people	Love among Christians

     B.      The Commandments necessity

            1.       The background of John Gospel

            2.       Recall of Apostle John.

             John was with Jesus for 3 years. He witnessed Jesus being crucified and resurrected.  He also

             saw the destruction of the Temple.  After Jesus was raise from the death, He also understood

             the Great Commission.  He also saw how the church was corrupted.

         

           3.        The need of the church today

a)       To drive out disputes among Christians

b)      To work together with one another.

Conclusion

How to practice loving one another?

      1.       If you have a bad relationship with someone in the church here, are you ready to forgive the 

             person? Or are you ready to say sorry to this person?

      2.       Would your church be willing to: accept and work with other churches? An support church that

              need help?

Relationship and Healing by Pastor Seumean Kuon dated 20.8.17

What hinders someone from coming to Jesus Christ?  Is it wealth? Is it education? Or hurt and pain?

When you experienced hurt and pain in your own family, you will usually argued that you cannot go out there to serve Jesus. But with God it is possible.

Illustration of a family scenario that can happen in any place in the world.  He said a family was getting ready to go to church on Sunday, but the parents were quarrelling and the children had difficulties getting ready.  Mom and dad quarrelled over themselves and the children.  Everyone was angry with each other and they yelled as each other in the car. However, when they arrived at the front door of the church while greeted by the pastor, everyone smiled and said all was well.  They behaved normally in Church but as soon as they got off church, they were back to quarrelling.  Many Christians behave this way.

Pastor Seumean said 80% of children who were brought up in Church left Church in their teens when they attend college.  The reason is that they observed that their families behaved one way in church and another when they are out of church.  To them this is not real.  We are losing our young people to the secular world everywhere.  We need to do more.  Why?

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus has come to help us.  Why are we still struggling and hurting?

John 8:32 “ Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We need to know the truth of Jesus.

In Luke 4, Jesus was tempted by the devil.  We are also tempted in many ways.  If we put our hearts on something more than God, these are idols.  They can be our hobbies, work, etc.

Hurt and pain got us to do things that are sinful.  But there is good news. Let go of hurts and pain.  It will be easier to hear from God and experience His love for us.  We need to do what He wants us to do. No need to wait until we are in heaven to experience no pain and no hurts.

Wealth

Is wealth preventing any one from God?  Not necessary.  There are rich people who are Christians.  Money is not what is evil, it is the love of money.

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Colossian 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”

Education

It is harder to share Christ with people who are educated.  This is not necessary true.  Paul was the most educated disciple of Jesus.  He was the Pharisee of Pharisee.  Yet, he met Christ, and became a disciple.  It is not about how much or how little we know.

Act 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Many of Jesus’ disciples were uneducated men.  The key was that they were with Jesus.  The requirement to be Jesus’ disciple is not education but to be with Jesus!

Christianity is not a religion but a relationship.  It is our relationship with God.  This is often connected with love, a loving relationship.

 Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.”

We are commanded to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Our God is awesome and He is near us when we prayed to Him.

Deuteronomy 4:7 “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?”