LBC Sermons & Messages

To understand chapter 4 of Romans, one must continue the thought process of Paul set forth already in the first three chapters. Paul starts by talking about the fact that all of humankind are sinners. We have all broken the law of a perfect and holy God. When we are guilty before the Almighty, we must receive our punishment because He is a perfectly just God. The penalty for breaking a just God’s law is eternal punishment in Hell. However, God provided a payment for our sins in the person of Jesus Christ. His righteousness was given for our sin. This justification comes only through faith in Christ.

Paul contrast works and faith. A man is justified by faith and then is called to do good works. Good works cannot and never will be able to save us. In chapter four, Paul demonstrates this fact by talking about Abraham and David. These two men are the two fathers of the Old Testament. The phrase, “pertaining to the flesh” can be taken two ways. First, it could be talking about how Abraham is the father of the Jews. When a Jewish person traces their lineage, they will always take it back to Abraham. They never go back to Noah or Adam. In addition, this phrase could modify the verb has found. In other words, what profit was it eternally for Abraham’s good works? The answer is nothing. It profits nothing eternally.

Verse 3 says that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. The word believed means that he entrusted God. He entrusted God with his eternal future. Abraham realized that there was nothing he could do apart from faith to place him in good standing before God. He entrusted God with his physical and eternal future.

Abraham lived before the law but David lived with the law. However, both knew the law because God has written it on the heart of every man in what we call the conscience. David tells us that one cannot work for righteousness because if we could work for it, then it would be given as a debt instead of by grace. God is not indebted to us but rather we are indebted to Him. Therefore, forgiveness comes as an act of grace and grace alone. David also tells us the truly blessed person is the one who God does not impute sin but instead righteousness.

In the end, David and Abraham both sinned with knowledge but through faith, the sin was not imputed to their account. Therefore, the question is, “what’s in your account?” Have you received forgiveness through the person of Christ? In addition, if you have received the forgiveness of God, whom are you living for? If we are forgiven, then it is high time that we start living like it. I Peter tell us that God has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. All we need we have. So, whom will you live today for? Your self or God?

Paul now goes on to address the issue of pride once more. The Jews looked down on all others because God had given them the seal of circumcision to show that they are His people and the He is their God Gen. 17:10. According to verses 9 and 10, circumcision gets you nowhere. It is simply a sign. It is very much like baptism of today. Baptism does not save us but it is simply a picture of what God has done for us.

Circumcision is also just a physical sign. Duet. 10:16, 30:6, and Jer. 4:4 teach us that God is more concerned about circumcision of the heart. It is the heart that matters most and it is the heart that God sees. Circumcision is a cutting away of one thing to reveal something else. The same is true of circumcision of the heart. God wants to cut away all the sin and weight that doth so easily beset us to reveal God’s righteousness through us.

Just as physical circumcision is painful, so is spiritual circumcision. It is painful but must be done for God to be revealed through us. It is for our spiritual health. The more we allow God to circumcise, the more Christ-like we become. The more Christ- like we become the more of the abundant life we can live bringing honor to Him.

Paul then wraps up the section by reminding us that righteousness is wrought through faith. Works and circumcision do not matter at all. The only thing that matters is what you do with Christ and what you allow Christ to do with you. The choice is yours and mine. Will you choose Christ this day?

The first three chapters of Romans deal with the unrighteousness of man. Unrighteousness plagues humankind and it has from the beginning of time. The Jews got to a point where they became very haughty in their relationship with God. However, Paul has to remind them that they are sinners just like everyone else. It is very easy to take your relationship with God for granted. It is easy at times to look down on people and to think of oneself better than another because of who we are in Christ. We must remember that there is no good in us except for what the Lord has done.

God gave us the Law to remind us of this. We are all guilty of breaking God’s holy Law and we must pay the penalty 3:19, 20. The Law is our schoolmaster. It teaches us or brings to light our sinful state that makes us all worthy of and eternity in Hell. This Law, we earlier learned, is even written on our hearts and in creation so no one is with excuse.

Paul tells us that we cannot be just by keeping the Law. We cannot keep it for even if we offend in one point, we are lawbreakers. We are only made just by the completed work of Jesus Christ. He took the Father’s wrath upon Himself and shed His own blood for the remission of sin 3:21-27. This gift of grace is free to all through the redemption of Christ. Redemption is to purchase or buy back, to ransom, or to make good.

Christ became our propitiation, which means to pardon, pay in full, appease, or to cause to become favorably inclined. Before we accept Christ, we are enemies of God. Yet in John, He calls us friends. No greater love hath any man than that he lay down his life for his friend. Christ did just that and He causes us to become favorably inclined in the eyes of the Father.

Paul ends by telling us that the law is still working. Matter in fact; we are to establish the law. This means that our lives should line up with what we preach. This will cause the law, by way of the conscience, to convict all who see Christ in us. Whom do people see in you?

In this world, there are two kinds of people: those who are problem spotters and those who are problem solvers. Which are you? If we are going to establish the Law and be the medicine to a world diseased with unrighteousness, we must live it.

What can we do? First, we need to be witnessing. God has chosen the foolish of preaching to reach a lost world. He has given us voices to proclaim His truths so let us not disappoint our Maker. Peoples’ lives are at stake.

Then, we must study II Tim. 2:15, Acts 17:10-12. We cannot rightly divide, or apply, the Word if we are not studying it. It is impossible to have any lasting affect without true study. Paul and Silas went to Berea and found Jews there nobler than at Thessalonica. They received the Word with readiness of mind and many were brought to Christ through their ministry. This is mainly, because they searched out the scripture daily. What have you seen in God’s Word today?

Once we study, we must teach Duet. 6:1-12, Matt. 10:24-27. We are to teach at all times, whether we are standing, sitting, eating, walking, working, etc. What we hear in our ear, through study, we are to preach from the housetops. Housetops in the day of the Bible were used as another room. If one wanted to reach many people, they would use the rooftops as their podiums. This is not a quiet venture. Proudly proclaim and teach what you learn. Whom are you teaching?

Once we have studied, we then teach. What we teach, we must live Duet. 4:1, Psalms 86:11, Psalms 119:1-3. Living what you teach give credence to what you teach. We need to ask God for an undivided heart to live out His truths. We need to seek after God with our whole hearts. What are you holding back today? Give it to God.

When we live out His truths, we are blessed. The closer we are to God, the less we sin. It is a win, win situation. How is your walk today? Are you walking closer to God today or are you dabbling around with sin? Remember, what you do today, affects your tomorrow.

Message by Dave Byron

There are many different devises for light with many different designs throughout the years. Many people collect lanterns and other lights. However, they all do the same thing. provide light.

A flashlight, lantern, headlight, etc. are all useless unless they produce light. We as Christians are to do the same thing. We are to be the light of God to this world. This is the plan that He has chosen for each of us and if we are not producing light, we are not fulfilling our job as Christians.

In order to be light we must seek the face of God before we seek the face of man. This means that the beginning of each day should be time spent with God in daily devotions, because He is the fuel or power source of our lights. We must recharge daily.

When Moses was on the mountain with God, the glory of God made his face to shine. Moses even had to cover his face when he came down to talk to the people. What are you showing to this world? Do you spend enough time with God daily so your face shines?

You can also have the light but not shine it. This involves hiding it. If you know Christ as your Savior, you are a light one way or the other. Woe to those who have the truth but hold it in unrighteousness. Woe to those who do not shine the truth and hide the light. We must be beacons of Light for this world.

Our lives, the light that we shine, shows men the glory of God and leads them to glorify Him. The key is that our lives should match our words. Too many times the juxtaposition of our actions and words do not match. The world is comparing and they need to see Christ lifted high. May we cast down every thought that exalts itself against God so our lives would be the lights they need to be.

Message by Dave Byron

Christians should be the most joyful people on the face of this planet. Yet, sadly, there are many who have lost the joy of the Lord. Here are three of many ways to increase your joy in the Lord that we see in scripture as well as being demonstrated by the Blacked Capped Chickadee.

First, we must give thanks unto the Lord I Thess. 5:18. Take some time right now to thank someone. What response do people have when you thank them? What happens to you. Both of you become more joyful and happy. Giving thanks has a way of lifting up both the thanked and the thankful. We should be able to give thanks no matter what the circumstances. If you go out into a storm and listen, you will hear the Chickadees singing their song. It does not matter the storm.

We must also work as a team to bring honor and glory to God Psalms 133;1. The Chickadee is very polite and helpful to each other. They even wait turns to eat. They sing their songs of encouragement no matter what. They also have a defense mechanism that confuses predators and keeps them all safer. When they spot a predator approaching, they will all make a sound in unison making it hard for any one to be singled out. We must not only sound the alarm to warn each other of pitfalls but we must give of ourselves to lift each other up. This is the way that God has designed us. None of us is as strong or as
wise as all of us.

Then, we must encourage each other by doing something special for each other Romans 14:19. It is so nice to get something or to have someone go out of their way to help us. You enjoy it so just think how others enjoy it. Do something for someone today. Catch someone off guard today with kindness.

Satan does not want us to be happy, however. So, we need to remember a couple of things. We need to remember that all things come from the hands of God Philippians 4:19. Everything that happens to us is ultimately for His good Romans 8:28. Every circumstance is to build Christ-like character in us. Also, difficulties can teach us God’s way Psalms 119:71. Lastly, the only thing we have control over in this life is our attitude. Choose wisely.

Romans 3:9-18

Paul deals with the issues that stemmed out of Jewish pride at the onset of this chapter then ends this paragraph with an exclamation point. God in His infinite wisdom and omniscience planned for the course of mankind. He knew that all of mankind would need a Savior and need to turn to him. So, He moves Paul to finish this paragraph in the fashion which he did.

It is easy to read the scripture and cast judgment upon the Jews but you better not. First, we fail God just as often if not more than any Israeli. Second, respecting people based on social, financial, ethnic or any other status is not good and not of God Acts 10:34, Rom. 2:11, Eph. 6:9. Proverbs 28 tells us that to show favoritism it is not good and James 2 even tells us that it is sin. We live in a world where favoritism is all around us. We are encouraged to show it and act in a way to receive it. This, however, is not of God. When Christ was on this earth, who did He reach out to? He reached out to the rich and the poor, the sick and the well, the prominent and outcasts. Who are you reaching out to?

God also tells us in Colossians and I Peter that all will stand before God and give an answer. We will all be judged according to God’s standards of perfection. How will you stand, in the blood of Christ?

Paul then tells us that none seek after God. Jeremiah 17 reminds us of the state of all our hearts, deceitful and desperately wicked. On our own, we seek only to please ourselves and promote our personal agendas. Such a selfish world and selfish leaders should not surprise us. This is why those of us whom Christ has, must lift Him up so he may grab others.

Then, Paul ends up warning us of the paths of the world. These ways are unprofitable, deceitful, poisonous, bitter, destructive, miserable, and peace less. They may appear to be successful in our physical eyes but that is only temporary. This period of life is only the beginning for what we face after death. Follow the world’s vises and you will receive your just reward. Follow God and you will receive life and life more abundant and eternal where it really matters.
Luke 16, Job 4

Once we grab a hold of this concept, our whole life will be transformed to the next level. Every thing we do must lift up Christ because mankind is all wicked. This world depends on Christians lifting up Christ.

First, we must be lifting Christ verbally for this world. It is our responsibility to witness to this world and stand for truth. God has entrusted the Jews and those who know the scripture with His truths and we must make them known. When we keep our mouths from speaking God’s truths, we allow evil to fester and we let another person walk right by us down the path to Hell and destruction.

Why do we enjoy hearing stories of police officers who put their lives in jeopardy to save one who is trapped in a car only moments before the train demolishes the vehicle? Or, the courageous firefighter who goes charging into the burning building to help the elderly one out before they are burned to death? Or, the brave soldier who risks life and limb to run back and help the wounded? We like these stories because they inspire us. Not everyone has courage enough to save someone’s life on earth and unfortunately, not every Christian has courage to speak the soul saving truth for eternity.

Charles Spurgeon said, “If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

Secondly, we need to lift up the Savior for the saints. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and filled with the Holy Ghost; however, we all still battle the flesh. We all still have these sinful hearts. Our flesh, or “old man” wants to lead us astray from that, which is truth, and it wants to lead us down the road of destruction. When one stands up, it is more contagious than the most advanced bacteria known to man. Who are you making “sick” for the truth? Are your children encouraged to stand? Is your spouse encouraged to rise up in troubled times? We can do it. We can do what ever the Father wants. To the infinite, all finites are equal. There is nothing too hard for God. Will you be the one lifting Christ in our age or will you just stand on the sidelines watching?