Blogger's Note: On Sundays (usually!), I will be copying and pasting on this blog notes I take in my phone from sermons at the church I attend. I'll be sharing sermons from the current week. On Wednesdays I'll also be sharing sermon messages dating back to October, when I first began attending my current church. Because of the backlog of sermons, I will be running posts on Wednesdays until sometime in May. My goal on Sundays is that sharing these sermons will theoretically be perpetual, or until I feel God nudging me to do something different. I want to also clarify that these are not my sermons, but rather the bullet point notes I put together. I enjoy our pastor's messages very much, and more importantly he preaches the Word of God as-is, which means the Spirit of God is imparting wisdom and knowledge through him. To God alone be the glory.
Offertory scripture:
When you come in agreement with God's Word, that's when miracles will happen.
He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4:20-21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%204:20-21&version=KJV
Meditation song based on this scripture:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:4-7&version=NIV
Sermon message:
We live in a troubled world. We need to be peace and love in the world. To quote the song: what the world needs now is love.
Thesis: the importance of love.
Love changes everything in your relationships with other people.
Love can have an effect on the eternal destiny of those people around us.
Consider Apostle Paul. He was a Pharisee and then met Jesus. And Jesus taught Paul about love and grace.
Love can change a person's life.
The debt of love
Romans 13:8, four different translations
Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:8&version=ASV
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:8&version=NIV
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:8&version=KJV
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
Romans 13:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:8&version=NLT
For context:
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:7-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:7-8&version=NIV
Every other debt has a finality to it. Pay them in a timely manner and don't let them remain outstanding. But the debt of love will always be ongoing. There is no finality to it.
Love and Honor
Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:8&version=ASV
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:8&version=NIV
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:8&version=KJV
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
Romans 13:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:8&version=NLT
For context:
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:7-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:7-8&version=NIV
Every other debt has a finality to it. Pay them in a timely manner and don't let them remain outstanding. But the debt of love will always be ongoing. There is no finality to it.
Love and Honor
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
1 Peter 2:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%202:17&version=ASV
In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;
Romans 12:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2012:10&version=ASV
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Romans 13:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:7&version=KJV
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2016:14&version=NIV
Let all that ye do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2016:14&version=ASV
The Law vs Love
1 Peter 2:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%202:17&version=ASV
In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;
Romans 12:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2012:10&version=ASV
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Romans 13:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:7&version=KJV
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2016:14&version=NIV
Let all that ye do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2016:14&version=ASV
The Law vs Love
Jesus' summary of the Ten Commandments:
And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.
Matthew 22:37-40 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2022:37-40&version=ASV
We are not saved by the Law; we are saved by grace
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%202:8-9&version=KJV
Paul's parallel passage to Jesus' ten commandments summary in Matthew 22:
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 13:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:9-10&version=KJV
The motive of love
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Romans 13:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:11-12&version=KJV
Put another way:
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:11-12&version=NIV
Eternity is long but the present age is short and temporary. This is why we walk in love.
What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
1 Corinthians 7:29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%207:29&version=NIV
those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
1 Corinthians 7:31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%207:31&version=NIV
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:11&version=NIV
for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:2&version=NIV
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:4-6&version=NIV
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians%204:5&version=NIV
And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.
Matthew 22:37-40 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2022:37-40&version=ASV
We are not saved by the Law; we are saved by grace
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%202:8-9&version=KJV
Paul's parallel passage to Jesus' ten commandments summary in Matthew 22:
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 13:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:9-10&version=KJV
The motive of love
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Romans 13:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:11-12&version=KJV
Put another way:
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:11-12&version=NIV
Eternity is long but the present age is short and temporary. This is why we walk in love.
What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
1 Corinthians 7:29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%207:29&version=NIV
those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
1 Corinthians 7:31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%207:31&version=NIV
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:11&version=NIV
for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:2&version=NIV
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:4-6&version=NIV
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians%204:5&version=NIV
The power of love
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:12&version=NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:16&version=NIV
Satan knows the power of love. If someone knows the power of God's love, they'll receive Jesus and enter heaven. Obviously Satan doesn't want that. Put on the armor of light, the armor of God. Satan will try to distract or discourage us from doing that. But we must push through and do so. And the way to do that is by loving other people.
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2013:12&version=NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:16&version=NIV
Satan knows the power of love. If someone knows the power of God's love, they'll receive Jesus and enter heaven. Obviously Satan doesn't want that. Put on the armor of light, the armor of God. Satan will try to distract or discourage us from doing that. But we must push through and do so. And the way to do that is by loving other people.