Bulletins - Cornerstone Independent Baptist Church (Enola, PA)

Review
Turn to Romans chapter one
In Romans 1:16-17, we have seen the righteousness of God revealed through the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the main theme of Romans.
Now in Romans 1:18-32, we are seeing God’s righteousness in contrast with the unrighteousness of man.
Between these two there is no middle ground. Either a person embraces Christ, or rejects Him.
In verses 24-28, we learned that when people continue to reject God, God gives them over to three things:
To uncleanness
To vile affections
To a reprobate mind
Introduction
Read Romans 1:28-32.
Today we live in an age where it seems that the options for wealth investment are endless. There is a smorgasbord of investment opportunities for us today - so much so that it’s almost overwhelming to navigate.
You have the time-tested way of precious metals like gold and silver. Precious metals have captured the headlines many times lately in the investment world. If that doesn’t suit your fancy, then maybe real estate will be what you want.
Newer companies like Robinhood and Acorn have made investment possible at a much smaller scale, broadening the options available to the average American.
You can invest in the stock market.
You can invest in art and collectibles.
There are franchises and small businesses.
There are 401K’s and other retirement accounts.
And the list isn’t complete unless you mention digital assets like cryptocurrency.
This is not an offer of financial advice by the way!
We have a lot of investment options today, but no matter what investment a person may choose, there’s one thing that every investor wants and its this: we all want a good return on our investment.
Read slowly:
As I read Romans 1:28-32, God makes this point abundantly clear: you will never get a good return when you invest in a life of sin! Rejecting God and His righteousness only leads to a horrible downward spiral.
Several weeks ago we saw…
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God’s response to man’s rejection - Romans 1:24-28
Today I am going to continue that outline by looking at…
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The consequences of man’s rejection - Romans 1:28-31
Isaac Newton’s third law of motion says that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Perhaps you watched a few weeks ago as the Artemis II rocket launched several US astronauts to outer space. I’m no physicist, but when that rocket launched, it was a good illustration of the third law of motion. It pushed burning fuel downward (action), and the fuel pushed the rocket upward (reaction).
When unsaved mankind rejects God, that choice always bears some unavoidable consequences.
What are the consequences? They are listed in verses 29-31.
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Being filled: to be completely full (a choice made before being given over to a reprobate mind)
The list we’re about to consider are things that man is already full of before God gives them over to a reprobate mind.
What are they filled with?
Unrighteousness - injustice, wrongdoing, rob God and man
Fornication - unlawful sexual activity
Wickedness - hostile activities towards others
Covetousness - wanting more, greediness, insatiableness, never satisfied - Col. 3:5
Maliciousness - desire to injure, ill-will towards someone
Full of envy - to resent others or want what they have
Murder
I am convinced that the growing violence and chaos in America is a direct result of the wickedness that prevails in America.
The UK disarmed their population, so instead you read about stabbings in London!
As wickedness increases, you can count on it: so will violence!
Debate - contention because of envy
Deceit - underhanded methods to get you way
Malignity - always thinking worst about people, crafty
Whisperers - privately gossiping
Backbiters - open gossip or lies aimed to hurt, talk back - those who would eliminate God
Haters of God - those who would eliminate God
Despiteful - delight in hurting others, violent, insolent
Proud - haughty, arrogant
Boasters - impress others, braggart - the human spirit always wants to be better than someone.
Inventors of evil things - seeking new ways to do evil or wickedness
Disobedient to parents - reject parent control
Without understanding - no moral discernment, senseless spirit
Covenant breakers - keeps no promises
Without natural affection - no ties to family, unloving, without affection - 2 Tim. 3:3
Implacable - no desire to stop hostilities, irreconcilable
Unmerciful - inhuman toward animals and men. Without pity or compassion*
*Definitions taken from Pastor Camp’s Romans class notes
Verse 28 describes these things as “not convenient.” That’s a polite way of referring to things that are not fitting of mankind. They are not becoming of us because we are made in the image of God. Things that are forbidden and shameful.
Listen: that is the return on investment that you get when you continually reject a righteous God.
Doesn’t sound like a very good investment, does it?
Application:
Maybe you’ve lived your entire life rejecting God. Maybe you’ve lived your life without a single care for what God says in His Word. If so, there’s hope for you. The reason I know that is because God has you here today and He is calling out to you through the preaching of His Word. He is calling you to humble yourself, wave the white flag, and run to His Son, Jesus Christ, for salvation!
Stop rejecting God! Stop walking the road of slow self-destruction! You hurt yourself, you hurt your family, and you hurt your community!
You see, God doesn’t call you to a moral life! He calls you to a righteous life and it is found only in Jesus Christ! Don’t live another day in the consequences of rejecting the righteous Son of God!
You must change your mind about your sin. Decide that you don’t want it anymore - that’s called repentance. Today, believe that what Jesus did on the cross is more than sufficient to save your soul!
One lesson I’ve learned the last few years is that attitude is largely influenced by expectations.
This past week we had two birthdays at our house. Kendra’s birthday was on Tuesday and Bradley’s birthday was on Thursday. Ever since we began having some warm days I had been wanting to take the kids fishing. Finally on Tuesday we cleared out the schedule and made it happen. One thing I’ve learned when taking my kids fishing is to set low expectations. See, kids think you throw a line in the water and the fish line up to get on the hook. Doesn’t work that way! So, I try to teach my kids to enjoy fishing and if you catch fish, that’s just a bonus.
We had a beautiful day on Tuesday and the first couple of hours that we fished, we caught nothing. It wasn’t until after our picnic lunch, that Leland ran back down to the dock and started catching fish, one after another. Before we knew it, all of the kids had caught several fish. You should have seen their excitement and surprise every time those little sunnies took the hook and sent their bobber under the water. I think their excitement was only multiplied because at first I tried to keep their expectations realistic.
Christian, have you ever wondered what God’s expectations are of you? For just a minute, forget what other people expect of you and focus on what God expects of you.
Here we have a whole list of sins that are typical of those that reject God. They should not be typical of those that call themselves the children of God.
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Ephesians 5:3–4 KJV 1900
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Church family, that’s a summary of God’s expectations for us. Once you’re saved, God expects righteousness, because a righteous life is possible now that you are saved.
So Christian, let me ask you a question: how much do you love righteousness? I’m not asking if you tolerate it because you know that’s what God wants, I’m asking if you love it!
God loves righteousness! So should you.
Psalm 11:7 KJV 1900
For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.
Psalm 45:7 KJV 1900
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness:
Psalm 33:5 KJV 1900
He loveth righteousness and judgment: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Christian, no one should have to twist your arm to make you do right. It should be what you do because you genuinely love your God.
Verses 29-31 show us the consequences of man’s rejection. Now I want you to consider…
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The choice of man’s rejection - Romans 1:32
You don’t have to be a lawyer to recognize that there is a big difference between an action that harms others by accident versus an action that harms others on purpose. A man who is careless with his campfire and starts a wildfire is judged differently than a man who is a serial arsonist.
Someone who starts a wildfire by accident will receive a lot more mercy than a person that starts one on purpose. The difference lies in the choice.
Romans 1:32 indicates a clear choice on the part of those who continue to reject God.
Read Romans 1:32.
These people commit sin, but they’re not content with that. They encourage others to sin and they delight in seeing others sin.
They know full well what they are doing.
They know without question that what they are doing or saying is an abomination to God.
But they commit sin and they delight in it anyway.
Application: It’s one thing to live a hardened life of sin; it’s quite another to be a public figure that continually encourages others to live that kind of a life.
There are many public voices calling our nation to greater and greater sin. Church family, it is our responsibility to call our nation back to righteousness!
We must call our nation back to marriage between one man and one woman for life!
We must call our nation back to teaching our children to love God with all of their heart!
We must call our nation back to purity of heart and mind!
We must call our nation back to respect for authority!
We must call our nation back to love for each other!
We must call our nation back to righteousness!
But we cannot do this if we are not first living like this ourselves!
We serve a righteous God. It is time for the church to follow Him in righteousness.
Conclusion
Last year I had a CT scan done just to check up on a few things. In my case, only a basic scan was required. A few x rays and it was done. But sometimes CT scans require a contrast dye to bring greater clarity to the image and differentiation between tissues.
When I talk to unchurched folks in our community, one of the most common things I hear is that a church is just a bunch of hypocrites.
Now I think that’s a really unfair way of broad brushing us, but the reality is this: there is too little contrast between the church and the lost. Sometimes the saved and the unsaved look and act just alike - you can’t tell a difference between the two! Meanwhile, there is a righteous God that stands in stark contrast with unrighteous man!
I challenge you today, Christian: pick a side. There’s no riding the fence on this. The days of cultural Christianity are over! The days of flying our Savior’s colors but nitpicking His commandments are over!
Pick your side: Righteous God or Unrighteous Man.
Invitation
Christian:
Do you love righteousness?
Is there unrighteousness that must be confessed and forsaken?
Non-Christian:
Salvation
- - Ephesians 5:3–4KJV1900

Review

Introduction

Conclusion

Invitation

Ephesians 5:3–4KJV1900