Brookfield Church of Christ
Jan. 17, 2021 Sun a.m. Romans 8:18-25
With What Attitude Should We Come to Jesus? By Gary Henry

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).


THE GOSPEL ALWAYS HAS AN INVITATION ATTACHED TO IT. Jesus’ invitation is, “Come to me.” In His day, however, some came to Jesus seeking things other than what He offered, some came for wrong motives, and some were simply unwilling to accept Jesus’ conditions and commandments. In our day, people still “come to Jesus” for a wide range of reasons. So, let’s ask this: in the New Testament, who were those who came to Jesus and were received by Him? If we expect Jesus’ welcome, how should we come?


Seeking the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus could not have been clearer about the purpose of His mission. His blood would be “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). God is certainly the Giver of many gifts, but the forgiveness of sins (and consequently the hope of heaven) is the only blessing promised to all who are in Christ and only to those in Christ. If we come looking for “loaves and fishes,” we will hear Jesus say, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (John 6:27).


Committing ourselves to Jesus’ lordship. If treason is the problem, fixing it surely requires that we lay down our rebellion and return to God as our rightful King. Doesn’t that make sense? If we’re not ready to quit saying My will be done and start saying Thy will be done, we’re not ready for what Jesus offers. As a Christian, Paul went so far as to say, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). This is life’s greatest commitment.


But as I’ve said, the gospel is always framed as an invitation. God doesn’t force us to accept His forgiveness; He invites us to do so. Yes, a most serious commitment is required in order to receive His gift, and yes, if we refuse the gospel, we won’t escape the justice of God’s penalty for our sins. But may we never forget what we have lost and what God wants to give back to us. In Christ, our Father is offering to give us nothing less than Himself. Forever.


“In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him” (C. S. Lewis).

The Hope That Saves
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      • Colossians 3:16ESV

  • Romans 8:18–24 ESV
    For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

    The Hope that Saves in not Found in “self”

    Many of our hopes are motivated by a feeling that may be called self-interest. Self-interest is not always a bad thing. Indeed, it can be very noble, as when we desire to inherit eternal life. But as powerful as some of our self-centered hopes may be, our real progress depends on something else.
    Identity – we’ve turned into a society that worships self
    Fulfilling ones most inner whims, desires, fancies, etc.
    Anyone with a differing opinion must be motivated by hate and therefore must be ruined, canceled and destroyed
    The God of Self
    Evil in the World Why

    As “self-actualized” people it is hard for us to learn self-denial. We find it difficult to yield to God when what we want is on a direct collision course with His standards of what is right. Somehow we must recover the old-fashioned virtue of SACRIFICE — the willingness to let go of everything except that which most greatly glorifies God

    The Hope that Saves in not Found in Others

    Why -Only the righteous blood of Jesus can save you - not another person.
    This saving hope cannot be found in politicians, entertainers, nor preachers
    If you want to know the purpose of a thing, you do not ask the thing, you ask the creator.
    God’s judgement on people may be false teachers
    2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV
    For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
    Three times God said he gave them up
    Romans 1:24 ESV
    Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
    Romans 1:26 ESV
    For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
    Romans 1:28 ESV
    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

    The Hope that Saves in not Found in The World

    Wishing for a utopia were everyone is equal
    1 Corinthians 15:19 ESV
    If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
    Imagine there's no heaven No hell below us Imagine all the people Living for today Imagine there's no countries Nothing to kill or die for And no religion, too Imagine all the people Living life in peace
    Imagine no possessions No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world... You...
    Mark 8:36–37 ESV
    For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?

    Where do we find the Hope that Saves?

    Romans 8:23–24 ESV
    And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
    1 John 5:13 ESV
    I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
    Entertained - entertaining
    Excited - exciting
    Happy - happening
    This Hope stems from the Joy that we have in Christ and directly corresponds to the level of knowledge we have of God’s word
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      • Romans 8:18–24KJV1900

      • 2 Timothy 4:3–4KJV1900

      • Romans 1:24KJV1900

      • Romans 1:26KJV1900

      • Romans 1:28KJV1900

      • 1 Corinthians 15:19KJV1900

      • Mark 8:36–37KJV1900

      • Romans 8:23–24KJV1900

      • 1 John 5:13KJV1900

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–24NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 11:25–26NIV2011

      • 2 Corinthians 9:7NIV2011

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Brookfield Church of Christ
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