Oceanside United Reformed Church

Introduction: "possibly the most important single paragraph ever written." Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? We've all fallen short of God's righteous standard—therefore God justifies freely, by grace, through Christ's redemption. THE UNIVERSAL PROBLEM (V. 23) THE FREE VERDICT (V. 24A) THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION: ACCEPTANCE YOU CAN'T EARN (V. 24A) THE GROUND OF THE GIFT (V. 24B) Gospel Bridge: Conclusion: You fall short—but in Christ, God justifies freely, by grace, as a gift

Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? God doesn't wait for guilty people to become righteous; in the gospel, he reveals and gives a righteousness from Himself—apart from the law—to all who believe in Jesus THE TURNING POINT: "BUT NOW..." (V.21A) THE SHOCK: "APART FROM THE LAW..." (V.21B) THE CONTINUITY: "WITNESSED BY THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS..." (V.21C) THE INSTRUMENT: "THROUGH FAITH...FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE" (V.22) Gospel Bridge: stop trusting yourself and trust Jesus!

Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? God's law silences our excuses, sentences our guilt, and strips away self-justification—so we'll flee to Jesus for the righteousness God's grace alone can give THE LAW SILENCES US (V. 19A) THE LAW SENTENCES US (V. 19B) THE LAW STRIPS US (V. 20) The problem isn't the law; the problem is you. The law requires what we as sinners cannot perform: personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience. Gospel Bridge: stop trusting yourself and trust Jesus!

Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? THE CHARGE: EVERYONE IS UNDER SIN (VV. 9) THE SUMMARY PROOF: NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS (VV. 10–12) THE ANATOMY OF SIN: EVERY ASPECT OF EVERYONE IS CORRUPTED (VV. 13–18) Gospel Bridge: Because we're this bad, the gospel of Jesus Christ is so good!

Summary: We continue "Opening up Romans" and Paul's response to Jewish objections that all humanity is under sin. We try to dodge God's verdict with self-justifying objections, but God overrules them to show he's faithful and just- and to bring us to Christ. Introduction: The diagnosis and the Denial Chapter 1: diagnosed the ungodly and unrighteousness world of Gentiles- the nations outside Israel. Chapter 2: diagnosed the hypocritical and self-righteous world of the Jews. Chapter 3: the Jews' objections What does this have to do with me? you might not relate to "circumcision" or "Israel"—but you will relate to the instinct underneath: we build a case for why we should be okay with God. OBJECTION 1: "WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING GOD's PEOPLE?" (VV.1-2) OBJECTION 2: "IS GOD UNFAITHFUL?" (VV. 3-4) OBJECTION 3: "IS GOD'S JUDGMENT FAIR?" (VV. 5-6) OBJECTION 4: "WHY NOT KEEP SINNING?" (VV. 7-8) Gospel Bridge: the mercy in Paul's severity

Introduction: Listen to Moses and the Prophets, who taught to repent and to believe, with implications of changing our ways, including being merciful toward others in our lives, before it's too late. If you're rich or just doing well, then be careful, it might take your whole attention and before you know it, it will be too late. We must repent and amend our lives before it's too late. Great Contrast Great Reversal Great Truth

The city of Nazareth did not benefit from Jesus because they thought too little of Him. JESUS REJECTED BECAUSE NAZARETH KNEW HIM JESUS REJECTED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LIKE HIS PEDIGREE JESUS REJECTED BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF

Brief notes on John Owen's Preface to the Reader in his work "Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ" at OURC's men's ministry "Anchored"

Jesus comforts his disciples in the midst of their worries with reminders of the Father's great love and care for them. CONSIDER THE CREATION CONSIDER THE CRISIS CONSIDER THE CHRIST

The world feels like it is falling apart, but our Almighty God is in control of all things. We may never know why things happen the way they do, but we do know that our Almighty God is also our heavenly Father and that all things come from his fatherly hand. The Providence of God The Providence of God Almighty The Providence of God, our Almighty Father

The sermon calls Christian to continually rediscover and courageously defend the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Rooted in unison with Jesus, true gospel bravery resists adding to the gospel and faithfully lives out its implications in the church and the world. THE BEAUTY OF GOSPEL DISCOVERY THE IMPORTANCE OF GOSPEL RECOVERY THE NEEDY FOR GOSPEL BRAVERY

Introduction: In this sermon we'll focus on three main movements: the tragedy of unbelief, the identity of the sheep, and the security of salvation. My aim is to show how Jesus clearly distinguishes between those who do not believe and those who belong to Him, and to comfort Christ's sheep with the assurance that their salvation is secure in the hands of the Son and the Father. The Tragedy of Unbelief The Identity of the Sheep The Security of Salvation

Summary: The Savior who was born for us (Christians) is also the Savior who died (Good Friday) & rose again for us! John 20:1-18 bears witness to us that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, which was promised by Scripture long ago, and has accomplished our participation in the new creation as our victorious Savior. THE BEGINNING OF FAITH (VV. 1-10) THE NEW SIGHT OF THE NEW CREATION (VV. 11-16) THE FELLOWSHIP OF HEAVEN (VV. 17-18)

Introduction: Matthew 2 continues the biography of Jesus, and gives us a theological instructive overview of his life in a nutshell. THE RETURN OF THE NATIONS BEGIN (Matt. 2:1-12) response #1: The Magi were foreigners who came to worship Jesus response #2: The political and religious leaders rejected Jesus instead of entrusting him THE LIFE OF JESUS IN A NUTSHELL (Matt. 2:13-23) Exodus (Matt 2:16-18; Hosea 11:1) Exile and Return (Matt 2:18-23; Jeremiah 31:15) Righteous Suffering (Matt 2:18-23; Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 53:2) Conclusion: God has drawn near in Christ. Come, worship him like the Magi, but be forewarned that it will involve suffering.

We must forgive each other because God forgave us. Peter asks Jesus about forgiveness and the response he receives is that it is a lifestyle for the believer. Then the parable of the Unforgiving Servant teaches us that God is gracious to forgive our debts so that we can always forgive each other. FORGIVENESS DEFINED FORGIVENESS SHOWN FORGIVENESS EXPECTED

Festival of Carols and Lessons

Introduction: Jesus came to share our humanity so he could rescue us—by defeating our enemy through his death, and by becoming our merciful high priest who makes peace with God and helps us in our weakness. Jesus Came to be Truly Like Us Jesus Came to Destroy Our Enemy and Free us from the Fear of Death Jesus Came to Make Peace with God and to Help Us in Our Weakness