Who Is Your God

Who Is Your God?

September 9, 2007

Introduction

Many of you are aware that four weeks ago, we were in Denver for a family reunion. For several years, our oldest son Tim had wanted to sit us down in front of a video camera and ask us questions about how things used to be. Well, at our family reunion, Tim got his chance.

My brother, Don, told a lot about how impressed he was that as a young boy at home, he would sometimes get up early in the morning, and find our dad reading his Bible and praying. I know that made a tremendous impression on him, and I think he has tried to copy some of those practices in his own life.

So this morning, I ask the question: “Who is your God?” I ask the question because I believe your concept of God will affect the way you live, so who is your God?

Notice what Paul says in Rom 11:22, “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”

It isn’t a matter of is He good or is He severe, He is both. What makes the difference? The difference is being in Christ. In Eph 1:3, Paul says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

Body

I. What are the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ Jesus?

A. We have the forgiveness of our sins.

1. Jesus forgave the woman taken in adultery

(John 8:10-11 NKJV) When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" {11} She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

a. Forgiveness doesn’t mean approval.

b. He tells her to live right: “go and sin no more."

2. The story of the publicans prayer is a story of forgiveness.

(Luke 18:9-14 NKJV) Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: {10} "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. {11} "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. {12} 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' {13} "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' {14} "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

3. There are the stories of the prodigal son, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and many more that tell the forgiveness of God.

B. We have love for one another.

1. Love is an essential part of the Christian life.

(1 John 4:20 NKJV) If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

2. Jesus said that love makes up the first two commandments.

(Mat 22:37-39 NKJV) Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' {38} "This is the first and great commandment. {39} "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' {40} "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

3. John says we cannot claim to know God and not love.

(1 John 4:8) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

C. We have hope of life eternal.

1. Jesus told us what to expect.

(Mark 10:29-30 NKJV) So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, {30} "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

2. Paul speaks of our blessed hope in Christ.

(Titus 2:11-14 NKJV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, {12} teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, {13} looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, {14} who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

II. We are to be like Him so we need to know what He is like.

A. He told us that we were to be like Him.

(John 13:13-15 NKJV) "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. {14} "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. {15} "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

B. He was gracious and forgiving, and so we must be.

(Mat 18:35 NKJV) "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

III. There is also the severity of God.

Rom 11:22, “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”

A. Paul said the terror of the Lord caused him to persuade me to obey God.

(2 Cor 5:10-11 NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. {11} Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

B. Those on the day of Pentecost wanted to know what to do.

(Acts 2:37-38 NKJV) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" {38} Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

I. The goodness and severity of God: which will it be for you?

II. We can be baptized into Christ where Paul says all spiritual blessing are.

(Rom 6:3-4 NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? {4} Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We become children of God through baptism.

(Gal 3:26-27 NKJV) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. {27} For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Are you right with God?

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