INSTANT WINNERS
9/16/07
TEXT: ROMANS
CHAPTER 9 VS. 9--13
INTRODUCTION: HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED INSIDE A PACKAGE; MAYBE A CEREAL BOX, A CANDY WRAPPER, OR UNDER A SOFT DRINK CAP AND FOUND THE WORDS: “YOU COULD BE AN INSTANT WINNER” **** ONLY YOURS SAID, (AND MINE ALSO) : “SORRY, TRY AGAIN”!!!!!
SOMEWHERE IN A PACKAGE OR UNDER A BOTTLE CAP, THERE IS SUPPOSEDLY A MESSAGE: “ INSTANT WINNER” *
I HAVE GOOD NEWS TODAY, WHEN IT COMES TO GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION; YOU WILL NEVER HEAR THE WORDS “SORRY TRY AGAIN”.
JOHN 6:44 DECLARES: IF YOU HAVE BEEN DRAWN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, INVITED TO BECOME A CHILD OF GOD, REPENTED OF YOUR SINS, ACCEPTED CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR, THEN YOU, MY FRIEND HAVE THE ASSURANCE, VERIFIED AND GUARANTEED BY THE WORD OF GOD OF BEING AN INSTANT WINNER. JOHN 6:37: JESUS SAID:
ALL THAT THE FATHER HAS GIVEN ME SHALL COME TO ME, AND HIM THAT COMES TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT.
SALVATION IS GUARANTEED TO :WHOSOEVER WILL”
PAUL, ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS WAS AN INSTANT WINNER.
1. TRIED THE JEWISH TRADITION: : SORRY, TRY AGAIN**
2. TRIED THE JEWISH LAW.**** SORRY, TRY AGAIN****
3. TRIED SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH AND BECAME AN INSTANT WINNER*****
AS A CHILD OF GOD, SAVED BY GRACE, YOU ARE AN INSTANT WINNER BECAUSE OF:
I. SALVATION THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD.
Rom 5:8-9
8 But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
GOD LOVED US ENOUGH, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE DEEP IN SIN TO ALLOW CHRIST TO DIE ON CALVARY’S CROSS TO PAY THE SIN DEBT WE COULD NEVER PAY.
BEFORE MANKIND EVER SINNED, GOD HAD THE CURE: THE BLOOD OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.
(A) HE WAS THE SELECTED LAMB.
EXODUS CHAPTER 12: WE FIND THE SELECTED LAMB TO BE A SACRIFICE FOR THE CHILDREN OD ISRAEL.
1. TYPE AND FORESHADOW OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
1 Cor 5:7
Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:**
2. Heb 9:26
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world ***hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
3. John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. (NOTE: SINGULAR S I N)
JOHN 3: 18***
(B) HE WAS THE SLAIN LAMB.
Rev 13:8:
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
AGREED UPON BY THE HOLY COUNCIL OF HEAVEN; GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
(C) HE WAS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB. GENESIS 22
ABRAHAM AND ISAAC (ELABORATE) JEHOVAH Gen 22:14
Jehovah-jireh GOD SHALL PROVIDE ( HE DID ON CALVARY)
WE ARE INSTANT WINNERS BECAUSE OF:
II. OUR SEPARATION THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD.
1 Cor 1:18-19
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO THE LOST; BUT THE FIRST THING THAT PERSON REALIZES WHEN HE GETS SAVED IS THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD, THAT DELIVERS US FROM SIN AND SETS US FREE FROM SIN, AND BIRTHS US INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.
(IF YOU FEEL LIKE SHOUTING AMEN! YOU WON’T FIND A BETTER TIME THAN NOW)
(A) SEPARATED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN.
Rom 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1. SALVATION CANCELS THE WAGES OF SIN AND ISSUES A HOLY GHOST GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR ETERNAL LIFE.
2. NO ONE HAS EVER SINNED AND GOT AWAY WITH IT.
THE ONLY CURE FOR SIN IS SALVATION.
3. THE DEVILS PAY ENVELOPE CONTAINS ETERNAL DEATH, ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD, ETERNAL DOOM AND TORMENT.
4. THE GIFT OF GOD PAYS ETERNAL DIVIDENDS IN ETERNAL LIFE AND JOY IN HEAVEN.
SOUNDS LIKE A “NO BRAINER”TO ME.
(B) SEPARATED FROM THE POWER OF SIN
Rom 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
SATAN IS NO MORE THAN A BARKING DOG TO A CHILD OF GOD.
1. WE ARE ETERNALLY DELIVERED FROM THE POWER OF SIN.
(C ) ONE DAY WE WILL BE FREE FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN.
III. BECAUSE OF THE SURE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
2 Tim 4:8
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
(A) PEOPLE STRIVE FOR AN EARTHLY CROWN OF WEALTH, POPULARITY, PRESTIGE, ALL TEMPORAL
JESUS SAID: “WHAT SHALL WE GAIN IF OWN THE ENTIRE WORLD AND LOSE OUR ETERNAL SOULS?” (MT 16:26)
(B) OUR ETERNAL CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LAID UP FOR US IN HEAVEN.
1. NEVER FADE AWAY, NEVER CORRODE, ETERNAL.
IV. OUR SECURITY THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD.
Eph 4:30-31
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
(A) SEALED UNTIL THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.
1. JUDE VERSE 1 : TELLS US WE ARE ‘PRESERVED”
(NEEDS NO EXPLANATION) SEALED, PRESERVED.
2. SOME FOLKS JUST GOT “CANNED,” AND SPOILED.
3. A CHRISTIAN WHO IS PRESERVED WILL GET SWEETER AND SWEETER.
4. SOMEONE WHO JUST GOT “CANNED” WILL SOUR AND SPOIL.
(B) SECURED BY THE HOLY, UNDEFILED, INCORRUPTIBLE BLOOD OF JESUS.
CONCLUSION: ARE YOU AN INSTANT WINNER? YOU CAN BE.
