Bethel Baptist Church

Originally Resented: May 27, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 7:1-6 Romans 6:14 bluntly states, "For you are not under law, but under grace."  Many of the readers of this letter, Jews in particular, might be asking at this point, "What is my relationship to God's law?  What does it mean that I am no longer under the law?"  Romans 7 is a full discussion of the function of God's law and the Christian'...

Scripture Reading: Colossians 4:2-4 This passage is an unusually strong exhortation for us to pray.  Paul does not simply say that we should pray, but uses two qualifying words to stress that we should engage regularly and passionately in this blessed practice. The first word, translated in the ESV by the words "continue steadfastly," indicates repetition.  This does not mean we pray continually (...

Originally Presented: May 20th, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 6:15-23 In this section Paul continues to give his answer to the question (posed twice - Rom 6:1,15), "Are we to continue in sin because the grace of God has removed the penalty?"  In this passage Paul reasons with his readers, not on the basis of theology, but on the basis of experience in their lives. Using the imagery of slavery, Pa...

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:23-25 We often need encouragement and we receive it through several means, most notably through the love and advice of friends.  In Colossians 3:24 we have the ultimate means of encouragement.  The context is God's command for slaves to obey their earthly masters.  In our day we would apply this to employees in their work for their employers. The command here is tha...

Originally Presented on May 13th, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 6:11-15 In Romans 6 we find the same structure and spiritual logic that Paul uses in his letters generally.  First we are presented with doctrine and then we have the application. The practical question he is addressing in Romans 6 is this:  Since we are justified by faith and not on the basis of what we do, isn't that notion an enco...

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-6 Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Greg Hands

Originally Presented on May 6th, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 6:5-11 In Romans 6 Paul is answering the concern someone might have about justification by faith, namely that it might actually encourage people to sin.  In Romans 6:3-11, Paul gives the theological reason why justification by faith does not encourage sin and in 6:12-23 he gives the practical reason why this doctrine does not encourag...

 Scripture Reading: James 5:13-18 Special Guest Speaker: Kent Darcie, MA-LLPC is the founder and president of Adult Children of Divorce Ministries. Kent has presented workshops, conducted radio interviews, and written extensively on ACD issues. His passion is to help adults with divorce by offering resources and tools that facilitate restored and healthy relationships.  You can purchase his book C...

Originally Presented on April 29th, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 6:1-4 Having presented the doctrine of justification by faith, in full elaboration, Paul now addresses a possible misinterpretation of this marvelous doctrine.  He knows from experience that a question sometimes arises in the mind of a hearer.  "If a man is justified by faith alone and not by his works … and if, as sin increases, G...

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 3:5-10 Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Greg Hands

Originally Presented on April 22, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 5:12-21   In the last half of Romans 5 (verses 12-21) we are presented with an elaborate comparison between Adam and Christ.  Paul writes of how the two are similar and how they are different.  Before leaving the subject of the glorious work of Christ, in contrast with the effects of Adam's sin, Paul has one more point to make. In ve...

Scripture Reading: Acts 20:19-35 Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Greg Hands

Originally Presented: April 15, 2007   Scripture Reading: Romans 5:15-19 In this difficult passage, we see an elaborate comparison being made between Adam and Christ.  There are similarities between the two and there are profound differences between them. In terms of similarities, just as it was one man (Adam) who brought sin to men, so it was one man (Jesus) who brought righteousness to men.  Fur...

 Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-9 The description of an unbeliever in Ephesians 2:1-3 could not describe a more hopeless situation … "dead in sins" … "following the prince of the power of the air" … "sons of disobedience" … "children of wrath."  All these phrases describe someone in an absolutely helpless and desperate situation, as far as eternal things go. Ephesians 2:4 begins with two words s...

Originally Presented: March 25, 2007   Scripture Reading: Romans 5:12-14 From a strictly theological standpoint, Romans 5:12 is one of the most important verses in the Bible.  The rather jarring declaration in this verse gives rise to doctrine of original sin.  The doctrine of original sin contains at least two foundational issues. The first is that Adam's corruption is imputed (passed along) to u...

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:22-4:1 Having spoken about marriage and child rearing, and the reciprocal relationships within the family, the text now turns to another very important relationship. In the first century part of some households included slaves. So this paragraph addresses slaves and masters. Today we would apply these commands to employees and employers. This text answers the questi...

Originally  Presented: March 18th, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 5:9-11 There is a logic in Romans 5:9-11 that stirs the heart and produces wonderful assurance of eternal life.  Having declared the wonder of God's love toward us in sending His Son to die on behalf of rebels like us, Paul now contemplates the implications of that act.  He emphasizes his point by means of a comparative phrase 'much...

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:18-4:1 During every age, there is a struggle between children and their parents.  It is a conflict within families and a conflict between generations.  But in our day we have seen an increasing disdain for all authority, including parental authority.  In our peculiar era of lost reverence, children have sued their parents and even killed their parents. We stand in d...

Originally presented: March 4, 2007   Scripture Reading: Romans 5:6-8 Romans 5:5 is the first mention of God's love in the book of Romans and now Paul elaborates on that thought.  He notes how God has demonstrated His love for us and to whom it has been demonstrated. The people to whom God has demonstrated His love are described here as 'helpless' and 'ungodly'.  The word 'helpless' points to the...

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:19 After giving the commands that wives should subject themselves to the authority of their husband's position, Paul quickly follows it by the complementary command: "Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them" (Col 3:19).  It is the same pattern which is found in Ephesians 5:25,33 and 1 Peter 3:7.  In the Ephesians passage a comparison is made between...

Originally Presented: February 25, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 5:3-8 A stunning statement is made in Romans 5:3 - ". . . we also exult in our tribulations . . ."  The word 'exult' means 'to rejoice' or 'to delight' and the natural question to ask is: How is it possible to rejoice in trouble?  Paul answers that question in this passage. The joy does not come from the pain of some suffering, but...

Originally Presented: February 18, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 5:3-5 In Romans 5:1,2 we are treated to the reminder that the fountain of all joy is to have peace with God through Jesus Christ.  So wondrous is the reality of reconciliation with God that Paul exclaims that "we exult in hope of the glory of God." What appears in the very next verse is an absolutely stunning statement.  "And not on...

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:18 In few Biblical passages is the difference between Christian principles and our American culture seen more clearly than in Colossians 3, in which we see God's command to wives to be in subjection to their husband's God-given authority.  The people (especially the women) of our land cry out, "You've got to be kidding!  This is the 21st century, not the dark ages. ...

Originally Presented: February 11, 2007 Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1,2 Having elaborated on the doctrine of justification by faith alone, in Romans 4, Paul now draws out some of the implications of this wondrous truth.  Every major translation of Romans 5:1 begins with the word 'therefore'.  Because we have been declared righteous by God, on the basis of faith in Jesus, certain things are true an...

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:18-24 From the beginning of time, the union of a man and a woman in marriage was designed to picture something infinitely glorious.  When the Scriptures say, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh" there was something else in view that marriage was meant to illustrate.  After quoting Genesis 2...