Faith Bible Fellowship Church of York

Out of Israel, God has elected a remnant to salvation and hardened others. This teaches us about the doctrine of election: it is by God's grace. This should make us humble and not prideful.

If the preaching of the gospel has gone out, Paul answers the question why many from Israel have rejected it. He continues to explain God's plan and saving works.

Isaiah 40:6-8 tells us that "all flesh is like grass...but the Word of God will stand forever." We are frail and feeble. God gives us His Word and His purposes will stand. In 2018, we are challenging you to read the Bible.

God promises that Jesus is the coming servant who cares for his people. Of the Messiah we find out "a bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." He is out covenant and a light to the nations.

Isaiah promises that the people walking in darkness will see light when Jesus comes. He proclaims that the Son given will be called "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Everlasting Father," and "Prince of Peace." In this prophesy we have the promises of Christmas and Jesus's coming.

Jesus became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14). John has an allusion to the tabernacle here. The tabernacle was God's glory in our midst. God's plan has always been to dwell with his people in the covenant "I will be their God and they will be my people." Christmas is a reminder that Jesus fulfills this promise.

Genesis 3:15 is sometimes called 'the first preaching of the gospel'. What promise is given? How is it fulfilled? Why is it important for Christmas? In this sermon we look at God's plan for Christmas that was given in the book of Genesis and how Jesus fulfills this.

Because people come to faith through hearing the gospel, we need to be a people who take the gospel to others. The gospel must be communicated through words since it is "good news" and people will not believe in Jesus unless they have heard of him.

The Bible teaches that in order to be saved it is with our mouth we confess and our heart that we believe. Saving faith confesses "Jesus is Lord" and believes that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Righteousness is received by faith and not by works. Paul describes the Gentiles as having received a righteousness by faith while the Jews were pursuing a Law of righteousness and failed to attain to the Law. We cannot seek our own righteousness by works.

The Bible tells us that God is the potter and we are the clay. God has the right to make us as he wishes. It is His right to shape some as vessels of wrath for destruction and other as vessels of mercy for glory. God's Word does not fail but His purpose in calling people to salvation remains. If He had not called some of salvation, no one would be saved.

Paul describes God's purposes in election. Our salvation and reception of the promise of God does not depend on our will or our works but on God who calls.

Paul describes his burden for the lost, particularly for those who are his Jewish kin. We, too, need to have a love for the lost and a heart that desires to reach them.

What can separate the believer from God's love given in Jesus Christ? Paul argues that nothing can separate us. God justifies us and Christ is our intercessor. No trial in life can take us apart from God's love. (PLEASE NOTE, DUE TO A MIC PROBLEM AUDIO QUALITY IS SUBSTANDARD. LISTENERS MAY NEED TO TURN VOLUME UP)

Believers can trust that God works all things for good because of His call upon our life. He has foreknown us, predestined us, called us, justified us, and will glorify us. It is this sovereignty of God that assures us we can have confidence in God and trust what He is doing in our life.

We are weak and often do not pray as we should. But one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to pray and intercede on our behalf.

Not only do we what for the day of our full redemption in resurrection bodies, but the whole creation is groaning in eager anticipation for the day where the sons of God are revealed in glory. The resurrection of the believer also leads to the New Heavens and New Earth.

We have an obligation to live according to the Spirit and put to death the deeds of sin in the body. We have been given the Holy Spirit and adopted as sons of God, or children of God. This gives us the rights and privileges of inheritance, including addressing God as "Abba, Father."

Paul draws the contrast between being the mind of the flesh and the mind of the Spirit. The flesh (who we are in our sin nature) leads to death. But the Holy Spirit is given to us in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit brings life and equips us to walk in God's ways.

Paul says that in Christ Jesus we have no condemnation. We have been set free from sin and death. God did this by sending His Son. Jesus died in the flesh so that we could be freed from sin and death.

Paul describes an "I" in Romans 7 who sees that the Law is good but is unable to do it. Who is the "I" and how do we relate the figure Paul describes? The problem with the Law is that it is powerless to remove the sinful flesh. This in turn shows us our need of Christ.

Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. What do we learn for our own prayer lives? How should we pray? Guest speaker Dan King explores God's Word on prayer.

Now that we have been saved, what do we do? What is our motivation for living the Christian life? What are the outward signs of the inward change?

Paul describes the believer as not under the Mosaic Law (Old Covenant) but free from it. However, in this freedom we belong to Christ who equips us to obey God through the power of the Holy Spirit which is a specific fulfillment of the New Covenant.

As a believer, sanctification is necessary. It is the fruit of conversion. We are slaves to God having been set free from sin. Salvation is a gift of God's grace and sanctification is the fruit of salvation.