Podcasts about soli deo

On today's show, we chat with Melody Noel!For Melody Noel, music is a life force. Born into a family of mariachis spanning across seven generations — with the earliest musician dating back to the 1870s — Melody forged her own path as the first to create music outside the Mexican folk genre.  Melody began her journey in pop music as a member of teen girl group Runway MMC. This experience opened her eyes to the American music scene, working with the likes of Grammy nominated Alex Cantrall (“Leave (Get Out)” by JoJo) and Brandon Howard (“I Ain't Gotta Tell You” by Ne-Yo) for Runway MMC's debut EP “Forever Yours” (2008).  Melody pursued higher education at NYU's Clive Davis School of Recorded Music, graduating in 2014.  Her class project, an EP titled “The Living Room Sessions,” sparked the interest of music publisher Imagem Music; they signed her soon after in 2012.She continued her path as a songsmith in Los Angeles, toplining for songs such as “IDon't Wanna Love You” (Casablanca Records/UMG) by Prince Fox, “In My Head (feat.Georgia Ku)” (Mad Decent) by Party Favor, and “Paper Roses” (Spinnin' Records) by Kura.  In 2016, she co-wrote the single “Love Make the World Go Round” recorded by Jennifer Lopez and Lin Manuel Miranda. Released exclusively on iTunes, all proceeds were donated to those affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL. The song peaked at no. 72 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and no. 9 on the Digital Songs chart. After feeling the pull to write songs for something bigger than herself, Melody pivoted to the Christian music genre, establishing Influence Music in 2017. In 2018, Melody led the worship collective in creating iTunes no. 1 and Billboard no. 2 album “Touching Heaven.” Melody's single “Mistakes” made it on Billboard's Christian Airplay chart for 20weeks. She continues writing and performing songs that are utilized by churches globally.  To date, Melody's songs have been streamed 228 million times across DSPs. Whether writing music for pop icons, film and television or for local congregants, the banner Melody carries over it all is "Soli Deo gloria,” meaning “Glory to God alone.With the release of “Back to Praise” via Influence Music (distr. via Capitol Christian Music Group), Melody is stepping out in faith to accomplish such a mission. This EP consists of five pop-infused worship songs that remind believers that no matter what life brings, God is good, and our response is to keep coming “Back to Praise.” melodynoelmusic.com@melodynoelmusicchristianmusicguys.com@christianmusicguys

Fe hecha canción es el programa de EWTN Radio Católica Mundial que promociona la música de los grupos y cantantes católicos del mundo hispano. Desde el Estudio 3 de Radio Católica Mundial, Douglas Archer comparte con ustedes una hora cargada de canciones, incluyendo las últimas novedades y estrenos, y de vez en cuando con algún invitado que canta o toca en directo

Igreja Presbiteriana de Thomaz Coelho

Mark Kline :: Creekside Church :: Sunday, May 19, 2024 Is the nation of Israel still God's chosen people? Are there promises about Israel yet to be fulfilled? Mark Kline preaches from Romans 11:25-36, walking us through the revelation of a mystery regarding the Jews and God's mercy for Israel and beyond. We discover that God's plan to choose, harden, and restore Israel is all a means to bring God the glory—Soli Deo gloria! Worship music permitted under CCLI License #264436.

Lord, as we end one year and begin another, we thank you for your grace. We thank you for preserving us to this moment, sustaining us by the power of your spirit. And we thank you Lord that you continue to reveal yourself to us. That's what we long for. More than anything else, is your presence. We long to know you. We long to know your will and Lord, as we open up the scriptures and as we look at a text where you emphasize the preeminence of God's law, I pray, make us a people that love your law, love your 10 commandments. Stare deeply, gaze deeply into your law, seeking how we can grow in faithfulness, how we can grow in obedience. And as we do, you will grow us in fruitfulness. Lord, to make our church a church that loves your word, reveres your word. Make Bostonians like the Bereans that eagerly accept your word and on a daily basis, examine to see if it's true.If it's true that you are a God who reveals yourself, a God who guides us, and God who gave us the law to guard us from evil, show us what it means that you sent your son Jesus Christ because we disobeyed the law, we sinned against you. You sent your son to walk in the ways of faithfulness and then to offer himself as a sacrifice in our behalf in order to forgive us. And we thank you Lord that you offer that sacrifice. If anyone is not yet a believer today, Lord, show them where they've transgressed the commandments and show them that sin and the penalty for is eternal damnation and that Christ took all of that on the cross and whosoever believes, repents and turns from sin to Christ is granted forgiveness and eternal life. I pray save many even today and Lord bless our time in the holy scriptures and we pray all this in Christ's name.Amen.We're continuing our servant series through the Gospel of Mark. We've called it Kingdom Come, the Gospel of Mark and the secret of God's kingdom. And the idea is that the kingdom has come and Jesus has come to establish the kingdom and we are to be a people that pray. Lord, may your kingdom continue to expand in our life and where we live. And as we end one year and begin another, it's helpful to take account of the year past. Remember lessons learned, consider changes to make and make resolutions that pesky word, pesky, pesky. We don't like that word resolutions, but I urge you, church, I challenge you, make this resolution. If you have never read the Bible cover to cover, resolve that this year you are going to change that. Cover to cover, four chapters a day. There's about 1200 chapters in the Bible, four chapters a day that's got you reading 300 or so days of the year.You've got 65 days off to study the Psalter and the Proverbs and go deeper. But four chapters a day, it's about 20 minutes and that's a tremendous time to spend with the Lord. And I say that because it's not the resolutions that change us, it's the reformation that we make in our life. It's the restructuring of the routine. It's the spiritual disciplines that we welcome in. That's what really changes us. We need not just resolutions or short-term change, we need a reformation. We need to be reformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We're like clay in the potter's hands. He's shaping us, he's forming us, he's reforming us. And this reformation or transformation as Romans 12 puts it happens when our minds are renewed according to the word of God, when our minds are saturated with the word of God. It's the word of God when applied by the spirit of God that leads to true transformation and lasting reformation.One of the great principles that came out of the reformation along with the five solos, if you're not familiar with them, here they are. Sola scriptura, that's scripture alone, Sola gratia, that's grace alone, Sola fide, that's faith alone, Solus Christus, that's Christ alone, and Soli Deo gloria to the glory of God alone.Well, along with those five, there was also the principle of semper reformanda, which is always reforming. The title of my sermon today is always becoming reformed and the idea isn't that we are capitulating to the culture, that we're evolving in order to make the message more palatable. No, the message is that we study the holy scriptures and we long for the holy scriptures to reform us and reform how we live, reform how we worship the Lord. And the church should always be seeking to change in ways that make its testimonies more faithful to God's revelation.The church is formed by the word of God and it's always being reformed by the word of God just as individuals are. And how does reformation happen in our lives and in the churches in our land? When we look into the word of God and to the law of God and say, "Lord, where have I been unfaithful to your word? Where have I added to your word or where have I subtracted from your word?" Deuteronomy 4:2 says, "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you."And you say, "Well, which word is he talking about here in Deuteronomy?" Don't add or take away from which word? Well, in the same chapter in verse nine through 14, he explains, "Only take care and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen unless they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children.""How on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, gather the people to me that I may let them hear my words so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth and that they may teach their children also. And so you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain where the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud and gloom. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form. There was only a voice. And he declared to you his covenant which he commanded you to perform, that is the Ten Commandments. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules that you might do them in the land that you were going over to possess."Well, what word do we not to add or subtract from? It's the 10 commandments. And adding to the law of God is legalism and taking away from the law of God is antinomianism and Jesus didn't add to the law of God, but he did uphold the 10 laws to show us primarily that we have sinned against God, therefore we need Christ's sacrifice. And then once we've received Christ's sacrifice and his grace, we are then to out of gratitude, live according to the law that in primarily motivated by love for God and neighbor.Today we're in Mark 7:1-23. As we continue our series, would you look at the text with me?Now when the Pharisees gathered to him with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is unwashed. For the Pharisees and all the Jews did not eat unless they washed their hands properly holding to the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches. And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?" And he said to them, "Well, did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites as it is written. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me teaching his doctrines the commandments of men? You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition.""For Moses said, honor your father and your mother and whoever reviles father or mother must surely die." But you say, "If a man tells his father or his mother, whatever you would've gained from me is Corban, that is given to God, then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down and many such things you do."And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me all of you and understand, there is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable and he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him since it enters not his heart but his stomach and is expelled?" Thus he declared all foods clean. And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him for from within out of the heart of man come evil thoughts, sexual morality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness, all these evil things come from within and they defile a person."This is the reading of God's holy, inherent and infallible, authoritative word. May He write these eternal truths upon our hearts. Three points to frame up our time. First traditions are not God's commandments. Second God's 10 commandments are God's commandments. And three, the law cuts and Jesus regenerates.First, traditions are not God's commandments. In Mark 7:1 says, "The Pharisees gathered to him and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem." These are the representatives of the big establishment religion.The scribes in the Pharisees did not approve of Jesus. Jesus did not have their stamp of approval as he's doing his ministry. They were furious with Jesus that he would eat with sinners and tax collectors. They became angrier when Jesus rejected their distinctions between clean and unclean. And the scribes and the Pharisees challenged Jesus' view of fasting as well as Jesus' view of the Sabbath observance. And Jesus showed no qualms whatsoever in defying these traditions, rejecting their oral traditions. In many ways, I was sharing the gospel recently with someone. They say, "You know what? Jesus sounds kind of like a rebel, kind of like a renegade." And I was like, "Yes, he's the revolutionary of deregulating religion. He's God, it's his law, it's his word. He's come." And he said, "That's all made up and that's all made up and that's all made up." And he's pointing people to the law of God because it's only the law of God that can show us our need for God's grace.So yes, he confounded the canon lawyers and he sent them into fits of rage. How? By just teaching the plain word of God, God's law, what it says, what it doesn't say with absolute precision. For Jesus the oral traditions were not binding, they were not law, they were just decorum. Jesus rejects the authority of their tradition and therefore he openly contradicted what they taught and practiced. And so he made a lot of enemies and that's what ultimately got him crucified. And these men were sent from Jerusalem indicating that their representatives of the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish ruling body in Jerusalem. Like Herod Antipas, members of the Sanhedrin had heard about Jesus Christ. They perceived him to be someone that can mobilize people, therefore they perceive him to be a threat. And some of the religious leaders even accused Jesus Christ of doing his ministry because he was demon possessed.They said, you cast out demons by the power of Satan. And as a result, Jesus places upon them the ultimate covenant curse that no forgiveness in this age or in the age to come was given to the blasphemers of the blessed Holy Spirit. So the Jewish leadership, the Pharisees, they've sworn to destroy Jesus, they've partnered with the Herodians and they gather to him, the verb used to gather to him here is the same one used in Psalm 2, which is a messianic prophetic Psalm about Christ that the anointed one will come and the rulers of the day will rise against him in opposition. And that's exactly what they're doing. In other Psalms, the same verb is used for the wicked conspiring against the righteous to take his life. For example, Psalm 31:13. "For I hear the whispering of many terror on every side as they scheme together against me as they plot to take my life," or Psalm 35:15."But at my stumbling, they rejoiced and gathered. They gathered together against me, wretches whom I did not know, tore at me without ceasing."And the fact that the scribes who interrogate Jesus, they come down from Jerusalem marks that the opposition is coming from the center of power from Jerusalem where Jesus will be eventually executed. In verse two, "They saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is unwashed for the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly holding to the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches."The hand washing is not a biblical... You should wash your hands. That's not what we're talking.We're talking about what makes you moral. That's what they're getting. What they're doing is immoral. They're sinning. That's the conversation. The hand washing that they're alluding to. It's not a biblical requirement for lay people. In the Old Testament, only the priests are required to wash their hands before offering a sacrifice. And the Pharisees however they thought, you know what, this is a good thing to do. We should have everybody do it. We're going to regulate this on absolutely everyone on the theory that every Jew should live as a priest and every Jewish home should become like the temple. The reasoning sounds very rational. And in this tradition, that's what the tradition forces forms the basis of their challenge. Though this was only a priestly requirement from the law of God, all the pious Jews at the time of Jesus had been doing this for about 200 years.So Jesus shows up and he says, that's not in the Bible, that's not regulation for everybody. And their response is, "Jesus, we've always done it this way. Our parents have always done it this way, our grandparents and they've all done it this way.By Jesus' day it had become firmly entrenched this tradition as a requirement for those that want it to be clean and people wash their hands in the morning before morning prayer. The benediction used by the priest of that time of consecration was now being recited by the people as part of the course of daily life. And many felt that even eating bread without a ceremonial washing rendered the bread unclean. And verse five, "The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?" And the word for walk here is standard metaphor for living a certain way.Why don't your disciples live in the way that our elders taught us to live? In the tradition of the elders, not the law of Moses, but oral and written tradition received from antiquity and honored only because it was from antiquity. Honored as the word of God just because it's old for the Pharisees, the oral tradition was equally binding with the law of God and with the scriptures. And some of them even believed that tradition was more precious and more authoritative than holy scripture. And with this kind of tradition, the gospels record that Jesus always expressed angry impatience. On the surface, this looks like an argument brought about Jesus' disciples watching procedures, but in reality it's a debate about authority. Is oral tradition authoritative over God's people? And the answer is no. The problem was that with the Pharisees and what the Pharisees had to be doing is they'd been controlling people with their religious regulation.They had been requiring demanding that people obey their oral traditions even though this tradition had no biblical support. Put it another way, the scribes and the Pharisees big religion, they were binding people's consciences to things that were not required of them by scripture. And as the scribes saw the matter, it was their sacred duty to teach the people and then enforce this manmade law upon the people. These legalistic religious lawyers force their rules and regulations on everyone and try to adjudicate.Jesus answers on two levels. Those who criticize him first, he answers on their level by showing that their premise, their presupposition is unsubstantiated. And then after doing that, he demolishes their position from within by going deeper. Verse six, "And he said to them, well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me teaching us doctrines and commandments of men."On the principle that the best defense is a good offense, Jesus goes on the offense against these guys and he responds to their hostility by not answering their question about hand washing but actually dismantling this false presupposition that their human traditions are on the same level as God's word in terms of binding moral authority calls them hypocrites. In the classical Greek, it was a word to designate actors, pretenders. And he's saying, you guys are hypocrites because you present a religious godly front, but it's a front based on your own regulations. You made up rules, you've been playing according to these rules. You look really wholly according to those rules, but that's not the game. You're playing the wrong game. And he accuses them of a hypocrisy because they're masking God's law with human made regulations. And the Pharisees certainly would not have agreed with Jesus here, with his charge that tradition represented a betrayal of the commandments of God.No, they would've said, "No. Tradition is part of God's revelation to us." Yet God revealed himself to Moses, but he's also been revealing himself through us, through the pharisaical sect of Judaism. This feeling of connection with ancient revelation is what has given rabbinic Judaism the successor of Phariseeism, a great sense of continuity. But what they teach depends entirely on their authority, on people's authority, not on divine authority. And humans, as Jesus makes clear at the end of the text, we're sinners and everything we touch is singe tinged with sin. And even if we try with our greatest attempts of wisdom to add to the commandments of God, those additions are going to be tinged with sin. This clinging to human traditions makes them actually neglect the plain commandment of God, which is what led to their downfall. Not only does Jesus use one of Israel's most widely red prophets, Isaiah, he quotes Isaiah, they knew this was God's word, but in that context, Isaiah was prophesying to the people of God and he says, "You, the kingdom of Israel, you're in shambles because you have left the commandments of God." And what Jesus is doing by quoting that same text to these people, he's saying in the same way that Israel had fallen from glory because they had moved away from the commandments of God, you guys are doing the same thing.And that's why Israel was in the state it was. They've replaced the law of God with laws of humans and that never leads to shalom or universal flourishing. Notice that Jesus does not even attempt to answer their trick question. He doesn't even want to talk about hand washing. These are manmade rules and traditions. They're not binding. Only the law of God is, and these rules and regulations, they may be signs of great zeal, but in actuality they demonstrate this sad fact that they don't know God. Their hearts are far from God because they're spending all of their time living according to their own interpretations of what God said. They're hypocrites because they pretend to love God, but they don't even do what he says. They prefer to do what they say about what he said. And to the people of Israel, the scribes and Pharisees look like holy and godly men, but they're not because they're not worshiping God in the way he said to worship him.These men claim to defend the law of God by arguing, but their humanly contrived rules actually block the word of God. They distort the law of God and they rob the word of God of its power. According to Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees have so buried the true meaning and purpose of the law under countless layers of canon law and oral tradition. They've made the law null and void. Their traditions not only bury the law under rules of men that so much that people don't even know what God's law actually says.So that brings us to point too. God's manmade traditions are not God's law, but God's 10 commandments are. Look at verse eight, what Jesus does. He says, "You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." Well, what does Jesus mean by the commandment of God? Well, he explicitly tells us in verse 10 that he's referring to the 10 commandments because in verse 10 he says, "Case in point hears a command that you have nullified with your own tradition." And he goes to commandment number five. So by command he's referring to the 10 commandments. In verse 10, "For Moses said, honor your father and your mother and whoever reviles father and mother must surely die."For Moses said here, that's what Jesus says. There's a parallel account where Jesus is having a similar conversation in Matthew 15, four. And there it doesn't say Moses said. There, it just says, for God said. God said this. These are his words. God had written the 10 commandments with his finger. So making the contrast that the commandment of God and it makes the contrast even more direct between command of God and tradition. Matthew 15:4, "For God commanded honor your father and your mother and whoever reviles father or mother must surely die. Their hearts had strayed from God and the people have fallen under the sway of human tradition that emptied the divine word of its force and blinded its possessors to God's true will."And that's why in Mark 7:9, Jesus said to them and he said to them, you have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition. They weren't in complete disobedience. Here Jesus adds the word fine as a touch of sarcasm because they had done this so beautifully. No one even noticed that they sidestep the word of God in order to establish their own tradition. But by supplanting and replacing the commandment, they're actually rejecting it.In verse 10 of Mark 7, Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother, whoever reviles father or mother must surely die." That's from Exodus 20:12, "Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." And that's repeated in Deuteronomy 5:16. This is the fifth commandment and it does include material support of parents as parents grow older.That's the conversation here and that commandment honor your father and your mother. It was so important that the penalty for breaking that commandment was capital punishment. Exodus 21:17, "Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death." In Leviticus 20:9, "For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death, he has cursed his father or his mother, his blood is upon him."Just as being angry or refraining from performing a cure is equivalent to murder. So withholding support from parents is equivalent to cursing them. That's what Christ is saying, that dishonoring of parents is a capital offense according to the Torah. Yet the Pharisees facilitate it by their Corban practice. They're like, "Well, that's what the commandment said, honor your father and your mother." They're getting a little older and you should start thinking about how you're going to provide for them.And they're elderly age. And then the Pharisees come in and they say, that's a lot of money and that's a lot of time and that's a lot of resources. We could actually increase the budget of our ministries, of our synagogues, of our temples by tweaking the commandment a little bit. And children, instead of actually supporting your parents when they're older, just give that money to the Lord so to speak. And that was their Corban stuff. Verse 11, "But you say, if a man tells his father or his mother, whatever you want, whatever you would've gained from me is Corban that is given to God then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down in many such things you do."Corban was a transliteration from the Hebrew and Aramaic of sacrifice, their offering. And what they're saying is, "Okay, this money I would've given to you mom and dad. I'm going to offer to the Lord therefore making it unavailable for any other use." The person declares that any material support he might have given his parents is pledged to God. Not that he necessarily intends to deliver it to God, but he just wants to remove it from the parents. If you think about it's just incredibly diabolical this rule that they invented. Yeah, they're going to fill their coffers, but you're also actually, you're doing the opposite what the commander said. Commander said, to honor your father and your mother and you're dishonoring them by pretending to honor the Lord. And Jesus here zeroes in on this specific example of Pharisaic tradition that empties the word of God of its force and it did it through a legal fiction maneuver just to avoid the law.And so what begins as a trick question quickly turns into a lesson in biblical hermeneutics or the interpretation of scripture. Jesus here is saying the law is perfect. Any addition or subtraction to the 10 commandments is the incorrect interpretation. Jesus does not set aside the law, he doesn't question its authority or do anything to weaken its demands, but he's saying traditions added to the law of God, they're not morally binding. And for these traditions and the Pharisees, it was actually subversion of the Lord of the word of God, a betrayal of it. And what's fascinating is the word for tradition in the Greek has two meanings. It could be translated as tradition parados, but there's other places where the same exact word means betrayal. When John the Baptist was handed over, this word was used when Jesus was betrayed, this word was used. And when Christians were betrayed and suffering and death, this word parados was used.So you can read this text and say you forsake the commandment of God and hold fast to the betrayal of human beings because by adding to the law, they have betrayed the word of God. You do a good job of annulling the commandment of God so that you may establish your betrayal, thus avoiding the word of God for the sake of your betrayal, parados by means of which you have betrayed. And the word for human here or person is anthropos. It's not the word for men that's used when Jesus feeds the 5,000. It's anthropos, person, human being. When humans add to the word, when they add to the law, they are subverting the commandments. Mark's point seems to be that human traditions, no matter how laudable in their original intention, they end up suffocating revelation because of the basic warp of the human heart of the anthropos.There's evil inside every single one of us that corrupts everything that we touch including the word of God. So whenever you listen to anybody interpreting the word of God, you do have to be like the Bereans. Word of God I welcome you eagerly, but I'm going to examine everything the person says according to the scriptures. Christians are not and indeed cannot be bound by the rules of men. And while many of these rules are based in wisdom, they cannot be used to bind a Christian's conscience to things that God has not forbidden in his word or expressly or implied. When we say we believe in sola scripture, what are we saying? We're saying we are bound to obey the law of God and in our case, the moral law, the 10 commandments, and that we are not bound by any manmade rules or traditions. God's word is our ultimate authority, not human tradition, not the tradition of the church.And this is why we are not Catholic. We understand that the Pope is not infallible. The Pope is actually very fallible and clearly he's adding to the word of God in a way that subverts the word of God. No, we reject that. We keep on reforming. Scripture speaks of the law of God as the perfect law, the law of liberty. And to put it rather simplistically, God gave us 10 commandments, not countless volumes of canon law. And these 10 commandments are for the most part, very simple. Even our children know the 10 Commandments and we do this in our home. You should try doing this in your home. We go through the 10 commandments and as we're doing our devotionals and we call each other out. We're Slavic, we're direct. We call it like, "Which commandments did you break today? I know, I know I live with you."And you're like, "Yes, I have broken the commandments. Lord, forgive me. I need grace. Help me and no longer break them."God binds us to obey his commandments, not to obey the rules of man. It's that simple. And this leads to the second evil that we see in our passage, just the evil of self-righteousness. These Pharisees had invented rules that they added to the commandments, which protects them from the commandments actually revealing their own sin. And then they walk around and they say, "I have the cleanest hands. I have the cleanest hands, I'm undefiled." And they judge everyone else according to these manmade rules. And that's why Jesus didn't spend time with them. They thought they weren't sick and Jesus would rather spend time with tax collectors, sinners who knew that they were sinners in need of a doctor.The 10 Commandments are given to us to show us our need for Christ and then also show us after we've received Christ what it means to follow him. And these are, I think about 10 lanes on a track. You know there's 10 lanes. I know this because I ran track as a kid for a season and my daughter reminded me of this recently. We're going through a trophy case and she's like, "Oh, here's a trophy." And it was for 10th place in track and field. That's how I know there's 10 lanes. Back when they started giving out trophies for absolutely every single person. Terrible. That was the beginning of the end.And it's like 10 lanes, 10 lanes. This is the straight and narrow. This is how we walk in the ways of righteousness. There's no other lanes and people try to add the lanes through ceremonial minutia and stuff. That's not the law.Point three is the law cuts and Jesus regenerates. Mark 7:14, "And he called the people to him again and said to them, hear me all of you and understand there is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."And this is the ultimate answer to the question of the Pharisees and the scribes when they said, "Well, why aren't your disciples washing their hands as they are?" The Pharisees thought and their system of theology, they thought that to eat with unwashed hands made you ritually impure because the contagion of impurity was outside of you. So if you ate something that was impure, all of a sudden you become impure. They thought that the evil was outside of them and they had to protect themselves from the evil coming in. And Jesus counters that false idea by saying that external things like unwashed hands have no power to transmit defilement. In Matthew 15:11, "It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth that this defiles a person." And this bold statement ran contrary to all of their rabbinic teaching.To the rabbis and to the Pharisees for any defilement to occur, there must be a mother of defilement, an external source by physical contact with that source, you become unclean. That's why they stayed away from the Gentiles, your sinners. Your sin might be transmitted to me that's why they stayed away from anyone with leprosy. They thought this is how the sin or defilement comes upon, and that's why they stayed away from the sinners and tax collectors and they were shocked. "Jesus, how are you spending time with these people? You're going to get contaminated by their sin." And Jesus says, you're false because you're assuming an initially pure state. You're assuming that you are pristine and it's someone else's sin that makes you sin. And this is false. Jesus says, "The source of defilement is not external, but within." It's already existent. We're born with a sin nature, and every mom and dad in the room says, amen.Our children prove the doctrine of total depravity. They're born as little individualistic sinners and we need God's grace and their hearts and our hearts and we need the transformation to come from within. To the Pharisees, lack of ceremonial purity, as in the case of the disciples was sin. And Jesus saying, that's not sin. Don't just throw that word around. They didn't break a commandment. That's not sin. They broke the decorum. Mark 7:17, "When he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable." They didn't understand what's happening so they asked for interpretation of verse 18. He said to them, "Then, are you also without understanding, do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him since it enters not his heart but his stomach and is expelled, thus he declared all foods clean."Here Jesus shows us that he has authority over ritual purity to redefine ritual purity. And he declared all foods clean, meaning that he, by his word and by his authority and by his power, shows that the ceremonial law, which was given by God was to point to Jesus Christ and he has fulfilled the ceremonial law. Therefore, he can redefine ritual purity. Romans 14:17 says, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building. Do not for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats."So we see that Jesus in the same text does not abrogate the 10 Commandments. He actually upholds the 10 commandments, but he is abrogating the Old Testament food laws, the same laws that divided the Jews from the Gentiles and significant that this happens here because Jesus in the next section is going to begin his Gentile ministry. And we see that with the Syrophoenician woman. And then we see that with Jesus feeding 4,000 Gentiles, Gentile men.Ephesians 2:11 says, "Therefore, remember that one time you gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands. Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances that he might create in himself one man in place of the two, so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."So having declared all foods clean and thus having shown that there's no longer anything external to human beings that can defile them, Jesus identifies the real source of defilement. How does sin enter the world? How does sin enter our lives? It's the human heart. It's not what goes into people, what comes out of the human heart that is actually sin. Mark 7:20, "And he said, what comes out of a person is what defiles him for from within out of the heart of man come evil thoughts, sexual morality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness, all these things come from within and they defile a person." This catalog of human offenses truly paints a hellish picture. And Jesus says that that's all inside every single one of us.And there's a series of seven offenses in the plural, which he's showing crimes against the law, against the 10 commandments, followed by a series of more sinister things that are the reason or the root causes of the evil action. He says, out of the heart of man, come evil, thoughts, evil as defined by the law. All the other evil flows out of this one. Evil thoughts, the battleground for the soul. It begins with the mind. It begins with thoughts.In Genesis 8:21, "When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, and the Lord said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground because of man for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done."The word of God teaches that we're born with the sin nature, that there's sin in this world because we're born as sinners and the sin comes from within our hearts. It begins with the word sexual sin, sexual morality or porneia, which originally meant fornication. The Pharisees didn't want to talk about that. They want to talk about washing hands. Let's not talk about anything deeper than that. And after the sexual sins, he talks about robbery and murder and adultery, all transgressions of the 10 commandments. Then he gives seven singular words that talk about internal disposition that then leads to external action. Mark 7:23, "All these evil things come from within and they defile a person." And that word person anthropos, I've already mentioned it's used over and over and over in our passage, five times in a short passage, anthropo. And he says, this is where the sin comes from within the heart of a person. And that's really why adding traditions to the law of God is so sinister because anything that we add is tinged with our own sin.What the Pharisees could not see is that in their desire for piety and zeal, they were actually covering the law with their sin. These men looked like they were pious and godly individuals, but their hearts were far from God because their hearts were sinful. Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick. Who can understand it?"And then who can change it? Who can do something about it? And this is the beauty of the gospel. God gives us the 10 commandments like the scalpel. The 10 commandments show us that our hearts are stoned toward God, their hearts are sinful, that their hearts are evil. And the 10 commands, they cut, they cut, they cut, they cut. And then we look to the cross of Jesus Christ and we realized that the Son of God, the perfect Lamb of God, spotless Lamb of God who would never sinned, not one commandment that Jesus ever break in his whole life, and then he offers his spotless record as a sacrifice in our stead on the cross in order to do what, in order to transform us.Scripture talks about this as regeneration, to be born again, be born from within spiritual heart surgery. Jesus has this conversation with a Pharisee, a religious person named Nicodemus in John 3. And Nicodemus said, "Jesus, how do I go to heaven?" And Jesus answered him and said, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he's old? Can he enter a second time to his mother's womb and be born?' And Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.""Do not marvel at this that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from and where it goes. So it is with everyone who was born of the Spirit.""Lord, I need a new heart." That's what Nicodemus says, and he says, "How do I get it?" He said, "You got to be born again.""How do I do that?"And Jesus' answer, "The Spirit blows where it wishes." The Spirit is the one that converts therefore, church and therefore Christians, we can just proclaim the plain word of God to people and not be afraid, not be ashamed, not try to cover it in these layers to make it more palatable. What he's saying is Nicodemus is like, I want to go to heaven. And Jesus is like, well, hopefully the Holy Spirit converts you. That's his answer. But he tells him the truth.And Nicodemus at that point then what does he do? He starts begging the Holy Spirit, convert me. Holy Spirit regenerate. Holy Spirit, I need this transformation reformation from the inside. And then later on we find out Nicodemus was converted and did become a child of God. So if you're not sure that you are a Christian, if you're not sure that you have a heart that loves God, how does your heart respond when you hear about the 10 Commandments, when you hear about the law of God, the true regenerated believer, Christian child of God, when you hear about the law of God, all you want to do is know more so that you can love God more by obeying the word. And if you hear about the law and you're like, 'I don't want the law, I want nothing to do with God's law," then most likely you still have a heart of stone.Most likely you still are on your path to hell. And therefore we plead with you. I beg you, end the year right. End the year the way you should by repenting of your sins. Say, Lord Jesus, please forgive me for breaking the commandments. Lord Jesus, give me a brand new heart. Holy Spirit, fill me and God will. And that's the promise of God. Ezekiel 36:26, "And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave your fathers, and you shall be my people and I will be your God."New heart that desires to do what? Desires to obey God's law, because of God's grace. The law is both the teacher of sin and the rule of gratitude. It is important to see that while Jesus completely rejects the rules of men with equal force, he reaffirms the authority of the law of God. The rules of men are not to be confused with the law of God no matter how much wisdom, how much piety or how much zeal these rules appear to have, it's the law of God, the 10 Commandments which are binding upon God's people. This is because the law of God reveals his will to us. Therefore, as Christians, we define sin in light of God's law, not in light of rules and ceremonies invented by the self-righteous who actually think that they keep these rules, they are righteous. While those who don't keep them as well or not. God has made his will perfectly clear. The rules of men only obscure what God has said.Jesus calls out to us today. He says, repent of your sins and believe the good news. And the moment you do, his righteousness is counted to you. His recorders counted to you. Righteousness covers you. And Jesus loves repentance, sinners, but he has no patience for the self-righteous. So let's look at this text and let's be convicted that often we are like the Pharisees and let's repent of that self-righteousness and repent of our sin, continue to follow Christ. And honestly, may this be the year that we read the Bible. Everybody, everyone's going to read the Bible this year, and that's how revival is coming into the world. In Jesus' name, amen. Let us pray.Lord Jesus, we thank you for your word and we thank you that the word of God, you became incarnate. And I pray, Lord Jesus, by the power of your blood and by the power of your Holy Spirit, make us the people that embody your word. Make us the people that love your word so much. Study your word so much that our hearts are absolutely transformed by your word. That our minds are renewed by the transformation that the word gives us. And Lord, make us a missionary force here in the city pointing people to the word of God, pointing people to the cross of Jesus Christ and pointing people to the fact that the church is God's plan to rebuild this world. Lord, we love you and pray this in Christ. Holy name.Amen.

Lord, as we end one year and begin another, we thank you for your grace. We thank you for preserving us to this moment, sustaining us by the power of your spirit. And we thank you Lord that you continue to reveal yourself to us. That's what we long for. More than anything else, is your presence. We long to know you. We long to know your will and Lord, as we open up the scriptures and as we look at a text where you emphasize the preeminence of God's law, I pray, make us a people that love your law, love your 10 commandments. Stare deeply, gaze deeply into your law, seeking how we can grow in faithfulness, how we can grow in obedience. And as we do, you will grow us in fruitfulness. Lord, to make our church a church that loves your word, reveres your word. Make Bostonians like the Bereans that eagerly accept your word and on a daily basis, examine to see if it's true.If it's true that you are a God who reveals yourself, a God who guides us, and God who gave us the law to guard us from evil, show us what it means that you sent your son Jesus Christ because we disobeyed the law, we sinned against you. You sent your son to walk in the ways of faithfulness and then to offer himself as a sacrifice in our behalf in order to forgive us. And we thank you Lord that you offer that sacrifice. If anyone is not yet a believer today, Lord, show them where they've transgressed the commandments and show them that sin and the penalty for is eternal damnation and that Christ took all of that on the cross and whosoever believes, repents and turns from sin to Christ is granted forgiveness and eternal life. I pray save many even today and Lord bless our time in the holy scriptures and we pray all this in Christ's name.Amen.We're continuing our servant series through the Gospel of Mark. We've called it Kingdom Come, the Gospel of Mark and the secret of God's kingdom. And the idea is that the kingdom has come and Jesus has come to establish the kingdom and we are to be a people that pray. Lord, may your kingdom continue to expand in our life and where we live. And as we end one year and begin another, it's helpful to take account of the year past. Remember lessons learned, consider changes to make and make resolutions that pesky word, pesky, pesky. We don't like that word resolutions, but I urge you, church, I challenge you, make this resolution. If you have never read the Bible cover to cover, resolve that this year you are going to change that. Cover to cover, four chapters a day. There's about 1200 chapters in the Bible, four chapters a day that's got you reading 300 or so days of the year.You've got 65 days off to study the Psalter and the Proverbs and go deeper. But four chapters a day, it's about 20 minutes and that's a tremendous time to spend with the Lord. And I say that because it's not the resolutions that change us, it's the reformation that we make in our life. It's the restructuring of the routine. It's the spiritual disciplines that we welcome in. That's what really changes us. We need not just resolutions or short-term change, we need a reformation. We need to be reformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We're like clay in the potter's hands. He's shaping us, he's forming us, he's reforming us. And this reformation or transformation as Romans 12 puts it happens when our minds are renewed according to the word of God, when our minds are saturated with the word of God. It's the word of God when applied by the spirit of God that leads to true transformation and lasting reformation.One of the great principles that came out of the reformation along with the five solos, if you're not familiar with them, here they are. Sola scriptura, that's scripture alone, Sola gratia, that's grace alone, Sola fide, that's faith alone, Solus Christus, that's Christ alone, and Soli Deo gloria to the glory of God alone.Well, along with those five, there was also the principle of semper reformanda, which is always reforming. The title of my sermon today is always becoming reformed and the idea isn't that we are capitulating to the culture, that we're evolving in order to make the message more palatable. No, the message is that we study the holy scriptures and we long for the holy scriptures to reform us and reform how we live, reform how we worship the Lord. And the church should always be seeking to change in ways that make its testimonies more faithful to God's revelation.The church is formed by the word of God and it's always being reformed by the word of God just as individuals are. And how does reformation happen in our lives and in the churches in our land? When we look into the word of God and to the law of God and say, "Lord, where have I been unfaithful to your word? Where have I added to your word or where have I subtracted from your word?" Deuteronomy 4:2 says, "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you."And you say, "Well, which word is he talking about here in Deuteronomy?" Don't add or take away from which word? Well, in the same chapter in verse nine through 14, he explains, "Only take care and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen unless they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children.""How on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, gather the people to me that I may let them hear my words so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth and that they may teach their children also. And so you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain where the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud and gloom. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form. There was only a voice. And he declared to you his covenant which he commanded you to perform, that is the Ten Commandments. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules that you might do them in the land that you were going over to possess."Well, what word do we not to add or subtract from? It's the 10 commandments. And adding to the law of God is legalism and taking away from the law of God is antinomianism and Jesus didn't add to the law of God, but he did uphold the 10 laws to show us primarily that we have sinned against God, therefore we need Christ's sacrifice. And then once we've received Christ's sacrifice and his grace, we are then to out of gratitude, live according to the law that in primarily motivated by love for God and neighbor.Today we're in Mark 7:1-23. As we continue our series, would you look at the text with me?Now when the Pharisees gathered to him with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is unwashed. For the Pharisees and all the Jews did not eat unless they washed their hands properly holding to the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches. And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?" And he said to them, "Well, did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites as it is written. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me teaching his doctrines the commandments of men? You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition.""For Moses said, honor your father and your mother and whoever reviles father or mother must surely die." But you say, "If a man tells his father or his mother, whatever you would've gained from me is Corban, that is given to God, then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down and many such things you do."And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me all of you and understand, there is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable and he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him since it enters not his heart but his stomach and is expelled?" Thus he declared all foods clean. And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him for from within out of the heart of man come evil thoughts, sexual morality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness, all these evil things come from within and they defile a person."This is the reading of God's holy, inherent and infallible, authoritative word. May He write these eternal truths upon our hearts. Three points to frame up our time. First traditions are not God's commandments. Second God's 10 commandments are God's commandments. And three, the law cuts and Jesus regenerates.First, traditions are not God's commandments. In Mark 7:1 says, "The Pharisees gathered to him and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem." These are the representatives of the big establishment religion.The scribes in the Pharisees did not approve of Jesus. Jesus did not have their stamp of approval as he's doing his ministry. They were furious with Jesus that he would eat with sinners and tax collectors. They became angrier when Jesus rejected their distinctions between clean and unclean. And the scribes and the Pharisees challenged Jesus' view of fasting as well as Jesus' view of the Sabbath observance. And Jesus showed no qualms whatsoever in defying these traditions, rejecting their oral traditions. In many ways, I was sharing the gospel recently with someone. They say, "You know what? Jesus sounds kind of like a rebel, kind of like a renegade." And I was like, "Yes, he's the revolutionary of deregulating religion. He's God, it's his law, it's his word. He's come." And he said, "That's all made up and that's all made up and that's all made up." And he's pointing people to the law of God because it's only the law of God that can show us our need for God's grace.So yes, he confounded the canon lawyers and he sent them into fits of rage. How? By just teaching the plain word of God, God's law, what it says, what it doesn't say with absolute precision. For Jesus the oral traditions were not binding, they were not law, they were just decorum. Jesus rejects the authority of their tradition and therefore he openly contradicted what they taught and practiced. And so he made a lot of enemies and that's what ultimately got him crucified. And these men were sent from Jerusalem indicating that their representatives of the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish ruling body in Jerusalem. Like Herod Antipas, members of the Sanhedrin had heard about Jesus Christ. They perceived him to be someone that can mobilize people, therefore they perceive him to be a threat. And some of the religious leaders even accused Jesus Christ of doing his ministry because he was demon possessed.They said, you cast out demons by the power of Satan. And as a result, Jesus places upon them the ultimate covenant curse that no forgiveness in this age or in the age to come was given to the blasphemers of the blessed Holy Spirit. So the Jewish leadership, the Pharisees, they've sworn to destroy Jesus, they've partnered with the Herodians and they gather to him, the verb used to gather to him here is the same one used in Psalm 2, which is a messianic prophetic Psalm about Christ that the anointed one will come and the rulers of the day will rise against him in opposition. And that's exactly what they're doing. In other Psalms, the same verb is used for the wicked conspiring against the righteous to take his life. For example, Psalm 31:13. "For I hear the whispering of many terror on every side as they scheme together against me as they plot to take my life," or Psalm 35:15."But at my stumbling, they rejoiced and gathered. They gathered together against me, wretches whom I did not know, tore at me without ceasing."And the fact that the scribes who interrogate Jesus, they come down from Jerusalem marks that the opposition is coming from the center of power from Jerusalem where Jesus will be eventually executed. In verse two, "They saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is unwashed for the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly holding to the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches."The hand washing is not a biblical... You should wash your hands. That's not what we're talking.We're talking about what makes you moral. That's what they're getting. What they're doing is immoral. They're sinning. That's the conversation. The hand washing that they're alluding to. It's not a biblical requirement for lay people. In the Old Testament, only the priests are required to wash their hands before offering a sacrifice. And the Pharisees however they thought, you know what, this is a good thing to do. We should have everybody do it. We're going to regulate this on absolutely everyone on the theory that every Jew should live as a priest and every Jewish home should become like the temple. The reasoning sounds very rational. And in this tradition, that's what the tradition forces forms the basis of their challenge. Though this was only a priestly requirement from the law of God, all the pious Jews at the time of Jesus had been doing this for about 200 years.So Jesus shows up and he says, that's not in the Bible, that's not regulation for everybody. And their response is, "Jesus, we've always done it this way. Our parents have always done it this way, our grandparents and they've all done it this way.By Jesus' day it had become firmly entrenched this tradition as a requirement for those that want it to be clean and people wash their hands in the morning before morning prayer. The benediction used by the priest of that time of consecration was now being recited by the people as part of the course of daily life. And many felt that even eating bread without a ceremonial washing rendered the bread unclean. And verse five, "The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?" And the word for walk here is standard metaphor for living a certain way.Why don't your disciples live in the way that our elders taught us to live? In the tradition of the elders, not the law of Moses, but oral and written tradition received from antiquity and honored only because it was from antiquity. Honored as the word of God just because it's old for the Pharisees, the oral tradition was equally binding with the law of God and with the scriptures. And some of them even believed that tradition was more precious and more authoritative than holy scripture. And with this kind of tradition, the gospels record that Jesus always expressed angry impatience. On the surface, this looks like an argument brought about Jesus' disciples watching procedures, but in reality it's a debate about authority. Is oral tradition authoritative over God's people? And the answer is no. The problem was that with the Pharisees and what the Pharisees had to be doing is they'd been controlling people with their religious regulation.They had been requiring demanding that people obey their oral traditions even though this tradition had no biblical support. Put it another way, the scribes and the Pharisees big religion, they were binding people's consciences to things that were not required of them by scripture. And as the scribes saw the matter, it was their sacred duty to teach the people and then enforce this manmade law upon the people. These legalistic religious lawyers force their rules and regulations on everyone and try to adjudicate.Jesus answers on two levels. Those who criticize him first, he answers on their level by showing that their premise, their presupposition is unsubstantiated. And then after doing that, he demolishes their position from within by going deeper. Verse six, "And he said to them, well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me teaching us doctrines and commandments of men."On the principle that the best defense is a good offense, Jesus goes on the offense against these guys and he responds to their hostility by not answering their question about hand washing but actually dismantling this false presupposition that their human traditions are on the same level as God's word in terms of binding moral authority calls them hypocrites. In the classical Greek, it was a word to designate actors, pretenders. And he's saying, you guys are hypocrites because you present a religious godly front, but it's a front based on your own regulations. You made up rules, you've been playing according to these rules. You look really wholly according to those rules, but that's not the game. You're playing the wrong game. And he accuses them of a hypocrisy because they're masking God's law with human made regulations. And the Pharisees certainly would not have agreed with Jesus here, with his charge that tradition represented a betrayal of the commandments of God.No, they would've said, "No. Tradition is part of God's revelation to us." Yet God revealed himself to Moses, but he's also been revealing himself through us, through the pharisaical sect of Judaism. This feeling of connection with ancient revelation is what has given rabbinic Judaism the successor of Phariseeism, a great sense of continuity. But what they teach depends entirely on their authority, on people's authority, not on divine authority. And humans, as Jesus makes clear at the end of the text, we're sinners and everything we touch is singe tinged with sin. And even if we try with our greatest attempts of wisdom to add to the commandments of God, those additions are going to be tinged with sin. This clinging to human traditions makes them actually neglect the plain commandment of God, which is what led to their downfall. Not only does Jesus use one of Israel's most widely red prophets, Isaiah, he quotes Isaiah, they knew this was God's word, but in that context, Isaiah was prophesying to the people of God and he says, "You, the kingdom of Israel, you're in shambles because you have left the commandments of God." And what Jesus is doing by quoting that same text to these people, he's saying in the same way that Israel had fallen from glory because they had moved away from the commandments of God, you guys are doing the same thing.And that's why Israel was in the state it was. They've replaced the law of God with laws of humans and that never leads to shalom or universal flourishing. Notice that Jesus does not even attempt to answer their trick question. He doesn't even want to talk about hand washing. These are manmade rules and traditions. They're not binding. Only the law of God is, and these rules and regulations, they may be signs of great zeal, but in actuality they demonstrate this sad fact that they don't know God. Their hearts are far from God because they're spending all of their time living according to their own interpretations of what God said. They're hypocrites because they pretend to love God, but they don't even do what he says. They prefer to do what they say about what he said. And to the people of Israel, the scribes and Pharisees look like holy and godly men, but they're not because they're not worshiping God in the way he said to worship him.These men claim to defend the law of God by arguing, but their humanly contrived rules actually block the word of God. They distort the law of God and they rob the word of God of its power. According to Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees have so buried the true meaning and purpose of the law under countless layers of canon law and oral tradition. They've made the law null and void. Their traditions not only bury the law under rules of men that so much that people don't even know what God's law actually says.So that brings us to point too. God's manmade traditions are not God's law, but God's 10 commandments are. Look at verse eight, what Jesus does. He says, "You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." Well, what does Jesus mean by the commandment of God? Well, he explicitly tells us in verse 10 that he's referring to the 10 commandments because in verse 10 he says, "Case in point hears a command that you have nullified with your own tradition." And he goes to commandment number five. So by command he's referring to the 10 commandments. In verse 10, "For Moses said, honor your father and your mother and whoever reviles father and mother must surely die."For Moses said here, that's what Jesus says. There's a parallel account where Jesus is having a similar conversation in Matthew 15, four. And there it doesn't say Moses said. There, it just says, for God said. God said this. These are his words. God had written the 10 commandments with his finger. So making the contrast that the commandment of God and it makes the contrast even more direct between command of God and tradition. Matthew 15:4, "For God commanded honor your father and your mother and whoever reviles father or mother must surely die. Their hearts had strayed from God and the people have fallen under the sway of human tradition that emptied the divine word of its force and blinded its possessors to God's true will."And that's why in Mark 7:9, Jesus said to them and he said to them, you have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition. They weren't in complete disobedience. Here Jesus adds the word fine as a touch of sarcasm because they had done this so beautifully. No one even noticed that they sidestep the word of God in order to establish their own tradition. But by supplanting and replacing the commandment, they're actually rejecting it.In verse 10 of Mark 7, Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother, whoever reviles father or mother must surely die." That's from Exodus 20:12, "Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." And that's repeated in Deuteronomy 5:16. This is the fifth commandment and it does include material support of parents as parents grow older.That's the conversation here and that commandment honor your father and your mother. It was so important that the penalty for breaking that commandment was capital punishment. Exodus 21:17, "Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death." In Leviticus 20:9, "For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death, he has cursed his father or his mother, his blood is upon him."Just as being angry or refraining from performing a cure is equivalent to murder. So withholding support from parents is equivalent to cursing them. That's what Christ is saying, that dishonoring of parents is a capital offense according to the Torah. Yet the Pharisees facilitate it by their Corban practice. They're like, "Well, that's what the commandment said, honor your father and your mother." They're getting a little older and you should start thinking about how you're going to provide for them.And they're elderly age. And then the Pharisees come in and they say, that's a lot of money and that's a lot of time and that's a lot of resources. We could actually increase the budget of our ministries, of our synagogues, of our temples by tweaking the commandment a little bit. And children, instead of actually supporting your parents when they're older, just give that money to the Lord so to speak. And that was their Corban stuff. Verse 11, "But you say, if a man tells his father or his mother, whatever you want, whatever you would've gained from me is Corban that is given to God then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down in many such things you do."Corban was a transliteration from the Hebrew and Aramaic of sacrifice, their offering. And what they're saying is, "Okay, this money I would've given to you mom and dad. I'm going to offer to the Lord therefore making it unavailable for any other use." The person declares that any material support he might have given his parents is pledged to God. Not that he necessarily intends to deliver it to God, but he just wants to remove it from the parents. If you think about it's just incredibly diabolical this rule that they invented. Yeah, they're going to fill their coffers, but you're also actually, you're doing the opposite what the commander said. Commander said, to honor your father and your mother and you're dishonoring them by pretending to honor the Lord. And Jesus here zeroes in on this specific example of Pharisaic tradition that empties the word of God of its force and it did it through a legal fiction maneuver just to avoid the law.And so what begins as a trick question quickly turns into a lesson in biblical hermeneutics or the interpretation of scripture. Jesus here is saying the law is perfect. Any addition or subtraction to the 10 commandments is the incorrect interpretation. Jesus does not set aside the law, he doesn't question its authority or do anything to weaken its demands, but he's saying traditions added to the law of God, they're not morally binding. And for these traditions and the Pharisees, it was actually subversion of the Lord of the word of God, a betrayal of it. And what's fascinating is the word for tradition in the Greek has two meanings. It could be translated as tradition parados, but there's other places where the same exact word means betrayal. When John the Baptist was handed over, this word was used when Jesus was betrayed, this word was used. And when Christians were betrayed and suffering and death, this word parados was used.So you can read this text and say you forsake the commandment of God and hold fast to the betrayal of human beings because by adding to the law, they have betrayed the word of God. You do a good job of annulling the commandment of God so that you may establish your betrayal, thus avoiding the word of God for the sake of your betrayal, parados by means of which you have betrayed. And the word for human here or person is anthropos. It's not the word for men that's used when Jesus feeds the 5,000. It's anthropos, person, human being. When humans add to the word, when they add to the law, they are subverting the commandments. Mark's point seems to be that human traditions, no matter how laudable in their original intention, they end up suffocating revelation because of the basic warp of the human heart of the anthropos.There's evil inside every single one of us that corrupts everything that we touch including the word of God. So whenever you listen to anybody interpreting the word of God, you do have to be like the Bereans. Word of God I welcome you eagerly, but I'm going to examine everything the person says according to the scriptures. Christians are not and indeed cannot be bound by the rules of men. And while many of these rules are based in wisdom, they cannot be used to bind a Christian's conscience to things that God has not forbidden in his word or expressly or implied. When we say we believe in sola scripture, what are we saying? We're saying we are bound to obey the law of God and in our case, the moral law, the 10 commandments, and that we are not bound by any manmade rules or traditions. God's word is our ultimate authority, not human tradition, not the tradition of the church.And this is why we are not Catholic. We understand that the Pope is not infallible. The Pope is actually very fallible and clearly he's adding to the word of God in a way that subverts the word of God. No, we reject that. We keep on reforming. Scripture speaks of the law of God as the perfect law, the law of liberty. And to put it rather simplistically, God gave us 10 commandments, not countless volumes of canon law. And these 10 commandments are for the most part, very simple. Even our children know the 10 Commandments and we do this in our home. You should try doing this in your home. We go through the 10 commandments and as we're doing our devotionals and we call each other out. We're Slavic, we're direct. We call it like, "Which commandments did you break today? I know, I know I live with you."And you're like, "Yes, I have broken the commandments. Lord, forgive me. I need grace. Help me and no longer break them."God binds us to obey his commandments, not to obey the rules of man. It's that simple. And this leads to the second evil that we see in our passage, just the evil of self-righteousness. These Pharisees had invented rules that they added to the commandments, which protects them from the commandments actually revealing their own sin. And then they walk around and they say, "I have the cleanest hands. I have the cleanest hands, I'm undefiled." And they judge everyone else according to these manmade rules. And that's why Jesus didn't spend time with them. They thought they weren't sick and Jesus would rather spend time with tax collectors, sinners who knew that they were sinners in need of a doctor.The 10 Commandments are given to us to show us our need for Christ and then also show us after we've received Christ what it means to follow him. And these are, I think about 10 lanes on a track. You know there's 10 lanes. I know this because I ran track as a kid for a season and my daughter reminded me of this recently. We're going through a trophy case and she's like, "Oh, here's a trophy." And it was for 10th place in track and field. That's how I know there's 10 lanes. Back when they started giving out trophies for absolutely every single person. Terrible. That was the beginning of the end.And it's like 10 lanes, 10 lanes. This is the straight and narrow. This is how we walk in the ways of righteousness. There's no other lanes and people try to add the lanes through ceremonial minutia and stuff. That's not the law.Point three is the law cuts and Jesus regenerates. Mark 7:14, "And he called the people to him again and said to them, hear me all of you and understand there is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."And this is the ultimate answer to the question of the Pharisees and the scribes when they said, "Well, why aren't your disciples washing their hands as they are?" The Pharisees thought and their system of theology, they thought that to eat with unwashed hands made you ritually impure because the contagion of impurity was outside of you. So if you ate something that was impure, all of a sudden you become impure. They thought that the evil was outside of them and they had to protect themselves from the evil coming in. And Jesus counters that false idea by saying that external things like unwashed hands have no power to transmit defilement. In Matthew 15:11, "It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth that this defiles a person." And this bold statement ran contrary to all of their rabbinic teaching.To the rabbis and to the Pharisees for any defilement to occur, there must be a mother of defilement, an external source by physical contact with that source, you become unclean. That's why they stayed away from the Gentiles, your sinners. Your sin might be transmitted to me that's why they stayed away from anyone with leprosy. They thought this is how the sin or defilement comes upon, and that's why they stayed away from the sinners and tax collectors and they were shocked. "Jesus, how are you spending time with these people? You're going to get contaminated by their sin." And Jesus says, you're false because you're assuming an initially pure state. You're assuming that you are pristine and it's someone else's sin that makes you sin. And this is false. Jesus says, "The source of defilement is not external, but within." It's already existent. We're born with a sin nature, and every mom and dad in the room says, amen.Our children prove the doctrine of total depravity. They're born as little individualistic sinners and we need God's grace and their hearts and our hearts and we need the transformation to come from within. To the Pharisees, lack of ceremonial purity, as in the case of the disciples was sin. And Jesus saying, that's not sin. Don't just throw that word around. They didn't break a commandment. That's not sin. They broke the decorum. Mark 7:17, "When he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable." They didn't understand what's happening so they asked for interpretation of verse 18. He said to them, "Then, are you also without understanding, do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him since it enters not his heart but his stomach and is expelled, thus he declared all foods clean."Here Jesus shows us that he has authority over ritual purity to redefine ritual purity. And he declared all foods clean, meaning that he, by his word and by his authority and by his power, shows that the ceremonial law, which was given by God was to point to Jesus Christ and he has fulfilled the ceremonial law. Therefore, he can redefine ritual purity. Romans 14:17 says, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building. Do not for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats."So we see that Jesus in the same text does not abrogate the 10 Commandments. He actually upholds the 10 commandments, but he is abrogating the Old Testament food laws, the same laws that divided the Jews from the Gentiles and significant that this happens here because Jesus in the next section is going to begin his Gentile ministry. And we see that with the Syrophoenician woman. And then we see that with Jesus feeding 4,000 Gentiles, Gentile men.Ephesians 2:11 says, "Therefore, remember that one time you gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands. Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances that he might create in himself one man in place of the two, so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."So having declared all foods clean and thus having shown that there's no longer anything external to human beings that can defile them, Jesus identifies the real source of defilement. How does sin enter the world? How does sin enter our lives? It's the human heart. It's not what goes into people, what comes out of the human heart that is actually sin. Mark 7:20, "And he said, what comes out of a person is what defiles him for from within out of the heart of man come evil thoughts, sexual morality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness, all these things come from within and they defile a person." This catalog of human offenses truly paints a hellish picture. And Jesus says that that's all inside every single one of us.And there's a series of seven offenses in the plural, which he's showing crimes against the law, against the 10 commandments, followed by a series of more sinister things that are the reason or the root causes of the evil action. He says, out of the heart of man, come evil, thoughts, evil as defined by the law. All the other evil flows out of this one. Evil thoughts, the battleground for the soul. It begins with the mind. It begins with thoughts.In Genesis 8:21, "When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, and the Lord said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground because of man for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done."The word of God teaches that we're born with the sin nature, that there's sin in this world because we're born as sinners and the sin comes from within our hearts. It begins with the word sexual sin, sexual morality or porneia, which originally meant fornication. The Pharisees didn't want to talk about that. They want to talk about washing hands. Let's not talk about anything deeper than that. And after the sexual sins, he talks about robbery and murder and adultery, all transgressions of the 10 commandments. Then he gives seven singular words that talk about internal disposition that then leads to external action. Mark 7:23, "All these evil things come from within and they defile a person." And that word person anthropos, I've already mentioned it's used over and over and over in our passage, five times in a short passage, anthropo. And he says, this is where the sin comes from within the heart of a person. And that's really why adding traditions to the law of God is so sinister because anything that we add is tinged with our own sin.What the Pharisees could not see is that in their desire for piety and zeal, they were actually covering the law with their sin. These men looked like they were pious and godly individuals, but their hearts were far from God because their hearts were sinful. Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick. Who can understand it?"And then who can change it? Who can do something about it? And this is the beauty of the gospel. God gives us the 10 commandments like the scalpel. The 10 commandments show us that our hearts are stoned toward God, their hearts are sinful, that their hearts are evil. And the 10 commands, they cut, they cut, they cut, they cut. And then we look to the cross of Jesus Christ and we realized that the Son of God, the perfect Lamb of God, spotless Lamb of God who would never sinned, not one commandment that Jesus ever break in his whole life, and then he offers his spotless record as a sacrifice in our stead on the cross in order to do what, in order to transform us.Scripture talks about this as regeneration, to be born again, be born from within spiritual heart surgery. Jesus has this conversation with a Pharisee, a religious person named Nicodemus in John 3. And Nicodemus said, "Jesus, how do I go to heaven?" And Jesus answered him and said, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he's old? Can he enter a second time to his mother's womb and be born?' And Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.""Do not marvel at this that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from and where it goes. So it is with everyone who was born of the Spirit.""Lord, I need a new heart." That's what Nicodemus says, and he says, "How do I get it?" He said, "You got to be born again.""How do I do that?"And Jesus' answer, "The Spirit blows where it wishes." The Spirit is the one that converts therefore, church and therefore Christians, we can just proclaim the plain word of God to people and not be afraid, not be ashamed, not try to cover it in these layers to make it more palatable. What he's saying is Nicodemus is like, I want to go to heaven. And Jesus is like, well, hopefully the Holy Spirit converts you. That's his answer. But he tells him the truth.And Nicodemus at that point then what does he do? He starts begging the Holy Spirit, convert me. Holy Spirit regenerate. Holy Spirit, I need this transformation reformation from the inside. And then later on we find out Nicodemus was converted and did become a child of God. So if you're not sure that you are a Christian, if you're not sure that you have a heart that loves God, how does your heart respond when you hear about the 10 Commandments, when you hear about the law of God, the true regenerated believer, Christian child of God, when you hear about the law of God, all you want to do is know more so that you can love God more by obeying the word. And if you hear about the law and you're like, 'I don't want the law, I want nothing to do with God's law," then most likely you still have a heart of stone.Most likely you still are on your path to hell. And therefore we plead with you. I beg you, end the year right. End the year the way you should by repenting of your sins. Say, Lord Jesus, please forgive me for breaking the commandments. Lord Jesus, give me a brand new heart. Holy Spirit, fill me and God will. And that's the promise of God. Ezekiel 36:26, "And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave your fathers, and you shall be my people and I will be your God."New heart that desires to do what? Desires to obey God's law, because of God's grace. The law is both the teacher of sin and the rule of gratitude. It is important to see that while Jesus completely rejects the rules of men with equal force, he reaffirms the authority of the law of God. The rules of men are not to be confused with the law of God no matter how much wisdom, how much piety or how much zeal these rules appear to have, it's the law of God, the 10 Commandments which are binding upon God's people. This is because the law of God reveals his will to us. Therefore, as Christians, we define sin in light of God's law, not in light of rules and ceremonies invented by the self-righteous who actually think that they keep these rules, they are righteous. While those who don't keep them as well or not. God has made his will perfectly clear. The rules of men only obscure what God has said.Jesus calls out to us today. He says, repent of your sins and believe the good news. And the moment you do, his righteousness is counted to you. His recorders counted to you. Righteousness covers you. And Jesus loves repentance, sinners, but he has no patience for the self-righteous. So let's look at this text and let's be convicted that often we are like the Pharisees and let's repent of that self-righteousness and repent of our sin, continue to follow Christ. And honestly, may this be the year that we read the Bible. Everybody, everyone's going to read the Bible this year, and that's how revival is coming into the world. In Jesus' name, amen. Let us pray.Lord Jesus, we thank you for your word and we thank you that the word of God, you became incarnate. And I pray, Lord Jesus, by the power of your blood and by the power of your Holy Spirit, make us the people that embody your word. Make us the people that love your word so much. Study your word so much that our hearts are absolutely transformed by your word. That our minds are renewed by the transformation that the word gives us. And Lord, make us a missionary force here in the city pointing people to the word of God, pointing people to the cross of Jesus Christ and pointing people to the fact that the church is God's plan to rebuild this world. Lord, we love you and pray this in Christ. Holy name.Amen.

Soli Deo Glória - Pr. David Pereira by Igreja Missionária Evangélica Maranata do MéierPara conhecer mais sobre a Maranata: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imemaranata/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imemaranataSite: https://www.igrejamaranata.com.br/Canal do youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1jcJx-DIDqu_gknjlWOrQDeus te abençoe

It's been a few Sundays since we've been in Romans, but we started this section of Romans in mid January. Romans 9-11 deserves its own tier-one heading, and it gets its own doxology. Romans 11:33-36 may be the *best* doxology in the Bible. A doxology is a word of “glory” (δόξα/*doxa*, as in verse 36), a formula of praise. In God's Word they are all good, all inspired. This particular explosion of rhetorical splendor comes after a particularly gnarly doctrinal concern. While some commentators propose that this paragraph divides the book in two: doctrinal 1-11 and practical 12-16, the content of the praise itself connects not just with the righteousness of God in general but with a question about God righteousness in His covenants to Israel. If the only special revelation from God a Gentile had was the epistle to the Romans, it would be an easy (perhaps even preferable) step from 8:38-39 directly to 12:1-2. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, *so* present your bodies as a living sacrifice. But if you had more Scripture, especially if you had the Old Testament, and certainly if you were a Jew, you would have more questions. The salvation promises in the gospel sound like truly good news. But what about all the promises God made to Israel? Has the word of God failed (Romans 9:6)? This is where Paul started in Romans 9, and it's Paul's burden that takes up his attention—and ours with him—for so much time. It wasn't my idea (or a Dispensationalist's dogmatic dream) to insert three whole chapters about God's irrevocable gifts and calling of God to Israel (Romans 11:29), to Israel as identified by blood and covenant. Paul explained that God did not elect each and every Israelite in every generation unto salvation. There was, and still is for now, only a remnant among God's chosen nation who confessed that Jesus is Lord. He also explained that God will fulfill His promise to save “all Israel” in a coming generation (Romans 11:26), but that part of that process will be to use many Gentles confessing that Jesus is Lord and receiving the blessings that come from serving the Lord to provoke the Jews to jealousy. It is a grand narrative. To many Israelites it would have been a mystery story, not entirely understood until Paul. But this final bow of praise reminds us that it is most certainly not a man-made arc/plot. This isn't how men would have written it out. Praise God! Amen!It's been good to hear some of your thoughts in response to my last message. I'd like to make a couple things super clear before we doxologize. Supersessionism, which replaces ethnic Israel with a “spiritual” definition of Israel as the Church regardless of Jew or Gentile, is “exegetical violence” (per the Reformed commentator/theologian John Murray). Supersessionism is a very specific error, and a specious one, in that it is attractive and *misleading*. It's also reckless, revisionist, and makes one vulnerable to *doubting God's Word*. So I don't think that (and didn't say that) Covenant Theologians are liars. I don't think that Postmillennialists or Amillennialists are liars (even though those positions are inconsistent with non-Supersessionism; I can be very thankful for that kind of inconsistency while arguing for something better). But I am saying that, in effect, a Supersessionist is calling *God* a liar, because God's covenant promises are very specific to the house of Israel and the house of Judah (see Jeremiah 31:31ff where the New Covenant parties are named). Changing the meaning of a word (such as “Israel”) in the middle of the conversation is a fallacy of equivocation, and here it would be deceiving at best and destructive to God's character at worst. The only reason for these chapters is to answer the question about the Jews: will God save them as He covenanted to do? Paul *could have easily said* that the Jew/Gentile distinction is done in every way, and that “Israel” actually just means “Christian.” He could have said the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to *figurative* Jews, Greeks who believe. But though Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way—by confessing that Christ is Lord and being justified by faith in the gospel—Paul maintains and celebrates the distinction in God's work of redemption on earth and in history. Jews in the main rejected the Messiah, Gentiles all over received and are receiving the Messiah, in such a way the provokes Jews to jealousy unto their restoration of blessings through Jesus at the proper time. “God is not man, that He should lie.... Has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19)You just can't be listening to Paul explain God's faithfulness to His Word and not respond by exulting in God's glory. Even Paul “responds” out loud in this passage. Paul emotionally, formally, and eloquently responds in praise to all the truth in chapters 9-11. Paul has been *on edge* in dealing with debaters questioning God's righteousness, and now he exalts the riches of God's wisdom and ways. There are three parts, they all emphasize God as the beginning and the end, as the sovereign and as glorious in not only the mercy shown, but the majesty of His purposes, subordinate and ultimate. - 3 emotional exclamations that emphasize God's transcendence (of His being above and beyond our comprehension, excelling beyond usual/human limits)- 3 rhetorical questions that argue for God's self-sufficiency (that is, a fullness of needing nothing from men)- 3 prepositional phrases that punctuate God's centrality (or His being most crucial and important)# Exclamations of God's Glory (verse 33)It is interesting that this exclamation of praise is driven by language stressing what we do not know about God (“unsearchable,” “inscrutable/unfathomable/untraceable”). This doxology is about God's great wisdom, not men's obvious and final and complete and tidy solutions to every difficult problem. Even still, what Paul says in the next few verses—though in the language of what is beyond us–is not to highlight the countless unrevealed things of God, but instead to stress the depth of what we do know through God's revelation. We *do* know this all-wise God, *and* we know what that God has told us. > Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33 ESV)**Depth** is a measurement of scale. The scope of the following three attributes (riches, wisdom, knowledge) of God extends to a degree or range of amount or quality that is hard for our finite minds to grasp; there isn't a theological pressure suit strong enough to get down to the bottom floor of His **riches**.In context **wisdom** summarizes God's arrangement of all things to fulfill His designs for redemption (Murray). **Knowledge** summarizes God's all-inclusive and thorough comprehension.The word **judgments** refers to God's manner of ruling. These are His executive decisions about the direction of history, especially as history relates to salvation. And these judgments are **unsearchable**, inaccessible, impossible of explanation by human minds. Men can search and scrutinize all they want, they can make a careful examination and investigation, but they will not be able to fully penetrate how God works. God's **ways** are His ways of acting, His mode of operations. These ways are **inscrutable**, unfathomable; perhaps the best gloss is untraceable; they are “past finding out” (KJV). Paul is not denying that we see things as they happen. The point is that mere observation of these events does not translate into a complete understanding in-real-time of what *God* is doing in history.# Arguments for God's Glory (verses 34-35)From Scripture:> “For who has known the mind of the Lord, > or who has been his counselor?” > “Or who has given a gift to him > that he might be repaid?” (Romans 11:34–35 ESV)Verse 34 is close to Isaiah 40:13 LXX. This is the first rhetorical question, and like the others, it expects a negative answer and implies that God alone can take credit for what is happening. The OT context of this quote is huge. In Isaiah 40 God promises an exodus from Babylon, but Israel is filled with doubts and fears because they are so weak and Babylon so strong. God assures Israel that He can accomplish His saving plan because all the nations (let alone Babylon by itself) are nothing before Him, a mere drop in the bucket or a speck on His scales (see Isaiah 40:12-31). Our lack of knowledge is not to be a discouragement; it's humbling in a way that increases hope in Him. It is *good* that we don't know everything, and that God does! We don't have the know-how or expertise to be God's consultant. We are not able to troubleshoot problem areas for God. Verse 35 is a reference to Job 41:11. No one is ahead of God in giving. One of Job's major complains during his suffering was that God was unjust. This led Job to question God's wisdom. In Job 38-41 God reveals Himself to Job and rebukes him for questioning. Job was too limited and finite to govern the world, and those who are most frustrated are those who attempt to live without faith in the Lord. # An Abstract of God's Glory (verse 36)In this case an *abstract* is a summary of the contents. All the work of God is summarized in a trifecta of prepositional phrases. > For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36 ESV)First, all things are **from Him**. This shows that He is the SOURCE, the originator. Second, all things are **through Him**. This means that He is the SUSTAINER, the agent and cause and energy behind everything. Third, all things are **to Him**. This means that He is the GOAL, the end, the aim of all creation. God has arranged redemptive history to bring the maximum glory to Himself. All of this goes to show that God is independent, self-sufficient, the first and the last, the all in all. “Who is like the Lord our God?” (Psalm 113:5, also *Quis ut Deus?* from [Mont St. Michel](https://twitter.com/tohuvabohu/status/1678800286893350912?s=20)).Men have no ideas, expertise, or resources compared to God. We also have no cause for complaining against God. *Soli Deo gloria* unto the ages, and **Amen**. # ConclusionChristians live from faith to faith in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, from-through-to Him are all things. So in Romans 9-11 we've touched on Ecclesiology (distinctions between Israel and the Church, Eschatology (His kingdom come), Soteriology (election and reprobation), World History (rise and fall and redemption), Sovereign mercy (Calvinistic) and Riches for the world (Kuyperian) and a future for Israel's full restoration (Dispensational), all toward this doxology of God's mind and gifts. God is faithful to His Word. The word of God has not failed (Romans 9:6). So His covenants are unchangeable, and that makes us more than conquerors through Him who loved us. By the great mercies of God, receive the blessings that make you jealousable and present your bodies as living sacrifices of worship. ----------## ChargeBeloved, you know things that the world's wisest haven't put together. You have a wisdom that is not of this age or of the rulers of this age. You know the From-Through-To God. Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows the Lord (see Jeremiah 9:23-24). To Him be glory forever!## Benediction:> For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Corinthians 8:5–6, ESV)

Many Christians don't know the blessed truths of Revelation. In part, this is due to the recent fad of Theonomy and Kingdom Now theology, which promises Christians a supposed "golden-age" if they'll simply bang the drum of conservatism. But a sound interpretation of The Revelation reminds us that though man will never fix earth, there is a King (soon returning) who will reverse the curse and restore perfect order. Soli Deo gloria. 

Many Christians don't know the blessed truths of Revelation. In part, this is due to the recent fad of Theonomy and Kingdom Now theology, which promises Christians a supposed "golden-age" if they'll simply bang the drum of conservatism. But a sound interpretation of The Revelation reminds us that though man will never fix earth, there is a King (soon returning) who will reverse the curse and restore perfect order. Soli Deo gloria. 

Soli Deo gloria is the motto that grew out of the Protestant Reformation and was used on every composition by Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel with the letters “SDG” Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” We may often use the phrase glory of God, but what does it mean? The glory of God is the holiness of God put on display that arrests our attention and our allegiance. That is, it is the infinite worth of God made manifest. John Piper, “God's glory is the outward radiance of the intrinsic beauty and greatness of His manifold perfections.” The joy of the Christian life is in Seeing & Savoring His glory 1) We see God's glory in His worth Isa 6:3, John 17:5 Was Jesus' lacking glory? No… Phil 2:6-7 2) We see God's glory in His works 2 Thess 1:9, Psalm 19:1, Ephesians 1:6, Psalm 21:5 Seeing His glory & Savoring His glory! Ralph D. Winter (Missiologist) “The great sin of the world is not that the human race has failed to work for God so as to increase his glory, but that we have failed to delight in God so as to reflect his glory.” 1) We savor God's glory in our desire 1 Cor 10:31, Isaiah 43:7 “Theologians of glory” and “Theologians of the cross” “Theologians of glory” seek power FROM God to become great-known-strong (Philippians 3:19) “Theologians of the cross” - Jn 3:30 Live as a Worshipper - Romans 12:1 1 Chronicles 16:10, Psalm 105:3, Philippians 3:3, Philippians 4:19, 1 Peter 5:10 2) We savor God's glory in our declaration - Ps 96:1-3, Isaiah 66:18-19, Matthew 5:16 3) We savor God's glory in our destination Colossians 3:4, Romans 5:2, Jude 24, Romans 8:18 David Livingstone (Scottish physician and pioneer Christian missionary) “Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this be only for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in, and for, us.” Do you see His glory? - Do you savor His glory?

Soli deo glória, a glória somente a deus - Pr. Acyr de Gerone Junior by Igreja Missionária Evangélica Maranata de Caxias Para conhecer mais sobre a Maranata: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imemaranata/ (https://www.instagram.com/imemaranata/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imemaranata (https://www.facebook.com/imemaranata) Site: https://www.igrejamaranata.com.br/ (https://www.igrejamaranata.com.br/) Canal do youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1jcJx-DIDqu_gknjlWOrQ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1jcJx-DIDqu_gknjlWOrQ) Deus te abençoe

Desde la ciudad de Maturín (Venezuela) surge una voz de alabanzas al Rey de reyes; JESÚS. Ágape en la radio tiene el gusto de presentarles a un interprete escogido por Dios para entonar ungidas melodías que tocan los corazones y son un bálsamo que contribuye a sanar las heridas del alma. De la producción: Vida de mi Vida, les presentamos al cantautor Efraín Navarro con el tema: Confraternidad. Soli Deo gloria --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/julio-barreto-en-podcast/message

Desde la ciudad de Maturín (Venezuela) surge una voz de alabanzas al Rey de reyes; JESÚS. Ágape en la radio tiene el gusto de presentarles a un interprete escogido por Dios para entonar ungidas melodías que tocan los corazones y son un bálsamo que contribuye a sanar las heridas del alma. De la producción: Vida de mi Vida, les presentamos al cantautor Efraín Navarro con el tema: Sublime Gracia. Soli Deo gloria --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/julio-barreto-en-podcast/message

Desde la ciudad de Maturín (Venezuela) surge una voz de alabanzas al Rey de reyes; JESÚS. Ágape en la radio tiene el gusto de presentarles a un interprete escogido por Dios para entonar ungidas melodías que tocan los corazones y son un bálsamo que contribuye a sanar las heridas del alma. De la producción: Vida de mi Vida, les presentamos a Efraín Navarro con el tema: Perdóname. Soli Deo gloria --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/julio-barreto-en-podcast/message

Desde la ciudad de Maturín (Venezuela) surge una voz de alabanzas al Rey de reyes; JESÚS. Ágape en la radio tiene el gusto de presentarles a un interprete escogido por Dios para entonar ungidas melodías que tocan los corazones y son un bálsamo que contribuye a sanar las heridas del alma. De la producción: Vida de mi Vida, les presentamos al cantautor Efraín Navarro con el tema: Yo te alabaré. Soli Deo gloria --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/julio-barreto-en-podcast/message

Desde la ciudad de Maturín (Venezuela) surge una voz de alabanzas al Rey de reyes; JESÚS. Ágape en la radio tiene el gusto de presentarles a un interprete escogido por Dios para entonar ungidas melodías que tocan los corazones y son un bálsamo que contribuye a sanar las heridas del alma. De la producción: Vida de mi Vida, les presentamos al cantautor Efraín Navarro con el tema: El anhelo de mi alma. Soli Deo gloria --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/julio-barreto-en-podcast/message

================================================== ==SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1================================================== == DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2022“NUESTRO MARAVILLOSO DIOS”Narrado por: Roberto NavarroDesde: Chiapas, MéxicoUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church 14 DE JUNIOSOLÍ DEO GLORIA«Hagan brillar su luz delante de todos, para que ellos puedan ver las buenas obras de ustedes y alaben al Padre que está en el cielo». Mateo 5: 16, NVIEN NUESTRO VERSÍCULO PARA HOY EL SEÑOR JESÚS dice que hemos de hacer brillar nuestra luz delante de todos. ¿Cómo lograr que esa luz brille, no para nuestra gloria personal, sino para la gloria de Dios?Hace ya tiempo leí un relato que nos puede ayudar a dar siempre la gloria a quien corresponda. Lo cuenta Bill Knott, y trata de una ocasión en la que él fue invitado a un concierto del conocido guitarrista clásico Christopher Parkening. Dice Bill que estaba disfrutando plenamente del concierto cuando, repentinamente, el artista anunció que iba a interpretar su última pieza, porque quería contar una historia personal. «¡Cómo puede ser!», pensó Bill. «¡Yo vine a escuchar música, no historias!»Lo que siguió a continuación, nadie en la sala de concierto lo imaginó. El artista habló de su encuentro con Jesús, y de cómo su relación con el Señor llenó su vida más que el dinero y la fama que hasta entonces había conocido. «De memoria --cuenta Bill — [Christopher Parkening] repitió pasajes extensos de Isaías, Romanos, Gálatas y Efesios con una belleza tan impresionante como la música que habíamos escuchado».Lo que más impresionó a Bill esa noche fue el lema que este artista había adoptado desde que tuvo a Jesús en su vida. Siguiendo el ejemplo de Johann Sebastian Bach, había adoptado el lema Soli Deo gloria (en latín, «la gloria solo a Dios»). Con estas palabras, Christopher Parkening esa noche dejó en claro que estaba dejando su luz con toda la intensidad posible, pero no para su propia gloria, sino para gloria del Señor. Y este detalle del programa, más que todos los demás, impactó a Bill. Cuenta él que durante semanas no pudo dejar de preguntarse: «¿La gloria de quién persigo: ¿en mi trabajo, mediante el uso de mis talentos, y en todo lo que hago?».Bill concluye su relato diciendo que él también resolvió dejar brillar su luz, para la gloria de Dios, pero con una pequeña modificación. Resulta que, además de Soli Deo gloria , Johann Sebastián Bach también solía escribir otra frase latina en sus manuscritos: Jesús, juva (Jesús, ayuda [me]). Entonces Bill Knot sacó ambos lemas, «porque [...] el mismo Señor que nos llama a darle a él la gloria, es quien nos ayuda a lograrlo». *¡Muy de acuerdo, Bill! «¡Soli Deo gloria! ¡Jesús, juva! » ¡La gloria solo a Dios! ¡Jesús, ayúdame!Señor, hoy me propongo hacer brillar mi luz-en mi hogar, en mi lugar de trabajo, en mi vecindario-. ¡Ayúdame, Jesús, a lograr este ideal, y así glorificar tu santo nombre!*Bill Knott, «La calidad de la luz», en William Johnsson, Editor's Choice. Favoritos de la Adventist Review, 1988, pp. 59-61. 

Onze recensent Wim Berkelaar bespreekt de volgende vier historische boeken: - Soli Deo. Wouter Lutkie (1887-1968) van Willem Huberts - Truus van Lier van Jessica van Geel - De metamorfose van de wereld van Jürgen Osterhammel - Leven in de verbeelding. Hella S. Haasse van Aleid Truijens Natuurlijk kiest Wim ook één favoriet boek uit de selectie en is dat aanleiding voor een winactie! Luister zondag mee en houd onze sociale media in de gaten om kans te maken op historisch verantwoord leesvoer.

Darrel and Miriam* are EMM workers serving in Germany with their two daughters. After a one-year break because of the coronavirus, their church, Soli Deo, once again held their annual international tour of food and music called Esskultour. At the event, there were seventeen national foods served. Irom Iranian gormeh-zabsi to Brazilian coconut chicken rice to American funnel cake.

Life Together – "Amazing Grace" “By Grace…Through Faith…To Good Works” Ephesians 2:8–10 Your Spiritual Biography Dead - You are/were dead in your sins (vs. 1) Disobedient - You are/were the slave of the World , the Devil, and the Flesh (vss. 2-3a) Doomed - You are/were under God's wrath (v. 3b) Difference - “But God” (v. 4a) Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Dead in trespasses and sins! Alive together with Christ Sons of disobedience! Raised up with Christ Children of wrath! Seated with Christ Children of wrath! Recipients of generous mercy Children of wrath! Recipients of great love Children of wrath! Recipients of rich grace Children of wrath! Recipients of God's kindness Children of wrath! Trophies of God's grace Salvation is for Sinners (v. 5) Matthew 19:16–22 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Salvation is from God (v. 8) Grace Faith God's grace is sufficient for all but only efficient for those who believe. Gift Salvation gives God the Glory (v. 9) Pascal said, “Grace is indeed required to turn a man into a saint; and he who doubts this does not know what either a man or a saint is." Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Salvation transforms us into God's Masterpiece (v. 10) Works are not the root, but the fruit of salvation Faith alone justifies, but saving faith can never be alone. John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Knowledge of God increases Working/Fruitfulness for God increases “Good works don't produce salvation, but are produced by salvation. They don't bring discipleship, but they prove it is genuine.” Amazing Death – 1-3 Amazing Heights – 4-7 Amazing Grace – 8-9 Amazing Work – 10 R Kent Hughes Can People Say “You are a work of God?” • Sola scriptura (“by Scripture alone”) • Sola fide ("by faith alone") • Sola gratia (“by grace alone”) • Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or “through Christ alone”) • Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")

Na última parte da nossa série de mensagens *PILARES* hoje iremos refletir sobre o último pilar: Soli Deo gloria. Conecte-se, acompanhe e compartilhe! Nossas redes sociais : https://instagram.com/ipisaocaetano?igshid=1euageh96siem https://www.facebook.com/ipisaocaetano/ --- Track Title : Worthy of praise.   Music by Jay Man | OurMusicBox   Website: www.our-music-box.com   YouTube: www.youtube.com

Soli Deo Glória.

Sermon Notes: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector By Robin Spengler  BTh. Hons Read the Parable. Luke 18:9-14 (ESV) - 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up 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, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”   Immediate context: In Luke 17:20 Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. This is followed by a series of teachings by Jesus on the kingdom of God and in Luke 18:9-14 we have the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, so the parable is given in the immediate context of the Kingdom of God. The Main Point The Self-Righteous will not enter the Kingdom of God. Characters Pharisee: Those who rely on self-righteousness. Tax Collector: Those who rely on God. More Theology Imparted Righteousness: The Church. This is also known as infused righteousness and was the main reason for the reformation (1517-1600). Trans-substantiation. Indulgences. Other religions. Always rules and regulations, Concentrates on good deeds. Your own views. New age thinking, leading a good life. Imputed Righteousness:   Romans 3:21-28 (ESV) - 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it - 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. The Pharisee Represents religion or Imparted Righteousness Thinks his own Goodness and religious efforts will get him into the Kingdom of God. Thought that his own goodness and his adherence to religious ceremonies were sufficient to entitle his entrance into the kingdom. Considered himself superior, showed disdain towards those who did not follow his views. Did not acknowledge his own sin. Didn't ask for forgiveness. His prayers were all about himself. No sign of gratitude or love towards God. Tax Collector. Represents faith and repentance or Imputed Righteousness. * Aware of his sinful state. * Cries out to God for mercy. * Is “Poor in Spirit”. He stands far off as he is aware of his unworthiness before God Psalm 38:1-10 (ESV) - 1O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! 2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, 6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. 7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. 9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes - it also has gone from me. He beats his chest and cries out to God for mercy Psalm 51:1-10 (ESV) - Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. He is genuinely, “Poor in Spirit” Matthew 5:3 (ESV) - “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Being Poor in Spirit means. * I can do nothing to save myself. * I come to God empty and desperate. * I realise that good works can't save me. * I realise that it is God's mercy that saves me. That I can do nothing in my own strength to save myself Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV) - 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. I come to God empty, spiritually bankrupt, and desperate. I realise that only God, through his mercy, can save John 3:14-15 (ESV) - 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. I realise that no amount of good works, knowledge of scripture, church attendance or following of rituals can save me. That the only work that saves me is the work God has already done on the cross of Jesus. The five Solas of the Reformation Sola scriptura (Scripture alone) Solus Christus (Christ alone) Sola fide (faith alone) Sola gratia (grace alone). Soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). Lastly, remember our roots. These five Solas are the blueprint for our understanding God's plan.

El trauma de la Santidad ¿Sabías que un encuentro con la santidad de Dios es siempre una experiencia traumática? La mayoría de la gente tiende a pensar que las experiencias espirituales son profundamente agradables, pero hoy veremos como las Escrituras nos muestran que cuando hombres se encuentran con la santidad de Dios su respuesta es siempre de desesperación al verse obligados a confrontar su propia pecaminosidad. Soli Deo gloria

La santidad es la característica de la naturaleza de Dios que está en el corazón mismo de Su ser. Hace más de 30 años que el Dr. R.C. Sproul escribió su afamado libro “La Santidad de Dios”, el cual por la gracia de Dios ha sido de bendición y edificación a una multitud de personas alrededor del mundo. Soli Deo gloria.

Scripture Reading: John 3:17-21 Following John 3:16, we have something of an expansion of the purpose and results of the coming of Jesus.  First, we have a statement of the grand purpose for which Jesus came, followed by some insight as to why people either receive or reject Christ. John 3:17 says that God sent His Son not to condemn the world, but to save the world.  At the very least this means that Christ has brought salvation into a fallen humanity, to offer eternal life to all people.  Further, it means that Christ will gather to Himself people from all the nations … from every tribe and tongue. But perhaps there is a far-reaching scope in view here … the final, restoration of all things.  B. B. Warfield, in his sermon entitled "God's Immeasurable Love" says, "Are not the saints to inherit the earth?  Is not the re-created earth theirs?  Are not the kingdoms of the world to become the kingdom of God?" We see in John 3:19 the deep-rooted reason why people reject Christ.  "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil."  People reject Jesus, not because they don't have enough information.  The basic problem of the human heart is not a lack of light, but a love of the dark.  The issue is one of desire.  They want their sins more than they want God. On the other hand, people who come to the light do so because their "works have been carried out in God" (Jn 3:21).  It is God's grace, alone, which has worked in their sinful hearts, bringing them into the light.  A summary of these verses could go like this … unbelief is our fault … belief is God's grace.  Soli Deo gloria!

Série em 05(cinco) episódios, em celebração pelos 503 anos de reforma protestante. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ipmadalena/message

Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide', Sola Christus, Sola Gratia, Soli Deo' Gloria. Recorded live at RiverSide Church, in Princeton NC. www.RiverSideFWB.com

El Pastor Julio César Barreto en su programa "Síntesis", enfocó el tema de la violencia física en el matrimonio, y nos dejó el consejo de Dios para evitar esa lamentable situación. Soli Deo gloria. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/julio-barreto-en-podcast/message

¿Por qué es tan difícil hacer lo que nos conviene? He aquí 21 cosas difíciles, pero que conviene hacerlas. Soli Deo gloria. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/julio-barreto-en-podcast/message

Piektdien, 10. jūlijā, pl.19.00 Rīgas Domā izcilu interpretu izpildījumā izskanēs ģeniālā Johana Sebastiana Baha mūzika – baroka čelliste Ilze Grudule, ērģelniece Vita Kalnciema un soprāns Viktorija Pakalniece, ar kuru jau šobrīd tiekamies "Neatliekamajā sarunā". "Baha mākslas fenomenu, liekas, nav iespējams ietērpt ne īsos, ne garos vārdos. Šī ģēnija mūzika, pārdzīvojusi trīs gadsimtus, aizvien turpina atklāt savu nemainīgo virsvērtību miljoniem klausītāju visā pasaulē. Zinām, ka Bahs bija dievbijīgs, pazemīgs un strādīgs.Tik vienkārši! Katra darba sākumā rakstot Jesu, juva! ("Jēzu, palīdzi!") un darba nobeigumā – Soli Deo gloria! ("Vienīgi Dievam slava!"), viņš atstājis mums mantojumā ne vien ģeniālu mūziku, bet arī stipru ticību Dievam. Iespējams,tieši tādēļ Baha mūziku varam uzskatīt kā pārlaicīgu – tādu, kas spēj stāvētpāri laikmetu vai iekārtu mainīgajām sīkvērtībām. Raugoties pasaulē ar Dieva acīm, Bahs ir kļuvis par varbūt visu laiku ievērojamāko teologu mūzikā," atzīmē Vita Kalnciema. Programmā ietverts gan visslavenākais Baha skaņdarbs – Tokāta un fūga reminorā, gan arī apjomīgā Pasakalja ērģelēm solo, soprāna ārijas no kantātēm, kā arī čella solo skaņdarbi no svītām un sonātēm. Ģeniāla mūzika, izcila akustika un ērģeles -  brīnišķīgās interpretes atklās jums Baha mūzikas burvību! *** Ieva Zeidmane: Latvijas Mūzikas akadēmiju pabeidzāt pirms gada, esat jau paspējusi arī uz Latvijas Nacionālās operas skatuves dziedāt. Kāds jums kopumā ir bijis šis gads? Vai  ir tāds kārtīgs ieskrējiens mūzikas dzīvē? Viktorija Pakalniece: Jums pilnīga taisnība! Tas tiešām bija ieskrējiens, kas sākās pagājušā gada rudenī. Patiesībā ieskrējiens sākās ar Jāzepa Vītola kordiriģēšanas konkursu, kurā tiku dziedāt kopā ar Mihailu Čuļpajevu, un interesantā kārtā tieši konkursants, pie kura mēs dziedājām, arī uzvarēja. Tam sekoja debija uz Operas skatuves, pēc tam dziedāju arī Jāzepa Vītola Latvijas Mūzikas akadēmijas simtgades koncertā Lielajā ģildē. Viss bija tā ieskrējies līdz vienam "skaistam" brīdim... Šis koncerts bija ieplānots divas dienas pēc ārkārtas situācijas izsludināšanas Latvijā. Tieši šādā pašā sastāvā, tikai ar citu programmu. Jā, ieskrējos diezgan pamatīgi un nekas - skrējiens turpināsies! Tas nozīmē, ka šos mēnešus izmantojāt, lai veidotu jauno programmu? Daļēji jā, bet ir arī daudzi citi projekti, kuriem esmu pievērsusies, un šobrīd tas ir saistībā ar dažādiem ierakstiem un dažādiem ārzemju pasūtījumiem, jo Latvijā kultūras nozare šobrīd drusciņ stagnē. Programma, ko piektdien atskaņosim, bija paredzēta nedaudz citā sastāvā un nedaudz vēlāk. Bija plāns to atskaņot augustā, bet dzīve ievieš savas korekcijas un mēs pielāgojamies. Jūs vienkārši gribētu atgriezties pie klausītājiem pēc iespējas ātrāk... Par to vispār nevar būt ne runas! Katra mākslinieka dziļākā vēlme ir būt uz skatuves, un, kā teica mans sens draugs, nu jau aizsaulē esošais Uģis Brikmanis - "es nevaru nedarīt". Un tas ir tas, kas mani vienmēr pavada dziedot, un protams, ka es uz to ļoti tiecos, tāpat kā vairums citu dziedātāju. Siguldas Opermūzikas svētki, Operas lielā skatuve, Rīgas Doma akustika - ir kāda atšķirība, kur dziedāt, vai arī katrai vietai ir savi plusi un savi mīnusi? Protams, ka ir atšķirība. Ja mēs runājam par Siguldu, tad tā vienmēr ir atvērta vide, un jāsaka godīgi, ka tad, kad man bija tā iespēja pirmo reizi nokļūt uz Gala koncerta lielās skatuves, man bija ārkārtīgi liels telpisks pārsteigums par to, cik ārkārtīgi plaša ir tā vide, jo pēkšņi tev vairs nav sienu, tev nav robežu. Protams, ka balss tiek apskaņota un laista cauri mikrofoniem un apskaņošanas aparatūrām, tā sajūta, tur esot, ir tāda, ka tu dziedi un skaņa lido līdz pat Rīgai. Domam savukārt ir ārkārtīgi interesanta akustika, jo es vienmēr esmu nedaudz baidījusies no dziedāšanas Domā, jo vienmēr bijusi tā sajūta, ka tas ir jāpiedzied. Lai gan mana skolotāja Aira Rūrāne vienmēr ir teikusi, lai dziedu tikai uz tuvāko kolonnu, ka nevajag visu piedziedāt, un viņai ir taisnība, jo balss lido pati no sevis, tieši pateicoties lielajām velvēm un milzīgajai telpai, kurai, atšķirībā no Siguldas, ir robežas. Bet jebkurā gadījumā - balss vienkārši plūst, un tas nozīmē, ka tu vari atkal būt pats ar sevi, pats pie sevis, tev nekas nav jāspiež, nav jāgrib balsi dabūt līdz galam. Savukārt Operas skatuve - tas bija kaut kas unikāls... Esmu dzirdējusi dažādus māksliniekus izsakāmies par operas akustiku, arī pati esmu diezgan daudz bijusi skatītāju pusē, ne tik daudz uz skatuves, bet šī izrāde bija viens ļoti liels brīnums manā dzīvē, jo, esot uz skatuves, pazaudēju vispār jebkādu laika izjūtu. Viss, kas man tajā brīdī eksistēja, bija loma, diriģents un mūzika, kas apkārt. Brīdī, kad viss beidzās, man likās - kā, nupat taču sākās, nu, nevar jau būt beigas! Līdz ar to man ir ļoti grūti spriest un pateikt, kāda ir akustika, kādi ir plusi vai mīnusi, jo es izbaudu katru reizi, kad esmu uz jebkuras no šīm skatuvēm. Uz Operas skatuves jūs dziedājāt Leldes lomu Imanta Kalniņa operā "Spēlēju, dancoju". Bet vai Rīgas Domā ir kādas nianses, kas soprāna balss īpašniecei ir jātur prātā, tur dziedot? Nav atšķirības un nozīmes, kādā akustikā tieši tu dziedi, ja vien tu saglabā sevi pašu. Tas ir tas, kas man ir mācīts, un pie kā arī cenšos pieturēties, jo balss ir jāveido tāda, kāda tā ir - pēc iespējas dabiskāka, nevis paļaujoties uz to, kāda būs akustika, bet uz to, kāds tu tajā brīdī esi. Un mans šībrīža mērķis, pie kā strādāju - lai balss būtu viegla. Lai nebūtu spiesta, lai nebūtu uzstrādāta, jo tikai caur vieglumu mēs varam nodot tās patiesās emocijas, lai arī kāda veida šī mūzika nebūtu - vai tas ir Bahs, vai tā ir Lelde Imanta Kalniņa operā, vai jebkas cits mūsdienīgs. Jā, mans šībrīža uzstādījums ir vieglums, arī spilgtums, un Doma baznīca ļoti paģēr to, lai balss skanētu pāri milzīgajām senajām romantisma laikmeta ērģelēm, jo šis instruments ir ārkārtīgi skaists... Atsaucoties uz manu skolotāju Vitu Kalnciemu, kura piedalīsies koncertā un uz saviem pleciem to arī iznesīs, šīs ērģeles ir romantisma laikmeta ērģeles, un uz tām Bahu spēlēt ir diezgan liels izaicinājums. Un tieši tāpēc, manuprāt, balsij ir jābūt spilgtai, skaidrai un ļoti precīzai. Ļoti precīzi jāmāk nodot emocijas. Vairāk un plašāk - ierakstā.  

Mensagem pregada em 03/11/2019 na Igreja Presbiteriana de Vila Pernambuco - PA. Texto Bíblico: Romanos 11.33-36. Série: Em obras - os pilares da Reforma Protestante na vida da Igreja.

Hermoso tema, magistral interpretación en la voz de Efrain Navarro. Hay esperanza para este país. Jesucristo debe ser reconocido por toda esa nación y entonces el giro inesperado acontecerá. Soli Deo gloria

Las gloriosas epopeyas que encontramos en las Sagradas Escrituras, nos narran (entre otras) la de David. Esta vez contada musicalmente por nuestro amigo Efrain Navarro. Soli Deo gloria.

Para el que merece toda la gloria y la honra, para "Jesús" (Rey de reyes). Para el que nos ha llenado de su Espíritu y de su gozo. ¡Fiestas para el Rey!. Interpretado por la Banda Punto de Encuentro. Soli Deo gloria.

Our first podcast episode and our first weekly devotional. Finding encouragement, joy, comfort and hope in the passage from Matthew 6:26-34 as it applies to today. God bless! Soli Deo gloria! -Daniel McAdams-

Del Baúl de los gratos recuerdos extraemos esta producción. Maria Almenar ft J. Sebastía (Renovación). Soli Deo gloria.

Richie Ray en un Tributo al Rey del Universo. Soli Deo gloria.

Hicimos una maravillosa "Conexión radial" con Dynamisradio (Madrid - España) y qué creen que pasó. En el estudio de dicha emisora encontramos a nuestro querido amigo, el Pr. Luis Enrique Panduro (Lucho) sosteniendo una importante plática (via telefónica) con el Director de alabanzas Gherman Sánchez. Aquí en este Podcast les dejamos la entrevista full. Esperamos que los interesados en este tema, puedan nutrirse de lo conversado con Gherman. Soli Deo gloria.

Destacable: ¡Carolina! ... ¡Carolina! -¡Habla Señor, que tu sierva te escucha!- Tema tratado: Los Extranjeros Invitado: Ernesto Pinto (Encuentro) conversa con Carolina, que emigró de Venezuela a Tenerife. Música: 1. Iguales (Diego Torres) 2. El Extranjero (Paté de Fuá) 3. Mi corazón (Paté de Fuá Ft Natalia Lafourcade) Una Producción de : Ágape en la radio Podcast & Streaming. Soli Deo gloria

Ulises Eyherabide fue entrevistado por nuestro buen amigo el Pr. Luis E. Panduro (una producción de Dynamisradio). En nuestro segundo bloque (1/2 hora) estuvo con nosotros el Pr. Ernesto Pinto (Encuentro), en una interesante plática con Rafael Raimundo (invidente). Sin embargo Rafael nos muestra a través de sus palabras, que aunque carezcamos de algunos de nuestros miembros, siempre tenemos otros con los cuales ser útil en en esta vida. Soli Deo gloria.

El Salmo 23 es un hermoso poema que habla sobre cómo Dios se relaciona con aquel que le entrega su vida a él. En esos momentos en que el miedo toca a tu puerta y se cierne sobre ti las preocupaciones, las palabras: El Señor es mi Pastor, Nada me Faltará, nos ayudan a comprender que Dios está en control y no fallará. Este tema hecho canción es para ayudarte a entender cómo Dios nos ama, te cuida y te protege. Arreglo Musical: Daniel Salas Masterización: LANDR Autor (Musica/Letra): Julio César Barreto Interpretado por: Julio César Barreto *Este tema surgió en mi corazón por revelación del glorioso Espíritu Santo. Soli Deo gloria

Expositor: Pr. Alejandro Bullon Esta es una producción de: Ágape en la radio Podcast & Streaming. (https://zeno.fm/agape-en-la-radio). Soli Deo gloria

Expositor: Pr. Alejandro Bullon Imagen: Rafael Marichal en Pixabay Ua Producción de Ágape en la radio (https://zeno.fm/agape-en-la-radio) Soli Deo gloria.

El trabajo de Dios es hacerlo. El sabrá disponer los tiempos. Nuestro trabajo es creer y abrazarnos a la Fe. Entrevista efectuada por Ingrid Gómez Espacio TV "Mujeres al borde". Soli Deo gloria. https://zeno.fm/agape-en-la-radio

Pero sin fe es imposible agradar a Dios; porque es necesario que el que se acerca a Dios crea que le hay, y que es galardonador de los que le buscan. (Hebreos 11:6) Pero cuando venga el Hijo del Hombre, ¿hallará fe en la tierra? (Lucas 18:8). Soli Deo gloria. #AgapeEnlaRadio

First video ends at 11:40 third video starts at 28:00 https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/111-is-the-apocrypha-inspired-of-god Scripture being sufficient for salvation is your topic here. My opinion is that Jesus is salvation. The gospel is in 1 corinthian 15 verse 1-4. There are two salvations in the bible. The event of salvation and then the process of salvation/sanctification. For this second salvation scripture can be good. It says; 1 Timothy 4:16 (KJV) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. So yes its important to know what is scripture and what is not scripture otherwise you wont know either what is correct doctrine. The scripture is not the word of men. Its the scripture breathed out by the holy ghost. Knowing scripture is good for those who are saved because then they are less likely to fall away. Also you can stop others from going wrong by teaching sound doctrine. Once saved always saved only applies to those that love God are called according to his purpose Rom8:28. There are many in the new testament that fall away. Look also at King Saul who did receive a new heart but ended up taking suicide after having been given an evil spirit by God. The 5 solas talk about scripture alone 1.Sola scriptura: “Scripture alone” Sola fide: “faith alone” Sola gratia: “grace alone” Solo Christo: “Christ alone” Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God alone” Here is a video about the sufficiency of scripture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6bncuFh-JY Are you going to tell the jews in the desert that worshipped the lord using a golden calf that its all ok. Do you think God would agree with you? True that you don’t have to be able to read to get saved by lord jesus christ. But if you do have an intellect then its because God gave you one and he expects you to use it for him. Regarding christians and the church or local congregation it is different for different members of the body of christ. Some are set in the church indicating that some are not. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (KJV) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. As you can see above only SOME are set in the church. All branches are different. I think I am contributing to the body of christ. I am a branch set apart in christ. Discerning the spirit, preaching doctrine and having my heart established in grace rather than meat. My life is integrated with other christians. And no catholic priest is ever going to be “father” in my life. I have a Father in heaven and a mediator that I follow, the Lord and Saviour, the king of kings, Jesus Christ. I am a son of a King. Blessings Mattias The apocrypha is not scripture. Check out this link https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-apocrypha-are-apocryphal-books-really-scripture.html it says that Jesus and the apostles did not recognise the apocrypha as scripture in the link above. But the catholic and the orthodox church does. So I simple choose to disagree with you two here. I choose to agree with Jesus and the apostles instead. Show less Tobit 3:8-17 But it was not Jesus that brought up the issue so it doesn't prove that Jesus considered the book of Tobit scripture. I think Jesus does mention law and the prophet

Romans Episode #07: Paul is trying to daisy chain our heart, our head, and our hands together in Romans 2:12-27. This sermon is a challenge to those of us who know our Bible, but at times find ourselves in jeopardy of blaspheming the name of God to those who do not believe, just yet. As you listen, you will be asked, "What identifies your as a Christian?". The answer you give reveals who"s glory you"re working for. Soli Deo gloria, Pastor Pete Orta

La mejor música del Universo en Ágape en la radio. Soli Deo gloria. https://agaperadiotv.blogspot.com

How great is God's love for His people, that even while they were yet sinners, Christ Jesus died for them- Soli Deo gloria-

Ágape en la radio y su espacio estelar "Síntesis Forever", les presenta en esta ocasión el tema: Es tiempo de sanidad, es tiempo de perdonar. Es una producción del Min. Radial "Encuentro" conducido por el Pr. Ernesto Pinto. ¡Bienvenidos! Soli Deo gloria. http://agaperadiotv.blogspot.com

En Reposición: Hemos seleccionado este Podcast para compartirselos de nuevo, porque estamos seguros de que mantiene vigencia y creemos que sigue gustando. Es una Conexión radial con Jorge Cota (Dynamisradio/Pr. Lucho), Benjamin rivera y Luigi Castro (Encuentro/ Pr. Ernesto Pinto). Gracias por ser parte de "Ágape en la radio. Soli Deo gloria. http://agaperadiotv.blogspot.com

Hicimos una maravillosa "Conexión radial" con Dynamisradio (Madrid - España) y qué creen que pasó. En el estudio de dicha emisora encontramos a nuestro querido amigo, el Pr. Luis Enrique Panduro (Lucho) sosteniendo una importante plática (via telefónica) con el Director de alabanzas Gherman Sánchez. Aquí en este Podcast les dejamos la entrevista full. Esperamos que los interesados en este tema, puedan nutrirse de lo conversado con Gherman. Soli Deo gloria. https://agaperadiotv.blogspot.com

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:12-14 In this first section of Colossians, Paul has been thanking God for the conversion of the Colossian church.  He had not been to Colossae, but wrote, "We always thank God . . . when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith" (Col 1:3,4).  At the end of this paragraph of thanksgiving, we have a brief, but glorious description, of what God has actually done in the conversion of His people. Echoing the Old Testament division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel, God has "qualified [Christians] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col 1:12).  The 'inheritance of the saints' is experienced now, but the primary meaning here is our enjoyment of heaven.  We do not qualify ourselves.  We are qualified by God's authority, according to the merits of Christ.  Having mentioned 'light,' Paul now says that in our conversion, we have been 'delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ' (Col 1:13).  In the Scriptures 'darkness' is symbolic of several kinds of corruption.  There is the darkness of spiritual ignorance (cf. Jn 1:8,9; 12:35) … the darkness of wickedness (cf. Jn 3:19; Rom 13:12,13) … the darkness of hell (cf. Mt 8:12).   Christians have been transferred into another kingdom … a kingdom of light and righteousness, where Christ is.  Certainly there is a present aspect to the kingdom of Christ, which we experience now, and a future aspect, which we will know in fullness in heaven. Furthermore, the price of the debt that  Christians owe for their sins has been paid (redemption) and the penalty for their sins has been taken away (forgiveness).  There is no deeper joy or greater hope or sweeter peace than what is being described here.  Soli Deo gloria!

Unidade Independência

Unidade ABC - Santo André

Unidade ABC - Santo André

Soli Deo gloria emphasizes the glory of God as the goal of life. Rather than striving to please church leaders, keep a list of rules, or guard our own interests, our goal is to glorify the Lord. The idea of soli Deo gloria is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

The five hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther's nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church, And today as children of the Reformation have the -'five solas' we stand upon. Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone") Sola fide ("by faith alone") Sola gratia ("by grace alone") Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone") Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")lone

This week Pastor Mike concludes our series on the Reformation. He teaches about Soli Deo gloria, Glory to God alone. Learn more at www.TopekaFirst.com 

Unidade Guarulhos

Unidade Guarulhos

Psalm 115:11 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!SERMON NOTES

5 Sola - Soli Deo Glória - Egyedül Istené a dicsőség!

Jenniffer Ogden

Die Orgelbauerdynastie Stumm aus Rhaunen-Sulzbach hat über Generationen den Raum zwischen Saarbrücken und Frankfurt mit Orgeln versorgt. An der Saar haben allerdings nur wenige, kleine Instrumente die Zeiten überdauert...