23 January 2022 “But God …”

Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the Podcasts page.

Welcome

Keep Fit – gentle exercise class at Bethel run by Reed Well-Being – Thursdays 1pm (contact Harry to register).

Harry is planning to run an Alpha Course every Tuesday – start with light lunch, short talk, then small discussion groups, Tuesday 12.30pm (contact Harry if interested).

Testimony

Stella had a picture of bees buzzing around the flowers, collecting nectar, and taking it to the hive. All the bees were working together as a team to produce the honey we enjoy eating. Christians working together in love and unity, effectively spread the Good News of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. He alone gives eternal life to all who accept and trust Him, (see John 1:12 – below).

Worship

Word

Read Romans 3:21-31

But now the righteousness of God … is revealed … through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe.

Rom. 3:21-22

Leon Morris describes this section as “possibly the most important single paragraph ever written” and most recognise it as the heart of the letter to the Romans. Romans 1:18-3:20 has been quite depressing as, summed up:

there is no one righteous, not even one,

Romans 3:10

and further emphasised:

all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

But now we have one of those wonderful phrases breaking in “But … God” –

But now the righteousness of God … is revealed.

Romans 3:21

And “now” – it’s God’s time for His new age to break in whereby a right relationship between God and  humankind is possible. We are “now” living in the last days of the old order, and in the new age of righteousness –

“Christ’s resurrection inaugurates the End-events of history”

Albert Schweitzer

as does the outpouring of the Holy Spirit,

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Acts 2:17

The righteousness of God is revealed literally in and through Jesus Christ. One aspect of it is His …

“… saving action in Jesus Christ by which human sin is atoned for so that humanity’s broken relationship with God may be restored”

Colin Kruse.

Righteousness, is a free gift of God to all who believe, to those who receive Christ by faith. We see revealed, in the cross of Christ, the saving righteousness of God and the judging righteousness of God. Does this not emphasise, again, and again, and goes right to the heart of the righteous character of God, that there is only one way anyone can be saved, through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ:

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.

Acts 16:31

Jesus … Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to humankind by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

Amen!

Quote of the week

“There is a profound freedom in the realisation that it is God’s power alone that will effect change in people’s lives for His glory … through the infilling of the Holy Spirit”

Tim Houston

Verse of the week

Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Let’s Pray

Our loving heavenly Father, we praise and magnify You, for You alone are worthy to be worshipped and adored. In our hearts, we bow low before you, and offer our profound thanksgiving for all You have done through Your Son and by the power of Your Spirit. Lord, You have been true to Your age old promises that all peoples on earth will be blessed through Your Son.

Father, pour out Your Spirit upon Your church as Your Gospel is preached, and witnessed to, and Your righteousness is revealed, and that more and more people might come into a right relationship with You, in Jesus Christ, Amen.