AT THE BEACH

“He (or she) is a pillar of strength.”

Have you ever said that about a person? I have said that and I have even thought that today while having a cup of coffee in one of our restaurants.

In the Bible we are reading about three people who were known as pillars of the church.

The names are James, Peter and John. We are reading that in Galatians 2:9 (NLT).

JAMES

He was an Apostle and the son of Alphaeus. “An apostle was one of the men selected by Jesus to be eyewitnesses of the events of his life, to see him after his Resurrection and to testify to mankind concerning him.” (20th Century Bible Dictionary)

PETER

He was also an Apostle. He became a “rock” after Pentecostal Baptism of the Spirit and was courageous and immovable.

Miracles by Peter:

We are reading about the miracles in the book of Acts. In Acts 3:7 a lame man is cured. In Acts 5:4,10 we find the story of Ananias and Sapphira. In Acts 5:15 the sick are healed. The story of Aeneas is found in Acts 9:34. Read also the story of Dorcas in Acts 9:40.

JOHN

He was the beloved disciple and the son of Zebedee. We read that in John 13:23; John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7,20.

He learned the lesson of love in the school of the Lord Jesus Christ and was entrusted with the care of  the Mother of the Lord.

As what are we known?

I have met pillars on the mission field in THAILAND. One of them was one of our field leaders, who was a real pillar of strength. In fact he was like a father to me.

Palmtree

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” – Psalm 141:3

I am still reading the exposition of ROMANS by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

I am on page 182 of the exposition of chapter 5 – ASSURANCE  – and I also belong to those, “who owe an incalculable debt to the ministry of Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones”.

ROMANS Chapter 6

ROMANS,

Exposition of Chapter 6,

THE NEW MAN

by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

About 1943 D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was asked by another preacher when he is going to preach a series of expository sermons on the Epistle to the ROMANS.

But like many others he had struggled with chapter 6 for several years.

Eleven years later he studied ROMANS chapter 6 again and arrived at a satisfactory understanding and in 1955 began preaching an extended series on the Epistle to the ROMANS.

Source: Exposition of Paul’s letter to the Romans by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

A. Saved

“SAVED” is used in three different tenses and senses in the Bible.

1. In the past we have been saved from the guilt of sin.

2. But we are still being saved

a. from the power of sin and

b. from the pollution of sin.

We are not only guilty before God, but our nature is affected by Adam’s sin. SANCTIFICATION is going on at the present time.

3. Third tense

In the Future we shall be finally and completely saved.

That is GLORIFICATION.

We shall not only be delivered from the power of sin and pollution of sin, but also our body shall be delivered from sin.

The Open Bible

B. Sin

What does sin mean? (6 Definitions)

1. “missing the mark”

2. “lawlessness”

3. “unrighteousness”

4. “a trespass”

5. “iniquity”

6. “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4)

All of us are guilty of all that.

C. Faith

Faith includes three elements:

1. A knowledge of truth.

2. An assent to truth.

3. A trust in the truth.

D. Grace

“It means unmerited favour, or kindness shown to one utterly undeserving.”

E. Peace

Results of GRACE:

1. Peace WITH God.

2. Peace within.

3. Peace with other people.

4. Peace OF God.

God has not only given us peace, He has provided for the preservation of peace.

ROMANS

Exposition of Chapter 5

ASSURANCE

ROMANS chapter five

I have been taught and read quite a bit about Paul’s letter to the ROMANS, in Bible school and my personal studies, but if you want to read a really good exposition of the letter, read the books by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

Romans Chapter 5 has 370 pages and I am now on page 102.