www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411May 15, 2011

Acts 4 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Romans 15 1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our-selves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.

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We learned in Ch 14 that the strongstrong are those who trust in the grace of Godgrace of God, not living with a troubled

conscience over non-Biblical prohibitionsnon-Biblical prohibitions.The weak strugglestruggle with man's traditionstraditions and customscustoms,

and matters of consciencematters of conscience.

God doesn't expect His children to be self-centeredself-centered, living to please ourselvesplease ourselves.

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God's children should walk in lovewalk in love, and love seeketh not her ownher own. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Love seeks not her own wayown way, willwill, satisfactionsatisfaction, etc.

ButBut -- we no more live for the pleasurepleasure of others than we do for our own pleasure; 2 "for his good to edificationfor his good to edification"

Galatians 5 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only useuse not not liberty for an occasion to the fleshflesh, (to indulge the sinful nature) but by love serveserve one another.

3 For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.

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Jesus lived to please the Fatherplease the Father, God Almighty.To do that, He bore the sinsbore the sins of the whole world.

And, He servedserved those who needed Him, wheneverwhenever they needed Him.

Jesus bore the curse of sin, when He died on the cross.

Jesus bore the vile sins of the wickedthe wicked; we are only called to bear the failingsfailings of the weak.

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3b The reproaches (shameful wrongs) of them that reproached (brought shame on) Thee fell on Me.

Luke 9 23 And He (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himselfdeny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

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To follow Jesus is notis not a life of ease and comfort.

It is a life of self-denial, trials, tribulations, and persecutions.

We are not to bringnot to bring troubles upon ourselves through sinthrough sin,

but when troubles come, bear bear them with gracethem with grace.

Matthew 11 28 Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (I will refresh your soul). 29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

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We wear ourselves out and destroy our peace, trying to do what we thinkwe think must be right.

Jesus wants us to be meek and lowly, like Himlike Him, doing onlyonly what God gives us to do.

We will find restrest for our souls.

TextText: Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

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We have many examplesexamples in the Old Testament Scriptures of men and women who stood strongstood strong;

They did not stoopdid not stoop at standing time!

God tells us of these that we may receivewe may receive patiencepatience and comfortcomfort from their lives.

Hebrews 11 mentions many of these men and men and women of faithwomen of faith who stood for God.

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Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, all died in died in faithfaith, not having received the Promise.

Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, all choseall chose to serve God in faith, believing His Word.

Rahab the harlot believed God, helped the Israelites, and was savedsaved when Jericho fell.

She became a direct ancestordirect ancestor of Jesus Christ.

Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, Barak, David, Samuel, and many more men and women stood true to Godstood true to God.

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As we studystudy their lives, we are able to gaingain patience and comfort to serve God as they did.

5-6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likemindedlikeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mindone mind and one mouthone mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Romans 14 1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but notnot to doubtful disputationsdisputations. (debates; disputes)

Our like-mindedness is according to Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "I am meek and lowly in heart."

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Those who are strong in gracestrong in grace can humbly bear withbear with the weaker brothers and sisters.

7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

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If Jesus has accepted usaccepted us, with all our weaknesses and failures, and He hasand He has:

We can certainly accept one anotherone another,

Just as we areJust as we are.

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God will save yousave you from the bondage of sin and the torments of hell.

The Shed BloodShed Blood of Jesus Christ will

wash away your sinswash away your sins.

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If you believe the TruthTruth, the GospelGospel of Jesus Christ: that Jesus isJesus is the Holy Son of God;

If you believe that He cameHe came to this earth, bornborn of a virginvirgin, to live as a manman, yet without sin;

If you believe that He gave His lifegave His life, shedding His Blood -- for youfor you;

All that remainsremains for you to do is to askask.

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Pray a prayer somethingsomething like this:

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to YouI come to You in the NameName of Your SonYour Son, Jesus Christ.

I want to be bornbe born of Your Spirit into Your family.

Lord, be mercifulbe merciful to me a sinner and save mesave me from the bondagebondage of sin and the tormentstorments of hell.

I ask You to forgive meforgive me of my sins, washing them away in the Blood of JesusBlood of Jesus.

I thank You Lord for my salvation. Amen.

If you sincerelysincerely prayed that prayer,

You areYou are a born againborn again child of the Living God.

Your sins are forgivenforgiven; you are cleansedcleansed.

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Your testimony can be as simpleas simple as:

"I lovelove the Lord and thank Godthank God for saving me."

We are baptizingbaptizing two folks today.

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Romans 6 explains whywhy we need to be baptized and what it meanswhat it means.

Water baptism is a ceremonial testimonyceremonial testimony of what God hasGod has already done in our heart.

When I place one under the waterunder the water, he or she is saying, "I have died to sin and worldly pleasure."

When I raise one upraise one up out of the water, he or she is saying, "I am alive unto Godalive unto God to live

according to His Wordaccording to His Word."