Rockport Baptist Church

Because Christ has come, we no longer live by law-based obedience but through faith alone in Christ.- I. The Foolishness of taking your Eyes off of Christ to put them somewhere else v 1-II. A Vital Question- Did you receive new life by keeping the Law or by trusting in Christ-- v 2-III. More Questions- Is Your New Life Centered on Keeping the Law or Trusting X by Faith-- vv 3-5

Because we are joined to Christ by faith, we have a new life with Him, having died with Him to our old life to now live by His power working in and through us.-I. We have been crucified w-X so that we have died to the old life of sin that once held us- v 20a-II. We have been raised with Christ in His resurrection to live new lives as new people- v 20b-III. We now live with our eyes fixed on Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us- v 20c

Because we have died to the jurisdiction of the old covenant Law and now live through faith-union with Christ, we must no turn back to the Law as the focus of our lives, but to Christ alone by faith.-I. Because salvation is by faith in Christ alone and not works of the Law, we cannot go back to the Law as the foundation for our lives we must go on to Christ- vv 16-18-II. Because we have died with Christ by faith, we are dead to the Rule of Old Covenant Law v 19-20a-III. The Whole of our lives is now found in union with Christ, not in adherence to OT Law- vv 20-21

Because there is no salvation to be found in doing works of the Law but only by faith in Christ alone, we as a church must hold to this truth as the heart and soul of our message to the world.-I. No matter who you are, you need the Gospel of Justification by Faith Alone. v 15-II. There is NO Salvation to be found in the Law, but only through Faith in Christ Alone v 16- -1- Paul's General Statement of this Truth v 16a- -2- Paul's Personal Application of this Truth v 16b- -3- Paul's Universal Proclamation of this Truth v 16c

Because the Gospel of free grace unites us as one people in Christ, we must refuse the legalism that would divide us by emphasizing non-essential matters of Law and tradition.--I. When Peter Got It Wrong- v 11-II. How Legalism gets it wrong and divides the body of Christ- vv 12-13-III. How Legalism Denies the Gospel and Subverts the Power of Christ to Save- v 14

Because the gospel of salvation brings us to Christ alone by grace through faith alone, we cannot and must not every let it be subverted by those who would drag us back to the observance of the Old Testament Law.--I. A Test Case- Is Grace through Faith Alone Enough, or is it not-- vv 1-3-II. The Danger from those who subvert the Gospel by trying to enslave us to OT Law vv 4-5-III. The Fellowship and Freedom of Those who believe and proclaim the Gospel of Grace vv 6-10

Because we have experienced the wealth of God's mercy in salvation through Christ, we must yield our lives to Him as living sacrifices who choose to serve one another in love with all generosity.--The motive of all Christian living- Gratitude for Mercy-1- Offer Yourself to Christ Daily as a Living Sacrifice shaped by His Word vv 1-2-2- Humble Yourself as a Grace-Empowered Servant of His People vv 3-8-3- Give Yourself to Loving One Another with Genuine Christ-like Love vv 9-11-4- Anchor Yourself to the Hope of the Gospel through Persistent Prayer v 12-5- Give with a Generous and Hospitable Heart v 13

Because a spiritually healthy church will grow with a growth given by God, we must pursue the kind of spiritual health that brings good growth and be prepared to navigate the challenges and trials that come with such growth.--I. The Good Growth of a Healthy Church Eph 4-11-16-II. God-given Growth is Good, but with it come Changes and Challenges to the Church- Acts--III. The Challenges and Changes we must face at Rockport as we experience Good Growth

Because Christ has given the church the mission to make disciples, we must prioritize the things God has given us for this purpose as we seek to bring all His people to maturity in Christ--I. Our Priority Mission as Christ's Church is the growing maturity of Believers -Col 1-28-29--II. Five Biblical Priorities - Values God Has Given to Bring His People to Maturity -Acts 2-42-47-- 1. Truth that Transforms Our Lives to be like Jesus- 2. Worship that Centers us on Jesus- 3. Fellowship that Unites us in the Love of Jesus- 4. Prayer that Keeps us Dependent on Jesus- 5. Mission that Shapes our Lives around Making Jesus Known to Others

Because Jesus the Lord of the Church has given us His mission to make disciples who walk in obedience to Him, we must keep this as our conscious goal at Rockport while we train His people to be His faithful, obedience disciples in this world.--I. Our Mission is Defined by Christ Himself, Who is Lord of the Church. v 18-II. Our Mission as Christ's Church is to Make Disciples vv 19-20a-III. Your Mission as a Believer is to -Be a Disciple- living in obedience to Christ- v 20b

As we meet trials of many kinds, we need wisdom to respond with steadfastness, joy, and faith. In this passage, James helps us put our faith in God by pushing back against the things that keep us from faith- pride, fear, and doubt.

Because the Gospel does not depend on the influence of men, but is a message given by God through his hand-picked apostles, we must receive it as truth and with joy and gratitude believe it's promise with faith fixed upon Christ alone.-- I. Paul's Gospel is not a man-made Gospel, but the God-given message of salvaton for the world-- vv 11-12- II. The Power of the Gospel as seen in the life and conversion of the Apostle Paul- vv 13-24- -1- Paul's Life before Christ was marked by zealous opposition to Christ and his People - -vv 13-14- - -2- Paul's Conversion to Christ by Grace Alone -vv 15-16-- -3- Paul's Independent Testimony to this Gracious Gospel of Salvation- -vv 17-21-- -4- Paul's growing influence as a Christian on those who heard what God had done- -vv 22-24-

Because the Gospel of God's grace in Christ alone saves, all false Gospels must be repudiated and those who proclaim them rejected as accursed in order to preserve the undiluted priority of the true Gospel.--I. Beware- There are false teachers who proclaim a false Gospel- vv 6-7-II. Be Clear- Those who embrace and proclaim a false Gospel are Accursed- vv 8-9-III. Be Assured- Our Allegiance belongs only to Christ- v 10

Because the Gospel proclaimed by the Apostle Paul tells us what God has done in Christ to rescue us form our sin and enslavement to the evil of this present age, we must make sure we understand and believe it and let it shape every aspect of our lives.-- I. The Source and Sharing of This Freedom vv 1-2- II. The Grace and Power of This Freedom vv 3-4- III. The Celebration and Joy of This Freedom v 5

New Year's is a time for fresh resolutions. Yet our resolutions have a serious limitation. We can resolve actions- we cannot resolve outcomes. When we come to Jesus, like the wise men come to Jesus in our text, we come to the One who is unlimited, who can resolve outcomes, and whose resolutions are never broken. He is the Savior-King who governs everything - creation, hearts, and our stories.

Because God has been faithful to send His Son to be the promised Savior of sinners, we can trust Him and must trust Him to save all who put their faith in Him.--I. Joseph's Heartbreak and Extremely Difficult Dilemma vv 18-19- II. God's Faithful Assurance of a Promise Kept vv 20-23- -1- God is always faithful...always at work even when we can't see how v 20- -2- God's faithfulness to bring this mess together for our good and His glory vv 20-21- -3- God's faithfulness confirmed in Keeping His Promises vv 22-23 -Rm 15-8--III. Joseph's Faith-Filled Response and Costly Obedience vv 24-25

Because God is faithful to keep every promise and because He promised Mary that she would bear a Son to be the Savior of the world, we can and must trust in that Son who came to deliver us all.--I. Mary's Troubling Encounter with an Angelic Visitor vv 26-30-II. Mary's Commission to Bear God's Son vv 31-33-III. Mary's Concerned Question- -How will this be--- vv 34-37-IV. Mary's Faithful-filled Submission- -Let it be according to your word.- v 38

Because God has kept His promise to send Christ as the incarnate God-King from Bethlehem, we must acknowledge, worship and obey Him as saving Lord. - I. The Utter Failure of Human Leadership v 1- II. The Promise to send a True King to Lead His People v 2- III. The Majesty and Glory of the Coming King vv 3-5a

Because God's infinite majesty can be seen in the heavens, we ought to moved to awestruck humility to think that such a God would care for us and call us to rule this world in His stead - the very thing we have failed to do through sin, bringing ultimate fulfillment and restoration only through Christ.-- I. The Majesty of God in the Beauty of Creation vv 1-2- II. The Majesty of Man made in God's Image vv 3-4-III. The Majesty God Intended, Broken then Restored vv 5-9- Heb 2-5-9

Because of who God is and all He has done to make Him worthy of praise, we should consciously orient our lives to Him with conscious thanksgiving and praise.-- I. You are called to a Life of God-Centered Praise- vv 1-2- II. True Worship grows from a True Knowledge of God v 3- III. A Heart of Gratitude grows out of a life that is consciously fixed on Christ and His Gifts- vv 4-5