Listen Again: In Christ Alone - Part 2

I met my cohost Breanna Michael Paul and I am like John Mormonism to be brighter than we were told it would be.

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Do you feel like Christianity is just a system of regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is did or long today. Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local tribal ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net or connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious. So the adjuster he received Christ to live your life in him, rooted and built up in him strength in the faith, as you were tall and overflowing with thankfulness seat with no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than Christ, reports that again is so important. This was taking place in the country when in a more aggressive very difficult issue a minute see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on her Christ and Christ alone. We've already learn that the Christian life is difficult to have an enemy presenter site is always trying to to come up to Christians to cause us to stumble to trip us up to lives destroyed.

That's what happened to Michael English that got hold of an and it can happen to anybody. No one is beyond Satan's influence.

Although we have someone in that is greater than Satan never lose sight of that satisfying work, he works for people. First John 519 says we know that we are children of God and of the whole world is under the control of the evil one is Euros of the world system is under the control of Satan and his demonic forces God is elapse thing to have limited control the world system. This stands in opposition to everything that is holy and good and right.

Satan uses the world system which he controls to live as many people as he can down the wide road which ants in the destruction of the billions of souls that are following him down this wide path had a slight work. He works through men and women, who often speak eloquently and often appear gentle and kind, but they are often wolves dressed up in sheep's clothing. Second, Christians 11 versus 13 to 15 says for such a man and women are false apostles, deceitful workmen masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerading as servants of righteousness there in will be whether actions deserve right now Satan is infiltrating the world system the controls with deceptive philosophy is based on human wisdom and the basic principles of this world has you doing this for the media throw politicians and even through many minister Satan is pushing the evil agenda into our schools into all of the social media in many churches is an old theory known as critical race theory CRT what is CRT well I got a root this together. You can get. You can Google. In fact OF articles, but I like to get some this coming from a Christian perspective stand to reason is a Christian think time put out and put in an article entitled thinking critically about critical race theory. This is some of what I'm get regicide may make you a little uncomfortable. We talk about racism. It is uncomfortable what you hear me all the way through before you make a judgment call before begin how to quote a black pastor friend named Mao Williams, Jim. You know him patient problem is not a skin problem, but a sin problem and that's the truth. I'll probably not you keep this in the front of your mind as I'm sharing with you what CRT is.

Our problem is not a skin problem is the sin problem is what this article says critical theory divides the world into two groups, the oppressors and the oppressed. Those groups are made up of smaller cultural groups defined by race, sex, sexual preference, gender identity, and so on. When this worldview focus on the race is called critical race theory CRT. It divides people into groups by race. The white oppressors and the oppressed nonwhites according this is worth a little uncomfortable. I've got to get this out I said you understand this theory according to CRT the fundamental problem with America is its whiteness, its caste system based on skin color the lottery or scan the close your to the top of the system since the United States was formed by white men. Racism has been woven into the tapestry of the American experiment from the beginning and it continues to corrupt every aspect of American life. Original Sin then according to CRT is whiteness. It goes on to say a culture salvation from that fall begins when the oppressors become work when they see In re putting the what what what that's what it means and when they see and repent from their own stanzas oppressors and begin to dismantle the inherently oppressive structures of their culture.

Since whites can't see their own racism. According to CRT they they need to learn to see the world through the CRT lands. Only then will racial equality be possible now to say this right here in every audiology and even evil ideology is always there always elements of truth. But there but the underlining there some errors of falsehood, untruth, and what Satan does. He covers that era with truth, so that those who are gullible, who don't really understand will buy into it and as that is that era of falsehood that are used to destroy any issues and to destroy our country ultimately critical race theory is rooted in a blend of two worldviews have been around forever.

Marxism, this is where the oppressor oppressed element comes from an secular humanism. The belief that humanity is capable of self-fulfillment and rescue by self effort apart from God. Marxism is secular humanism are totally opposed to God in everything the Bible stands for and listen. Once God is removed so as any objective standard defining what it means to live a fulfilled moral life. The article goes on to say there's and there's a better alternative to critical race theory.

Yours called Christianity Christian.

He says our fundamental problem is sin true Original Sin places all humanity equal footing, red, yellow, black, white, rich, poor were all sinners. No one is exempt. This is why this and this is why your worldview is so important what you believe about the world. What is your source of truth. How you make decisions about life.

What's right what's wrong what's good was evil as follows of Jesus. The Bible provides the lands through which meant we see everything. So when you're reading the newspaper list to the news. Listen to a minister. Listen and look through this book. What is like a pair of glasses you just look through everything flows through Scripture you determine you reject error and you hold onto truth.

So what does the Bible say about the human condition and the real problem with our world. First of Romans 323 we are what sinners racism and bigotry are a gracious sense. I grew up in East North Carolina.

I worked with. I work with more black men than I did white man and we never had a racial problem. We were there working together.

We would love each other. I played basketball team that was primarily black, and I can remember there were some racial problems in Grable and one time I was in the locker room and was million, about five black players and think they got armies and Russ the force of black brother covered in touch as you we got you covered a Serrano brother racism and bigotry are evil and that's an element of truth in critical race theory and yes oppressors are sinners, but so all the oppressed in different ways. Second, Christianity provides the best reason to believe that oppression is wrong. Every human being is made in the image of who God black, white, red, yellow, Jew, Gentile well critic on sandwich Genesis 127 says to God pretty man in his own image in the image of God he created him male and female he created them.

So third we are all equal in God's sight because each one of us is created in the very image of God is not the color of our skin, or any other physical characteristic that gives people value worth and dignity, rather been made in the image of God is the great equalizer that this is where racial unity must begin that were made in God's image. By the way I was driving into my office one morning this week and I was listening to Fox News and they had all their William Bennett mom him the former site of the former sector of education United States and image rolling Fox News. You know what a parent apparently critical race theory to be told in wake County schools and I got news for you it will make the race is the race issue worse. It would drive a wedge between black students and white students elect both sides feel bad. So if CRT is not answer the racism. What is this bright the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us exactly what needs to be done in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 14 through 60, where he writes, for he, Jesus himself is our peace, whose made the 21 and is destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, abolishing in his flesh the law with his commandments and regulations his purpose that is God's purpose was to create in himself one new man at the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. So what are we to do.

How would respond when to stand firm in the faith would not get sidetracked and tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love we share the good news of the gospel with all men, black and white, red and yellow, rich and poor and not hate the fact that I'm looking at out here with exception of one general and back there all white people.

This otherwise will be in heaven so you will do for next September. Out of trying invite one black friend to come and join us. Okay so when I look out here this close to 50-50.

That source will be in heaven that we should have Mexicans in here and Italians and made everybody they go glyphosate which I want to tell you here. I can tell, looking about a white man anyway his order to win to keep the main thing the main thing was the main thing the gospel of Jesus Christ is all of the gospel can bring down this dividing wall hostility, first between God and man and then between man and man to have as his gospel work number three ready in Christ alone.

We receive grace and mercy. But you love that. Look at verses nine through 15 for in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form and you have been given fullness in Christ who is the head of every power and authority in him you also circumcised in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men, but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him for your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. Processing power is in you. If you're in Christ, the Holy Spirit's power of God the dynamite of God. I love this right here for starting when you were dead in your sands in the un-circumcision of your sinful nature. God made you alive with Christ, he for gave us all our sins.

Having canceled the written code with its regulations, it was against us, and it stood opposed to us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross. Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them tromping over them, but across in dealing with our friends and family members who still lost in who caught up in these false ideologies. How would respond to them with grace and mercy. We need to remember what process in Ephesians chapter 2 verses one through five at one time we were all just like them right getting our transgressions and sins in which we used to live. We follow the ways of this world and the rule of the kingdom of the air saying the spirit whose network and those were disobedient.

All of us lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and phone its desires and thoughts.

Like the rest. We will by nature, objects of wrath because of his great love for us. God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions and sin is not grace is by grace we been saved. Can you murmur time when you were found. The ways of this world. And isn't it even easy for Christian to slip back into that.

The carpenter thinks the world to what God did for us, he took a dead man like me and made me a laughing Christ now. If you're in Christ you live in a brand-new life. This is what needs to be born again, this what galls me is that minister doubted that church downtown Raleigh said that Jesus didn't really mean it when he said you must be born again.

You gotta begin a Michael Chase at replica is this new birth to gives us such joy and peace and contentment. All the things that the world is pursuing we have in Christ and Christ alone.

Second, we been forgiven our sins. This is the greatest news from the 50s forgiven the Omma sounds. Paul says in verse 14 having canceled the written code with its regulations.

That was against us in the stood opposed to us got took it away to the cross, but this is really interesting I might get the great work of our member.

This is really interesting. The written code basically refers to the 10 Commandments.

Also refer to a list of all your sands, we broken all the 10 Commandments in the time across what they would do is they would take the indictment, the charge against the criminal and they would nail it to the top of the cross right above his head. Soon everybody well by they could see what he was being condemned for while was hit in the cross, a murderer, a thief, they did the same thing with Jesus member pilot had assigned to do this that this is Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. So when the people stood there and read that sound. They understood that Jesus had been disloyal to Caesar because he was claiming to be a king. They said that that was the charge to what got it for you and me. He took a law which stands against us, we could say the list of all your sands that you had assigned was a legal document it and it condemns us and he took it and he nailed it to the cross so that Jesus is nailed about Jesus in, he became legally condemned for that list of your sands and my sins and then when he died on the cross. The moment a man puts his faith in what Jesus did on the cross.

The moment you say yes Lord, I believe you.

I received my heart by faith, and I want you to be my Lord and my Savior. I want to follow you, Lord, I surrender everything after you. The moment God sees in your heart.

He takes that list and he rips it up and he takes it away from you in caps. He he cast into the depths of the ocean where he remembers it no more. Therefore now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. How good is that so we'll have to worry about death, we would orbit the judgment that brings us to our last truth in Christ alone. This might be my favorite, we discover freedom. Look at verses 20 through 23. Since you died with Christ to the basic princes of this world. Why is that you still belong to the world do submit to its rules do not handle. Do not taste do not touch these rules are all destined to perish with use present based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence to see all of these legalist he's addressing legalism get you can't do this you can't do that and insert legalism says you gotta do this in addition to belief in Christ. This plus this will save you with that denies the fact that all we have to do is have simple faith in Christ and Christ alone. Back in Paul's day there were certain juicers to the Gentiles in order to be become part of God's family had to be circumcised.

They had to abstain from certain foods they had to dip deprived themselves of all the comforts so that it looked like they will live in a more modest and humble lifestyle that was false humility impulse is basically nonsense. We are free in Christ man from any form of legalism is that's exactly what the church does so often today you must go through confirmation knows all these things are good. Confirmation baptism, but they imply that you say through them. The fact that a man one time when we were in a straight commitment it answered you got a baptizer beside us and I can give low defensiveness and that you don't support. There's a fine horse but I didn't say that him you wanted baptized thief on the cross when baptized seven hours, she gets a file that you can't dance well at least we him dancing last time I checked, David danced before the Lord.

Women allowed to wear makeup in certain denominations. They also tell you must try to be the best person you can be.

Remember, Jesus says she's religious is what do Jesus is done when Jesus died on the cross. He said it is finished, and I believe he meant it. The only work that is required for salvation is one work, the work of what they in John 628 29 Jesus was asked what must we do to do the work. Scott requires Jesus answered the work of God is this to believe in the one he has sent yet this does not mean that a Christian can do anything he desires not free to just of sin.

He now lives free in Christ, but he's not free to see it wasn't me to be free and cross it makes it you been set free from the law lowers the law no longer has any legal hold only in the lower stanza condemnation of you. Second means that you've been set free from the penalty of sin, you have to fear death in the coming judgment. Why because you been given eternal life, and you no longer stand under God's wrath and condemnation is was is in John 336. Those who refuse to believe remain under God's wrath as he worked first.

The Psalms 110 says that Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

When you run to the cross Jesus rescues you from all condemnation from any of God's wrath and you given eternal life. It means that you're free to live in the power of the spirit because a law has been written upon your hearts. Now me and so God takes the 10 Commandments out here that stood against us and what to do with it, puts it right here and we were us that God has forgiven you, of all of your filthy rotten sands and you begin to read the Bible what you want to do you want to live according to the law, not because you have to because you want to because you want to please your heavenly father, I want to do anything like that in the past it would display :-) father how to finish the race strong insecticide every day. Try to trip Russ Andrews jump right from the last thing I do is embarrass myself a family and ruin and bring dishonor to God's glory. I want to not be disqualified from the rice. This is what the Christian life is all about wisdom, power, grace, mercy and freedom. Galatians 51 says it is for freedom that Christ is set you free.

Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by your slavery. Critical race theory is a yoke of slavery is enslaving us to our past is only going to cause more racism is not going to wind the divide that already exist. Jesus is the only one who can bring down the dividing wall of racism Martin Luther King in his famous speech entitled, I have a dreams that I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

Have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of the character have a dream today and when this happens and we allow freedom to ring. We let it ring from every village and every hamlet from every state in every city will be able to speak up that day when all God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics. We will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old spiritual free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last to listen. There's a great words. He was a great man, but the only way that Martin Luther's drain. More to the King's dream will ever come true is in Christ and Christ alone. Jesus is the only hope for the sin filled world and listen. That's was called the Prince of peace. He's the only one who can bring peace into a man's heart and what he does every time he brings peace into a man's heart faith in the gospel in the dividing wall scroll down now. The rest of the story.

Michael English finally found peace and freedom but not until he hit rock bottom.

Michael I've read this book, I want to nail Michael chronicles his fall from grace and subsequent road to recovery. In his book, the prodigal comes home is a gritty harrowing tale of infidelity, divorce, drug addiction, humbleness, homelessness, and a forgiving and merciful God. Michael entered a detox program. We began to read of his Bible again. He took in there with them and he said it was not easy, in fact, there were times he want to run, but he called his mother went on the can get them, but she wouldn't. He called other friends to come get them, but they wouldn't gradually got better. Like all of us here to own up to a sin.

He had to repent and turn back to Jesus. That's what he did. Day by day, God restored his life to the point where he married once again and he began to sing today. He says a letter saying Jesus loves me in my consorts if people hear anything they need to hear that some Jesus loves me.

We serve a God, he says of a second chance. I'm living proof of that. Do you believe that he's not just got a second chance is the third, fourth, there you name it. What the world needs now more than ever before as a Savior whose name is Jesus.

Jesus came into this world for one reason to set the captives free. The spray heavenly father, thank you for this day and thank you for your word or do pray that you will bring more men here of all races and religions and that we will one day start to mirror what the church and heavens will look like, where every tongue, every tribe, every people group will worship you will all sing amazing Grace to get.

I believe in different languages and will all currently understand what each other singing in the long for that day will live in such a following world and were surrounded by so many false ideologies in theories that are based on human tradition in the church is embracing them. Lord help us to be men who understand for the truth of the gospel and Lord help us to keep the main thing the main thing that Jesus you're the way the truth and the life that you're the only one who can bring down the dividing wall of hostility this morning to being a Christian is not about being religious but about having the dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Andrews, a local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net.

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