Webster Bible Church is an evangelical, independent, nondenominational Bible preaching and teaching ministry. We are dedicated to faithful expository preaching of the inspired Word of God. We offer bible teaching for all ages and grade levels. We have a growing biblical counseling ministry, a more intimate fellowship in our weekly small groups as well as a new found zeal for local and international missions.
True, lasting contentment is found in the refuge of Christ and the joy that the Lord provides.
1. The Place of Refuge (v.1)
2. The Voice of Confidence (vv.2-8)
3. The Path of Life (vv. 9-11)
"The tendency of modern times has been to take punishment out of eternity or eternity out of punishment."
- John Gerstner
The Eternal State We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment
and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace.
What happens at one's death? Does Hell even exist? What happens in Hell? Questions from Skeptics
Revelation 20:1-15
What happens at one's death?
The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.
Luke 16:22-24 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
Does Hell even exist?
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Matthew 25:46 (ESV)
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
What happens in Hell?
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV).
Questions Raised by Skeptics How does God's nature and His attributes reconcile with the Biblical concept of Hell?
Is God unjust to send "good" people to Hell?
How then shall we live, in light of the reality of Hell?
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)
"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees,
imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for."
Charles Spurgeon
Our collaborative service for Christ strengthens our solidarity in Christ.
Paul's Co-laborers
Romans 16:1-16, 21-23
Prisca
Romans 16:3-5
Mary
Romans 16:6
Junia
Romans 16:7
Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis
Romans 16:12
Mother of Rufus
Romans 16:13
Julia and Nereus' sister
Romans 16:15
Our collaborative service for Christ strengthens our solidarity in Christ.
Paul's Caution
Romans 16:17-19
Scope them out.
Stay away from them.
Paul's Confidence
Romans 16:20-21
... In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things
present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord. Romans 8:37-39
Paul's Conclusion
Romans 16:25-27
God strengthens us through the gospel.
The gospel centers on Jesus Christ.
The gospel is for all nations.
Paul's Affirmation
Romans 15:14
Paul's Accomplishments
Romans 15:15-19
"... to the nations ... and to the distant islands that have not heard of my name or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord...."
Isaiah 66:19-20
Paul's Ambition
Romans 15:20-29
Paul's Appeal
Romans 15:30-33
Be ambitious for the Lord in collaboration with his church.
Follow Jesus' example by pleasing your neighbor for God's glory.
The Precept
Romans 15:1-2
"The stronger ... anyone is in Christ, the more bound he is to bear with the weak."
The Pattern
Romans 15:3-4
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your
hearts.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Encouragement + Endurance = Hope
The Purpose Romans
15:5-12
1. Christ came to confirm the promises of God.
Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors.
Romans 15:8 NLT
... You are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, "Through your offspring all the families on earth will be
blessed." When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful
ways.
Acts 3:25-26 NLT
2. Christ came to combine our praise to God.
The Prayer
Romans 15:13
Christian liberty is to be governed by love.
1. For the sake of your brother
2. For the sake of Christ's bride
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
satisfied." - Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:6)
"I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right
with himself depends on faith." - Paul the Apostle (Phil. 3:9-10 NLT)
Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians
3:15 NLT
Show the Royal Standard pic
Christian liberty is to be governed by love.
3. For the sake of God's blessing
Since God welcomes us, we should welcome one another.
The Problem
The Prescription
To the strong: Welcome your weaker brother (v. 1). Do not despise him (vv. 3a, 10b).
To the weak: Stop passing judgment (vv. 3b, 4a, 10a)
Should a man not lay his hand upon his mouth before he criticizes his brethren? When we pass swift, uninformed, unloving and ungenerous judgments, surely we have forgotten that if we speak evil of them, at the same time we speak evil of the Lord whose name they bear.
The Principles
1. God welcomes all believers.
Romans 14:3
2. The Lord upholds every believer.
Romans 14:4
3. The Lord is sovereign over every believer.
Romans 14:5-9
"To deny the lordship of Jesus Christ in the life of any believer is to subvert the full work, power, and purpose of His crucifixion and resurrection."
4. The Lord alone will judge each believer.
Romans 14:10-12
Since God welcomes us, we should welcome one another.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34-35
Love Your Neighbor
Romans 13:8-10
"Paul reserves the word 'fulfill' for Christian experience; only Christians, as a result of the work of Christ and through the Spirit, can 'fulfill' the law."
- Douglas J. Moo
Look to Yourself
Romans 13:11-14
1. Wake up!
2. Get dressed.
3. Walk properly.
Love others today by clothing yourself with Christ.
