Salvation for All?

This passage was from last week and Jim Sellers gave a great devotion. I would like for us to concentrate on these verses again. This is a burdening truth!

Romans 9:1-3

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Have you ever driven a  stick shift/manual transmission/straight drive vehicle? Basically, it is a car where you have to change gears. My grandfather had a Ford truck, three speed on the column (google it) that I learned to drive at 12 years old.  Fun times! 

 

Well, in chapter 9 Paul changes gears quickly. In chapter 8 he is joyful in thinking of Christ, but in Chapter 9 he is broken hearted in thinking of family. Furthermore, Paul seemed to indicate earlier that he disliked the Israelites, but in chapter 9, he proved otherwise. Like the Tin Man with no heart, it turns out Paul had one after all.

 

In the beginning of the chapter, Paul obviously had a crushed heart when he thought about his lost family.  He devoted his entire life to the salvation of lost souls.

Paul seems to be urgent, because he knew that there are only three places where people live:  Heaven, hell and earth. If people do not surrender their lives to Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, they will go to hell. 

 

Paul was so burdened that he offered to take his kins place in hell. Obviously, he could not take their place. But he knew he could spend the life that he had on earth telling people about Jesus.  

 

The day is coming when Jesus is going to take His children home and everyone who is lost will be left behind. Will that be someone you love? One by one, they are forgetting God, leaving home, passing away and it is time to become extreme about our witness and desire for their salvation.  

 

Is your heart broken for your family and friends who do not know Jesus Christ? 



 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

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Sunday Edition

Good morning! We hope you’ll join us for worship today.  

On-Campus – Contemporary worship 9am and 11am, Blended 9:45am. 
Streaming online 11am at mybelmont.org/sermonsonline or facebook.com/mybelmont/live 

Verses for the week:

  • Monday – Romans 9:6-13
  • Tuesday – Romans 9:30-33
  • Wednesday – Romans 11:25-32
  • Thursday – Lamentations 3:22-23
  • Friday – John 3:16

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Small Group Discussion

We’ve been reading this week about how God desires all to be saved and know the truth.

Discuss with your small group what you’ve drawn from your reading this week and how God has spoken to you. 

The HEAR method is also an excellent structure for your discussion as a group. If you aren’t currently in a group we’d love to help you connect with one. Contact sharon@mybelmont.org or go to mybelmont.org/smallgroups

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

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There’s Still A Chance

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

There are days I paraphrase the last half of Revelation 22:20, “Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come.” When I do it’s not for others sake, I’m just tired and done. I’m so glad He keeps His promises in His time and not mine. God was patient with me when others were ready for His return.

I had taken a few dozen folks to a huge weekend youth conference. After the last evening session, three thousand folks poured out of the building and headed to their transportation. When I got to the bus and counted all my ducks, I had one missing middle school girl. I waded my way back through the crowd and eventually found her near the back of the building. She said, “You were lost and I couldn’t find you.” Unique perspective! I was lost in sin. God was, and is, patient. Continue to pray for those you know need the mercy and grace of the Lord. You never know when God will do something incredibly eternal. 

Have I ever given up on somebody? Sure have. Aren’t you glad I’m not God!

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Jim Sellers

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There Is A Way

1 Timothy 2:3-6

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

As I read this scripture, there was a flashback to my Jesus Movement years and a lyric to a song I sang along the way; “One Word, One Lord, One Witness!” This would be followed by an outstretched arm to the sky with the index finger pointed to heaven indicating – “One Way!” So after reading this… the next time you pass me, lets see you offer this gesture and I will respond – groovy!

In college, I took a humanities credit with a class on religion! I knew going in – it would be a very liberal view and I would have to regurgitate the class syllabus to pass and get my credit. The teacher illustrated religions as a wagon wheel with all spokes ending up at the hub. (Heaven or eternity) He was an equal opportunity offender. At one time he offended: Catholics, Pentecostals, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus, Buddhist, and when he found a was a Baptist minister, I had a target on my back. One day a Muslim became aggravated and began screaming, “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.” The teacher calmed him down and said we were taking an intellectual view of religion. When I was asked to give my view of his wagon wheel illustration, I quoted John 14:6 and asked how he would reconcile “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He moved on and ceased to snipe at me.

Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good, He came to make dead people live.

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Jim Sellers

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The Truth Hurts

Luke 19:41-44

“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

There is a famous line from Curly Howard of the Three Stooges; “I can’t see, I can’t see, I can’t see! – I’ve got my eyes closed.”

Treva and I just pulled up to our home after a few stores along the way… at the end of a long day. She was speaking on her cell about some wedding music as we grabbed bags to take into the house. She kept rummaging around in the car and I asked; “What are you looking for?” She said, “My phone!” I stopped and staired a few moments and said, “You have it in your hand speaking to someone.” Long Day!

You may think, how can the people in Jerusalem miss someone right under their nose? We see it every day! People reject the Gospel and try other avenues of peace: money, power, popularity, fame, or following the latest fades, fashion, spirituality, or religions. The chase for peace. Lets consider Matthew 11:28; “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Jim Sellers

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