Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our Sunday sermon. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love and sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is God’s will that has brought this to be. We wish only that God’s truth will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.
- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health and his housing situation. May the solution that has presented itself be a beneficial one in many ways.
- Please continue praying for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has had a benign meningioma removed and has been undergoing rehabilitation. The family is overjoyed to learn that the tumor was benign.
- Please keep praying for my father-in-law Raymond Neff, who is still recovering from his severe chemical burns, but is thankfully home. He is improving some, but there are still issues with his health as a result of the burns.
- Please keep several friends and other family members in prayer for their trials and tribulations. They have each requested to remain anonymous for the time being.
Several who are having money issues.
One who is suffering from loneliness that keeps them from peace and patience.
One cousin who is having a great many issues in their family, including two suffering cancer, other family issues especially difficult include several diagnoses that are a lot to process for them.
- Please pray for a sibling who has again injured his back badly enough to require more surgery.
- Pray for my nephew August who needs a replacement VNS battery for controlling his seizures.
- Pray for a dear friend of mine, Faith, who lost her aunt yesterday.
- Pray for my dear friend Mary’s dear friend Maxine who is in the hospital.
- Pray for my dear friend JB’s mother who is still undergoing therapy after a stroke last year. Also pray for their stepfather, who is suffering from cancer.
- Pray for those who have suffered from violent events, that they heal and do not have scarred psyches and that those who have lost their loved ones to violence find peace in the face of fear.
- Pray for comfort and solace to be shared with those who have said farewell to a loved one this week, known or unknown.
- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what
tomorrow brings.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.
- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and
pray our own be the same.
- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today on this beautifully blessed Sunday is to have the Holy Spirit bring each of us the gifts of spiritual strength, joy and peace to each of our hearts, faith to our minds, and healing to our bodies, and souls this week and always. We pray for family and friends who have health and other issues that are causing upheaval, sorrow, fear, and more around this world. We pray for those who have had serious medical issues in our families, colleagues, and friends. We pray for those who have suffered unjustly for things they could not control. We pray for those who have lost faith and live in paralyzing fear and sorrow. We pray for the homeless and the jobless in this world. We pray for the hungry and the malnourished. We pray for the millions and billions of poor, weak, and sorrowful people in this world. We pray in thanksgiving for all the great gifts that You have given us, even if we don’t always realize they are there. We pray in hope and patience for those things that are worrying us in our hearts and minds. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Our God Is An Awesome God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP9BjKnDaFk
Sermon: Today we are beginning the first verses of chapter 6 in the scroll of Romans. This chapter deals with several Christian positions that some non-believers have had issues with. One of those is “GRACE”. Another pair would be “BAPTISM” and “CONFIRMATION”. So what is grace? It is one of the very first gifts that Jesus provides us with as a result of His life, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. Paul points out that in the beginning of our transformation from sinners to godly brothers and sisters in Christ we have to learn these steps and remember them even with a very sinful world as what we are living in to this moment.
Romans 6:1-2 KJV –What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
NIV –What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
So, what is Paul pointing out? He’s pointing out that no other human being on this earth is stronger than God, or has as much grace and understanding of faithful righteousness as Jesus, nor as much compassion and empathy as the Holy Spirit. If we did, we wouldn’t have needed Jesus to die for our sins, even two millennia before we were ever dreamed about by our parents and ancestors. We see some who do not understand this concept in the first Scroll of Scripture.
Genesis 39:9 KJV – There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
NIV – No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
For those who do not recognize this specific verse, it is Joseph, youngest son of Jacob, speaking to the master’s wife in the household where he served as servant and prisoner. He was a great teacher, and his words, thoughts, and actions all denote the fact that it takes a whole lot to stay righteous, and that temptation is always there, but can be overcome. We see this in King David’s words as well.
Psalm 119:104 KJV – Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
NIV – I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Of course, we have to add the words our Savior Jesus Christ that he spoke as well. Here we see His viewpoint through the gospel of Luke.
Luke 20:16 KJV – Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
NIV – I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Paul adds to these reflections with his thoughts as shared with the church at Galatia.
Galatians 2:19 KJV – For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
NIV – “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
Galatians 6:14 KJV – But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
NIV – May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
John the Beloved’s words are also included.
1 John 3:9 KJV –Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
NIV –No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
We’re human. This is what Paul, John, Luke, David, and all the others would point out. Humanity is fallible. We’re not perfect until and unless we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and keep His lessons in mind while we live our lives. There are ways to see how faithful we can be. It is the reason we hear the words “Practicing Christian”. Just like any other vocation, being a true Christian takes practice. The more we practice what Scripture teaches us, the better our faith leads us into a truly Christian life. Use the Word as more than sentences on paper. Use the Word as your “food for thought”, your impetus for “inspiration”. Paul adds another compelling thought to the many we’ve already experienced.
Romans 6:3 KJV – Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
NIV – Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Jesus died for us. However, He also gave each and every one of us a mission. In His Word as shared by Matthew’s gospel He provides what church elders around the world ever since His resurrection and ascension into heaven what is known as the “Great Commission”. This is very, very important for us to recognize and realize in our individual lives. Each of us has a different method of learning Scripture. Just as each minister has a different method for teaching the Word. This is the mission we have upon realizing the directive of this “Great Commission” as shared here.
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
NIV – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus tells us to “teach our children well”. He says to do so as “He had taught them to do”. The hardest part of teaching is in the fact that even the teachers are always learning from Scripture, from Prayer, from Meditation in the Word as God directed since the beginning. The gospel writer Luke shares more of this thought here.
Acts 2:38 KJV – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
NIV – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:16 KJV – (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
NIV – because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:5 KJV – When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
NIV – On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul adds to this, with his letters to Corinth and Galatia.
1 Corinthians 10:2 KJV –And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
NIV –They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
Galatians 3:27 KJV – For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
NIV – for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Baptism is a symbolic cleansing from sin. Now, baptismal ceremonies are different for just about every denomination. It can be sprinkling, cupping sacramental water over an infant’s forehead, or complete immersion in a pool, lake, river or other body of water. Paul portrays immersion here in his next verse.
Romans 6:4 KJV – Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
NIV – We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
How do we honor the promise we make upon our immersive baptism? Well, we remember what Jesus did for us. We remember what He teaches us. Here is another moment of His wisdom being taught through the gospel of John the Beloved.
John 11:40 KJV – Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
NIV – Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
Luke writes more about the lessons that Jesus taught in the writings of the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 2:24 KJV – Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
NIV – But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Acts 2:32 KJV – This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
NIV – God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae shares still more in this regard.
Colossians 2:12-13 KJV – Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
NIV – having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
Colossians 3:1-3 KJV – If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
NIV – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Now, Paul’s next line to the church at Rome portrays something we often miss in our journey to become more and more Christlike. It’s something that we should always reflect upon. The one thing we should remember as we study is the fact that Jesus promised us, even to this day, that if we followed His path we’d find ourselves walking toward eternal life. This is the point where we shed the chains of original sin. They are cut away as easily as the wind blows leaves from a tree. We see this in his next line here.
Romans 6:5 KJV – Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
NIV – For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
King David, and the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah portrayed this promise this way.
Psalm 92:13 KJV – Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
NIV – planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
Isaiah 5:2 KJV – And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
NIV – He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.
Jeremiah 2:21 KJV – Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
NIV – I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?
Remember in the parable of the Vine and the Branches (John15, read this and reflect on it this week.) that God is the Creator of the vineyard. Jesus is the husbandman, the one that tends that vineyard, and the vineyard is filled with all of those who believe in Jesus Christ and the Word of God, all of us are those branches. Paul added his lessons referenced by letters to three other churches. Those churches were in the cities of Corinth, Philippi, and Colossae.
2 Corinthians 4:10 KJV –Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
NIV –We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Philippians 3:10 KJV – That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
NIV – I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Colossians 2:12 KJV – Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
NIV – having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 3:1 KJV – If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
NIV – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Now, there is something to pay close attention to in Paul’s words. “Set your hearts on things above,” he shares. When we plant flowers, crops, where do they get their methods toward growth and flourishing? Heaven’s barrier between us and God, the sky. Look upward toward what we can achieve as true Christian followers of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t mean we forget everything here on this earth. There are many, many lessons to learn as we live here on earth. Some of those lessons are vital to developing our faith in Jesus Christ. Remember, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, every moment from that one forward is completely different in comparison to everything before that same moment. Jesus taught that we have to pursue our faith as a small child, pure, unaffected by life around us, innocent of eternal death and damnation, so long as we look forward toward God and Jesus and stop trying to turn back with the shoulda, coulda, woulda attitude so many of us have in life. Listen to Paul’s words to the church at Rome.
Romans 6:6 KJV – For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
NIV – For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Paul adds to this with references to his letters to Corinth, Galatia, and Ephesus.
2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV –For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
NIV –For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
Galatians 2:20 KJV – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
NIV – I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 5:24 KJV – And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
NIV – Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 6:14 KJV – But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
NIV – May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Ephesians 4:22 KJV – That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
NIV – You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Kill off the sin in our lives. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s quite possibly one of the most difficult thing we have to do in life. Our lives of sin need to die in order for us to see what waits for us in the glory of resurrection. This is what Paul says next.
Romans 6:7 KJV – For he that is dead is freed from sin.
NIV – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Paul references something that Jesus said. Now, really listen and hear what Jesus says here.
Matthew 11:19 KJV – The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
NIV – The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Jesus was pointing out that what is earthly will always be seen as “good” and “normal” and not “sin” and “wickedness” as they should be. Seriously, there are many, many millennia in the past where sin was impossible not to see. We’ve no real life history more in depth than Scripture, and far less watered down than even the daily news we watch on television. Think about it this way. In this world we live in, our Scriptures are “banned” in thousands of ways, even in the most liberal of countries. They only teach the Scriptures in those courses developed specifically for “Theology”. We don’t have them in public schools. In some countries people are executed, whole families, just for having one Bible in their homes. Paul warned people about this. Jesus did the same. Here we see Peter’s view, and include the letter Paul wrote to Colossae.
1 Peter 4:1 KJV –Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
NIV –Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
Colossians 3:1-3 KJV – If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
NIV – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Our last verse in Romans today shows something that we have a lot of work to do in order to completely understand. Resurrection the likes of what Jesus managed three days before His death two millennia ago was rarely, if ever, seen. In fact, there was only one biblical view of resurrection after Jesus ascended into heaven. It is one Paul managed with Eutychus as portrayed by the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Romans 6:8 KJV – Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
NIV – Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
When Jesus raised the dead, including Lazarus, Jairus’s daughter, and the widow of Nain’s son, He did so for specific reasons. He did so for the widow because her son was the only family member she had left, and He felt compassion and understanding for her situation. He resurrected Jairus’s daughter because doing so would portray that everyone deserves a chance to prove their faith and righteousness. He brought Lazarus back because it would ensure that the Apostles quite possibly could truly understand and believe that Jesus is the Savior, the One promised all the way back in the days of Adam and Eve and all throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. There’s a reason Paul points these factors out. We see those reasons in his second letter to Corinth and his second letter to Timothy.
2 Corinthians 4:10 KJV –Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
NIV –We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 Corinthians 13:4 KJV –For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
NIV –For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
2 Timothy 2:11-12 KJV –It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
NIV –Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
It is a lifetime commitment to accept our Savior Jesus Christ and to bring Him fully into our lives with God and the Holy Spirit. It is the pursuit of ultimate peace and hope in our Savior’s grace. If you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today, please leave a note and we will help you on this chosen path, just as Jesus did with His Apostles and Disciples. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us saying:
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song: You Are My All In All https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
Evangelist Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2023 http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to exploitfear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through
fear together as the bringers of the light of Jesus found in the
midst of darkness.
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