The Lord Jesus Christ has many names and one of those is the righteous one.

Fasting is a secret act of self-denial that involves going without food and water, usually for a period of one full day, in order to humble yourself before God in prayer and repentance, seeking His direction and guidance.

Berean Adult Sunday School class. A verse-by-verse study through the books of the minor prophets.

Isaiah 45:20-25 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

1. The Meaning 2. The Explanation 3. The Fruit

This sermon examines Romans 7 to clarify that Paul describes the inner conflict of a believer under the Old Covenant law, rather than the ongoing struggle of a New Testament Christian. The central message argues that the law serves to reveal sin and condemn the soul, highlighting the impossibility of achieving righteousness through human effort or tradition. By contrasting the hopelessness of the law with the freedom found in Christ, the sermon emphasizes that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, rejecting any addition of works or rituals. The tone is instructional and pastoral, urging listeners to rely on the sufficiency of Scripture and the finished work of Jesus rather than falling back into the trap of legalism or asceticism.

Who gets eternal life -- the self-righteous? Someone who is "good enough"? In Jesus' parables in Luke 18 and 19, it is those who count God as most important and understand themselves to be sinners in need of forgiveness, and who humble themselves before God and trust Jesus for salvation, who are saved, not those who are "good enough" in their own eyes.

How can a guilty sinner ever be made righteous before an infinitely holy God? This question lies at the heart of Genesis 15, where God reassures Abram that He is both his shield and his exceedingly great reward. Having rejected the riches of Sodom, Abram is reminded that the Lord Himself is the source of his protection and blessing. Yet Abram remains troubled by his childlessness and the apparent impossibility of God's promise to give him countless descendants. In response, God brings Abram outside beneath the night sky and commands him to count the innumerable stars, declaring that his offspring will be just as numerous. Despite his circumstances, Abram believes in the Lord, and God reckons his faith as righteousness. This extraordinary declaration establishes the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone, revealing that righteousness is not earned through human works but credited to the believer through faith in God. The apostle Paul later explains in Romans 4 that this promise was recorded not merely for Abraham's sake but for all who believe in the God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Just as Abraham trusted God to bring life from Sarah's barren womb, sinners must trust in the resurrection of Christ, who bore their transgressions and secured their justification. Through faith, Christ's perfect righteousness is imputed to the believer, granting what no human effort could ever achieve: peace with God.

VaultAI Summary: This sermon examines the internal and external causes of division within the church, identifying the devil and human flesh as primary adversaries to Christian unity. The central message urges believers to mortify ten specific sinful tendencies, including pride, evil suspicion, whispering, and an unforgiving spirit, which often masquerade as righteous conviction but ultimately serve the enemy's agenda. By contrasting these divisive behaviors with the unifying principles of doctrine, will, and affection previously established, the exposition highlights the necessity of humility and charity in maintaining the body of Christ. The tone is convicting and pastoral, challenging the congregation to recognize their own complicity in schism and to rely on the Holy Spirit for the grace to love difficult brethren. Ultimately, the sermon presents unity not merely as a social ideal but as a vital theological duty that reflects the high priestly prayer of Jesus Christ for His people.

Scripture: I Samuel 15:22-23; Luke 22:39-46; Hebrews 7:11-12; 10:1-10 Text: Hebrews 10:1-10 Sermon Title: The Heart of Christianity Sermon Theme: Christ did away with empty sacrifices and established righteousness Sermon Points: I. Away with Shadows (vv. 1-4) II. God's Chief Desire (vv. 5-9) III. A Sanctifying Obedience (v. 10)

Robert Recio