Adam Ogwu Bethany Evangelical Church 14th July 2013 Salvation, Reconciliations and Obligations; A Perspective on Christianity in Modern Britain Adam Ogwu Bethany Evangelical Church 14th July 2013

Roadmap Completed act of Salvation as a Substitution for sin Reconciliation with the Father and a Christ – like Mind Carrying out the obligations of Christians – what are they and how can lessons from The Early Church be translated to the Church in the 21st Century

Completely...Finished Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 19 v 28 – 30

A Good Substitution 7: Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8: Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." 9: "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. 10: He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11: and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12: He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

A Good Substitution 13: They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 14: When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15: And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16: For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God." 17: After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18: For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19: And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20: In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

A Good Substitution John 6:56 - 57 Understand the Target Equal Willing Ability to deliver the target

The Perfect Substitute God’s target is to reign eternally and for us to use the free will he has given us to choose to worship Him Equal? Hebrews 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” Willing? Matthew 26:39 “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt” already posses eternal life; innocent and without blame = dominion over sin Mathew 16:16, “the Messiah...the Son of the Living God”

Roadmap Completed act of Salvation as a Substitution for sin Reconciliation with the Father and a Christ – like Mind Carrying out the obligations of Christians – what are they and how can lessons from The Early Church be translated to the Church in the 21st Century

Reconciliation: The Greatest Gift comes with Obligations Colossians 1:21 -23 “Previously alienated and enemies” “Now Reconciled” “The body of His flesh through death” “Continue in the Faith...grounded and settled...the Gospel” “Preached to every creature which is under heaven”

The Art of War A wily enemy Learn from previous battles and the mistakes already made Genesis 3:17 John 10:10

Ephesians 6: 5 – 18; 6: Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8: because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9: And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him. 10: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11: Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Ephesians 6: 5 – 18; 12: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13: Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14: Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15: and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16: In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17: Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Psalm 91 1: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2: I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3: Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4: He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5: You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6: nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Psalm 91 7: A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8: You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9: If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the LORD, who is my refuge-- 10: then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11: For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12: they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13: You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14: "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15: He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. 16: With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

The Art of War “Invincibility lies in the defence, the possibility of victory in the attack” – Sun Tzu Gird = Cingulum = Belt Breastplate of righteousness Helmet of salvation Shield of faith Matthew 4: “It is Written” - Learn from previous battles – winning strategies.

The Sword of the Spirit Winning Minds Winning Souls Overcoming Sin The Crucifixion; Matthew 27, Luke 23 and John 19 Acts 1 v 4 Acts 1 v 8 Acts 2 v 1 - 8

Acts 2 v 1 - 8 1: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2: Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3: They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4: All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5: Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6: When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7: Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8: Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

The Sword of the Spirit Apostles = Greek for messengers/ambassadors Translation of our personal skills and personality traits as tools for invitation and conversion

Overcoming the Barriers to our Work Trust Lean Invite Let Go, Let God 2 Chronicles 10:15; Judah was outnumbered “Do not fear...the battle is not yours but Gods”

Our Targets Win Mind Change Hearts Redirect Eternities Matthew 7:7 Seek Knock Ask