"Is The United States A Christian Nation? (Part 6)"
Circumcising Our Hearts With Humility
Given 07-Mar-09; Sermon #926; 71 minutes
By Mr.John W. Ritenbaugh
Click Here to Listen/Download MP3
Description: John Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the public and private perspectives of Martin Luther, suggests that the reality of what a person is and what people believe about a person are two separate things. Likewise, the belief that America was or is a Christian nation cannot be supported by the facts. The system known as the 'world,' governed by Satan's principalities and powers, hates Christ's true followers. The people of the world, influenced by these spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places, do not understand why they persecute us. This spiritual warfare forces us to choose, declaring which side we are on. The world uses its physical forces to coerce us to conform, but God appeals to our intellect and attitudes, refusing to use brute force against us, enabling us to develop character as we choose, drawing us, by His Spirit, into a relationship with Him, culminating in our literal spiritual birth in God's family. We must establish our life according to the pattern established by Jesus Christ, taking His yoke upon us, conforming to the Spirit of God, producing spiritual fruit. We can choose to become like Christ, adopting the humble, self-sacrificing aspect of His behavior, esteeming others over self, serving in the role of a servant, resembling the unassuming role of little children. The motivation to change is supplied by God's calling and His Holy Spirit, enabling us to have our hearts circumcised and to participate in the new covenant, having had the enmity against God cut away from our heart. We are required to participate in this process over an entire lifetime, requiring many, many choices, always doing those things which please God, demonstrating that we love Him, humbly submitting ourselves one to another.
Topics: Accompanying Christ Barclay, William Become as little children Carnal mind Circumcision of heart Following Christ Conversion process Great Commandment Heavenly Humbleness Humility Law of first mention Martin Luther Motivation Need for God Path less trod Poor in spirit Principalities and powers Sermon on the Mount Spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places World.
Circumcising Our Hearts With Humility
Given 07-Mar-09; Sermon #926; 71 minutes
By Mr.John W. Ritenbaugh
Click Here to Listen/Download MP3
Description: John Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the public and private perspectives of Martin Luther, suggests that the reality of what a person is and what people believe about a person are two separate things. Likewise, the belief that America was or is a Christian nation cannot be supported by the facts. The system known as the 'world,' governed by Satan's principalities and powers, hates Christ's true followers. The people of the world, influenced by these spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places, do not understand why they persecute us. This spiritual warfare forces us to choose, declaring which side we are on. The world uses its physical forces to coerce us to conform, but God appeals to our intellect and attitudes, refusing to use brute force against us, enabling us to develop character as we choose, drawing us, by His Spirit, into a relationship with Him, culminating in our literal spiritual birth in God's family. We must establish our life according to the pattern established by Jesus Christ, taking His yoke upon us, conforming to the Spirit of God, producing spiritual fruit. We can choose to become like Christ, adopting the humble, self-sacrificing aspect of His behavior, esteeming others over self, serving in the role of a servant, resembling the unassuming role of little children. The motivation to change is supplied by God's calling and His Holy Spirit, enabling us to have our hearts circumcised and to participate in the new covenant, having had the enmity against God cut away from our heart. We are required to participate in this process over an entire lifetime, requiring many, many choices, always doing those things which please God, demonstrating that we love Him, humbly submitting ourselves one to another.
Topics: Accompanying Christ Barclay, William Become as little children Carnal mind Circumcision of heart Following Christ Conversion process Great Commandment Heavenly Humbleness Humility Law of first mention Martin Luther Motivation Need for God Path less trod Poor in spirit Principalities and powers Sermon on the Mount Spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places World.