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Tom Fannin—June 17, 2023
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Today I want to talk about exchanges! We all make exchanges every day in what we do in life, whether you realize that or not. We make decisions in life. A lot of the exchanges we make we know our monetary, but as we will see in this message there are a lot more things that we do where we exchange things.
A simple definition of exchanges is when you have ownership or possession or maybe the authority or control over something and you give that up, and for that you receive something back.
Hopefully, what you receive back is of equal value. I know that sometimes we may have done some things where you had exchanges and you feel like you didn't get equal value for the exchange. Hopefully, they are of equal values, and possibly of even more value, or you exchange for things that brings value later.
We know we all of have free moral agency to make decisions in life about what we want to do. We're given this opportunity continually to make exchanges.
Romans 1:18: "Indeed, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the Truth in unrighteousness."
Yes, men exist today who know the Truth and they suppress it with unrighteousness, ungodliness.
Verse 19: "Because that which may be known of God is manifest among them, for God has manifested it to them; for the invisible things of Him are perceived from the creation of the world, being understood by the things that were made—both His eternal power and Godhead—so that they are without excuse" (vs 19-20).
We see through God's work and what He has done of His existence. Who God is!
Verse 24: "For this cause, God also abandoned them to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to disgrace their own bodies between themselves, who exchanged who exchanged the Truth of God for the lie; and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the One Who is Creator, Who is blessed into the ages. Amen" (vs 24-25).
We see this exchange here, the exchange made to receive a lie, giving up the Truth for that lie! They traded the way of God for what we might say death! Some have knowingly done this!
Verse 32: "Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who commit such things…"
We didn't read through that, but all the unrighteous acts, all the things in rebellion against God and His Word!
"…are worthy of death, not only practice these things themselves, but also approve of those who commit them" (v 32).
Yes, in some cases even beyond approval, they teach others to do these things! We know some know what they're doing. Others, we know have been blinded and just haven't been called at this time and fall under deception. But some know what they've done in exchanging this!
When we think about us, brethren, what about us, the ones who have been called? God has called us, and upon our calling we repented, entered into baptism, received God's Spirit. We know by the grace given to us through Christ—through the blood that He gave for the forgiveness and remission sins.
We exchanged who we were to be in right standing with God and reconciled with God to exchange this lie that the world is in, that we were in, for the Truth!
Acts 26:17—Christ told Paul: "I am personally selecting you from among the people and the Gentiles, to whom I now send you to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to Light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified through faith in Me."
We are under the authority of God, and what a blessing that is! The ones in the world are under the authority of Satan and the lie!
We know that upon this calling we have and entering into the covenant, we continually are converted and have conversion.
Romans 12:1: "God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, Holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service."
Yes, when we entered into covenant we made a commitment to do this, to live our lives according to God's Word, and to love God and Jesus Christ. That is our spiritual service. That is our duty and requirement of us. We know that these things are well pleasing and Holy toward God!
Verse 2: "Do not conform yourselves to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in order that you may prove what is well-pleasing and good, and the perfect will of God."
As we move forward in our conversion and walk with Jesus Christ, we transform our mind. We rid our mind of things that shouldn't be a part of us, and put in Christ. We have a transforming of our mind and exchange it. By doing this we please God and have a better understanding. This is mentioned in Ephesians and Paul wrote here:
Ephesians 4:22: "That concerning your former conduct, you put off the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (vs 22-23).
Yes, the corruption was part of the old man. The corruption that we see in the world today is according to "…deceitful lusts." That's how our physical mind and body works apart from God. They lust! They're deceived!
Verse 24: "And that you put on the new man, which according to God is created in righteousness and Holiness of the Truth."
That's what we've been talking about, the Truth! The new man and who we need to be. This is how we should be! This is how when we entered into covenant we were to move forward in this way, walking in this way.
We know that we get continued spiritual blessings, and we talked about exchanges earlier, and hopefully with an exchange we feel like we got more value out of the exchange, or a continued value that has grown and developed.
Yes, it has, we have more spiritual blessings and more spiritual understanding, and as we do these things we build the very mind of Jesus Christ.
All of us hope that everyone that God's calls, whether at this time or in the future, or maybe at the second resurrection, the ones whom God will be working with and will know Who God and Jesus Christ are, that everyone comes to repentance. Everyone reaches a point where they say
Yes, I want to make an exchange. I want to exchange the lie for the Truth and be in covenant with God.
We're going to read what Paul said at Mars Hill:
Acts 17:29: "Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we should not think that the Godhead is like that which is made of gold, or silver, orstone—a graven thing of art devised by the imagination of man… [similar to what we read in Rom. 1] …for although God has indeed overlooked the times of this ignorance, He now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has set a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man Whom He has appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead" (vs 29-31).
It's pretty clear here that this is a command that all men everywhere repent! Why? Because God sent His Son—God manifested in the flesh—to become a perfect sacrifice for us, for all men so sins can be forgiven and we can again be reconciled to God.
This is the message that needs to be preached to the world, the message of repentance! We all have the ability to make decisions; we all have the free moral agency that has been given to us to decide what we want to do, and if we want to make that exchange or not.
Deuteronomy. 30:10: "If you shall obey the voice of the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes, which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul; for this commandment, which I command you today is not hidden from you, neither is it far off" (vs 10-11).
That stand true for today! God's Word exists today; we have His written Word! Inspired! The Word will be preached to the whole world, and is!
Verse 12: "It is not in heaven that you should say, 'Who shall go up to heaven for us, and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea that you should say, 'Who shall go over the sea for us to bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?' But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it. Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil" (vs 12-15).
The same message that's preached today!
Verse 16: "In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments so that you may live and multiply. And the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. But if your heart turn away so that you will not hear but shall be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them… [the exchange where you give up the Truth for a lie] …I denounce to you this day that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days on the land where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live, that you may love the LORD your God, and may obey His voice, and may cleave to Him; for He is your life and the length of your days, so that you may dwell in the land, which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob—to give it to them" (vs 16-20).
These same promises, this same word, as we're reading here, it applies today! Man needs God, and thought he doesn't realize this, man does need God and the Truth!
Jeremiah 10:23: "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps."
No, it's not in man to be able to do these things! It's in God, knowing of the Truth and God leading us in His Truth! We need God in our lives, everyone! We need to come out from under the authority of Satan and come under the authority of God!
We'll read a Scripture in Prov. 14 that compliments this.
Proverbs 14:12: "There is a way, which seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death."
- we need God
- this world needs God
- this world needs the return of Jesus Christ
But let me point out something here very clearly: Satan has a different thought and idea. He wants man to believe differently! He wants man to believe that mankind lead themselves. That man can make decisions for themselves about what is right and wrong. They don't need God, the don't need Truth!
That's the lie that Satan continues to put out in this world with the spirit that's in the world, the spirit of darkness, this evil spirit! We know the deception behind that; this is the total corruption of man, because it's not in man to lead and direct himself!
God's way is perfect! It's a perfect way!
Psalm 18:30: "As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him."
It's simply that the way of God is a perfect way, there is no other way, it's perfection! When we choose this life and this way, we have chosen the perfect way that God has designed, it's who God is.
Psalm 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they reveal knowledge" (vs 1-2).
Isn't that kind of what we read being talked about in Rom. 1., that the works of God profess Who God is! His power and authority! We see that, but some deny that, but we see it! It does speak to us and reveal to us the knowledge and wisdom of God.
Verse 7: "The Law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandments of the LORD are pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether, more to be desired than gold, yea, much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward" (vs 7-11).
When we came to the knowledge of the Truth, look at what we learned; we found the perfect way! We live under a Law that's perfect! It's only through the calling and this conversion that we can come to this mind.
As time goes on, don't we understand more and more about God and His love, and Who His Son Jesus Christ is and what's been done for us. Truly how perfect Their way is! The exchange that we made continues to add value to us, and we can see and understand these things better. There is no other way than this?
As we go through Eph. 5, these are the things we think about in how we live our lives, what we've done and accomplished, what we need to continue to be doing.
Ephesians 5:1: "Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children."
That's the goal, to imitate God and Jesus Christ as the children of God. We do that by continue in study and prayer, meditation and we have God's Spirit that has sealed us to help with that.
Verse 2: "And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us, and gave Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, do not permit it even to be named among you, as is fitting for saints… [those things we don't want to be a part of] …nor filthiness, nor foolish talking or jesting, which are not becoming; but instead, thanksgiving" (vs 2-4). Those are the things we exchanged and got rid of!
Verse 5: "For this you know, that no fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God."
It's Their Kingdom that we're going to be entering into. If these things aren't repented of. Those who won't repent and refuse to… There will be some that will refuse to repent, and they want to do things their way. They want to believe that they have the right to make their own choices about life and what they can and can't do.
Those who are part of this, and unrepented, won't have a part in the Kingdom.
Verse 6: "Do not let anyone deceive you with vain words; for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience."
There are those who want to deceive with deceitful vain words. We need to take note of those and pay attention to that.
Verse 7: "Therefore, do not be joint partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Walk as children of Light… [talking about what we were; but that's not who we are today] …(because the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and Truth); proving what is well pleasing to the Lord; and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them; for it is shameful even to mention the things being done by them in secret" (vs 7-12).
Verse 13: "But all of these things being exposed by the light are openly revealed. Therefore, He says, 'You who are sleeping—wake up, and arise from the dead! And Christ shall shine upon you'" (vs 13-14).
The message to the world is wake up! Exchange this, and come to God and Jesus Christ so the Light can shine upon you!
- the Light of God's Word
- the Light of the Truth
Verse 15: "So then, take heed that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as those who are wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (vs 15-17).
When we talk about exchanges and the opportunity that we have to continually exchange in our conversion, time is very important. How we use our time and what we do with it! That is an exchange, watch how you use your time and you want value back, from a spiritual standpoint, with the time that we have.
Verse 17: "For this reason, do not be foolish, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."
We will conclude in Rom. 2, and we covered some of the Scriptures there in the first chapter, but there's a good summary here that Paul gives about the outcome of the exchange, those who make an exchange for the Truth or those who want to hold onto the lie and their own way!
Romans 2:5: "But you, according to your own hardness and unrepentant heart, are storing up wrath for yourself against the day of wrath and revelation of God's righteous judgment… [that time is coming] …Who will render to each one according to his own works: on the one hand, to those who with patient endurance in good works are seeking glory and honor and immortality—eternal life" (vs 5-7). That's what we're all seeking!
Verse 8: "On the other hand, to those who are contentious and who disobey the Truth… [reject the Truth and teach others to reject the Truth] …but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish—upon every soul of man who works out evil, both of the Jew first, and of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace to everyone who works good, both to the Jew first, and to the Greek" (vs 8-10).
That's what we're looking for in this life, peace, knowing what we do. But we're looking forward to the full glory and honor that will be given to us, the complete peace! Being in God's Kingdom!
Verse 11: "Because there is no respect of persons with God."
What a blessing it is for us to be in the Church, to have the calling we have and to be able to exchange the lie, deception, the life we lived in for the Truth of God! For the opportunity that we have to be in God's Kingdom!
Scriptural References:
- Romans 1:18-20, 24-25, 32
- Acts 26:17-18
- Romans 12:1-2
- Ephesians 4:22-24
- Acts 17:29-31
- Deuteronomy 30:10-20
- Jeremiah 10:23
- Proverbs 14:12
- Psalm 18:30
- Psalm 19:1-2, 7-11
- Ephesians 5:1-17
- Romans 2:5-11
TF:bo
Transcribed: 6/21/23
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