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It's so easy to get our eyes off of being living vessels of God and instead becoming critical of the Brotherhood by the temptations of our flesh. While it is not wrong to judge with righteous judgement, it is important to use that judgement to help others rather than to merely condemn or complain about them. The "Strong" Brother looks for ways to restore others to usefulness to God. In Romans 15 Paul the Apostle teaches us that Strong Faith is not about being critical or decisive towards those of other convictions or doctrines but rather as opportunities to help edify and unite the weaker brother in the truth and to help them to become better living vessels of God. More important than division of errant or "weaker" brothers is the work of restoration.

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers." In Romans 13 we are shown the relationship the Christian is to have with civil society as a whole. This includes the government laws, powers, officers, taxes, and civil participation of the nation in which we live. We also speak to the obligation we have toward our civil equals, such as other citizens. In this we also show how the Christian is to work in resolving injustice or properly opposing corruption of those who abuse their civil offices.

Having spent eleven chapters speaking about what God has done for us, Apostle Paul now tells us what "reasonable service" we can do in response to God for what He has done. We should become "Living Sacrifices" by allowing God's faith to transform our lives. In particular, we are to allow God to use our bodies to express and prove to others what God has done for us in the Spirit, by expressing those things through our bodies. God has conformed our Spirit to that of Christ image and all he ask of us to transform that Spiritual conformity into being visible to others through our physical lives as a testimony of God's Gracious work to us and all of mankind who will humbly submit to Him in faith. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

After the fulness of the Gentiles come into Christ, God will again turn His attention back to the nation of Israel, restart their prophetic events, and restore them back to faith by rooting out the wicked generation of unbelieving Jews within their midst. In this message we explain what the "Time of the Gentiles" is and what it means for Israel when "the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" and make special note that when God returns his focus back to Israel's national restoration to Faith will be a signal that the end of the Churches' Great Commission to the Gentile nations is coming near to an end. We use this to emphasize the importance of witnessing before that end comes. (We had severe audio issues with the wireless microphone as a result we had to cut a lot of sections from the video. Some Passages and proof references were cut as well so for further study consider these passages with what is left of the message: Romans 9:3-5; Luke 21:24; Matthew 24:14; Romans 9:6; Psalm 22:30; Zachariah 6:9-15; Matthew 23:32-34; Zechariah 12:6-11; Psalm 75; Revelation 14:9-11)

The "Good Olive Tree" is often mistaken as being the Nation of Israel. However in this passage we see in context this Tree is not Israel but rather Christ, The Tree of Life, to which we are grafted into or cut off of on the bases of Faith. In this we show, from Apostle Paul's typology and supporting passages of scripture, the true meaning and nature of God's Olive Tree and how it is in truth a reference to being connected to the Spirit of Christ for strength in performing His ministry and work. In this message we show how it is important to receive strength for ministry (both of National or Church Covenant, or individual ministry) by remaining connected to the Body of Christ. In this passage we see that the ability of Israel to continued ministering for God (As the Good Olive Tree's caretakers) stopped when they as a nation were broken off from their source of strength and we as gentile believers were graphed in and now make up much of the Church ministers in the Body of Christ.

Paul the Apostle gives several examples of how the giving of God's gifts are by His choice and shows us how God makes His choice for whom He will save and whom He will refuse (Romans 9:16, So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.). Here we learn that Salvation is available for all but God will not give it to all (Matthew 22:14, For many are called, but few are chosen.). They must answer the call God's way (In humility and contriteness before Him) and not their own way (with Pride and/or self effort). In this message we focus on the many steps God takes to cleanse and save whom He will (all of the truly righteous) while ensuring the spiritually wicked will receive just punishment. (2 Peter 2:9, the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:) We show God's wisdom in this process to ensure none will escape judgement while all his children will be saved. In this process we show how God starts in eternity, beyond moments in time, to determine whom He will save, based on humility, and then orchestrated their salvation in time to ensure none of them would be lost. While hard to understand in our mind, all that we need to be assured we are one of the saved elect is to simply believe God in humility. (We had audio issues with this recording so a few minutes of silence in some places were cut out.)

Mankind is so busy trying to justify themselves that they forget hear the plain teaching of God's Word regarding Righteousness (verse 3). Not of us striving to obtain it but of the substitution of Christ for us (verses 4-9). Paul the Apostle and the Old Testament Prophets all proclaimed the Gospel of Faith and its sound went unto all the world, and is available for all people but the issue is not availability but of the willingness to hear it (verses 16-21). In this message we focus on the importance of being a people with open ears with open hearts willing and ready to hear what God says. In particular this needs to start with God's way of Salvation (Righteousness by Faith). We see in this chapter God is ready and willing to give the Gospel to all and will save whomever will hear it.

Many confuse the physical Children and Nation of Israel with the Spiritual Children of faith. In Chapter 9, Paul the Apostle uses the covenant of Israel to show the difference between the two and how God did not give the "Promises of Faith" to the Physical Bloodline but to a "Faith line" of Israel that believed. The promises are not to every person in the physical covenant of Israel but to believing Israel. Just as there are physical and visible churches that carry on the Spiritual line, so too, Physical Israel carried on a faith line of the Israelites who brought forth the Spiritual seed for the whole world. In this lesson we show the Two Covenants God has used to preserve the Spiritual line of Faith in Both Old and New Testaments, Church and Israel. We show how Believing Israel will receive all the promises made to it and so too the Whole Believing Church Body will receive all things given to it. And how unbelieving people physically in either covenant, while receiving some of God's temporal blessings and benefits (by being close to God's people) will not receive anything into eternity.

The Holy Ghost indwells all believers and is personal proof to each of us that we are the Spiritual children, Born of God. In this passage Paul the Apostle shows us how we can discern the Holy Ghost that is within us. In particular the willingness to suffer with Christ, to Hope for our future redemption, and to groan for the things of God, are several of the evidences within us that we have a spiritual union with the Holy Spirit. In this message we also show how these evidences of Spiritual union, while still in a corrupt mortal body, are used to develop and prepare the believer for eternity. For through them, our character, by our loving father, is trained to rely and focus on our union with Him, by Christ, rather than the abuse of our gift of redeemed freedom in self will or self reliance.

Up to this point in the Book of Romans, Paul the Apostle showed us the Spiritual facts of our faith in Christ. He now concludes the review of facts and focuses on living that faith outwardly in our life, showing the importance of using the Spirit to manifest in, and to rule over, our mind and body. He starts with the assurance that sin can no longer harm our Spiritual relationship with God (No Condemnation in Christ), then how the carnal mind and corrupt flesh needs to be controlled as it opposes and hinders God and hinders our Spirit from growing in us and manifesting outwardly. In this message we also note how the two laws that govern us, one in our Spirit (law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus) and the law in our flesh (law of sin and death) are in conflict within us. Yet the flesh will die but the Spirit will continue. Therefor, we owe the mortal flesh nothing and should not allow it to hinder our Spirit which is eternal. We also show how faith should live through and quicken our bodies rather than allowing the body to cause us to be dead towards our faith (James 2:14-26). James 2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Many treat the issues of sin and corrupt flesh as something they must handle in their own power and think they are still obligated to "maintain their own salvation" by . In Romans 7 Paul the Apostle shows that Salvation by Faith in Christ is not something we have on our own but is marital in nature. The moment we are Saved by Christ we become one Spirit with him and and become part of His household. No longer do we struggle alone with our sin and corruption, while bound by our "old husband", the Law of God, by ourselves but our "head of household", Jesus Christ takes our burdens upon Himself to deal with. No longer do we maintain our own selves but Christ maintains OUR salvation. We no longer stand or fall by our works but rather by His standing before God OUR father. In this message we compare and contrast Salvation by Faith with that of a person before marriage with that of a person after marriage and how that even in our earthly marriages relationships change. So too we should learn to understand how things change by Spiritual marriage by faith in Christ. (Preached Sunday morning, 1-16-2022, by Pastor John Young, at Maranatha Bible Baptist Church, 16990 S 38th St, Mendon, MI 49072, Between Fulton and Menden in Wakeshma Township, Near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in South West Michigan, https://www.facebook.com/MbbcFulton)

Many think Saving Faith (in Christ alone without works or law) is a "free ticket to sin". Apostle Paul uses two very powerful truths and examples about our new life as believers to show why this type of thinking is very wrong. In the first example he shows, by Baptism, how we are made one with Christ in our Spirit, not only giving us eternal life but also a quickened life. A quickened life, he shows, kills our old man (the soul with a dead spirit) and gives us a New Man in it's place (the soul with a living human spirit fused in unity with Christ's Spirit). This new life naturally changes our desires. In the second example he shows our employment has changed. We have a new boss and economy. Our old man earned wages from sin unto death (temporary gratification but eternal damnation) but the New man can only receive rewards unto eternity (fruit unto righteousness). The old man's wages remain in the corrupted flesh and will pass away but the rewards of rigtiousenes last into eternity. Paul then shows that is is the believer who then has the choice to continue to work for an old boss who can pay nothing or to grow fruit unto rigtiousenes that can have eternal rewards beyond a temporary life of sin. (Preached Sunday morning, 12-19-2021, by Pastor John Young, at Maranatha Bible Baptist Church, 16990 S 38th St, Mendon, MI 49072, Between Fulton and Menden in Wakeshma Township, Near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in South West Michigan, https://www.facebook.com/MbbcFulton)

To live eternally before God we must have prefect Righteousness (Purity of heart) but the Law shows us our hearts are not pure before God. As we grow, being born innocent and in our own righteousness, we eventually receive understanding of sin, and sin in our corrupt nature will continually work to condemn and destroy us. Try as we might to keep ourselves clean the world and corruption of our flesh will cause us to fall short of His Holy standard which condemns us and causes the death of our spirit. By our own ability we cannot attain nor maintain God's pure standard but God has established another way of meeting the standard, separate of ourselves, by sending Christ who obtained and maintains that Righteous standard from God for us all who believe on Him. By Believing in Christ for God's Righteousness, we then are partakers in Christ and all his gifts. In essence salvation is by rejecting our our own self ownership and ability to pay our debt and allowing Christ to stand in our place of judgement before God. We believe Christ can and will pay for us. This also means our relationship before God is no longer based on law and debt but it is now determined by Christ's standing before God. Because this standing has nothing to do with us or the law, our works, or rituals, then it is not up to us to do anything to keep it. All we are to do is believe that it is unto all and upon all that believe. (Preached Sunday morning, 11-21-2021, by Pastor John Young, at Maranatha Bible Baptist Church, 16990 S 38th St, Mendon, MI 49072, Between Fulton and Menden in Wakeshma Township, Near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in South West Michigan, https://www.facebook.com/MbbcFulton)

Having seen with disgust and horror the full extent of those who reject the law of God, Apostle Paul now turns his focus on those of us who try to keep the law but fail. He powerfully shows that the same law that justly condemns the reprobate to hell also justly condemns us to hell as well, we who wish to keep the law of God but can't. The reason we can't is because the nature of man is equally corrupt in all of us. While we may not manifest outwardly the horrible sins of the reprobate, and compared to them we mistakenly see ourselves as good, the inward secrets of our heart are just as corrupt and will be judged by Christ as our standard of lawful perfection, to which we all fall short. In this message we show the futility of trying to obtain or maintain our Salvation through law keeping as none of us can keep it perfectly, which is what the law demands. Thinking that you, with a wicked nature, can be saved by partially keeping the law, or thinking you can obtain salvation by being part of a privileged group (Jew, or Church member) or covenant (Israelite), or having done some ritual (Circumcision, Baptism, etc.) is also refuted. We show how that the moment the law is broken by us, we no longer can obtain by it: glory, honour, immortality, or eternal life, but rather the moment we break it, we justly can only expect indignation, wrath, tribulation and anguish from God. (Preached Sunday morning, 10-24-2021, by Pastor John Young, at Maranatha Bible Baptist Church, 16990 S 38th St, Mendon, MI 49072, Between Fulton and Menden in Wakeshma Township, Near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in South West Michigan, https://www.facebook.com/MbbcFulton)

There are certain men in our world, Reprobate to the truth, that know the truth of God, both Natural and Spiritual, yet not only reject His truth, but seek to turn others from the truth of God. These men, having been shown by God the right way to live, through natural, internal spiritual witness, and verbal revelation of scripture, have knowingly rejected God's way for their own lust and pride. Having been rejected by God and knowing God opposes their evil lust, they then seek to make a world without God so that they can draw others into their delusions. This type of person, having followed the full extent of their rejection of God, can be seen today in the Reprobate Sodomites, sons of Belial (the Devil), who seek to corral and label their victims into LGBTQ+ identities and in the ongoing and growing exploitation of the evil sex slave trades. In this message we show how such men are made, their descent into depravity, how they lead away their victims down their reprobate trail, their mutilation of self and others, their accumulation of venereal diseases and their just condemnation by God. We also show how the believer can push back against the wickedness, help save their victims, and create an environment for the truth of God to thrive in our communities. (Preached Sunday morning, 10-17-2021, by Pastor John Young, at Maranatha Bible Baptist Church, 16990 S 38th St, Mendon, MI 49072, Between Fulton and Menden in Wakeshma Township, Near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in South West Michigan, https://www.facebook.com/MbbcFulton)