Message from Br. Charles.

Brother Seth was one of the founders of the Iranian Church and had a talent for challenging everyone’s faith. Br. Charles recounts his experience of conversations with Br. Seth and the book of Romans.

Romans 1 – Paul talks about Jesus and who he is, Jesus earthly and heavenly nature.
Romans 2 – We are all sinners all are condemned to death because we are sinners. God is a God of all.
Romans 3 – Key verse:

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-2

Romans 4 – Law shows what sin is in us, Law shows people how sinful they are.
Romans 5 – Justified by faith in Jesus Christ. Adam and his rebellion, sin entered humanity. Christs obedience and blessing brought life.
Romans 6 – We need to die to sin.

^“10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” Romans 6:10

Romans 7 – Resurrected life no longer have a sin natures. A new nature of Christ in me. Devil can no longer accuse me because we don’t have our old natures. I have the nature of Christ. My new nature determines what I do in the future.

“For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” Romans 7:22-24

Romans 8 – No condemnation for those who are in Christ. Freedom from the spirit of death. Can’t change the law of gravity or other natural laws. Cannot change the law of the commandments.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

Are you in chapter 7 of Romans or chapter 8?

Do you live in Romans 7 or 8? It is a daily choice we need to make. We can choose to do silly things but Christ is there ready to help us if we seek Him first.

We must come out of our superficial understanding into the full life of Christ.

Who will bring any charge to those that God has chosen?
Christ Jesus who has died.
Interceding for us, who can accuse us. There is no condemnation.
We have a new nature. Live lives of resurrection who interceded for us.

Jesus intercedes for us therefore no condemnation.

Presence of Holy Spirit stops us from sinning, the more we feel the Holy Spirit presence

The sermon centers on the Book of Romans, specifically tracing the theological journey from the condemnation of sin to the freedom found in Christ.

• Romans 1-3: The Reality of Sin: Brother Charles emphasizes that all humanity is under sin, regardless of background. He highlights Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” noting that while we may look “good” compared to others, we all fail God’s standard.
• Romans 4-5: Justification by Faith: The law serves only to reveal sin, not to save. Using Abraham as an example, the preacher explains that we are justified freely by grace through faith. Christ is presented as the “Second Adam,” bringing life where the first Adam brought death.
• Romans 6: The New Nature: A pivotal focus on being “baptized into Christ’s death.” The preacher argues that the believer’s old “serpentine nature” died on the cross. By faith, the believer is resurrected into a new life with a new nature.
• Romans 7 vs. Romans 8: The core of the message distinguishes between the “wretched man” of Chapter 7 (struggling with the law and failing) and the “no condemnation” of Chapter 8.
• Romans 8:1-12, 38-39: The “Law of the Spirit of Life” sets the believer free from the “Law of Sin and Death.” The sermon concludes with the assurance that nothing can separate the believer from the love of God.

Congregation response

Brother Charles challenges the congregation to move beyond a superficial understanding of salvation as merely “going to heaven.”

• Self-Examination: Members are asked to identify if they are living in “Romans 7” (struggle and condemnation) or “Romans 8” (freedom and the Spirit).
• Embrace the New Nature: The congregation is encouraged to believe that their old sinful nature is truly dead. When “stupid things” or wrong thoughts occur, they should repent based on their new identity in Christ rather than living under the devil’s accusation.
• Spiritual Discipline: Brother Charles encourages a daily morning discipline of Bible study and prayer to “put on the armor of God,” which reduces anxiety and provides peace regarding family and life’s challenges.
• Church Engagement: The role of the church is emphasized as a place for nurturing and moving into the “fullness of Christ” through the teaching of others.

Translation into Armenian

Այս քարոզը կենտրոնանում է Հռոմեացիս թղթի վրա՝ ընդգծելով մեղքի դատապարտությունից դեպի Քրիստոսով ձեռք բերված ազատության անցումը:

Հիմնական աստվածաշնչյան տեքստը

• Հռոմեացիս 3:23. «Որովհետև ամենքը մեղանչեցին և Աստծո փառքից պակասած են»։ Մայքլը շեշտում է, որ բոլորս մեղավոր ենք և կարիք ունենք շնորհքի:
• Հռոմեացիս 6. Մենք մկրտվել ենք Քրիստոսի մահվան մեջ, որպեսզի մեր «հին մարդը» մեռնի և մենք հարություն առնենք նոր բնությամբ:
• Հռոմեացիս 8:1. «Ուրեմն հիմա ոչ մի դատապարտություն չկա նրանց համար, որ Քրիստոս Հիսուսի մեջ են»։ Սա քարոզի հիմնական ուղերձն է՝ ազատություն Հոգու օրենքով:

Հորդոր հավատացյալներին
Քարոզիչը հորդորում է հավատացյալներին չմնալ «Հռոմեացիս 7-րդ» գլխի տառապանքի մեջ, այլ ապրել «8-րդ գլխի» հաղթանակով: Նա խրախուսում է ամենօրյա աղոթքի և Աստվածաշնչի սերտողության կարգապահությունը, որը զորացնում է հավատացյալին և հեռացնում տագնապը:

Ամփոփում
Քարոզը ներկայացնում է Քրիստոսի հետ նույնանալու կարևորությունը Նրա մահվան և հարության մեջ: Մենք այլևս մեր հին մեղավոր բնությունը չունենք, այլ ունենք Քրիստոսի նոր բնությունը, որը մեզ ուժ է տալիս ապրելու սուրբ և անդատապարտելի կյանքով:

Worship: