Gospel Dynamite with J. Allen Mashburn

Free at Last | Romans 6:6-14 | J. Allen Mashburn

Imagine a man who was born into slavery. He is raised as a slave, trained as a slave. All he knows is slavery. Now, imagine that one day this slave is sold at the slave auction. He is bought by a kind man who immediately hands to the slave papers that declare him to be a free man. Imagine that slave rejoicing in his freedom. He runs through the crowd waving those papers in the air and he shouts, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God I am free at last!" The man who brought him to the auction to sell him sees all this and starts to leave, and immediately the former slave falls in behind him. The former owner looks around and says, "Man, you're free! You don't have to work for me any longer!" The slave answers and says, "I know the paper says that I am free, but all I know is how to do is to be a slave. I am going to follow you and continue to work for you." The former owner gladly accepts the offer, but the freed slave has done a foolish thing.
We hear a story like that and say, "That would never happen! Why, a slave who was freed would never return to slavery!" I want you to know that it happens all the time! You see, the Lord Jesus promised freedom to all those who would follow Him, John 8:32; 36. However, there are many who have received Jesus as their Savior, who still live in the bondage of their sins. Like the slave in the story, they hold in their hands their emancipation papers, but in their lives, they still live like they are slaves.
For those who still feel like they are trapped in their sins, this passage offers help this evening. For Christians to be free from the power of sin, they need to understand a few fundamental truths. Notice the word "knowing" on verse 6. This is a word that means "to know by personal experience." To be free, there are some things that we need to know for sure!

The Deliverance of the Spirit Life | Romans 8:1-4 | J. Allen Mashburn

Have you ever noticed that there is a difference in a person who has trusted Jesus as their personal Savor? Have you noticed that they think different, they act different, they walk and talk different? The reason this is true is that they have been invaded by a Being from another place. At the very instant of salvation, the child of God is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:13.
When He comes in, He does so to abide with that new believer forever, John 14:16-18. When the Spirit of God comes into a life, that life is forever changed! This the essence of our being made a new creature, 2 Cor. 5:17. It is this life in the Spirit that is the focus of this eighth chapter of Romans.

How Dead Men Should Live | Romans 6:1-4 | J. Allen Mashburn

Up until this point, the Apostle Paul has been building a case for the necessity of salvation. We have been told that we are all sinners. We have been shown that there is one means of salvation: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been told that by placing our faith in Jesus for salvation, we are given the gift of eternal life in Him. Paul has let us know that the human race is doomed because of the sin of Adam! However, those humans who come to Jesus for salvation are saved from that doom and are given a new life in Christ!
As we begin chapter 6, Paul is going to spend the next 3 chapters telling us how this new life is lived. This is much needed information! All the signs point to the fact that many people claim to have the new life, but they do not seem to know how to live that life. In this section of Scripture, we will be given detailed instructions on how to live the new life in Christ.
Paul begins his treatment of this subject in the first 4 verses of chapter 6. In this passage, we are given our first set of instructions pertaining to the new life. In this passage, we will learn How Dead Men Should Live.

Five Biblical Principles for Christian Voters | I Timothy 2:1-4 | J. Allen Mashburn

Under inspiration, Paul wrote, “I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). The passage takes on a special significance as one remembers that Paul was Nero’s prisoner in Rome.
The Scripture explicitly states God desires “all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Thus, the prayer “for all men” and “all that are in authority” implies praying for the salvation and spiritual growth of everyone, including civic leaders. As the focus turns to political leaders, the Scripture exhorts believers to pray specifically: “for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” When Paul wrote these inspired words, the rulers were not godly people. Still, this is how Paul exhorted God’s people to pray. Pray for national leaders so that their leadership and public policy allow God’s people to love and serve God unhindered. This directive is explicit. 
Yes, pray for the salvation of political leaders, but if the leaders themselves are not godly, pray that the leaders allow for Christians to live godly.
Implicitly, this admonition informs us how to vote in an election. We should vote for those whose leading and decision-making would afford quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness for Bible-believing Christians. History tells us of many ungodly leaders who led in a way that allowed Christians to live godly. The issue here is public policy, exalting decent public policy, and not the godliness or ungodliness of particular leaders. While it would be dishonorable to exalt vileness, it is another matter entirely to vote for good public policy—even when those who promote it lack personal godliness.
Sometimes we understandably struggle with voting for a less-than-ideal candidate, but at least we have the privilege of voting. First-century Christians did not. We must vote realizing we are responsible for the privilege God has given us. A few considerations may help us come to grips with what we have to work with and vote according to the principle implied in 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

How Paradise Was Regained | Romans 5:15-20 | J. Allen Mashburn

In our last study from Romans, we talked about how paradise was lost. We learned that Adam, the father of all humanity, sinned against God. As a result of his sin, the whole world was plunged into darkness. Adam's sin had dire consequences for the whole of humanity. As we move on in this chapter, we will see here how paradise is regained. What Adam gave away, Jesus bought back!
This passage can be very difficult to understand. When it is read, it can seem very confusing. However, it may help to look at this passage as a series of contrasts. Paul is trying to show his readers the difference between what they received from Adam and what they have received from Jesus Christ.
There are three great contrasts that are mentioned here. For me, they untangle these verses and make their teaching clear. I would like to share them with you this evening. I do want to say that these verse comprise the central theme of the book of Romans. Everything to this point has been working towards this, and everything after this point works away from this. The whole point is that where Adam failed, Christ prevailed!
What we lost in Adam, we get back, and much more, in Jesus!

How Paradise Was Lost | Romans 5:12-14 | J. Allen Mashburn

Paul has spent considerable amounts of time in the book of Romans proving that man is a sinner. He has shown us that every class of human in the world is guilty in the eyes of God. Folks, there is no denying that truth! If you doubt that man is guilty, then travel to any spot on the globe, pick up any newspaper or listen to any news broadcast anywhere and the truth will be made plain to you once and for all. Man is a sinner!
In these verses, Paul tells us how man came to be the way he is. Just for a moment, let's be honest with one another. For every person under the sound of my voice, there are times when you have desires and impulses in your mind that, if followed, would ruin your marriages, your careers, your finances, your name and your fellowship with the Lord. We all have those thoughts from time to time, and sadly, many act upon them! Even when we know the consequences of our actions, we still want and do things that are wicked.
Join Pastor Mashburn as we examine how paradise was lost in the Fall.

Christ Died for the Ungodly | Romans 5:6-11 | J. Allen Mashburn

In this passage, we find the Apostle Paul still rehearsing the benefits that are ours as children of God. These verses makes plain the great provisions that have come our way through the death of the Lord Jesus and by virtue of our placing our faith in Him for salvation. These verses tell us of the wonderful things we have in Christ. I want to draw your attention to verse 8, and the last phrase of that verse, then look at the last 2 words: "for us". Those two words sum up the content of this message.
So let’s look at this thought, “Christ Died for the Ungodly.

How I Know I'm Going to Heaven | Hebrews 6:16-20 | J. Allen Mashburn

We believe that we are eternally secure in our salvation. It has been said that we "as sure for heaven as if we had already been there for 10,000 years." This is a true statement, because the Bible clearly tells us that we were "chosen in him before the foundation of the world.", Eph. 1:4. Therefore, we have been in Heaven for quite some time now! In fact, the Bible teaches us that He, "hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus", Eph. 2:6. 
Join us as we consider these precious truths from the Word of God.