Coast News and Reminders

Quote of the Week: You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy. (Eric Hoffer)

Promise for the Week: He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. (Proverbs 22:9)

This Sunday during the 9 AM Pastor's class, we will look again at Psalm 23 – The Shepherd’s Psalm (Part 2). At 10:30, we will look at Romans 4:13-25 - "The Promise Driven Life (Part 1).” You can get a quick review of what we talked about last week by reviewing the notes at the end of this post (note: if you pass your cursor over the Scripture references the text will pop up for you).

The All-Youth Meeting is this Friday, June 4.

The annual backpacking trip for the men is scheduled for June 21-26. Contact Mike Hodson if you are interested.

If you are interested in membership at Coast, please let Dan or Earl know. A membership packet can be picked up from Diana Hodson on Sundays. We will be setting another date for a membership meeting soon.

A big thank you to the Women’s Retreat Planning Team (Peggy Rupprecht, DeeDee Wakabayashi, and Diane Cardinas) for the wonderful job putting together the women’s day away. And we also want to extend a big thank you to the ones who gave financially to make this day extremely affordable for the ladies (free!) and doable for us as a church!

Please continue to be in prayer for Rainier Ray as he ministers in Kenya at an orphanage.

There is a ministry need in our Sunday School. If you have an interest in teaching in the 8-12s Sunday School and would like more information, please contact Earl or Dan.

There is also a ministry need for workers in our Nursery/2&3s ministry. If you could help to meet this need and would like more information, please contact our coordinator, Carolyn Sainz.

We are searching more aggressively now for another facility. Please be on the lookout for possible church facility opportunities or industrial space opportunities in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Westminster or Midway City, and in a zone along the 405 freeway extending approximately two miles on either side of the freeway and ranging between Bolsa Chica Rd. on the west end and the 55 freeway on the east end. If you have any information or suggestions, please contact Ben Urbina and the facility search team.

Check your bulletins on Sunday for other upcoming meetings and events.

Pray for one another "without ceasing," especially those in need of jobs and business growth as well as for those with babies on the way.

Keep trusting His promises, He's never failed us yet and He never will!

Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Romans 4:9-12; Coast Community Church; Pastor Earl Miles; May 23, 2010

In this passage (verses 9-12), Paul is raising the question, “How or when did Abraham receive the blessing that comes from being counted righteous by faith?” In other words, how can we be sure that God justifies the ungodly by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone when good works and religious rituals seem to be so important in the Scripture?

Happiness in God
The first thing that Paul mentions in this passage is the issue of true happiness. Look at Romans 4:9. Is this blessing then on the circumcised or on the uncircumcised? (9a) The first thing we see in verse 9 is a reference again to “blessing.” Blessedness is a divinely inspired, other-worldly kind of happiness that never ends and is always full and still increasing. We get a taste of it here, but we won’t really enter into it in its fullness until we see God face to face. (Psalm 16:11) This is why the gospel leads us to say, “God is the Supreme Good.” And to fight with the argument, “Fleeting pleasure Jesus is better!”

The Ritual of Circumcision
The second thing Paul mentions is the practice of the ritual of circumcision. Look at Romans 4:9 again. Is this blessing then on the circumcised or on the uncircumcised? (9a) Circumcision was a physical ritual in which a part of the body of boys in Israel, 8 days after birth, was removed, according to God’s command. It was a way of distinguishing the people of God, the Jews, from all the other nations. Circumcision is picked by Paul as representative because it was held in such high esteem among the Jews. (Ephesians 2:11-14) The gospel is meant to break down those walls. The gospel teaches us that man, in his sinful state, is an idol worshiper and that idol worship divides while the worship of the true God unites.

Counted Righteous by Faith
The third thing Paul mentions in the passage is truth of righteousness by faith. Look again at Romans 4:9. For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” (9b) Paul is coming back to Genesis 15:6 in light of Psalm 32:1-2. Paul is linking happiness in God and the being counted righteous by God. (John 10:7-11) The gospel declares that God is the supreme good and therefore, our true happiness. But man is an idol worshiper who deserves God’s judgment. So how can we enjoy happiness in God? Only through Jesus the double cure and faith in the promises of God because of Jesus.

Circumstances Surrounding Being Counted Righteous
The fourth thing Paul does is raise the question of how or in what condition was Abraham when God counted him to be righteous. Look at Romans 4:10. How then was it credited? While he was circumcised or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised but while uncircumcised; (10) Paul uses a historical observation in his argument for righteousness apart from works and asks the question of what came first, imputation or circumcision. (Genesis 15:5-6; 16:15-16; 17:10-11, 23-25)

Ritual as a Sign
The next thing Paul does is indicate the first purpose of religious rituals. Look at Romans 4:11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness which he had while uncircumcised (11a) Paul defines the purpose of circumcision. Circumcision is a sign. (John 6:26-35) A “sign” is something that points beyond itself to something else. It is a “pointer.”
“Signs,” whether miracles or rituals, are meant to point beyond themselves to the greater, more important, reality.

Ritual as a Seal
Next Paul indicates the second purpose of rituals. Look at Romans 4:11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness which he had while uncircumcised (11a) Circumcision is also a seal. It is meant to be evidence of and a testimony to the reality of righteousness by faith. Circumcision is a seal of righteousness by faith. (Galatians 6:12-15)
Circumcision along with baptism and the Lord’s Supper are signs which point beyond themselves and also seals which point to the person participating in these rituals. These rituals point to the person as someone who professes that they are looking to what the ritual points to. They are to function as “signs and seals” that give testimony to our righteousness by faith. But they are not to be depended on for our salvation.

The Father of Believing without Ritual
Next Paul speaks of the fatherhood of Abraham for those who believe and have not been circumcised. Look at Romans 4:11. So that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, (11b) Paul says the purpose of the providence of God in all this is that Abraham, the father of the Jews, would also be the spiritual father of the Gentiles who believe. Paul makes it clear that Abraham’s being counted righteous before he was circumcised was designed by God to communicate something: circumcision was not necessary to be saved. (Acts 15:1-6) Lack of involvement in “ritual” does not prevent the enjoyment of eternal life.

The Father of Believing with Ritual
Finally, Paul speaks of the fatherhood of Abraham for those who believe and have been circumcised. Look at Romans 4:12. And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. (12) Paul affirms the fatherhood of Abraham to the Jews but adds the qualifier of “believing” Jews. This way of speaking of faith also implies the faith that saves “walks” or lives in a particular way. (1 Corinthians 10:1-14) Paul makes it clear that involvement in “ritual” does not ensure eternal life. The involvement in ritual must be an expression of faith in the righteousness of Christ alone. There is a danger in being in church. It is the danger of security in proximity or participation without faith in Christ alone.

Turn, Trust and Obey
All Scripture is designed to call us to turn from our sin to God, to trust in God’s promises to us because of Jesus and to obey God’s Word with hope.

We need to turn from trust in ritual and trust in the promises of God in Jesus and obey God’s Word.

Coast News and Reminders

Quote of the Week: God in seeking his glory seeks the good of his creatures because the emanation of his glory … implies the … happiness of his creatures. … The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted. (Jonathan Edwards)

Promise for the Week: The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. (Psalm 121:7)

A big thank you to the Women’s Retreat Planning Team (Peggy Rupprecht, DeeDee Wakabayashi, and Diane Cardinas) for the wonderful job putting together the Women’s Day Away. And we also want to extend a big thank you to the ones who gave financially to make this day extremely affordable for the ladies (free!) and doable for us as a church!

This Sunday we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together.

This Sunday is the sign-up for the food distribution and next Saturday (May 29th) is the pick-up for the food distribution. Contact one of our deacons (Mike Hodson, Greg Southwick, or Scott Johnson) if you have any questions. When you sign up, please bring $30 (cash or check made out to Coast Community Church) and give it to Mike Hodson.

This Sunday during the 9 AM Pastor's class, we will look at Psalm 23 – The Shepherd’s Psalm. At 10:30, we will look at Romans 4:9-12 - "Signed, Sealed and Delivered.”

The annual backpacking trip for the men is scheduled for June 21-26. Contact Mike Hodson if you are interested.

The West Coasters Home Fellowship is meeting tonight (May 21) at the Rupprecht's house.

If you are interested in membership at Coast, please let Dan or Earl know. A membership packet can be picked up from Diana Hodson on Sundays. We will be setting another date for a membership meeting soon.

Please continue to be in prayer for Rainier Ray as he ministers in Kenya at an orphanage.

There is a ministry need in our Sunday School. If you have an interest in teaching in the 8-12s Sunday School and would like more information, please contact Earl or Dan.

There is also a ministry need for workers in our Nursery/2&3s ministry. If you could help to meet this need and would like more information, please contact our coordinator, Carolyn Sainz.

We are searching more aggressively now for another facility. Please be on the lookout for possible church facility opportunities or industrial space opportunities in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Westminster or Midway City, and in a zone along the 405 freeway extending approximately two miles on either side of the freeway and ranging between Bolsa Chica Rd. on the west end and the 55 freeway on the east end. If you have any information or suggestions, please contact Ben Urbina and the facility search team.

Check your bulletins on Sunday for other upcoming meetings and events.

Pray for one another "without ceasing," especially those in need of jobs and business growth as well as for those with babies on the way.

Keep trusting His promises, He's never failed us yet and He never will!