COG Sermons
Ron Dart 1985 Sermons
| 8522 Evidence of God's Love How would one know that God loves him? One of the ways is if God chastises him. If you realize God's chastisement is upon you, that should be tremendously encouraging! If God sees you going down the wrong path, aren't you grateful for God to chastise you and put you on the right path? A refreshing and upbeat message on trials. Financial trials -- is God trying to chastise you? It does no harm to assume so whenever bad things come your way. Sometimes you may never know until you look back. We often only change when things are bad. When that happens, will we examine ourselves? |
| 8526 Moral Decay In the Church Dart looks at moral decay in the New Testament, middle ages, as well as today, when moral decay continues in spite of professions to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. What about our own personal moral decay? Why does God not punish it right away? The danger of comparing ourselves among ourselves. Dart presents logic that leaves the Christian accountable with no escape. You are required to decide to do the right thing in God’s sight, no matter what others do or say or tolerate. Christianity is, after all, a moral religion. |
| 8549 Was the Law Abolished? Dart answers this with great clarity. Jesus was aware that the Jews would accuse Him of doing away the law, when in fact He was only doing away with their interpretations of it, and in the process established the permanence of God's law. Dart gives repeated New Testament examples of the law of God still being in effect, especially in regards to the Sabbath. He also allots a whole section of the message to clean/unclean meats, giving a very detailed explanation thereof, including the difference between common and unclean. Jesus did not come to destroy the law, rather Jesus came to correct misinterpretations about the law, to teach a higher concept of the law, and to introduce His own administration of the law, including binding and loosing. |
| 85-01-05 How Many Ways to be Saved? Was the way to salvation different depending on nationality? Race? Circumcision? Works? There is a reward offered, but that reward is not salvation. One can lose his salvation with persistent, unrepented-of sin, but one cannot gain salvation by the avoidance thereof. Explanation of "middle wall of separation" and what ordinances Jesus abolished (from Ephesians 2). Explanation of the burden that neither us nor our fathers could bear (from Acts 15). Keeping the law with no faith is worthless. Having faith and not keeping the law is a contradiction. Explanation of John 1 "The Word was with God and the Word was God." Jesus came to reveal the previously-hidden Father. Concludes with the one way to salvation, Old Testament and New Testament. |
| 85-02-09 Half Brain Religion Dart looks at the computer-like, Pharisaical rigidity of rules and the law – the left side of the brain, versus the judgment, mercy, compassion feelings-based right side of the brain and how these conflict and interact. Dart preaches a strong emphasis on the law and a warning against lawlessness justified by mercy. Law-keeping is necessary, but it is always with judgment. Most of us know the law. What we need to work on is getting the right judgment to the right degree. Much left-brain, black and white inflexibility leads to Pharisaical, right-brain blindness. Yet, too much compassion and mercy leads to anti-nomian lawlessness. |
| 85-07-20 Obedience For Salvation? Salvation is a free gift. Is obedience therefore evidence of salvation, or required for salvation? Ron Dart addresses the long-running concepts of grace and obedience. What does Paul mean when he instructs to "obey the gospel"? The gospel is more than an announcement. (Reference to Herbert Armstrong.) What good is arguing over the truth and neglecting your brother? If you really believe, you'll obey. Dart explains the supposed contradiction from Romans "by the deeds of the law no flesh is justified" and "the doers of the law shall be justified". |
| 85-08-10 The Working God Dart gives several examples of Jesus and God working, and how they are working now. What is that work? Do we acknowledge it? Miracles, feedings, healings, cursings. Dart explores all that God does and puts it in perspective for us in our daily lives. This message evolves into encouragement for us to glorify God as creator, and to express deep, sincere gratitude. |
| 85-10-12 The Fear of Idols Idols in ancient times compared to idols today. The idols God warns about were bad because people feared them rather than fear God. A fundamental part of the worship of God is fear of Him. This fear of idols has come down to us today in the form of authoritarian churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Worldwide Church of God. Dart describes how the fear of God can get intermingled with the fear of the church and the ministry and the organization. Dart examines in-depth, the fear of the Lord. |
| 1985 Experimental Church Dart looks at the Corinthian church, including its observance of Passover. Subjects include: Innovation in church services; The value of tradition; The value of creativity. (Apologies – the recording ends prematurely at 38 minutes. Please email me if you have a full copy.) |
| 8543 Objective of Prayer “There is nothing more fundamental and more important both as prevention and cure of spiritual disease than prayer and Bible study.” “Of all the disciplines of the Christian religion, none is more neglected than prayer.” Why? Are we unsure it works? Dart asks many tough questions about prayer. Addressed: intercessory, perseverance, prayer for enemy, honesty in prayer. Why would God delay an answer? No matter what we have done, we should never fear to come before God. God’s real objective is to bring us into His presence. |
| 1985 The Illusion of God The east-west split in the Catholic church one thousand years ago was over power and the nature of God. Dart looks a the history of the trinity and its Biblical basis. How can God be in more than one place at the same time? Does this grasp a bit of what eternity is? It’s OK to contemplate the nature of God as long as we don’t make dogma out of more than what God has revealed. While the Father and Son clearly have a relationship, the Holy Spirit never does. How did God choose to reveal Himself to us? Primarily, as the Son. |
| 1985 Your Very Own Preacher Paul condemns those who have an agenda; those who use the scriptures selectively to drive that agenda, even if the motives are right. Dart explores different preachers and how God has given diverse gifts. Whether good and bad, boring or not, right or wrong, we can learn from each of them anyway. Dart shows two main tools to do so, no matter who the preacher is. Yet, we are to rightly divide and we are to shun profane babbling. Also addressed are qualifications for a minister; how it is not up to the laity as a whole to judge this man’s qualifications. The ministry is a self-perpetuating entity. Do you want your own preacher or God’s? |
