North Park Baptist Church of Bridgeport CT

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Seeking Holiness in the Right Place

July 6, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 8:1-13

Mark Smith

Seeking Holiness in the Right Place

Date Preached: July 6, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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What is the right path to personal holiness? In Romans 7, Paul told us he was convinced that obedience to the Law (or legalism) as a path to personal holiness was a dead end. All trying to do that had accomplished for him was to make him frustrated. He knew what to do but couldn't make himself do it.

In Romans 8:1-13 Paul will elaborate on what he discovered did work, as he hinted at the end of chapter 7. It turns out that the Holy Spirit dwelling within every born-again believer is the way to personal holiness. These thirteen verses are required reading for any believer who wants to refuse to let sin reign in his or her body (Romans 6:12) and who wants to consistently present the members of his or her body as servants of righteousness (Romans 6:12).

Notes for this sermon can be found here.

Seeking Holiness in the Right Place

Seeking Holiness in All the Wrong Places

June 29, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 7:1-8:4

Mark Smith

Seeking Holiness in All the Wrong Places

Date Preached: June 29, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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If the Law isn't necessary for salvation, is it necessary for sanctification (growth in holiness)? That's the issue Paul deals with in Romans 7. He tells us about the Christian's standing in relationship to the Law, the 'problem' with the Law', the impossibility of gaining holiness by obeying the Law, and the believer's deliverance from the law of sin.

If, as a Christian, you've been frustrated in trying to avoid sin and live as you know God wants you to, this message is for you.

Notes for this sermon can be found here.

Seeking Holiness in All the Wrong Places

Choose Your Master

June 22, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 6:15-23

Mark Smith

Choose Your Master

Date Preached: June 22, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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Since we are not under the law but under grace does that mean we shouldn't be concerned about sinning? That's the question Paul knew some in Rome might ask after what he had just written in Romans 6:14. His answer is an emphatic "No." Paul's reason for saying so has to do with what allowing the members of our body to be used for sin will result in. It will result in slavery to sin.

In Romans 6:15-23 Paul likens what we offer the members of our body to serve to the practice of voluntary slavery. The question is not, "Can we be unconcerned about sinning," but, "Who or what will you be a slave to?" There are just two choices with their two different outcomes, as we'll see in this message,

Choose Your Master

Freed from Sin’s Control

June 15, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 6:1-14

Mark Smith

Freed from Sin’s Control

Date Preached: June 15, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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Paul's declaration at the end of Romans 5 led to a plausible objection to his gospel: "If our sin makes God's grace abound, why not sin more so God's grace would abound more and he'd be glorified even more?"

As Paul points out this is as far from his thought as anything could be. This leads him into the most important discussion in the New Testament on the relationship of believers to sin. As we'll see, born-again believers in Jesus actually have been freed from the control of sin. They can now choose to serve God rather than sin. They are dead to sin but alive to God.

Notes for this sermon can be found here.

Freed from Sin’s Control

Jesus, the New Adam

June 8, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 5:12-21

Mark Smith

Jesus, the New Adam

Date Preached: June 8, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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How can one person possibly change the destinies of all people?

Paul has just claimed that Jesus, through his death and resurrection, made it possible for all people to have eternal life. To explain how something like this could be possible, Paul turns to Adam, the first man, and shows how Adam did something that affected all of us. Since Adam could do so, how much more could God's Son, Jesus do the same or better? That's the gist of this complicated section in the Book of Romans.

Sermon notes can be found here.

Jesus, the New Adam

Immediate Blessings of Salvation

June 1, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 5:1-11

Mark Smith

Immediate Blessings of Salvation

Date Preached: June 1, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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In Romans 5 Paul turns from explaining the powerful gospel of salvation to telling us some of the other blessings that come with being justified by God. In 5:1-11 Paul enumerates nine immediate blessings of salvation. In the rest of chapters 5-8 he'll explain some others, some of which take time to fully experience. Here, however, his focus is on blessings we fully experience as soon as we are saved. As we consider these we have to ask, are they yours yet?

Notes for this sermon can be found here.

Immediate Blessings of Salvation

Abraham – Saved by Faith

May 25, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 4

Mark Smith

Abraham – Saved by Faith

Date Preached: May 25, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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A question naturally arises from Paul's explanation of the gospel. Is his teaching that people are saved by faith alone in keeping with the Hebrew scriptures or is it Paul's invention? In Romans 4 Paul answers that question by referring back to Abraham, the Father of Israel, showing that he was saved by faith alone. The gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone is clearly illustrated by Abraham, demonstrating that Paul's gospel is Biblical. It is the gospel all people need. There is no other option.

Notes for this sermon can be found here.

Abraham – Saved by Faith

The Good News of the Gospel

May 18, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 3:21-31

Mark Smith

The Good News of the Gospel

Date Preached: May 18, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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After almost three chapters of bad news, Paul turns to the good news, the good news of the gospel. In 3:21-31, Paul explains that sinners (all of us) can be saved because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. This salvation comes as a free gift from God through his grace to all who trust Jesus alone for their forgiveness and for eternal life. We don't have to do anything but receive God's gift by faith. This certainly is good news.

Note for this sermon can be found here.

The Good News of the Gospel

Who Needs the Gospel? Everyone

May 11, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 3:9-20

Mark Smith

Who Needs the Gospel? Everyone

Date Preached: May 11, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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Paul concludes his long explanation of who needs the powerful, saving gospel that he preaches here in Romans 3:9-20. The conclusion is simple: everyone everywhere needs to be saved from their sins through faith in Jesus. Follow along with us as Paul brings God's indictment against all of us, making us accountable for our sins.

Sermon notes can be found here.

Who Needs the Gospel? Everyone

Religious People Need the Gospel (2)

May 4, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 2:12-3:8

Mark Smith

Religious People Need the Gospel (2)

Date Preached: May 4, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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Paul continues to explain why everyone needs the powerful, saving gospel he proclaims. He's dealt with God deniers and people who pass judgment on others. In today's passage he deals with those who know the law, whether in written form or only as an inward principle of the heart. As we'll see, they, too all need the gospel for they don't keep the law they know. Even good, religious people need the saving message of the gospel.

The notes for this sermon can be found here.

Religious People Need the Gospel (2)

Religious People Need the Gospel (1)

April 27, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 2:1-11

Mark Smith

Religious People Need the Gospel (1)

Date Preached: April 27, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

After Paul finished describing the total moral and spiritual collapse of those who have suppressed the knowledge of God (1:18-32) there were probably Gentiles, and certainly Jews, who would have said, "But I'm not one of those. I'm moral, I detest the evil some people are doing. I'd don't worship idols." They saw themselves as good people and God's wrath certainly shouldn't be falling on them.

In 2:1-3:20 Paul will turn to explain why even good religious people need the gospel. He begins in 2:1-11 by addressing those who judge others. As we'll see, they are not as undeserving of God's wrath as they imagine.

The note for this sermon can be found here.

Religious People Need the Gospel (1)

Messages from an Empty Tomb

April 20, 2025

Matthew 27:57-28:10

Mark Smith

Messages from an Empty Tomb

Date Preached: April 20, 2025

Speaker: Mark Smith

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This morning we'll hear five messages from a most unlikely source, an empty tomb. I will agree right away that tombs don't talk, but this tomb was Jesus' tomb, and it's emptiness on Easter Sunday morning communicated five messages to five different groups very clearly. To ignore these messages is extremely dangerous. At least one of them is directed to you today and ignoring it can have eternal consequences. Listen in as the empty tomb of Jesus speaks.

Messages from an Empty Tomb

Why Do God’s People Fast?

April 13, 2025

Matthew 9:14-15

Mark Smith

Why Do God’s People Fast?

Date Preached: April 13, 2025

Speaker: Mark Smith

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In this message we'll outline 7 reasons that people in the Bible fasted. We'll add an 8th reason which served as the additional motivation behind at least some examples of fasting.

If you've ever wondered about fasting as a Christian, this message can help you decide whether to fast and why to fast.

Notes for this sermon can be found here.

Why Do God’s People Fast?

God’s Wrath Revealed

April 6, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 1:18-32

Mark Smith

God’s Wrath Revealed

Date Preached: April 6, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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Romans 1:18 told us that God's wrath was being revealed. In 1:21-32 we will see four ways this was happening. In each case it was revealed in the present, not the future.

We'll see exactly how God's wrath has already been revealed and what the impact of his wrath is in people's lives today.

God’s Wrath Revealed

The Wrath of God Revealed

March 30, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 1:18-21a

Mark Smith

The Wrath of God Revealed

Date Preached: March 30, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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Paul opens this morning's passage by claiming that the wrath of God is being revealed. This statement follows almost immediately upon his declaration that he is eager to preach the gospel in Rome. Why was he eager to do so? As we'll discover, it wasn't to help the Romans become more prosperous nor too have all their wishes fulfilled through words of faith. He wanted to help them avoid the wrath of God.

What is the wrath of God? Is it worthy of God to have wrath? If God is revealing wrath who is it against? Why is he doing this? Answering these and other questions will help us understand how good the good news of the gospel really is. We need the bad news to fully understand the good news.

The Wrath of God Revealed

Preacher Paul’s Powerful Gospel

March 23, 2025

The Book of Romans

Romans 1:16-17

Mark Smith

Preacher Paul’s Powerful Gospel

Date Preached: March 23, 2025

Series: The Book of Romans

Speaker: Mark Smith

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Romans 1:16-17 is perhaps the most important theological statement in the Bible. It was through understanding this passage that Martin Luther was born again and the Protestant Reformation began which transformed Western Christianity and, then, the world.

The words faith or believe and the words righteous or righteousness are the key to unlocking this passage. What they mean and how they are related is at the heart of the gospel - the good news - that Paul was eager to preach in Rome. While volumes have been written about these two verses, we can make sense of them fairly easily.

Paul was eager to preach this gospel, and hopefully we are eager to hear it. It is as much God's power for salvation today as it was in Paul's day.

Notes for this and all the sermons on Romans can be found here.

Preacher Paul’s Powerful Gospel

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