TEXT:  Rom. 2:4

INTRODUCTION:

A.      OUR BLESSINGS IMPOSE OBLIGATIONS.

B.      “A duty imposed legally or socially … a moral responsibility.” – Webster.

C.      WE WANT TO DISCUSS MAN’S OBLIGATIONS IN 3 AREAS OF CONCERN.

I.      MAN’S OBLIGATIONS TO GOD.

A.      WE MUST FEAR HIM( Prov. 1:7 ).

B.      OBEY HIM( 1 Sam. 15:22;  Ecc. 12:13;  Matt. 7:21 ).

C.      LOVE HIM( Matt. 22:37-38;  1 John 4:19;  4:9-10 ).

D.      WORSHIP HIM – EXCLUSIVELY( Matt. 4:10;  John 4:23-24 ).

E.      BE A FAITHFUL STEWARD( 1 Cor. 4:1-2 ).

F.      Romans 2:4;  2 Cor. 5:14-15.

II.     MAN’S OBLIGATIONS TO OTHERS.

A.      SUMMED UP( Rom. 13:8 ).

          1.       We will seek their good( Phil. 2:1:4;  Gal. 6:10 ).

          2.       We will seek peace( Rom. 12:18 ).

          3.       We will be longsuffering( Eph. 4:1-3 ).

          4.       We will feel emotion toward his state( 1 Pet. 3:8;  Rom. 12:15 ).

          5.       We will not speak evil of one another( Gal. 5:13-15 ).

          6.       We will seek to bring him to Christ( Rom. 1:14-15;  9:1-3

                             - 2 Cor. 10:3-6;  2 Tim. 2:24-26 ).

B.      1 Cor. 13:1-7.

III.    MAN’S OBLIGATION TO HIMSELF.

          “YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF.”

A.      WORK AND MAKE A LIVING( 2 Thess. 3:10;  1 Tim. 5:8 ).

B.      BE ABOVE REPROACH( Prov. 22:1;  Matt. 5:16;  Titus 2:7-8 ).

C.     SEEK SPIRITUAL GOALS( Acts 2:40 ).

          1.       What is important – truly(Mark 8:34-38 ).

          2.       What has lasting value( Matt. 6:19-21 ).

          3.       What has greatest blessing( Matt 6:33 ).

          4.       Neglect or delay can be fatal( Heb. 2:1-3;  2 Cor. 6:1-2 ).

          5.       Nobody can answer for you!( 2 Cor. 5:10 ).

          6.       Heaven is a wonderful place!( Col. 3:1-2 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED YOUR OBLIGATIONS?

          1.       Not thinking in terms of punishment.

          2.       Not thinking in terms of reward.

          3.       What do I owe?

B.      ACCEPT THE INVITATION OF GOD.