By Faith - Romans 6:15-23
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
This morning we will finish Romans 6. Last week on Easter we spoke about what Jesus did for us. That He secured our victory, our freedom, and our salvation. That because he died and rose again we have life.
This week we are going to look at the implications of that. We are called to move towards sanctification. We have been sanctified and we also move towards it.
The What, the implications, and ensuing battle.
By Faith - Romans 6:15-23
By Faith - Romans 6:15-23
What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not! Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life! For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Intro
Intro
In the first half of the chapter we looked at how because of Christ we have victory, power and righteousness. Theses are all gifts that He has given us. We are slaves or servants to the thing we obey. Before Christ, we obeyed from a pattern that was connected to that way of life.
Sanctification is the call
Sanctification is the call
Twice in these verses Paul says that because of what Jesus did and our walking in that that the result is sanctification.
I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.
But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!
We are called to be sanctified or separated. The word sanctification means separated or holy. That is the call before us to be holy as God is Holy.
“Speak to the entire Israelite community and tell them: Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.
for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
God has saved us, God has redeemed us, God has sanctified us and now He says walk in it. Be sanctified, continue to grow in it, be holy. That is what He wants for us. That is the call. Holiness unto the Lord!
We do not do this on our own, we do not strive for this to receive anything. We already have everything, instead we are just walking out what we have been given. To turn this call into legalism is to forget you are already and heir with Christ. That is the position, now we act like it.
We were one way and knew how to do things that way, now we have to learn how to do things God’s way. That is what Paul is saying here in this section.
We had a pattern, and now we have a new pattern or way of doing things. Things have changed and we need to learn how to do things the new way. The New Testament puts a large focus on what to do with the gifts God has given us. We received salvation and righteousness and now we learn to walk it out.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness.
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
The word disciple means one who is under the training of another. We are all disciples of Jesus Christ.
As followers of Jesus we are going to spend the rest of our life learning how to use and walk in what He has already done.
The Bible is Full of Examples
The Bible is Full of Examples
I get it there are some things that happen to us that cause difficulty as we learn to walk in holiness. The past has an effect on us.
We have talked about Abraham a few times and how he had to grow in the faith he was called to but every person we read about except Jesus had to do some work to overcome their past.
Moses - Moses was hidden as a baby and then adopted by the people who were keeping his own people as slaves. He then killed a man and hid in the desert. Then he marries into a different culture. Then he gets sent back to his people that he has never lived with and told to lead them to freedom. Moses had fear, a speech impediment, a temper, and self-doubt. Moses becomes one of central figures of the Bible and yet he had a lot of work to do.
Rehab - Rehab was a prostitute and hid foreign men who ended up being part of group responsible for destroying her hometown. She then marries one of men. Changes her religion. Do we really think she did not have to work through her past? We know she did because she is the mother of Boaz who marries Ruth. She is listed in the lineage of Jesus.
Elijah - Elijah was a man full of faith and power. He has this amazing experience of defeating the prophets of Baal and then goes into wilderness and enters into depression.
but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.”
He was tired and spent. He had used up His strength and an angel of the Lord had to refresh him.
Corinth - Nearly the entire Corinthian Church. Paul wrote two letters to the church in Corinth. This was a church with people who were filled with the Holy Spirit and exercising spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 Paul is explaining how to use the Spiritual gifts they have properly. These are people walking in power and yet they had so many issues.
They were looking down on people with lesser gifts.
They were marginalizing some believers in the community. (1 Cor 11:21)
They had sexual immorality in the church (1 Cor 6:12-20)
They were suing each other.
They couldn not let go of Roman identity.
They were tolerating incest.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/10-issues-gospel-corinthian/
Again these were believers. They had issues and they needed to do the hard work.
The point is this, we have victory, power and righteousness but that does not mean we do not have to put in the work to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Abuse, Trauma, and a Past
Abuse, Trauma, and a Past
There are things that happen to us and things that we caused to happen. Some things were put on us and some things we put on ourselves. I never want to make it seem like when we come to Christ everything is just easy peasy. Yes we have salvation. Yes we have freedom. Yes we have victory. These things are yours as a follower and believer in Christ. He has guaranteed them for you they are yours. But sometimes things in the past hinder us from walking fully in them and we need to do the hard work, with the Lord’s help and strength, to walk it out.
For abuse and trauma and this is trauma of any sort I want to encourage you to pray, I want to encourage you to forgive, and I want to encourage you to get help. Not only is there nothing wrong with getting help from a therapist or counselor it is often needed. God has given some people a desire and helped them hone the skills needed to help us overcome. Please here me here. There is victory for you. Please do not try to do it alone.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
If things have happened to you get the help you need.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and Depression
Then there are things that are often completely outside our control. When I talk about anxiety or depression here I am not talking about the anxiety or depression that we use in common vernacular. The Bible talks about those in places like
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
This is the type of anxious we create because we are not trusting in God. This is the type that we bring upon ourselves. That is not what I am talking about. I have been affected by both types.
In my early 20s I had a few anxiety attacks where I thought I was going to die. It would come on out of nowhere and just debilitate me. I have also had anxiety because I was not trusting and resting in the Lord. One is on me and I cause it. The other was something that happened to me.
We use the word depression so often but sometimes people are affected by depression because of a chemical imbalance that they cannot control. If is you, please get the help you need. Can God heal that yes, but it is also ok and does not make your faith weak if get help from a Dr.
It is no different than someone getting treatment for cancer, a missing limb, or blindness.
God can heal that but He also gave us the ability to understand the human body and called some to be Drs. The author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts was a Dr.
There are some things that are outside of our control but that does not mean we are hopeless or helpless. We said it last week, we are victorious. We all have work to do and some scars are more visible than others.
The call to holiness remains.
Idolatry is the enemy of holiness
Idolatry is the enemy of holiness
Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?
The call to be holy is difficult. It is the hardest thing we will ever do but to pursue it to strive towards it will change everything. If we want to be what God calls us to be it is found on the road to holiness.
And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
fools will never walk there.
We cannot be accidentally holy. It is something we strive for, something we desire, and then intentionally seek.
We are called to cast out our idols. What are our idols? Anything we place before God.
How do we know if something is an idol?
One way to identify an idol, when something happens where do you run?
When difficulty happens what do you turn to for security.
For comfort.
For reassurance.
To lift you up.
Another way to identify and idol is where are your priorities?
What gets the most of your money?
What gets the most of your time?
What are you unwilling to give up?
Another good way to identify and idol what do you sacrifice to?
What do you sacrifice too?
When push comes to shove what gets priority?
Idols can start out as good things. They can be good gifts in and of themselves but they become idols when they stop you from walking in holiness.
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
God gives us the choice and He says chose life!
Closing
Closing
So often we live like this is our home but it is not. Something greater is coming and when I stand before Jesus and see Him face to face I want to hear well done not why didn’t walk in what I had for you?
