How can we live in sin?

Pray

(sign for slide) Haddon Robinson writes about something the apostle Paul could certainly identify with, namely, the tendency of the law to put ideas in our heads, he explains:

The law can prompt us to sin. I am told that several years ago a high-rise hotel was built in Galveston, Texas, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, they sank pilings into the gulf and built the structure out over the water. When the hotel was about to have its grand opening, someone thought, What if people decide to fish out the hotel windows? So, they placed signs in the hotel rooms, "No fishing out the hotel windows." Many people ignored the signs however, and it created a difficult problem. Lines got snared. People in the dining room saw fish flapping against the picture windows. The manager of the hotel solved it all by taking down those little signs. No one checks into a hotel room thinking about fishing out of the windows. The law, although well-intentioned, created the problem.

We hear this story this morning, and just by a show of hands… does anyone enjoy fishing?

How about this, does anyone enjoy staying in nice hotels?

Ok, let’s try this one… Does anyone enjoy fishing out of hotel windows?

Yeah, the thought of it is crazy… I mean, prior to this morning… the thought of fishing out of a hotel window, is probably something you’ve never thought about… I mean you’ve probably gone fishing at one point in your life, right? (You should’ve seen Jordan the other day at boy scout Lake…) you’ve probably also stayed at a hotel at least once. But I would dare to say, no one here, has ever fished out of a hotel window before… and yet, by the same token, I would dare to say, at least a few of us are now entertaining the idea.

This begs the question then… Where did the problem start? Where did the issue of fishing out of the hotel window, become a problem in the first place? Right, when the signwent up.

We transition then to ourselves this morning, and we recall the words of Romans 7:7-12

7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.

So, while the law, the word of God, is of course holy, and righteous and good… We live in a world, where the flesh… wants to get the best of us…. But here’s the challenge…We’re called to be Holy, as he is Holy.

So, we have a bit of a problem… we’re told to be Holy, righteous, Good… but we have a problem with this (flesh.) All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God… There is no one righteous, no not one…

If you have you’re bibles with you this morning… Turn with me to Romans 6. And in Romans 6, Paul addresses this topic of sin. He explains: Romans 6:1-2 1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

And after discussing the concept of grace in chapter 5… Paul would then transition from grace… To Sin. From Adam… To Christ… now to us under grace. Again, it says: 1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin…. Here’s the key for this morning’s message, it says: how can we live in it any longer? You see Paul asks a rhetorical question. How can we live in sin any longer… (If we’re under grace.)

For the sake of this morning’s message. We’re going to examine how to live for Christ this morning… And how to not… live in sin, any longer…

3 steps - In your struggle with sin: 1. Count yourself dead to sin, but alive to God. 2. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin, but offer yourselves to God. 3. Obey the Word.

1. In your struggle with sin: 1. Count yourself dead to sin, but alive to God

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

As we look to the scripture this morning, we find the Lord is using Paul to write to the Roman church on the topic of sin. And after rhetorically asking how can we live in it (sin) any longer? Paul would then go on to explain 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Here Paul would discuss the believer’s baptism. The idea that we are baptized into the body of Christ this morning. And the idea that because of this death, in the flesh, that we are then to live a new life.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

So, there’s a marked distinction, between before Christ, and our life before Christ… and afterward… There’s a transaction, on calvary… and a transformation in lifestyle.

And here, Paul is addressing this death to self, and newness in Christ. And he goes on to say in verse 10 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

So, after discussing the death of Christ, and death to sin. Paul then transitions to us this morning, and says: 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

I want to stop for a moment, and consider, in our struggle against sin… this idea of counting ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God. As we do so I want to consider the word Count…

The word Count yourselves dead to sin. Or consider yourselves dead to sin (as some of your translations will say) is actually a word that briefly touched on last week… I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The word count or consider means, a careful, and calculated consideration. Not just a quick, consideration, or thought… but a careful, analyzed decision…

And in the case of last week, Paul was examining and carefully thinking through suffering, in comparison to glory… and on the scale. There was no comparison, glory far outweighs our suffering. This morning, there is also a deeply thought-out perspective… where we count ourselves, we think through, the fact, that we are dead to sin… but alive in Christ. But where does this take place? Calculating, thinking? Yeah, it’s on our mind… in our head… So, Paul is saying in your mind, in your head… be resolved to be Holy.

You see, sin always begins in the mind… Let me put it this way… Ou sin is a root problem, before it’s a fruit problem. And Paul is imploring the People. He’s telling them… in your mind. Count yourself, Calculate, ponder, consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Paul would circle back, to this idea of the mind in Romans 8:5-8 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

You see, when we talk about Holiness this morning… we must first begin with what’s taking place inwardly… We must realize that we are free in Christ.

I’m reminded of a story involving a Retired minister, which explains: 2 months ago, my wife and I were visiting my son Rusty and his family in Port Charlotte, Florida. One day Rusty was test-driving a foreign-made car and was frustrated because he couldn’t figure out how to change the speedometer reading from kilometers to miles.

That evening he suggested we take his kids, and all go out for ice cream. “We’ll need to take two cars,” he insisted, so you and mom just follow us.”

I followed him down a divided highway at what seemed to be a safe speed and was surprised when a policeman whizzed up behind us with his lights flashing. I couldn’t imagine he was after me because it didn’t feel like I was speeding. And besides, I was going the exact same speed as the guy in front of me. However, the policeman pulled both Rusty and me over to the side of the road.

The officer came up to my window and said, “Sir, you were going 58 miles an hour in a 45-mph zone. But wait right here, I’m going to deal with the car in front of you and I’ll be right back.”

When he went to my son’s car, “Rusty quivered, “Officer, I know this is going to sound like a line, but this is the first day I’ve driven this car and I can’t figure out how to change it from kilometers to miles so I had no idea how fast I was going. The guy behind me is my dad…and he doesn’t know what he’s doing either!”

Fortunately, the policeman was full of grace and let Rusty off with a warning. Somehow, he sensed he was telling the truth. He was even smiling a little when he came back to me and declared, “Your son explained his situation with the speedometer, and I understand you’re from out of town so I’m going to let you both go. But try to keep it to 45, please.”

But here’s the point. How many times as we’re going through the roads in life, are we listening to the Lord? How often do we just go at the pace of those around us? How often do we allow logic to kick in, instead of our Lord? Friends…

Friends, Christ has called us to freedom. His sacrifice took place, on the cross, for us…

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2. In your struggle with sin: Do not offer any part of yourself to sin, but offer yourselves to God

Bear with me for the lengthy sermon point. But as we continue to discuss sin, and steps that we can take to be victorious… Look with me at Romans 6:11-14

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

After discussing the premise of the mind, to count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus Paul then transitions to our body… and to the master of our body. You see one of the central themes of chapter 6 is on slavery, or servanthood, to righteousness. And Paul discusses this idea in verse 14:

14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Here’s the point… We were designed to serve, and worship, someone or something… greater than ourselves. And Paul discusses this idea He explains: 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

That word reign Greek means: 1. to be king, to exercise kingly power… Also means 2. to exercise the highest influence, or control. And in 2 peter 2 says: “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

So, here’s the question… what are you slaves to? Who’s reigning in your life?

You see Paul tells us: 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. (Any Part…)

Jesus would put it this way on the sermon on the mount… 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matt 5

Here’s the problem… church, we’re not talking about your femur… not talking about the biggest bone in your body… we’re talking about an eye… small part… we’re talking about a hand… also a relatively small part.

But here’s the issue… it may just be an eye; it may just be a hand… but when one of your body parts is engaged in hand… (If my hand goes this way) it’s not just my hand, its my hole body… it’s me… And Paul is saying… 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness

we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ… but then we don’t offer any of our body to sin. That word offer by the way (verse 13) appears 6 times in Chapter 6.

And here’s what it means… (Pull verse 13 up again) Offer: stand by or near, to be at hand, be present… If the source of temptation is lust… you don’t pit yourself in a close proximity where lust could affect you…

If the source of temptation is drunkenness… You prayerfully ask God to reveal these areas, any part of you, any then you flee…

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Who’s your master this morning? You reigns in your life? James 4:7-8

Travel blogger Matt Karsten was sightseeing on a small dinghy during a trip to Antarctica with his wife and some friends when they happened to notice some commotion in the water. The video they took of the experience went viral.

We were heading out for a scenic Zodiac cruise between icebergs when a large pod of orcas showed up playing in the water beside us. They swam right up to the camera and said hello. Suddenly the orcas started chasing a penguin trying to eat it.

Left with no other options for survival, the penguin tried to jump into the boat. The first time it bounced off the side, but in a show of resiliency the penguin’s second attempt landed it safely inside, to the shock of everyone on the boat. The orcas gave chase for a bit, but eventually gave up and moved on. Karsten said, “After cruising for a little bit, the penguin said goodbye to the boat and hopped back into the icy water.”

Here’s the point, these cute little penguins realized the whales were in full pursuit. They saw the threat before them, and stopped at nothing to get out of the waters…

What about us? When it comes to sin, do we take it seriously? Are we committed to fleeing from sin?

13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

We’re under grace this morning… we don’t have to return to the depths of sin…

3. In your struggle with sin Obey the Word

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

As we turn back to the scripture, we see Paul continues to discuss this idea of servanthood. We’re told: 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

And again, there begins the need in our mind… To calculate, or consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive in Christ… but also in proximity, to remove ourselves from sin… to flee from sin and come near to God.

But here’s the biggest key… Our freedom this morning, Comes from the Lord; comes from His Word. 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.

There’s a before and after at stake. A before Christ, we were slaves to sin, sin claimed our allegiance… And yet this morning, after Christ… , although we used to be slaves to sin, you (now) have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.

What is the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance? Church, it’s the word of God; it’s the Bible.

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9-11

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.

Friends, this morning… There is freedom in the word of God… I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against God… Are we doing that today? Are we looking to the word?

- Guard your heart

- Give careful thought to your ways

- Meditate on the word day and nigh

Call the elders up at this time, and as they come forward, prepare for a time of communion

Read Romans 8:31-39 Bible

Communion