PIBC24-Wednesday

Introduction - Well I pray you have been having a good time while you are here at PIBC.

We have been thinking about this theme “More Than Conquerors” which is found in Romans 8:37.

And we said this, that as a Christian I am not just a conqueror, but I am more than a conqueror..

We would understand that it is not because of me, but as the verse states it is “…through him that loves us.”

In other words, the only claim I have on being more than a conqueror is because of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is “Christ in [Me] you, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27)

I introduced to you yesterday, this list of opposing words behind me:

Fear—Faith Mark 4:35-41

Unrighteousness—Righteousness Romans 6:11-14

Darkness—Light Matthew 4:12-17

Hopelessness—Hope Romans 5:1-6

Unthankful—Thankfulness Romans 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Disobedience—Obedience Ephesians 6:1-4

Ungodliness—Godliness 1 Timothy 4:6-12

No Peace-Peace Isaiah 48:22, 57:21, 59:8, Jeremiah 6:14 versus Isaiah 9:6—Romans 15:33

Unholy - Holy 2 Timothy 3:2, 1 Peter 1:15-16

Condemned - Saved John 3:16-21

Proud - Humility James 4:6

Defeat-Victory (‘Smitten,’ 1 John 5:4, Revelation 15:2)

And yesterday, we considered this one near the top —- Fear vs. Faith.

In our example from yesterday—- we saw the incident where the Lord compelled the disciples to go to the other side of the sea of Galilee and the storm they faced.

It is interesting as you study that incident there another one very similar following the Lord feeding the 5000.

We concluded Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ defeats fear.

The disciples were full of fear because—-(1) they did not count on difficulty following Jesus, — (2) they thought the Lord did not care, and thirdly (3) their fear of the circumstance was greater than their faith in God.

The lesson is this—- Look to Jesus— the author and finisher of our faith. When fear begins to creep in—- look to the Word of God and the God of the Word.

Today I want us to look at these big 5-dollar words Unrighteousness and Righteousness.

Someone who is more than a conquerer will use their lives and opportunities to do right. (What is right according to God.)

Let’s say that together— Someone who is more than a conquerer will use their lives and opportunities to do right.

Let’s read in our Bibles Romans 6:11–14 “11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Let’s Pray

Amen.

How many have ever squished a frog before?

I remember as a kid on several different occasions squishing a frog…

Most of the time it was not on purpose…

And usually—- not to get your stomach upset before breakfast—- but when you squish a frog—- stuff comes out of their mouth..

Don’t ask me what that stuff is…. But anyhow when you squish a frog—- its dead…

The frog doesn't move anymore—- it doesn't hop around —- it no longer is alive..

And Paul in this passage who was writing to those that be in Rome—- wanted to help them.

And he told him something very important about this battle between doing what is right before God… and what is un-right before God— pardon my improper english.

You see in a nutshell when we are speaking about righteousness— though there is alot more to that word— what we mean is what is right as far as God is concerned.

When we say unrighteousness —- we are saying what is not right before God.

Righteousness oftentimes is paired up with action—- what we do or do not do—-

Ill read you some verses:

Matthew 3:15 says, “15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”

Jesus was telling John the Baptist to baptize him—- and John the Baptist was saying I am unworthy— your the Son of God—- I am just a mere man—sinful man—- But Jesus said—- this is a right action that needs to be done…

The Lord stated in Matthew 5:6 “6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

All of constantly thirst—- especially when it is hot—- and surely we get hungry—- I am hungry right now for breakfast— so the Lord is saying the person that desires to do right things before God——just like you desire food and are thirsty that person is on the road to blessings from God. They are thinking right and desiring right.

A few verses later in that same passage the Lord said,

Matthew 5:10 “10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

We have records in the Bible that tell us how Christians were thrown in prison for guess what doing right things.

Acts chapter 4:1-3 tells us about Peter and John who taught the people about Jesus and how to be saved in the Temple in Jerusalem and they were arrested— persecuted you might say…“1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.”

Matthew 6:33 tells us “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Seek God’s righteousness—- in other words—- what God says is right. Do what God says is right and discover what God says is right.

So getting back to our passage in Romans, Paul lists some simple instructions for you and I to be conquerors through righteousness verses being defeated because of unrighteousness.

Think Like A Christian vs. 11

Paul tells us first of all to think like a Christian. He states, Romans 6:11 “11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Remember the frog example, the frog is dead—- it cannot move, it cannot jump, it cannot eat flies—- it is dead.

A Christian needs to declare to themselves——according to the authority of God’s Word—- I am dead to sin… I am alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Not let me just say this, if you have never repented of your sin and by faith trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work of the cross of Calvary. There never been a time when 1. you realized you are sinner. 2. You realized that you are condemned because of that sin. 3. You realize and believe that Jesus, the Son of God paid for your sin with His blood on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead three days later having paid for your sin and the sins of the world. 4. You have never having understood those things asked Jesus to save you… Then you can try to think like a Christian all day long—- but it will not work.

See the Bible says a Christian can declare themselves to be dead to sin because they are dead to sin.

Fight Like A Christian vs. 12

Romans 6:12 “12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

The word ‘reign’ means to rule.

This verse is not saying that any sin as long as it is not reigning is ok in the life of a Christian.

Young Person, what is being said here is that you must fight like a Christian.

Fight against the old nature and yield to the Holy Spirit.

The conquering Christian should not allow sin to reign —-to rule.

When we receive Christ as our Savior, we are born-again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The Holy Spirit comes and dwells inside us.

Ephesians 4:30 “30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

However, there is a battle that takes place inside of us.

“The … desires of the [fallen human nature] are contrary to those of the Spirit. They draw us away in an opposite direction, and while the Spirit of God would lead us one way, our carnal nature would lead us another, and thus produce the painful controversy”

Galatians 5:17 “17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

Because we are more than conquerors, we must think like a Christian— understand the truth that we are dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ,

We must fight like a Christian—do not allow sin to reign in your life by giving in to temptation.

But then lastly in verse 13 tells us we must Act like a Christian.

Act Like A Christian vs. 13

Romans 6:13 “13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

When Paul says members, he is speaking about the body that God has given you.

What He is stating is that the conquering Christian uses their bodies and all that God has given us as instruments of righteousness unto God.

The word instruments means tool. A tool is for getting a job done. In other words, all the God has given me, especially my body ought to used as a tool of right action for God.

Philippians 2:13 tells us, “13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Victory Is For The Christian vs. 14

Romans 6:14 “14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”