Righteous Living: Deception to Devotion

Romans 7:10–13 (NASB 95)

10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

Today we will see the goodness of God’s law- it had a purpose- not for Salvation but for life to make man good with God (if man would have kept the law he would have been in the perfect relationship with God) -and how Sin has taken the law and twisted it for the use of evil!

I do not like being tricked- Lyla (battery in the tent)

Sin’s deception (VS 10-11)

Which was meant for good for life is now corrupted by sin

Leviticus 18:5 “ So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the Lord.”

Think for just a second how much life you would have if you did not covet within your heart think up some evil way to see you glorified.

This perfect relationship with God- that He was all we desired

Sign on a bear enclosure

We are faced with this every morning aren’t we?

no man has ever taken that which is forbidden thinking it would be good… all have come to find out it leaves us in destruction

Now think how when you are rescued by God’s grace you say I will never do that again.

Rather I would say the response is not I will never do that again, rather to know that it is not about what you will or wont do again, rather that sin will continually try to deceive you in thinking if you are never to do it again you have found some type of morality but

Galatians 3:21 “Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.”

We live by faith in the one who is able to keep us. Jesus

Last week- we were focusing on a notion that we are unprofitable servants- our reward is never found here on earth.

God is gracious

Sin deceives us into making things more difficult

There are no excuse’s for our sin- they rather make it more difficult

the response to sin was never supposed to be an excuse

Adam and Eve- pointing all the fingers, and God clothed them

We hear God tell us to take on His yoke because it is light - sin rather deceives us in thinking that there is another option.

Yes, I mean absolutely you can choose to live by your own weight of trying your best

For God their is no other option and He is gracious to teach us

The notion or thought we may come across is that you and I are to find some type of way by creating some type of rule here… Christians are not… Yes we know there is a call to live according to they way God would have us go, but we try to achieve it on our own. We can’t

How does sin deceive us

False sense of joy and hope

what makes you happy ( you can tell by the way someone lives their life)

you actually find safety here

tragic fires (california)

How quickly it changed

But God has not, I cant tell you how He is going to work this together for His good and ill tell you what it wont make the news, maybe some type of Social media, but for the most part we may not know. But be assured He is working

It truly is a sight to see the church respond in times like this

I wish this would never happen but remember we were not made for this fallen world.

Gives us false sense that there is another way other than Christ

Causes us to logically doubt God’s goodness

God is good, it is our sin that has lead us to doubt this truth.

Circumstances do not determine God’s goodness

Looks to give a defense to our sin

We sinned- take responsibility

not responsibility to get your self out

Living by faith is believing that God is calling us to acknowledged our sin before Him and knowing when we repent He can do a great work- He has shown Himself faithful.

Why are we afraid to be honest? Have we yet forgotten that your sin was nailed to a cross and you have been forgiven. (We hide it, we don’t deal with it, we are missing out on this gracious heavenly father who chastises those He loves to produce fruit in your life)

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

To be like God- self sufficiency (why would you need to be devoted if you can do it)

Promises escape from punishment

Death is mentioned in verse 9- spiritual

When we sin we go deeper and deeper thinking we will get away with it (or at least hope we will)

Legalism produces death (unfruitfulness)

2 Corinthians 3:6 “who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Sin has deceived us to think there is some form of doing this on our own rather than admitting and having faith in the work God is doing

Our church can be deceived as other churches can to think we are alive but we may be dead by our legalism.

Lack of Faith- Lord we did this shouldn't we get this

God is working all things out and we want to be lead by the spirit.

God brings to live that which is dead

Were are you being legalistic- Its a great question- why are you and I pretending that it will turn out any way other than what God said it would

Marriage, parenting, finances, singleness, friendships, church life.

If we evaluate in our life where Sin has deceived us- may we repent and remember God brings to live that which is dead, when we surrender

Killed in verse 10- physical

We know the outcome we will all perish this body will perish.

But their is an eternity that awaits.

This is where we must not be deceived that there is an escape, Christ is not the escape- Christianity is not based on our escape of the punishment- it is by the grace of God He calls us back onto himself

If you are living to avoid the punishment than I am sorry

We live a life of faith- because it nots about us. Christianity is not about us.

Sin Revealed (VS 12-13)

Lyla story continued- do you know what unveiled Lyla's funny joke on Dad - truth!

God is good- I pray that we do not walk out of here thinking that Sin’s deception is powerful we are mistaken- God’s word holds the power it shows sin for what it is -Sin!

The Law is Holy- it comes form a Holy God!

The Very voice of God- not from the sphere of this world

The Law has a purpose to

How do we know it is good?

Provides fair requirements for us

Forbids and condemns sin

So that they may have life!

What are we doing with people today- maybe the opposite

This Holy God does not run from the sinful He goes to them

Think about any other religion- make your self clean

Jesus I have made you clean- surrender.

2 Corinthians 5:15 “and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”

These verses communicate a truth that we need to wrap our mind around

Sinful people know what they are doing is wrong

They just don’t understand the consequences

“One of the Sad results of Sin is that the average sinner on the street carries with him little, if any awareness, understanding, or guilt of sin”-Paul David Tripp

Psalm 51:4 “Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.”

Once they realize it by God’s grace we pray they come bold to the throne of grace.

It may be hear we hope so- you know this is why we faithfully live- knowing God desires to do a work, we are ready- or we go, or we give

The sinful nature is the problem- not what is good

Jeremiah 13:23 “23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil.”

Application:

The simple life of devotion

We say simple it is in God plan

The remedy to sin’s deception is Christ

Faith and dependency in Him

The hope of grace is Christ

Psalm 51:1–3 “1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.”

The power is not in sin it is in Christ

This morning I needed to repent, I needed to declare this Psalm in faith. That God will be gracious to me

Can I ask how about you

Do you need the grace of God for your salvation

Do you need the grace of God this morning as you walk in faith,

How do we do this here?

Stay connected

You here my share how I truly desire for this church to stay connected

Please join us next week for another message but also for our potluck

You will meet the ministry leaders, myself, and also ways you can get connected

I do want us to be impacting our community

Let us pray together on this.