Recognize the Difference

Introduction

Welcome

Introduction to Series or Message:

We started a new series called: ‘Jesus is greater.’ We are exploring the second half of Romans 5 starting from verse 12 to 21 where Paul, the apostle contrasts Adam and Christ.

In this series, the goal is to help us see that Christ is better. Christ will always be the better option.

Title:

Recognize the Difference

Prayer:

In Jesus name, Amen!

Body

Story:

Imagine you are in a court room. You committed a crime and now you have to face a decision from the court of law.

In front of you is the judge, that represents God the father. On the left of you is the prosecutor, who represents Satan and is against you. On the right of you, is your lawyer, who symbolizes Jesus and defends you for your crimes.

Here is the problem: everyone in the court, including yourself, knows you’re guilty for your crimes and deserve to be punished. As a matter of fact there is a legal document of evidence of all your crimes on the judges desk. It not unclear that you’re guilty and deserve to be punished.

However, something incredible happens. Just when the decision is about to be made that you’re guilty and have to face punishment, you’re lawyer steps in and has a second legal document of his own. It’s a record of his perfect track record. No crimes.

The lawyer steps up to the judge and says, “let’s exchange papers. I myself will take the record of wrong and be punished on his/her behalf. Take my record, apply it to the defendant, and let them go for free.”

The judge agrees. The lawyer is now guilty because of your crimes and suffers your punishment. While you are declared innocent because the lawyer’s perfect record has been given to you, and as a result, you are set free from punishment.

Explanation:

All of us were the defendant at one point before Christ. Guilty of our crimes and deserving of punishment. However, Jesus, our lawyer, steps in and takes our record of wrong, guilt, and punishment on our behalf while he gives us his perfect record and we are set free from being punished by God.

Illustration:

Matthew 27:15–26 NLT

Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!” So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Application:

This story of Jesus and Barabbas is a beautiful image of the Gospel. Jesus took the place of Barabbas and Barabbas took the place of Jesus. We are Barabbas in this story. Guilty criminals that deserve death for our many crimes but Jesus, who is innocent, takes the guilt and punishment on our behalf — when it should have been us.

ME: I remember the times and it was not long ago, when I felt like a criminal. An imposter because I too have done many things that are wrong. Drowning in my guilt. Running away from God because I was afraid he was disappointed or ready to punish me.

WE: We all feel that times, don’t we?

YOU: You feel like a criminal? You feel fake because you feel like you’re living two different lives? You are beat down by the feelings of guilt and shame? And you feel like God is ready to punish you?

But this is the good news. We no longer have to carry that guilt and fear punishment because Jesus took it on our behalf.

Bible

Context:

This is the essence of Romans: It’s to teach and remind Paul’s readers of what Christ has done for us. Last week, we started the series by learning from Romans 5:12-15.

The contrast or difference between Christ and Adam. Life and death. Spirit and Flesh. All of us have a choice to pick either one: To live in what Adam did or to live in what Christ gave. The better option is to always choose Jesus because Jesus is greater.

Today, we are going to continue on and look at Romans 5:16.

Main Passage:

Romans 5:16 NLT

And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.

Transitional Sentence:

In this passage, we will further explore the difference between Christ and Adam to understand how we can truly live in grace (Note: Explain what grace is). But before we do that, let me share this with you.

Recognize the Difference

Explanation:

Here is what I mean by that: Often times what holds us back from living in grace is our inability to differentiate between what is grace and legalism, truth and lie, God voice and the world influence.

If you don’t know how to recognize the difference, you’ll either reject it or live outside of it.

Illustration:

Illustration 1:

Note: Give illustration of Fake bill vs. Real bill.

Bankers don’t study counterfeits to spot fake bills; they study the real bills so well that fakes stand out.

Application:

The same is true for us—when we truly know God’s grace, anything that contradicts it (condemnation, striving, earning God’s love) will stand out.

Illustration 2: Romans 5:16

Romans 5:16 NLT

And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin.

In order to live a life of knowing we’re accepted by God, loved by God, set free by God, all of this is grace, we need to learn how to recognize the difference — and the way to do that is by reading God’s word.

Points

First main point: Sin results in Punishment

Explanation:

We learned last week, that death spread to all of humanity because of sin. In addition, Paul says that the result of sin is punishment.

Illustration:

Illustration 1: Romans 5:16

Romans 5:16 NLT

For Adam’s sin led to condemnation.

What’s the punishment? Separation from God forever.

Illustration 2: Revelation 20:11-15

Revelation 20:11–15 NLT

And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Application:

We can look at God’s punishment in two ways: (1) The punishment on judgment day, which is what we just read in Revelation 20:11-15. (2) The punishment in the here and now.

Romans 1:24 NLT

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired…

Romans 1:27 NLT

… and they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

Being separated from God means that we have to suffer internally and externally the consequences of our actions. In the there and then and in the here and now.

But we have the choice: Do we want to pay for the consequences ourselves by suffering forever, separated from God, or believe that Christ already paid the price for us?

Which leads us to the contrast Paul makes…

Second main point: Receiving God’s Free Gift results in being accepted by God.

Explanation:

When we believe Christ paid the price for us and receive His gift, we are accepted by God and our names are written in the book of life — Instead of being separated from him, we are connected to him through Jesus forever.

Illustration:

Romans 5:16 NLT

but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.

Application:

This is the difference: One results in being punished by God and the other results in being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins.

But how is this so? How is that we’re accepted by God even though we are guilty of many sins?

Do you guys remember when we learned about Body, Soul, and Spirit —

It’s so important to understand that we don’t sin in our spirit because our spirit is saved — you and the Holy spirit are intertwined and connected when you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord.

That’s why 1 Corinthians 6:17

1 Corinthians 6:17 NLT

But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

So our spirit is saved but the reason why we sin is because of our soul and body/flesh. Our soul is being saved and our body will be saved when Jesus Christ comes back.

Positionally, in the spirit, you are accepted by God, Holy and without a single fault but your mind, will, and emotions are being transformed into the image of Christ.

That’s why Paul can say, “but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.”

Conclusion

So what:

It’s so important to recognize the difference between what is God and what is not.

If you feel like God is punishing you or is going to punish you, as a christian, you have to see that is not of God.

If you believe the lie that God doesn’t love you, we have exchanged the truth for a lie.

We have to tell the difference between the devil, our prosecutor and Jesus, our lawyer. The devil will remind you and accuse you of your wrong. Jesus will remind you that he paid it all.

You are accepted by God; don’t listen to that voice in your head that says you’re not.

When shame says you’re nothing; you know that’s not of God because God says you are valuable and worthy.

You’re alive in Christ, you’re not dead — meaning you are connected to him, you have a relationship with him, and he loves.

Recognize the difference.

Call to Action:

Worship and Reflect on God’s voice.

Now what:

The only way to recognize the difference between what is God and what is not is by reading his Word.

Hebrews 5:14 NLT

Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Prayer:

In Jesus name, Amen!