Bought with a Price

Introduction

Welcome

Welcome everyone.

Vision & Mission of House of Bethany.

Introduction to Series:

We have learned about Jesus rescuing us from the penalty of sin so we can be accepted by God in Romans 1-5.

In chapter 6, we are going to learn that Jesus did not only set us free from the penalty of sin but the power of sin as well.

Good news speaks into our identity: That we are FREE from the power of sin and how we can break FREE by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My prayer for this series is that you are empowered by God, set free, and filled with hope, knowing that the way is in Jesus.

Main Passage:

Romans 6:12–13 ESV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLT

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Title:

Bought with a Price

Prayer:

In Jesus name, amen.

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Story:

I remember driving my first car as a teen. I was 17 years old and I had just got my license. My dad bought me, at the time, a 3000 dollar grey 1998 Honda civic from this Chinese guy he knew. I had so many plans for this car. I added some LED lighting that would be in sync with the music and change colors. I added some subwoofers to make sure the bass was bumping. I painted it black with black rims and tinted the windows. At some point I wanted to add some nitrous or turbo because I was inspired by fast and furious at the time but I wasn’t able too.

The car was transformed from when we first bought it.

Explanation:

The Bible says we have been bought with a price.

Just as ownership of a vehicle transfers from one person to another, Christ paid the ultimate price to transfer us from our former master—sin—to a new and rightful owner—God himself.

Now that we belong to Christ, he is transforming and making us to be like his Son everyday.

Illustration:

Illustration 1:

Colossians 1:13–14 NLT

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Illustration 2:

1 Peter 1:18–19 NLT

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

Illustration 3:

Romans 8:29 NLT

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Application:

The reality is that we are not our own when we accepted Christ into our lives. We were under the master/ownership of sin and now are under a new master, Christ Jesus.

Body

Bible

Context:

Division is the main issue in the church of Rome. The divide between Jews and Gentiles. Issues of Jews thinking they were superior to gentiles, gentiles believing they were more favoured by God than the jews, and even arguments about who’s accepted by God — those who follow the law or those who follow faith.

Authors, including Paul, in scripture are very clear about the what influences division: It’s people who are controlled by their sinful nature instead of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:2–3 NLT

I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

So division is the main issue Paul is addressing but he brings a remedy by centering them on the Gospel: Christ didn’t just pay for all sin or deliver us from the power of sin—His death and resurrection transformed the very nature of who we are.

Romans 6:11 NLT

So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

This passage, and I would argue all of Romans 1-6, is the backdrop for our main passage.

Main Bible Passage:

Romans 6:12–13 ESV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Transitional Sentence:

3 practical insights to help us live dead to sin and alive to God.

Points

Insight 1: Don’t let sin call the shots in your life (v.12)

Explanation:

What caught my attention is, “Don’t Let.” This implies we have a choice. Often times, it feels like we don’t have an ability to choose but the truth is: for those in Christ, we are not forced to sin, we choose to sin. It’s a sobering thought.

Another way to look at it is: sin makes us obey it’s desires because we let it.

Illustration:

English Standard Version Chapter 6

12

Application:

Again, this is against the backdrop of what Paul says in Romans 6. The reason why we don’t let sin call the shots is because that’s not who you are anymore. You are not under the reign of sin, you are under the mastery of Jesus.

Romans 6:11 ESV

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

In addition, Paul adds…

Insight 2: Don’t offer your body as a tool for sin (v.13a)

Explanation:

Again Paul says, “don’t offer/present” which is the same implication of choice.

Illustration:

Romans 6:13 ESV

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness,

Application:

The word present is the greek word ‘paristano’ which means to offer, to give, or recommend.

The word members means parts or ligaments of your body. Such as your eyes, nose, arms, legs and etc.

In other words, this body is not a tool to do what is evil or wrong instead Paul continues and says:

Romans 6:13 ESV

present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Insight 3: Offer your whole life and Body to God (v.13b)

Explanation:

But you may ask why. Why should I offer my life and body to God? The key word is in the prefix, ‘as’

Illustration:

Romans 6:13 ESV

present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Application:

The word ‘as’ in this verse doesn’t mean ‘pretend’—it means that someone who’s been brought back to life now lives for the one who saved them.

Paul is saying: offer yourself to God because you truly have been brought from death to life. Your life isn’t your own anymore—it belongs to Him. So live and present yourself in a way that reflects that reality.

Conclusion

Summary:

Don’t let sin call the shots in your life

Don’t offer your body as a tool for sin

Offer your whole life and body to God

Now what:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLT

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Call to Action:

Prayer:

In Jesus name, amen.