Once Was but Now

Introduction

Welcome

Introduction to Series/Topic:

Romans 6 speaks into our identity: That we are FREE from the power of sin.

Main Bible Passage:

Romans 6:14–19 ESV

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

John 9:24–25 NLT

So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

Title:

Once was but now

Prayer:

In Jesus name, amen!

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Story:

All of us have a ‘once was but now’ story. We used to be one way but now we are different. For some it was in a moment and for a lot of us it was a process. I used to be impatient but now i’m a little more patient. I used to cuss a lot but now I don’t cuss at all. I used to be insecure in this area but I am not anymore.

My personal testimony was that in the summer of 2013, I used to be hopeless but after I met Jesus, He filled me with hope.

I think of people in the bible. Jacob who once was a deceiver but now is called Israel (one who wrestles with God) after his encounter with God.

Moses who once had a speech impediment but after gaining more confidence in God, spoke against the king of Egypt.

Peter who denied Jesus three times to a little girl but after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, spoke boldly in front of 3000 people.

Lastly, Paul the Apostle. On the road to Damascus to persecute christians has an encounter with the resurrected Jesus and becomes the greatest advocate for the Gospel.

Explanation:

The common denominator between all our stories is that Christ met us: He helped us to see him, ourselves, and the world around us. He transforms us. Changing us from what we once were to be who we truly are in Christ.

Illustration:

“I believe in Christianity (Christ) as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it (Christ) I see everything else.” — C.S Lewis

Application:

My prayer is that the Spirit opens our eyes to see who Christ truly is & who we are in Christ. The outcome is that we can say the words, “I once was but now… (fill in your blank).

Body

Bible

Context

Division is the main issue in the letter of Romans. Paul’s strategy to bring unity is to redirect their sights back on the Good news of Jesus Christ. This is the goal of Romans. It’s to help the church see Christ, the Gospel and how that influences their lives.

Penalty of Sin:

Romans 1-5, Paul helps us to see that we are saved from the penalty of sin when Christ took our place and bore the weight of God’s wrath on the cross. The result is we are forgiven for our sin, accepted by God, and made holy/blameless. The only way to attain this blessing is through faith and trust in the cross and resurrection.

Power of Sin:

Paul shifts from being saved by the penalty of sin to being set free from the power of sin.

He launches Romans 6 by addressing what he says Romans 5:19-20, “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.” Paul then assumes or predicts what his readers are thinking in Romans 6:1 when he says, “Shall we continue in sin, so that grace may abound?” In other words, should we continue to use grace as a license to sin or do whatever we want. Pauls answer: BY NO MEANS.

And here is why: Because that’s not who we are anymore. Our identity was once being enslaved to the power of sin but now we are sons and daughters of God, who’s allegiance and devotion is to the Jesus.

Paul does something similar in Romans 6:14-15 when he says:

Bible Passage:

Romans 6:14–15 ESV

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

Transitional Sentence:

This passage then leads us to four reasons why we should not give ourselves over to the control of sin.

Points

First reason: We are controlled by whatever we say yes to.

Explanation:

When we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin but not yet the presence of sin.

So sin still tries to assert it’s control, power and influence in our lives.

But you know who else is trying to influence our lives: Jesus/the Spirit.

And whoever we say YES to controls our lives.

Illustration:

Illustration 1:

Romans 6:16 ESV

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Application:

We have the choice on who will have control over our lives. The question is who: If it’s sin, it leads to death; but if it’s the Spirit, it leads to life and peace.

Second reason: We have a new heart.

Explanation:

We have been given a new nature. It may not feel that way at times and we may even doubt that we have a new life because our actions say otherwise.

The truth is whether we feel it or not, the moment we put our faith in the death and resurrection of Christ, we are saved and have been given a new nature.

Illustration:

Illustration 1:

Romans 6:17 NLT

Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.

Illustration 2:

Ezekiel 36:26–27 NLT

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Application:

One sign that we’ve been given a new heart is that we’re sensitive to the things of God. Where there was no desire to follow Jesus, now there is a desire to follow the Lord because you and I have been given a new heart.

Third reason: We are controlled by the Spirit.

Explanation:

The word ‘slave’ in the greek is doulos which is defined as subject, subservient or controlled by.

The sense of the word is:

“a person who is legally owned by someone else and whose entire livelihood and purpose was/is determined by their master.”

Illustration:

Illustration 1:

Romans 6:18 NLT

Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Illustration 2:

Romans 8:9 NLT

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

Illustration 3:

Handcuffs to symbolize being enslaved to righteousness. When we want to do something wrong, the gentile conviction of the Spirit tells us to do otherwise; OR to be obedient to what the Holy Spirit is asking us to do.

Application:

We are controlled and influenced by the Holy Spirit if we have the Holy Spirit in us.

Fourth reason: We once were but now we’re not.

Explanation:

We were once slaves to sin but now we’re slaves to righteousness.

Illustration:

Romans 6:19 ESV

I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Application:

Conclusion

Summary:

We are controlled by whatever we say yes too.

We have a new heart.

We controlled by the Spirit

We once were but now we’re not.

So what:

John 9:23–25 NLT

That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.” So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

Now what:

After our eyes have been open, we can’t live like we’re blind again.

After our paralysis has been healed, we can’t lay on our mat as if we’re paralyzed. We have to pick up our mat and walk.

After we’ve been raised to life, we can’t live like we’re dead again. That’s not who we are anymore. We are alive in Christ.

“I ONCE WAS BUT NOW…”

Call to Action:

Prayer for salvation.

Prayer to let go of what once was and embrace the new.

Prayer:

In Jesus name, amen!