Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Opening Illustration:
Last week we began chapter 7 of Romans and concluded that:
The result of God’s powerful work in you has now enabled a new motivation for righteousness – one of out love and not guilt.
You are there in Romans 7, notice with me what Paul said in v. 6
As we saw last week, the motivation to serve in the Spirit like Paul is speaking of here is a fulfillment of an Old Testament promise.
Rather than a natural motivation of guilt produced through the letter of the law, the indwelling Spirit of God enables a supernatural motivation of love.
But again, Paul is addressing believers who had a strong prior connection to the Law - and the question remains,
“Where does the law fit into this new context?”
As we find the answer to that question, we must remember the theme of Romans.
Romans is all about the Righteousness of God, extended to the unrighteous, through faith in the Gospel.
So, in this new context, Paul is going to show how the law is powerless to make righteous two groups of people: The Lawless (vv.
7-14) and the Law-lovers (vv.
15-23).
You will notice here in vv.
7-14 that the lawless are condemned by the law.
vv.
7-8 - Paul answers the impending question - since we are released from the law (v.6)
does that mean the law is evil?
Paul says - Certainly Not!
The law itself is not evil, but it does reveal the evil that is within.
The law should be viewed as an exposer, not an initiator.
For example, when you walk into your kids room later today, visualize with me the familiar statement, “I already cleaned my room, I promise!”
So you walk to the room.
The children have strategically shut off the lights and closed all the blinds.
They have stuffed and crammed all their possessions into every nook and cranny the belongings don’t belong.
At first glance into the dark abyss, you are pleasantly surprised.
Things are finally coming together.
Finally, the kids have appreciated your hard work cleaning the other 17 rooms in the house all by yourself.
And then the moment comes, the light check.
And to their dismay, you flip the switch and in a split second, everything holy becomes defiled.
Important question: Did the light make the room dirty?
No, it only revealed what was already there.
And so is the law.
Paul says, before the law of “Do not covet” was given, I didn’t even know what covetousness was.
And in vv.
9-10, Paul says in a nutshell, And I thought I was fine.
I thought I was fine before the law revealed that I was not.
And Paul says this law that was given to show the way that leads to life, actually showed that all people are deserving of death.
Here we find he universal truth - that sin is a deceiver.
Dear friend, if you get anything today, understand that
Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and will cost you more than you are willing to pay.
Sin always overpromises and under-delivers.
Sin promises to fulfill our deepest desires better than it did before
Sin promises that our actions will be hidden - and that no one will ever know
Sin promises a great time without great consequences
Sin promises wisdom, knowledge, power and prestige in exchange for submission
In this verse, Paul says that sin twisted the law and actually produced death.
And even though it did not produce righteousness, it did reveal mankind’s unrighteousness, and therefore - v. 12 is holy, just, and good.
And with this foundational truth laid, Paul begins to build on it.
1.
The law of God is holy, just and good.
(vv.
7-12)
It cannot produce righteousness - in fact it just reveals our unrighteousness.
Within the law we learn of the nature, character and will of God.
Also, the law teaches us about sin and demolishes our self-righteousness.
2. Sin is the culprit that leads to death.
(vv.
13)
Paul asks in v. 13, “Has the good law caused my doom?” of which he answers, “No way!”
The law is not the culprit, sin is!
Sin takes what is meant for life and twists it into something that produces death.
Sin is a deceiver!
And with that thought in mind, Paul goes on to give clarity to the balance of the presence of sin in the life of a believer.
I love what the Life Application Study Bible has to say about this passage.
A very applicable question is asked, “How can we be free from sin and yet continue to do wrong?”
That is fair!
With all of this talk of a new ruler and freedom to be a bondservant to God in chapter 6, why do I still struggle with the old ruler?
The Life Application Study Bible answers it this way: In Christ, we are free from the penalty of sin (judgment) and the power of sin (hopelessness).
But while still in the flesh, we are not free from the presence of sin (temptations) and the possibility of sin (failures).
free from
the penalty of sin (judgment)
and the power of sin (hopelessness)
while still in the flesh, we are not free from
the presence of sin (temptations)
and the possibility of sin (failures).
And although I still struggle with the presence and possibility of sin, our hope should never shift back to the law.
A list of more dos and don’ts won’t fix your struggle.
And this is why we must daily focus on Christ.
More rules won’t fix what ONLY Jesus can.
We are justified through faith in Jesus and we are progressively sanctified through faith in Jesus.
I initially ran to the Gospel for my salvation, and I must persistently run to the Gospel for my sanctification.
And although we may know and AMEN that “More rules won’t fix what only Jesus can,” Paul brings up what each of us are thinking.
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!
I know that my thoughts, words, and deeds should match my profession.
I know my relationships should be opportunities to share the Gospel.
I know the intake of music, movies, and other entertainment venues should point me to holiness.
I know the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart should be God focused.
I know the aim of my heart should be purity.
I know the goal of my life should be eternal.
Yet I find myself struggling with all the things I think I should be over.
ANYONE ELSE WITH ME?
Well Paul IS with us on this one.
Look with me at vv. 15-24
He says here, the things I don’t want to do, I do - and the things I want to do, I don’t.
There is always a battle going on within me.
He stated similarly in Gal.
5:17:
There is a battle going on within the believer, even with Paul’s heart...
And this battle culminates in v. 24 as Paul blares with frustration - O wretched man that I am!
You see Paul understood that within his gospel-redeemed heart there were two battling principles or laws.
He does not say that these laws are equal, but he does identify the battle, and that is the first step.
A few months ago, Heidi and I hopped onto a plane and took a trip to Florida.
If you know me real well, you know I don’t care for heights.
I don’t like ladders and I don’t like peaking over rooftops or canyons.
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