Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION:

Two out of three Americans consider themselves burdened by debt.

Around 65% of Americans report over $35,000 of that on average.

(Dave Ramsey)

For some of us that may be less for some of us are that may be in three figure digits.

Now imagine a world where there was no such thing as bankruptcy.

The ability to declare bankruptcy predates the founding of our country, but not by much.

Bankruptcy as a law did not come into existence anywhere in the world until the bankruptcy of law 1542 in England.

First time there was such a thing as bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy is a law did not come into existence until the bankruptcy law 242 New England.

Prior to that, there was no such thing as bankruptcy.

Prior to that, there was no such thing as bankruptcy.

So what did you do if you found yourself in a massive pile of debt before there was bankruptcy?

The harsh reality of the ancient world - was that you had a massive debt,

you were forced to choose between homelessness and slavery.

Obviously, mothers and fathers cannot contemplate homelessness.

Homelessness doesn't even appeal to most unmarried without children.

The welfare system and the bankruptcy system of Paul’s day - was slavery.

In the Ancient world - You would serve as a slave until you were debt free and had enough economic position to be free.

It is in this background, that we come to our text.

It is in this background, that we come to our text.

- It is been estimated that of the people were found in the ancient Italian peninsula of the Roman Empire - 85 to 90% of people who were either a slave or once been a slave.

- Some have estimated that any given time there was somewhere between 1/5 and 1/3 of the population were slaves.

Some have estimated that any given time there was somewhere between 1/5 and 1/3 of the population were slaves.

- So many were slaves, that when ancient Roman Senate proposed an identification law are slaves – they voted it down because they thought the slaves would figure out to easily how many there were really were.>>>>>That they are outnumbered those who were not slaves.

So many were slaves, that when ancient Roman Senate proposed an identification law are slaves – they voted it down because they thought the slaves would figure out to easily how many there were really were.

How did so many in ancient Rome become slaves?

That they are outnumbered those who were not slaves.

That many people in the population had found themselves in debt or extreme poverty,

and without bankruptcy,

had to choose to become slaves or to be cast out on the streets.

What might surprise us, is that slavery in the ancient world was not forced most of the time.

>>>>>>>>>>>They chose it to save themselves from starvation.

You can imagine if you were a slave or had been a slave,

you were forced to sale yourself into slavery

- you might be surprised that our text this morning will challenge us to choose to be slaves to God

>>>>>>To literally give ourselves as slaves to God.

But that is exactly what Paul teaches us to do.

***********************PRAY***********************************

You may have noticed the striking similarity to the passage we just finished, and this one.

((((((It is remarkably similar to last week.))))

There are some differences.

warns us against thinking grace means we should sin for more grace., while warns us against thinking because I am not under the Law sin doesn’t matter.

focuses on us serving the King of sin or the King of grace, while focus on who we choose to become slaves too.

So there are some differences,

but if we were honest

- it is the same appeal.

It is the same argument.

It is the same logic.

They both are dealing with libertine antinomianism - the heretical belief that grace and not be under the law gives me a license to sin.

So why not just skip this section and go to chapter 7?

Besides making the point that Scripture is sufficient, even in its shape and form.

May I answer it apologetically today.

Maybe Paul is worried we would be too hardhearted

and too in love with sin to listen properly the first time - and so he gives it to us a second time.

In fact, his second illustration - be a slave to God, would have shocked most of his readers who had been or were slaves.

IF we understand the background of Ancient Roman slavery - we also would be shocked to hear Paul tell us to be slaves to God.

And I don’t think that is by accident.

I don't want to flatten this text out by saying it's exactly the same,

yet I have to say the immediate application is remarkably similar.

And so may Scripture be what guides our thoughts this morning

And so may Scripture be what guides our thoughts this morning

and may we take a second look,

May we re-examine our hearts as we consider -23.

-23

According to Paul

Rom 5:12-13

-23

PROP: We Should Present Ourselves as Slaves to God.

((((((It is remarkably similar to last week.))))

There are some differences.

warns us against thinking grace means we should sin for more grace., while warns us against thinking because I am not under the Law sin doesn’t matter.

focuses on us serving the King of sin or the King of grace, while focus on who we choose to become slaves too.

So there are some differences,

but if we were honest

- it is the same appeal.

It is the same argument.

And I recognize that this might sound really similar to last week.

Yet I observe Paul purposely repeating himself in a very similar pattern.

TRANS: And this text gives us 4 reasons why.

Why?

So why not just skip this section and go to chapter 7?

Besides making the point that Scripture is sufficient, even in its shape and form.

May I answer it apologetically today.

Obviously, because he thought we needed to hear it.

Maybe Paul is worried we would be too hardhearted

and too in love with sin to listen properly the first time - and so he gives it to us a second time.

I don't want to flatten this text out by saying it's exactly the same,

yet I have to say the immediate application is remarkably similar.

And so may Scripture be what guides our thoughts this morning

and may we take a second look,

May we re-examine our hearts to see if it was too hard to listen to the message the first time.

Clarification:

Just to clarify - For time reasons We will look at two reasons this week (Part 1) and and two reasons next week (Part 2)

So first, We Should Present Ourselves as Slaves to God. because

1) Believing “Sin Doesn’t Matter” is Slavery to Sin. ()

Paul begins again with his introductory question –

Like I said a few minutes ago, this is nearly the exact same question.

But Paul does give a bit of variety here.

But Paul does give a bit of variety here.

The Question last week - Should we sin more so we can get more grace?

We said last week that challenged us that sinning more doesn't make grace abound, but sin abound.