The Insistence of the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
The implication of “dying to the Law” is that believers are no longer under the condemnation by it. You are free from its condemnation.
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
When you become a new creation through faith in Christ, sin’s hold over our lives change. Our attitude toward sin should change. Our motivation to say no to sin should change.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Genuine conversion has an impact toward our struggle against sin. We now have power in Christ to overcome sin. Spiritual growth involves repentance as we grow in Christ. Repentance is about minimizing sin one sin at a time. Every time we sin will feel sorrow for violating God’s law and offending Him and others, not sorrow merely for sin’s consequences (7:10). By repentance and the cultivation of spiritual fruit, we crucify the old man who keeps trying to reassert himself (; ).
is a decisive break with sin (). Sin’s power is broken when we trust Jesus, though sin’s presence remains. Still, true conversion has consequences for our struggle against remaining sin. Having died decisively to sin, we continue to repent as we grow in Christ. Such repentance is true sorrow for violating God’s law and offending Him and others, not sorrow merely for sin’s consequences (7:10). By repentance and the cultivation of spiritual fruit, we crucify the old man who keeps trying to reassert himself (; ).
In the latter part of we studied six confessions of Paul regarding his struggle with sin. It should have help us understand our susceptibility to sin. Our text today will reveal Paul’s declaration as a believer. Understanding them will give you power to say no to sin.
Declaration of a New Life in Christ:
1. You are no longer condemned to be separated from God in eternity.
1. You are no longer condemned to be separated from God in eternity.
You are going to heaven.
You are not going to hell.
That should spell relief.
There is no condemnation because of what Christ has done in freeing people from the law that condemns.
There are two laws mentioned here in our text law with lower case L and law with upper case L.
There is no condemnation because of what Christ has done in freeing people from the law that condemns.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
and then in
3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
Lower case L - law - Paul uses this word in the context as law a principle, though usually with the idea that there is some element of coercion. It’s give the meaning as a FORCE or INFLUENCe IMPELLING to ACTION)
Thus “the law of sin” is the rule that governed his conduct, and it made him a prisoner (7:23). The law here then is the principle on which the Holy Spirit works, a principle that operates in power.
Remember when he said:
23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
Thus “the law of sin” is the rule that governed his conduct, and it made him a prisoner (7:23). The law here then is the principle on which the Holy Spirit works, a principle that operates in power.
Upper case L for Law - usually refers to the Mosaic Law which is another reference to the Ten Commandments (not the Ten suggestions).
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 300–301). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Law - also refers to the Torah (Hebrew for “the teachings”).
Torah is a Hebrew word meaning “to instruct.” The Torah refers to the five books of Moses in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
The Torah’s five books have formed the basis of Judaism’s teachings from the time of Moses. Later biblical writers, including Samuel, David, Isaiah, and Daniel, would frequently refer back to the Law’s teachings. The teachings of the Torah are frequently summarized by citing , called the Shema (or “saying”):
4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
The Torah is considered the inspired Word of God by both Jews and Christians alike. Christians, however, see Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies and believe the Law was fulfilled in Christ. Jesus taught in
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
A TRUTH about the LAW:
3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
Romans
4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans
2. The mind of a Christian is set on obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit.
2. The mind of a Christian is set on obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit.
5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8
Where is your mind focus now?
Ask your self what consumes most of your time right now?
Who are you trying to please - yourself or God?
Is your mind set on the Spirit (uppercase S) - referring to the Holy Spirit
v. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Romans
What does Paul say the truth about the consequence where our minds are set on?
7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
Romans
an unbelieving mind is far from pleasing and satisfying a Holy God.
On Christ work satisfied God and through faith, the effect and benefits of His work was IMPUTED to us who believe.
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
The presence of the Spirit is the distinguishing mark of the Christian, and this presence means the defeat of the power of sin.
The presence of the Spirit is the distinguishing mark of the Christian, and this presence means the defeat of the power of sin.
3. You are no longer obligated live under the flesh but are living according to the Spirit.
3. You are no longer obligated live under the flesh but are living according to the Spirit.
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
Unbelievers live according to the flesh will be eternally separated from God unless they will humble themselves and realize that they are hopeless apart from the saving grace of the Savior - Jesus Christ!
4. As a believer you are a child of God.
4. As a believer you are a child of God.
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
You are indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
What is it like to live under the Spirit?
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8
You no longer fear what’s to come because you know where you are going - to be with God in eternity.
There is fear towards an uncertain future but you know your future.
You are adopted to the family of God - now you can call Him ABBA - FATHER
The Holy Spirit has your back:
16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8
AAAAANNNND:
17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:
Lesson Learned:
Lesson Learned:
The presence of the Spirit is the distinguishing mark of the Christian, and this presence means the defeat of the power of sin.
The presence of the Spirit is the distinguishing mark of the Christian, and this presence means the defeat of the power of sin. Do you know that? Do you believe that?
Try following the leading of the Holy Spirit by saying NO to sin. God has given you the power though Christ manifest through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, USE IT!
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 301). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
:
We are under a new law: Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
The Spirit of life gives life to the believer.
The Spirit of life direct the mind to spiritual thinking
The Spirit of life dwells within the believer.
Moreover, the consequences of conversion include a “rising-to-life of the new self” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 90). We were definitely raised with Jesus when we first trusted in Him. By His Spirit, He continues to raise us when we step down into sin after conversion. This resurrection, as reveals, involves Christ living in us.
By His Spirit, He continues to raise us when we step down into sin after conversion. This resurrection, as reveals, involves Christ living in us.
The problem Paul was addressing in Galatian was was their practice of keeping the commandment as an attempt to find eternal life. Such an approach to God’s law is fundamentally wrong, as Paul tells us throughout Galatians. If we are to consider obedience to the law as the means of securing the righteousness that produces eternal life, then we better keep every commandment of God perfectly, for that is the only way to have eternal life. (3:12; 5:2–3; see ). As growing Christians we cannot do this.
What Paul is alluding to is that God’s law points us to the Savior by first embracing condemnation from the law. We must die to the law through the law ()—we must be united to Christ by faith alone so that His satisfaction of the law’s penalty becomes our satisfaction. As a believer in Christ, God’s law no longer condemns us to eternal death because that sentence was executed fully in Christ. If we are in Him, the law’s sentence has been fulfilled for us, and condemnation no longer hangs over our heads ().
We died in Christ, but we were also raised to new life in Him—the abundant life of joyfully serving God that He exemplified and now works in us (; ). This new life is not lawlessness but life lived in Christ, which entails submission to Christ, who dwells in us by His Spirit to direct us in righteousness. This life acknowledges that we are great sinners but Jesus is a greater Savior. Working in us, He leads us to repent when we fall and gives us the desire to serve God joyfully (; ).