Which Master Do I Serve?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good Morning. In our world today, some of us could say that there is not much that we could think of as surprising, or perhaps out of place, especially what’s happened over the last seven months. One concept that many would agree as being out of place today is the concept of slavery. The idea that one human being can have power to force another person to serve still goes against our grain. Many of us would recoil in shock at the thought of owning a slave, especially with the thought of being a slave. We can find statistics all day online showing that slavery is alive and well in our modern world. When we hear of see the statistics of slavery, some begin to think of a far away land. Did you know there are slaves right here in the Four Corners Area, if I narrow it down there area slaves right here in Kirtland, New Mexico. It might surprise you, but there could be slaves this morning in this very room.
Our passage this morning, we’ll see Paul continuing a discussion in the contrast between being dead to sin and life in Jesus Christ. Paul brings forward some contrasting points showing that we have a choice in who we service. Which brings us to the series title, “Which master do I serve.” I’d like to invite you to join me in the 6th Chapter of Romans as we begin reading in verse 16.
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 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?
17 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, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
19 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.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
[Display Verse 15 & 16]
Paul beings with the questions, “what then and are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?” Verse 15 is just about a mirror to the beginning of Chapter 6, where we see him asking a similar question. We see the question and the answer! “Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” No means no! We are not to continue in sin. Verse 15 and part of Galatians deal with the topic of license verses liberty. Believers have been given liberty through grace. This means, because believers have grace through Jesus Christ, believers do not have liberty to keep returning to that same sin. Take for example, an adulterer. At some point that person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, nailing their sin to the cross, asking for forgiveness from the adultery. Because they know the Bible says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgives our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” The adultery has been forgiven. That doesn't mean a green light exists to keep going there? When I was growing up, as a boy I never really played in mud puddles. I did play in ashes of fire pits. After I would get hosed down and new clothes, things would be great till the next pit of ashes — then I’d back into the ashes, dirty and ruined clothes. And you know the rest of the story, time to get hosed off and new clothes. Verse 15 comes packaged with verse 16.
Verse 16 is all about choice. This morning, you made a choice what clothes you would cover your birthday suit with. If you enjoyed breakfast this morning, a choice was made about the food you ate. Paul is bringing light on to the choices we have regarding our walk. First is we can walk in rebellion. Walking in rebellion means to take the grace with flows from the cross for granted. It would be saying to God, that’s just the way I am and I’m going to live like I want to. Paul make it clear that the person is a slave to this sinful rebellion. It’s a life that chooses to yield to the master of sin. But! Look with me toward the end of verse 16. Paul says, “or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.” (Second point) By the same token, we can choose to walk in the will of God and to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord. As believers, the power this there to keep in step with the Spirit! Paul says in:
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
If you’re taking notes or looking for a devotional study this week, continue reading and praying as you go all the way to verse 25! You might be thinking, yeah pastor — Galatians 5:16 that’s the perfect Sunday school answer until you get out into the real world and sin is knocking on the door. When that happen, and that knocking keeps on and keep on, ask Jesus to answer the door. Pray! Ask for wisdom. Ask for a way out. The Christians in Corinth dealt with some fierce temptation. Paul encouraged them with the words, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). God will provide a way out. Again, the choice is ours if we open the door to escape. I know for many of you these verses are not the first time you’ve heard them. This goes to show you the Word of God is in your heart! You sense the conflict, and that shows you the changes God is working on with you.
[Display Verses 17 & 18]
Verses 17 and 18 speaks to the changes. He reminds us of the bondage we endured before we came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. For some it could have been a time of desires, impulses and passions. It was a time ruled by Satan, where it could have felt like there was no control. Here in the same breath of verse 17, Paul helps us to rewind to the day of belief in Jesus Christ. Paul talks about our precious faith! When we believed and obeyed, we answered the knock at our hearts door. JESUS CHRIST CAME IN AND EVERYTHING CHANGED! From that moment we are being sanctified, reshaped by the power of God! Let us never forget that the dividing line between the old life of bondage and death and the new life of liberty and life is our faith in the Gospel of Christ. It is His salvation that makes all the difference!
[Display Verses 19 & 20]
Paul circles back around in verse 19 back with the word of “salves.” Paul’s also uses the words, “I am speaking in human terms.” The thought here, Paul emphasizes that he is using an analogy in case his readers fail to understand his meaning. Anyone living in Rome at this time knew about slavery. Paul’s letter to Philemon showed some of the complexities of Christians living in a society where slavery was a way of life. That’s the challenge Paul is trying to bring forward to his readers regarding the slavery. The first challenge for the Roman believers was to remember how they lived their lives before they came to know the Lord. They were encouraged to remember how they yielded or placed their person at sin’s disposal. They were challenged to recall how they would serve sin.
Paul encouraged them to remember their past so they could see how they were to love in the present. In other words, just as they used to serve sin with their entire person, now they are to yield themselves to the will of God. We might know someone who was not usually ashamed or embarrassed by their sin. They did what they pleased. They lived a life they wanted. The person made no apologies who they where. The same ought to be true of those who are in Christ Jesus. A believer should not be ashamed of the changes Jesus has made. A believer in Jesus Christ knows the power and saving grace of the gospel! You’ve seen the gospel at work in your life. And perhaps, you’ve seen the gospel at work in another person. In fact this is something that is to be rejoiced! Paul at the beginning of his letter to the Romans:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
A believer in Jesus Christ ought not to be ashamed of our new Master. We should serve him with the same energy which sin was once served. Just as we placed our lives at the disposal of sin and the devil, now we should place our lives at the disposal of the Lord Jesus Christ, allowing Him to have total dominion over every aspect of our lives! Paul has shown us differences and contrast between our old life and the new way of living. The new way of living has its compensations. But, so does the old life!
[Display Verses 19 & 20]
Paul begins to list them out. The life of sin pays its compensation in three ways. Verse 20 shows us that it’s a wicked life. Paul tell us here that the lost sinner has no association with righteousness. The flesh has no power to produce anything righteous in the sight of God.
[Display Verse 21 to 22]
Second, the life of sin is a wasted life. Paul asked the question in Verse 21, “But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed?” What came from that evil. Paul answer is clear and simple. He said, “for the end of those things is death.” There’s no good that can come out of it. That’s the sad fact. A sinful life is a wasted life. Until now, Paul has framed some grim aspects of the effect sin leaves if we allow it. But herein verse 22, Paul gives a final comparison to help bring hope and encouragement to his readers, is the life of salvation. The life of salvation is a life filled with purpose. This verse tells us the truth that the a life in the power of God is a life that is fruit bearing for the glory and honor of God. Many think that living a Christian life is one not worth living. The Christian life is not lived out, it’s lived through. It’s not about me doing my best for Jesus. It’s about yielding to Him, allowing the Spirit of God to work (John 15:1-8!!). The life of salvation is a life of promise! Paul says that right here at the end of verse 22, “the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” That’s the difference - eternal life through Jesus Christ!
[Display Verse 23]
Paul returns to the connection of sin to death in terms of wages paid. A time back we were going through the chow line at Wendy’s and there was a sign there for all to see, “work today, get paid tomorrow.” Now, I don’t know how the program work, but I thought — “hey that’s a neat idea!” After all who wouldn’t like to work today and get paid tomorrow?! If “the wages of sin is death,” sin wouldn’t be that attractive if the wages were paid out immediately.
Application
Application
Here’s where the theology meets life, and an answer the question Who Am I In Christ — Which Master Do I Serve? I serve my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Why?? It’s because the chains of sin and bondage are broken! I am no longer a slave to the things of old. Who’s your master? Is it sin? Is Jesus Christ your Master?? If so, then we can sing with the word of AMEN! In Jesus Christ, you have found life. You have found liberty. You have found peace and purpose. You have found all you need. This is a call for rejoicing and thanksgiving to God in Jesus Christ, that we are “passed from death to life” (John 5:24)!
Perhaps today you might be seeking freedom from the bondage of sin. Jesus Christ is the chain breaker! He’s the One who can set you free. He’s the way to eternal life. Verse 26 is still up there on the screen, look at the last half of the verse! He’s the way out of the sand trap to freedom.
Perhaps you might feel the need to approach the cross in repentance? Or, you might be seeking the One who can break those chains. How is your heart responding this morning?
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer