IF / THEN (2)

INTRODUCTION

How many of you would immediately depart for the hunt if i gave you this treasure map?

Why or why not?

How accurate is the map?

How reliable is the source?

How difficult is the journey?

How great is the treasure?

John 8:31–32 NIV

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31–32

“…If you hold to my teaching…”

“…If you abide in my word…”

“…If you remain faithful to my teachings…”

“…If you stick with this, living out what I tell you…”

ABIDE: STAY, REMAIN, LIVE, DWELL, LODGE IN MY WORD…

DISCIPLE: FOLLOWER

HOW DO WE FOLLOW AND STAY AT THE SAME TIME?

“BUY THE TRUTH AND DO NOT SELL IT”

Treasure Hunting…

1. EMBRACE THE BIBLE

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Why would I be excited about being told when I’m wrong?! God wants freedom for you!

Wouldn’t you want to know when you’re veering off-course from the treasure?!

2. TRUST THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:14 NIV

…those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

What a gift to have, along for the journey, the Cartographer Himself! More than that, He’s the One that buried the Treasure - and He wants you to find it!

Trust the ability of the Spirit to lead and speak to you.

Trust the work that the Spirit has already completed in you.

Romans 7:14-8:17: SEE STUDY INCLUDED BELOW...

3. CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION

Colossians 3:16 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you (plural) richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

VIDEO TESTIMONY: Bill shares about a group of guys that befriended him, encouraged him, asked him key questions when he was young in his faith.

The ongoing conversation is what we’ve been invited into, and entrusted with. It started in the Heavens, between the Triune Godhead. It became incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1), and now continues in us as we embrace what He modeled for us; life together, pursuing His truth - and Him as the Truth.

Romans 7:14–8:17 (NIV)

NOTE: PAUL BEGINS BY SPEAKING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A PERSON WHO KNOWS ABOUT GOD, A PERSON WHO HAS STUDIED GOD’S RIGHTEOUS COMMANDS, BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. THIS PERSON HAS A SINFUL NATURE.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

NOTE: PAUL THEN STATES THAT THE ANSWER TO THIS TURMOIL IS JESUS CHRIST!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

NOTE: EVEN THOUGH A PERSON CAN FEEL BOUND TO DO GOOD THINGS, THERE MUST BE A CHANGE IN THEIR NATURE IN ORDER TO DO SO!

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

NOTE: JESUS’ SACRIFICE SET US FREE FROM THIS TURMOIL!

3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

NOTE: PAUL REPEATEDLY REMINDS US, AS BELIEVERS OF JESUS, WE BATTLE OUR FLESH, WHICH WE WILL HAVE UNTIL HEAVEN, BUT WE NO LONGER HAVE A SINFUL NATURE.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

NOTE: EVEN THOUGH WE BATTLE OUR FLESH, WE ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO OBEY IT!

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.