A New Life in Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Opening ILL: For the Time Being
“For the Time Being”, a long poem by W. H. Auden, first published in 1944, is a series of dramatic monologues spoken by the characters in the Christmas story.
In the poem, Herod considers the grisly slaughter of the innocents, fearing that the grace of God in the coming of the Son of God might bring social chaos that would interrupt his peaceful and productive rule.
Herod lamented, “Every corner-boy will congratulate himself: “I’m such a sinner that God had to come down in person to save me. I must be a devil of a fellow.” Every crook will argue, “I like committing crimes. God likes forgiving them. Really the world is admirably arranged.”
Transition: Unfortunately, that is the way many think of the grace of God, assuming God’s character and love in the Gospel on Christ will prevent any real consequences for our sin.
ILL This mindset led one CNN anchor, Don Lemon, this week to criticize those who would dare preach a Biblical moral standard, declaring that “God doesn’t judge.”
So what real difference does the Gospel make in our lives right now?
This morning, from God’s Word, we will find that, in Christ, we’ve been saved from the penalty of sin, that we might live free from the power of sin.
TURN: Romans 6
In the first 5 chapters of his letter to Rome, Paul revealed God’s plan to redeem sinners by grace and through faith in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.
In chapter 6, Paul turns his attention to how the Gospel impacts the lives of believers, specifically their relationship to sin.
READ: Romans 6:1-11
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. 10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
PRAY
We’ve been saved from the penalty of sin, so that we might live free from the power of sin.
We’ve been saved from the penalty of sin, so that we might live free from the power of sin.
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?
WHAT SHOULD WE SAY THEN SHOULD WE CONTINUE IN SIN SO THAT GRACE MAY MULTIPLY- Paul had just written...
20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
Some feared the Gospel of grace encouraged sin, allowing people to live however they want without fear of consequence
ILL In the last couple of weeks, two news stories went viral. First, a church removed someone from church membership because they were not faithfully attending and were living in sin after numerous attempts to reach out to them. Then, the Vatican declared it would not bless same-sex marriages because they were sinful.
Ever read the comments on stories like these? It is clear most, even many of those who consider themselves Christians, believe God’s love and grace is a licence to live anyway you want because God isn’t concerned with sin.
2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
ABSOLUTELY NOT- no hesitation, no way, no doubt
HOW CAN WE WHO DIED TO SIN- plural, focusing on the power of sin
STILL LIVE IN IT- Paul’s gospel does not lead to more sin, since those who belong to Christ have died to sin
ILL W. Barclay writes, “How despicable it would be for a son to consider himself free to sin, because he knew that his father would forgive.”
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.
OR ARE YOU UNAWARE THAT ALL OF US WHO WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH- Christian conversion event includes: faith, repentance, gift of Spirit, followed by water baptism
Acts rotates terms to describe conversion
THEREFORE WE WERE BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH- burial certifies the reality of death
Baptism is the ritual act that portrays this burial.
Christ’s death for sin becomes our death to sin.
IN ORDER THAT JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER SO WE TOO MAY WALK IN A NEW WAY OF LIFE- we raised to an entirely new way of living
FOR IF WE HAVE BEEN JOINED WITH HIM IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH WE WILL CERTAINLY ALSO BE IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION- In Christ, we died and were buried with Him, will also been united with Him in His resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims.
FOR WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM- AV: old man
The “old self” (tie to Adam and the corrupt nature that we inherited from him) is in some sense both removed at conversion and yet is a continuing problem for the Christian
IN ORDER THAT SIN’S DOMINION OVER THE BODY MAY BE ABOLISHED SO THAT WE MAY NO LONGER BE ENSLAVED TO SIN- In Christ, we are set free from the dominating power of sin.
Though old self’s influence is still active and sometimes effective, believers will not continue to live as if sin were still in control.
Believers are now called to use their freedom to pursue righteousness
ILL Not “How far is too far?”
SINCE A PERSON WHO HAS DIED IS FREED FROM SIN’S CLAIMS- because the penalty of sin, death, has already been satisfied, clearing the account
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him.
NOW IF WE DIED WITH CHRIST- ‘if’ has force of since
WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM- future: to be with Christ (in heaven)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.
Only those who have experience the crucified life will experience the resurrected life.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT CHRIST HAVING BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD WILL NOT DIE AGAIN DEATH NO LONGER RULES OVER HIM- His resurrection was unlike that of Lazarus, who had to meet death once again.
10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
FOR IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT HE DIED
HE DIED TO SIN ONCE FOR ALL- sin dealt with completely and finally
BUT IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT HE LIVES
HE LIVES TO GOD- He now lives for God’s glory
SO YOU TOO CONSIDER YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN- believers have died to sin in the same way.
Christians must realize that the mastery of sin has been broken in their lives
BUT ALIVE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS- Like Christ, believers live for God and are empowered to do His will for His glory.
Transition: We’ve been saved from the penalty of sin, so that we might live free from the power of sin.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Closing ILL: Analogy of Two Fields
How does all this work? Martin Lloyd-Jones asks us to consider a typical British country scene, with two fields enclosed by high rock walls.
Every person begins life in one of those fields—a field ruled over by Satan and sin.
We have no chance of scaling the walls and escaping the field on our own.
But God, in his grace, reaches down and takes us out of that Satan-dominated field and sets us down in the adjacent field—a field ruled by Christ and by righteousness.
A decisive change in our position has taken place—we are in whole new relationship to sin, no longer being helplessly ruled by it.
However, as Lloyd-Jones points out, we can still hear Satan calling across the wall from that old field where we used to live.
Out of long habit, we sometimes still obey his voice, even though we don’t have to.
As we overcome sin and grow closer in our new relationship with God, we move further and further away from the wall dividing the fields and the voice of Satan grows fainter.
If we notice that we have not moved further away from the wall, but instead stand with our ear against it listening and following the old life, it may be that we not on the side of the wall we thought we were and never have been.
Gospel Connection: Our lifeworks cannot save us, only condemn us, but true faith in Christ brings new life, free from the power of sin. If you are truly saved, your lifeworks should reflect that freedom.
Does your life reflect the Lordship of Jesus? If not, may be you are not on the right side of the stone wall...