Who's The Boss?
Romans: Unashamed - Building the Church through the Gospel • Sermon • Submitted
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What is the OBJECTIVE of this Sermon? To help Christians see there is only one acceptable Boss in out lives - Jesus Christ.
What is the DESIRED RESPONSE for this Sermon? A commitment to say no to sin and yes to following and obeying Christ.
TENSION - Where does the tension lie? I am dead to sin, but sin still twitches!
Me - 80’s sitcom staring Tony Danza, Judith Light, and Alyssa Milano.
The premise is a single, professional mother was in need of a house keeper. She hires a single dad to take care of her house.
The question becomes, who is really the boss in this arrangement?
I have the same thing going on in my heart. Who’s the boss?
We - Honestly, we all wrestle with this problem of who is really in charge. Paul addresses this in verses 12-14 and is pretty clear on who our “Boss” should be.
Remember what Paul is dealing with in this chapter
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Sin is a reality, but believers are freed from sin. It should not be our boss...
God - God wants us to come to terms with this, so...
Main Idea - Who’s the Boss in Your Life?
We all wrestle with this at some level. Even as believers. This is why Paul deals with it in these verses. If we were perfect after salvation, Paul would not have needed to write this chapter or these verses.
While we are positionally considered perfect by God, we are still growing in our perfection/Christlikeness. We need to learn what to do with this “Body of death.” It is possible! Believers can do it! It involves our mind and our will - both of which have been redeemed.
1. Is Sin Your Boss? (vs. 12-13a)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Two important ideas come from these verses...
A. Do not let sin be king in your life!
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
Paul’s command against sin is interesting because it uses the regal term, “Reign.” Reign means literally “to be king.”
Mortal is a focus on the sinful flesh that we all still have.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
The point - Even though we carry sin in this mortal body, we are not to let it be king, instead we are to be its king. We are to master the sin in our lives as believers.
Sin is a compelling leader. Left unchecked it can take over and ultimately devastate the Christian.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
As Paul says in verse 12, we must not, we cannot obey the passions of our body that is enticed by sin. How do we accomplish this? Paul gives a practical answer...
B. Do not put yourself in sin’s path !
Romans 6:13 (ESV)
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness...
“Present” = to offer up.
“Members” = body parts.
“Instruments” = tool for unrighteousness / weapons.
The fact is that to succumb to sin our Will must approve. It is a conscious act on the part of the believer to choose sin.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
We must give assent to sin.
This picture Paul paints of believers offering themselves to sin, is powerful and begs the question - Why would a believer ever find themselves bowing down to KING SIN and offering their body as a tool for anti God activities?
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
It’s really ludicrous when you think about it. But it happens none the less.
Sin cannot be our master! We cannot allow it to have any power over us! We must go to war against this foe.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
NEVER!!
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Illustrate -
In the fourteenth century two brothers fought for the right to rule over a dukedom in what is now Belgium. The elder brother’s name was Raynald, but he was commonly called “Crassus,” a Latin nickname meaning “fat,” for he was horribly obese. After a heated battle, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him and assumed the title of Duke over his lands. But instead of killing Raynald, Edward devised a curious imprisonment. He had a room in the castle built around “Crassus,” a room with only one door. The door was not locked, the windows were not barred, and Edward promised Raynald that he could regain his land and his title any time that he wanted to. All he would have to do is leave the room. The obstacle to freedom was not in the doors or the windows, but with Raynald himself. Being grossly overweight, he could not fit through the door, even though it was of near-normal size. All Raynald needed to do was diet down to a smaller size, then walk out a free man, with all he had before his fall. However, his younger brother kept sending him an assortment of tasty foods, and Raynald’s desire to be free never won out over his desire to eat. Some would accuse Duke Edward of being cruel to his older brother, but he would simply reply, “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.” But Raynald stayed in that room for ten years, until Edward himself was killed in battle.
This accurately illustrates the experience of many Christians. Jesus set them forever free legally, and they may walk in that freedom from sin whenever they choose. But since they keep yielding their bodily appetites to the service of sin, they live a life of defeat, discouragement, and imprisonment.
Apply - Even as Christians, slave still enslaves. Be careful when it comes to playing around with sin. It bites and it bites hard eventually! What can you do to avoid the sting of sin?
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Good advice from the Psalmist!
Review - Who’s the Boss in Your Life?
Is Sin Your Boss?
2. Is God You Boss? (vs. 13b)
Okay, should sin be our boss? As a follower of Christ the answer should be a resounding “no!” But the fact that Paul brings it up speaks to the reality of the struggle. Take a look at the last half of verse 13 and see where instead we are to focus our attention and devotion...
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
The contrast in verse 13 is obvious and the choice is clear for the follower of Jesus. Jesus Christ is your Lord and King. His Lordship is true before you were ever saved and it is true after you became saved. You do not make Jesus your Lord - what an arrogant thought that is! No, He is Lord God over all things and over all time. You are the creature! He is the Creator!
Please notice the contrast Paul presents from the first question, “Is Sin Your Boss?”, to the second question, “Is God Your Boss?”
A. Do present yourself to God as a righteous servant!
Instead of the previous picture of presenting or offering one’s self to sin for unrighteous purposes, believers are to offer their bodies to God as instruments or tools for righteousness!
No longer slaves to sin, now we are slaves to Jesus!
and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
It’s one or the other, folks!
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
But why is this the case? Why should you offer your body up to the Lord as a living sacrifice?
Because, according to verse 13, it is because God, through Christ Jesus, made you alive!!
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Do you sense the significance of this reality? YOU WILL NOT DIE - ETERNALLY!
I had a religious person in my life once tell me that I was arrogant to say that I knew when I died, I would be with God in heaven! I needed to wait to the end of my life so God could assess my good deeds and bad deeds to see if I did enough good to make it to heaven.
WRONG!
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Remember from last Sunday? We must change the way we think about sin!
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
You are ALIVE! You are BORN AGAIN! And you are to live accordingly!
You and I are servants of the most high God - we must act like it!
How? Paul gives another clue!
B. Do put yourself in the path of righteousness
And because God has brought you from death to life, your body is now used not as a weapon for sin, but a tool for righteousness!
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
How can and should a believer use their body as a tool for righteousness?
Give examples - employ the “one-anothers”? Get specific!
Is God your boss?
Illustrate - For close to twenty years I sat in the second seat as assistant pastor under Wayne Muri at Lakeshore Baptist Church. I learned a ton!
One of the things I tried to do as his second guy was to make him look good. That was the mindset I tried to have. It was the grid in which I worked. Obviously I wanted God to be glorified first and foremost. But secondly I wanted my boss to look good.
Apply - Folks, this is the mindset we need to walk through life with. We need to make our God look good! This brings Him great glory!
I want you to analyze your life in your own heart. Is God your boss? Do you live a life of obedience?
Is it your goal to “make your boss look good?”
Review - Who’s the Boss in Your Life?
Is Sin Your Boss?
Is God You Boss?
3. God is Your Boss! Don’t Take Orders from Sin! (vs. 14)
Look at the powerful promise in verse 14...
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Do you see the promise in the first part of this verse? “…sin will have NO DOMINION over you!
Do you remember what this word means?
Dominion - “To Lord or to dominate”
Sin will have no power of you! Sin’s power is broken! Sin is not your Lord, the Son is!!
There are two reasons from the text as to why this is true...
A. You are no longer UNDER the Law!
The word “under” is significant.
“From which something comes forth; of loosing or freeing from under something.” WSNDICT
You, Christian, are freed from the Law! You are no longer UNDER its tremendous weight!
It, by the power of the Gospel, has been put off of you!
B. You are now UNDER Grace!
The weight of the Law is impossible to bear. The weight of GRACE is easily born BECAUSE His AMAZING Grace BEARS you! It surrounds you - envelopes you - it supports you and keeps you!
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
His GRACE protects you in this life and provides you life in the next!
There is no better place for the believer to be than UNDER the GRACE of God!
For those here that are not christians or are not sure you are a christian there are a few things you must understand...
God – created you and you are accountable to Him
Man – You have sinned against God (rebelled and will be judged)
Christ – paid the penalty for our sins (died on a cross), forgives
Response – repent (turn away from sin) and believe (faith)
In Summary
First the bad news:God is your judge, and you have sinned against him.
Good news (gospel): Jesus died so that sinners may be forgiven of their sins if they will repent and believe in him.
Illustrate - “If I had a brother who had been murdered, what would you think of me if I ... daily consorted with the assassin who drove the dagger into my brother’s heart; surely I too must be an accomplice in the crime. Sin murdered Christ; will you be a friend to it? Sin pierced the heart of the incarnate God; can you love it?”—Charles Spurgeon
Apply - Listen, Sin is going to rear its head in your life. But you are under no obligation to listen.
In fact, you are to listen to a different voice. The voice of someone who is much more than your Boss, King, Your Creator. He’s your Father! He’s your papa! You have an intimate relationship with him.
and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Review - Who’s the Boss in Your Life?
Is Sin Your Boss?
Is God You Boss?
God is Your Boss! Don’t Take Orders from Sin!
You - Friend, the choice is logical - it is reasonable - it’s a no brainer for the believer! In fact, I submit to you that for the genuine follower of Jesus Christ there is NO choice.
Yes, you will struggle with sin because you still carry around the body of death. And that old cadaver will twitch no and again!
But you are no longer a slave to sin! Sin no longer has a hold on you!
You CAN say no to sin’s power!
We - By the way, this is why we need each other. We need the Body of Christ. We need to be involved in on another’s lives. Sin separates and drives apart. Sin is like a lion on the prowl. A lion will wait for the lone and vulnerable gazelle. And when no one is looking, the lion will snatch it up and mercilessly devour it.
People - this is what is happening to our younger generation. We older people need to get this right in our thinking. Our obsession with moralism and our lack of gospel proclamation in our lives is helping the next generation out the church doors.
Conclusion
Folks, sin is still a reality we, as christians must contend with. However, the good news is it no long holds dominion over us. Its power is broken and you can say no to it.
Who’s the boss in your life?
As a follower of Jesus, your answer must be the LORD!
Connection Group Reflection Questions
What do you suppose Paul’s motivation was for including these verses?
Why does sin still try to be charge even though it considered dead?
What are some practical ways we can have God as our boss?
What do I need to do to obey him?
With whom can I share these truths?