Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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ENGAGE
The story of Ebenezer Scrooge...
Explain the spirits/ghost of past, present, and future.
This story is significant because it...
ENCOUNTER
As I was reading through Romans 6:20-23, I recognized and interesting parallel with Paul’s words and Ebenezer Scrooge’s story.
Like Scrooge, we all have a past, we must come to terms with our past, present, and our choices today will effect our future in terrible or amazing ways.
Transition to main idea...
Main Idea - The Future is Merry and Bright if You Choose Right!
While we won’t be visited by three ghosts, we will (as a believer’s) understand more clearly our past, present, and future are filled with some powerful truths.
Your Past is Filled With Regret!
You Present is Filled With Opportunity!
Your Future is Filled With Hope!
1.
Your Past is Filled With Regret (vs.
20-21)
This is certainly true of me...
This is also true of the apostle Paul.
And you have a past as well.
Even the most innocent among us were born in sin and wrestled with that condition before coming to a saving faith in Christ.
Paul, in Roman 6 has been comparing and contrasting the unbeliever with the believer.
And in a very real sense, there is a stark contrast between the two!
And in verses 20-21 he does it again...
Explain - Just as Ebenezer Scrooge and his partner, Marley were slaves to avarice and greed, we all were slaves to sin in our past.
Some still are.
Understand what Paul says about your past.
He makes a very clear point that we were “slaves of sin” - This word “slave” should conjure up the idea that of obedience.
Christian, you and I WERE obedient to our slave master, sin.
In fact, the next part of the verse is a really interesting phrase.
We were slaves to sin and were...
“free in regard to righteousness.”
This means while you were a slave to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right (NLT).
Why?
Because you couldn’t.
Nancy Pelosi on Crime Wave - "It's absolutely outrageous.
Obviously it cannot continue," Pelosi said.
"But the fact is that there is an attitude of lawlessness in our country that springs from I don't know where… and we cannot have that lawlessness become the norm.
Notice that what Paul says in verse 20 is at the heart of the gospel and this message does not support a works based salvation.
Notice also the forthright question Paul asks in verse 21. “How did your sinful life work out for you?” “What lasting, fruitful gain did you receive from being saturated in sin?”
We now look back and are ashamed of our attitudes and actions before we knew Christ...
And it’s more than just about our shame.
It’s about the realization of what we faced - death!
Think about that for just one minute.
If you would have died in the condition you were in (slave to sin) you would have missed out on the glories of heaven and would have been subject to an eternal separation from God for all eternity.
This is what Paul means when he uses the word, DEATH!
And if one doesn’t repent from one’s sin, they will not simply have some regrets from life, they will live with eternal regret because they rejected the gracious offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ!
Illustrate - Marley’s reality was fixed.
It was too late for him.
But he was given the opportunity to come back and warn Ebenezer.
He had a message of a reality check for his business partner / friend.
Apply - What about your future?
Is it Merry and Bright because you have chosen right?
Have you settled your account with God? Then rejoice!
This season should be a wonderful celebration of joy, wonder, and love!
Yes, you have regrets, but they are washed under the blood of the lamb (Rev 7:14).
They are forgiven as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
Your sins are buried in the depths of the deepest sea (Micah 7:19).
You may have regrets but I bet you don’t regret entrusting your mortal soul into the hands of the gracious God of the Bible.
But for those who have yet to trust Christ, what are you waiting for?
God desires to give you a new heart, save you from eternal death, bring you into His eternal family, and make you new!
No more regret - only a growing peace that passes all understanding that guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Won’t you repent of your sin and place your faith in Christ now!?
Review - The Future is Merry and Bright if You Choose Right!
Your Past is Filled With Regret
Transition - But for the Christian...
2. Your Present is Filled With Opportunity (vs.
22)
Explain - After Scrooge was confronted by Marley and the ghost of Christmas past, a new ghost haunts him.
The ghost that would show him his current state of affairs, especially of how other thought of him.
He soon discovered just how despised he was by most everyone - except his nephew, his beloved sister Fran’s son, Fred.
Fred took pity on his uncle because if his mother loved Scrooge, there must be something in him worth loving.
This spirit of Christmas present’s revelation really challenged Scrooge was yet another impetus for his eventual, dramatic change.
For those of us who are in Christ, we’ve had a crisis moment in our lives that forces us to take an honest look at ourselves.
And if we did, we came to grips with some harsh realities about ourselves (the point of verses 20-21).
But there was opportunity for change!
And through faith in Christ and repentance of Sin, change came.
Look at verse 22.
You are now set free from sin - It holds no condemnatory power over you.
It is no longer your master.
You are set free from sin and you are under no obligation to obey its demands.
Instead, and here is the contrast,
You are now slaves / bondservants for God - you now live to do His will.
Now Paul uses the term slave intentionally to help his readers understand their responsibility for submission and obedience to God.
This is a good reminder for us as well.
“We are not our own, we have been bought with a price.”
And as followers of Christ, we have an obligation to pursue holiness.
Are you growing more righteous and holy?
Perhaps you aren’t clear on what righteousness and holiness looks like?
It looks like Jesus.
In fact Paul uses the word fruit again in this verse.
“the fruit you get...”
What is this fruit?
Well whatever it is, it is fruit that makes you more like Jesus.
This is why I believe it is the Fruit of the Spirit.
And it is this fruit that leads to two very special things...
Your fruit does two things
It grows you in holiness - Makes you like Jesus.
It promises you eternal life.
Christian, this is who your are because of Christ!
What will you do with this opportunity.
Illustrate - Scrooge was a very rich man who kept everything to himself.
What he didn’t realize was his employee, Bob Cratchit’s son Tim was crippled and sick.
So sick he would die.
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