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Because we have new life in Jesus vs. 12-23
- 1st – Three things we are not to do… vs. 12-14
- 1st – Do not let sin control the way we live… vs. 12
- We are all made up of 3 parts – Spirit / body / and mind…
- Our Spirit…
- Was dead before we were saved – but was born again when we believed…
- The eternal part of us – that knows that God is real…
- It is our Spirit that gives us the desire to pray / have a relationship with Jesus!
- Understands life is about far more than momentary needs and pleasure…
- And recognizing the consequences – both temporary and eternal – for our actions!
- Our Body…
- Represents our sinful nature – our physical desires and wants…
- It has no desire to please God – it only thinks about its momentary needs…
- Our body does not encourage us to read our Bible / or go to church…
- Our body only thinks about food / sleep / wanted to be gratified!
- And it has is no thought of consequences – only momentary pleasure!
- Our Mind – where we make our choices – either following our Spirit or the body!
- As a believer in Jesus – we are forgiven – but that does not mean we cannot sin…
- Our spirit has been reborn – but we are still live in our fallen sinful bodies…
- The result is a daily battle between our redeemed Spirit / and fallen body…
- Every decision we make is influences by this battle….
- The body says I am hungry – and have no food – so I will steal food to eat…
- The Spirit says it is wrong to steal – trust in the Lord to provide for our food…
- The Spirit says to get up in the morning and spend time with God in His Word…
- The body says keep sleeping – you can always read your Bible tomorrow!
- Our Spirit…
- We are all made up of 3 parts – Spirit / body / and mind…
- 1st – Do not let sin control the way we live… vs. 12
- Our choice is simple – do not let sin reign / be the King in our lives…
- I John 2:14-17 – “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you… Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
- If we live for pleasure – it is never enough – it only satisfies for a moment…
- I know a lot of you LOVE ice cream – I saw the line last Sunday…
- I played around with a few people and only put a dab in their cup – big frown…
- But the funny thing is no matter how much ice cream we get – it is not enough!
- If we live for possessions – they never seem to be enough – we always want more…
- One of the richest men who ever lived – J.D. Rockefeller was asked…
- ‘How much is enough’ – his answer – ‘Just a little bit more’…
- Most think this world has the answers – it lures us in with false hopes and promises
- Then leaves us empty inside – never fulfilled – always wanting more!
- Only Jesus can satisfy…
- John 4:13-14 – “Jesus answered and said, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst…”
- No matter how many times we drink from the ‘water of the world’ – thirsty again…
- Ever noticed how the things of this world only seem to satisfy for a moment…
- How many times have we said – ‘if I could only have ____________ I would be happy’…
- And when we get what we wanted – happy for a moment – then we want more!
- Therefore do not live for momentary sin – we cannot let it rule our lives…
- Only when Jesus is King of our lives – reigns in our hearts – can we be truly happy!
Deuteronomy 30:19 – “…I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life…”
2nd – Do not let any part of us become a tool used for sin… vs. 13
A hammer has no loyalties – it is not good or evil – it is just a tool…
It the same way your body is a tool – the question is what are we using it for…
Do we use our body to dance at the disco / be a pitcher for alcohol…
James 1:12-15 – “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death.”
We do not just wake up one day and decide to go and sin…
Thoughts will come and go in our mind – a passing thought is not sin…
But if we allow our mind to dwell on a temptation – it will leads us to sin!
Instead use your body as a tool to do what is right – glorify God…
God has given you a body – not to fulfill your lusts – but to serve and glorify Him…
Whether its reading your Bible / going to church / praying / helping others…
Make habits in your life – of doing those things that will draw you closer to the Lord!
3rd – Do not be bound to rules… vs. 14
Rules are a fence that tries to keep people safe from temptations/sin…
They seem to be a good idea – and most people (and churches) take this approach…
Here is the danger – they can only control your actions – not change your heart…
In the end people might think their rules make them strong in the Lord…
When in reality their rules make them ‘weak’ – taking their eyes off of Jesus…
They trust in their rules – rather than looking to and depending on the Lord!
The church is most well known today for their ‘religion’…
Do not drink / do not smoke / do not go to discos / do not have tattoos…
And when the world looks at the church – and sees all of these rules…
Most of which the very people who make the rules – do not even keep!
The only way to exact lasting change is the Grace of God…
When you got married – you likely changed a lot of your life ‘habits’…
Not because there was a rule – but for the love of your wife you wanted to!
Rules do not make the difference – it is the relationship that changes the heart…
It is God that changes our hearts so we no longer want go the wrong way!
2nd – We are to dedicate our lives to God… vs. 15-23
1st – Because it is not OK to sin… vs. 15-16
Paul already answered – can we live in ‘constant sin’ because of abundant grace…
God forbid – how can we have died to sin – continue to live in unrepentant sin!
But men are always looking for a ‘loophole’ to get away with sin – John 3:19-20
Now the question is – can we ‘occasionally’ commit intentional sin because of grace…
In other words can we enjoy the ‘pleasures’ of sin – just ‘once in a while’
Lets face it sin can be fun – if sin was not fun – none of us would choose to sin…
So since we are under God’s grace – can we ‘occasionally’ take a dip into sin…
We are saved – we are forgiven – it is not like it will cause us to go to hell…
The answer is the same as in vs. 2 – God forbid – for the same reasons!
Don’t you know – the one you obey you are a slave too!
Paul gives us a somber warning – we all choose to be a slave to someone…
We will either choose be a slave to Jesus / or we choose to be a slave to sin…
We choose who we will be a slave to – by where we put our time / efforts…
Whatever we invest in – that is where we will also find our loyalties!
Galatians 5:16-17 – “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
Where do we spend most of our time – what takes up most of our day…
Do we focus on the things of God – or are we constantly caught up in the world…
Wherever we invest our time into – we will also find we are a ‘slave’ to!
2nd – Because sin is dangerous…
Sin makes us a slave… vs. 16
John 8:34 – “I say unto you he that commits sin is the slave of sin…”
Sin is like a drug – the most addictive kind of drug – and it will take over your life…
The same way a drug dealer gets a new client – giving them a free sample…
Sin can seem to be enjoyable – but it sucks us in and we are trapped!
In the end we find we are in bondage to sin – morally and spiritually bankrupt!
The man who chooses to sin – gives up his freedom to choose!
The example of a lie – I told what I thought was a little white lie…
I thought that would fix things – but I found out that I had to tell 42 other lies…
I counted them – before I finally woke up to what I was doing and repented!
Sin keeps us from doing what is right… vs. 20
Before we were saved we did a lot of terrible things…
Things we are now ashamed to even mention – we would rather forget!
But back then we did not think anything of it – we were free of conviction…
Every new sin – we blindly followed after – not caring where we were going…
If someone said we should go gamble – we went / or to a Disco – we went…
No thought of consequence/no plan – following the sin without question!
We had no choice – we did not know any better – we were by nature – sinners…
We did not think about God – think about righteousness – we were bound to sin…
When we sinned – we did not care – sin did not bother us!
The result of sin is death… vs. 23
Eternal death – and also a spiritual death to our lives here and now…
Death evoked a picture of – darkness / helplessness / decay
1st – Darkness – because sin keeps us from seeing Jesus…
It’s amazing to me to watch on people as I teach a Bible study…
With the same message – one person is riveted / another is asleep…
Often if we are struggling to understand God’s Word – or His work in our life…
It is because we are being blinded by choices we are making – sin in our life!
2nd – Helpless – because sin keeps us tied up…
John 11:44 – “Lazarus came out, bound in grave clothes… Jesus told them, ‘Unwrap him and let him go!’”
Sin keeps us from being able to get to Jesus – because we are bound up in sin!
They are so caught up in the fiesta – they seem to forget about church!
3rd – Decay – because sin makes us stink…
Isaiah 64:6 – “All our righteousness are like filthy rags…”
We may think we are ok – we only have a little sin in our lives…
We might think God is happy with us because at least we show up on Sunday…
But to God we are covered in filthy rags – we are rotten sinners who need Jesus!
3rd – Because freedom comes through Jesus…
We have been set free… vs. 17-19
Thank God – we have chosen to believe the message of salvation – faith in Jesus!
We have been given this remarkable gift of salvation – we are no longer a slave to sin
John 8:36 – “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
I heard a story about a young boy who was learning to ride a bike…
The only way he knew how to stop was by running into things – bumps & bruises…
His father told him about the brakes – but knowing is not the same as doing…
The point being – we have been set free from sin – if we choose to use the brakes…
We have the choice of being free – do we choose to use it!
Be free to serve and follow Jesus… vs. 22
Free to do those things that lead to holiness – to walk righteously with the Lord…
Free to receive the gift of eternal life – the blessed abundant life in Jesus!
The challenge we are given is what is our choice today – every day…
Do we choose to live in bondage to sin – or do we choose to be free!
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