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How to overcome sin vs. 1-11
Not that we will be perfected in a day – we will be perfect the day we see Jesus!
Grace is not an excuse to sin… vs. 1-2
1st – Just because we are saved – does not mean we are perfect… vs. 1
If I were to ask – how many of us here still struggle with sin…
Not a single hand would be left down – even through we believe in Jesus…
All of us – even though we are saved – still struggle with sin in our lives…
So since we have ABUNDANT GRACE – is it ok to just keep sinning…
Our salvation is not based on our work/merit – simply saved by faith in Jesus – True
No matter how much we sin – no matter what sin – Grace covers our sin – True
So why not go ahead and sin a lot – we will still get to heaven – covered by grace…
This is not talking about making mistakes – occasional slip up
But a willful choice to live a lifestyle of sin contrary to God’s standard and example…
2nd – God forbid! How can we who are dead to sin – continue to live in sin… vs. 2
Because our lives after we believe in Jesus should be different – changed…
Our works do not save us – but if we are saved – our lives will show the difference…
James 2:17-18 – “So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ I say, ‘I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.’”
It is easy to say we have ‘faith’ and ‘believe’ in Jesus – but the proof is in our actions…
If we say we’re Christians – but still live like the world – then do we really have faith!
Its like the picture of a mango tree – it can call itself a palm tree – proof is in the fruit
We can call ourselves Christians – but are continually to living in sin – are we really…
Only God knows the heart – we don’t know – but be sure God does…
That is not to say that as believers we never make mistakes…
But as believers – if we sin – there should be remorse – confession – repentance…
If there is no remorse – no repentance for sin – there is room for concern!
Because sin is dangerous – and will harden our hearts towards God…
When I first learned guitar – my fingers bled from pressing on the steel strings…
But eventually with lots of use – they grew calluses and became tough…
When we first commit a sin – we bleed with conviction from the Holy Spirit…
But if we continue to sin – we can create a callous on our hearts – fell nothing…
Hebrews 3:13 – “Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Sin is devastating – if we refuse to repent of our sin – it will harden our hearts…
Not that God will not forgive us – His grace is always there…
The dagner is we end up rejecting God – because we prefer to live on in our sin!
In light of this – Paul gives us 3 things that we should KNOW to help keep us from sin…
1st – Knowing we were baptized into Christ… vs. 3-5
1st – When we accepted Jesus by faith – we were ‘baptized’ into His death…
That is why we are commanded as believers to be water baptized – Acts 2:38
Water baptism does not save you – the thief on the cross – Luke 23:43
It is the outward confession of what takes place within us when we believe in Jesus…
If you have a diploma – the paper does not give you any more knowledge…
But the paper represents the time and effort that went into earning that diploma!
2nd– Water baptism shows the change that occurred inside when we believed…
1st – We wew buried with Jesus – taken under the water – a picture of our death…
2nd – We were raised up with Jesus – taken out of the water – a picture of new life!
The idea being out old man – our old sinful nature – was crucified and buried with Jesus!
We were then ‘raised from the dead’ – no longer the old sinful man we once were…
We were given ‘new life’ – freed from sin to live for God!
II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
We are ‘born again’ – not to live in sin / but to live in godliness!
John 3:3 – “…Unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.”
2nd – Knowing we were crucified with Christ… vs. 6-8
1st – Salvation – means dying with Jesus…
To follow Jesus – be a disciple – means to follow Him to the cross…
Who would not like the message of salvation – the free gift of eternity with God…
But the message is about repentance – that leads to salvation…
It is not enough to not want to go to hell – we must choose to live for Jesus today…
Few are willing to give up the ‘pleasures’ of this life – to inherit eternal life!
But suppose we had everything the world could ever offer us – but missed Jesus…
If you had all the money / power / all the fame – everything you ever wanted…
But when you died – ended up in hell separated from Jesus – was it worth it
Mark 8:36 – “What will it profit if you gain the whole world, and lose your soul?”
We died – and were buried with Jesus…
The greatest tree in the world is the ‘Red Wood’ – grows to be 100m tall / 6m thick!
But it starts out as a little seed – that has to die and be planted…
If we allow ourselves to get caught up in the cares of this world – we’ll never grow…
We must learn to HATE the things in this world that would distract us from Jesus…
Not being content to live for the scraps this world offers us – momentary pleasure…
Instead looking forward to the far greater rewards God has planned for us!
God did not intend for us to stay a ‘seed’ – He wants us to be a MIGHTY tree!
Luke 9:23 – “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
2nd – Knowing this – we should no longer be slaves to sin…
Before we were saved – before we had faith in Jesus – we were slaves to sin…
We had no other 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!
Because we have died – we have been set free (Perfect/Passive/Indicative) from sin!
Before we came to Jesus we did what our sin wanted us to – we were slaves to sin…
We did not think about Jesus – how to live for Jesus – how to live a righteous life…
But when we accepted Jesus Christ – we died to that old sinful nature…
The sinful desires of our heart were cut off – so we were free to live for the Lord!
Did you ever wonder why sins bother you now when they did not used to…
It used to be if you lied / or cheated / or were mean to others – it did not matter…
Yet now these things bother you – because you have had a change of heart…
You are no longer bound to sin – but free to love and trust Jesus with all your heart!
3rd – Knowing we are resurrected with Christ… vs. 9-11
1st – Jesus was raised from the dead – never die again – freed from death…
Jesus died once to defeat sin – now He lives to serve the Lord…
So in His death sin was conquered – In His life He is free to bring glory to God!
Since we died with Christ – we will also be resurrected with Christ…
We also were resurrected now to an abundant life in Jesus!
To often we cling onto our life – thinking we cannot afford to give it away to God…
But when we give our life away – when we live for Jesus – we find true life!
A seed is not good by itself – if you take a seed and hold onto it – nothing happens…
If you let it go – if you bury it – if it dies – then it becomes what God intended!
John 12:24-25 – “I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
Only when we are willing to let our life go – do we truly find life in Jesus!
Then we will find the ultimate reward – not only eternal life with Jesus…
But a fruitful / full / and fulfilling life while we wait for His soon return!
We also have the hope of one day being physically resurrected!
II Corinthians 5:1 – “…when we die and leave these bodies—we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.”
These bodies – old and worn out for some of us – will get traded in for the new model
A perfect new body – made by God – that will never wear out – never die!
The point simply being you do not want to miss out because of sin!
Why risk the hope of eternal glory – just for some momentary indulgence!
2nd – Therefore consider yourself also dead to sin…
The Christian walk takes time – we are not perfect in a day…
Just as an athlete does not happen by accident – and they don’t happen overnight…
They have to get up early every day and practice – and it takes years of training…
Living for Jesus is a daily choice – and it takes work and commitment on our part…
We choose to take the time to get into God’s Word – set-aside time to pray…
We make the time to attend Bible studies – grow in our faith…
We need to avoid those temptations in life that would distract us…
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