WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.580 Amen. Well, please take your Bibles and let's open them up this morning to the book of Romans. 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:15.660 The book of Romans. This is week three, the final week in our mini-series on the resurrection. We'll be back in Genesis, Lord willing, next Sunday. 00:00:16.179 --> 00:00:22.160 But for this week, we're in Romans, in Romans chapter 6, verses 1 through 14. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:27.820 Romans 6, 1 through 14. And when you found it, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.440 Amen. 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:47.840 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means. How can we who have died to sin still live in it? 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:55.200 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 00:00:55.200 --> 00:01:09.260 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. 00:01:09.260 --> 00:01:16.380 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. 00:01:16.980 --> 00:01:26.420 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. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:29.980 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 00:01:29.980 --> 00:01:35.480 Now, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:39.760 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again. 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:42.439 Death no longer has dominion over Him. 00:01:43.100 --> 00:01:49.580 For the death He died, He died to sin once for all, but the life He lives, He lives to God. 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:57.760 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:04.540 Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body to make you obey its passions. 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:14.080 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, 00:02:14.379 --> 00:02:17.460 and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:25.060 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law, but under grace. 00:02:26.060 --> 00:02:27.640 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:31.199 Father, we thank You for this word. 00:02:31.299 --> 00:02:33.939 We thank You for freedom in Christ. 00:02:35.139 --> 00:02:42.579 We thank You, Lord, that for those who are in Christ, sin no longer enslaves us, no longer rules us. 00:02:42.819 --> 00:02:45.539 That there is freedom, truly, and power. 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:49.620 By the power of Your resurrection, there's power to walk in newness of life. 00:02:49.620 --> 00:02:55.120 We pray, Lord, that we would see it, take hold of it by faith this morning. 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:56.159 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:02:56.980 --> 00:02:57.280 Amen. 00:02:58.300 --> 00:02:59.319 You may be seated. 00:03:00.659 --> 00:03:05.099 Again, this is week three of our series here on the resurrection. 00:03:05.099 --> 00:03:09.740 Our final week looking at the resurrection and its implications for us. 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:11.860 Week one was Easter Sunday. 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:13.560 We looked at Jesus' resurrection. 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:17.540 We saw how His resurrection shapes our faith. 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:21.300 Because Christ, in fact, has been raised from the dead. 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:24.300 We are not in our sins. 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:26.520 Our faith is not futile. 00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:29.320 We're not worthy of pity. 00:03:29.420 --> 00:03:31.300 His resurrection changes everything. 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:32.900 That was Easter Sunday. 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:37.180 Last week we saw how His resurrection shapes our future. 00:03:37.379 --> 00:03:43.480 We look ahead and see that because He is risen, we too, who are united to Him by faith, 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:49.040 we too will be risen, resurrected to be with Him and like Him. 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:56.939 We will be raised up with new, glorified, resurrected, perfected bodies, 00:03:57.180 --> 00:03:58.840 made fit for eternity with Him. 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:04.060 This week, today, as we look here to Romans chapter 6, 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:09.340 we get to look at the implications of His resurrection for life in the in-between. 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:11.180 Right now. 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:17.439 And we get to see how His resurrection shapes our fight with sin. 00:04:18.660 --> 00:04:25.220 In other words, church, His resurrection, it matters for us right now in our fight with sin. 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:29.360 Because Jesus Christ has raised from the dead, 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:36.340 those who are united to Him by faith are also raised to walk in newness of life. 00:04:37.380 --> 00:04:40.740 Because Jesus Christ is raised from the dead, 00:04:41.520 --> 00:04:50.160 then those who are united to Him by faith are right now empowered to live right now in resurrection power. 00:04:50.840 --> 00:04:52.680 Victory over sin. 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:59.160 Now, I assume that you recognize that we are in a war with sin here and now. 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:00.480 Do we understand this? 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:05.040 J.C. Ryle, the bishop, J.C. Ryle, he says, 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:11.600 We must not conceal from ourselves that true Christianity brings with it a daily cross in this life, 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:15.259 while it offers us a crown of glory in the life to come. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:19.160 The flesh must be daily crucified. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:23.180 The devil must be daily resisted. 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:26.280 The world must be daily overcome. 00:05:27.400 --> 00:05:30.060 There is a warfare to be waged and a battle to be fought. 00:05:30.380 --> 00:05:34.220 And all this is the inseparable accompaniment of true religion. 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:36.460 Heaven is not to be won without it. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:40.280 Never was there a truer word spoken than the old saying, 00:05:40.440 --> 00:05:42.600 No cross, no crown. 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:47.760 If we never found this out by experience, our souls are in a poorer condition. 00:05:48.780 --> 00:05:49.400 He goes on. 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:58.620 The true Christian is called to be a soldier and must behave as such from the day of his conversion to the day of his death. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:04.979 He is not meant to live a life of religious ease, laziness, and security. 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:10.500 He must never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and doze along the way to heaven, 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:12.699 like on traveling in an easy carriage. 00:06:12.699 --> 00:06:16.259 If the Bible is the rule of his faith and practice, 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:20.019 he will find his course laid down very plainly in this matter. 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:23.279 He must fight. 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:28.560 So this morning, as we look to Paul in Romans chapter 6, 00:06:28.659 --> 00:06:32.300 we get to see how we are to fight. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:36.779 And we'll see three ways that the resurrection shapes our fight with sin. 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:39.279 This will be our outline this morning if you're taking notes. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:44.939 There's three ways that the resurrection of Jesus shapes our fight with sin. 00:06:46.419 --> 00:06:51.379 First, we see the resurrection of Jesus gives us a new identity. 00:06:52.599 --> 00:06:56.539 The resurrection of Jesus gives us a new identity. 00:06:56.859 --> 00:06:58.019 Look, they're starting in verse 1. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:01.339 Paul says in chapter 6, verse 1, he says, 00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:02.739 What shall we say then? 00:07:02.819 --> 00:07:05.579 Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:08.899 Now, obviously, I need to give a little bit of context here 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:11.639 because we're jumping into the middle of a book, 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:12.879 in the middle of an argument. 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:16.099 Paul, in the first five chapters of Romans, 00:07:16.359 --> 00:07:20.539 has been laying out the riches of the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:07:20.539 --> 00:07:22.019 in these first five chapters. 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:26.959 And he has just finished insisting that we are saved, 00:07:27.239 --> 00:07:30.379 not by our works, not by our effort, 00:07:30.979 --> 00:07:33.439 and not by our birthright, not by anything in us, 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:38.240 but sheerly by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:43.120 We are justified, declared righteous in the sight of God, 00:07:43.219 --> 00:07:46.339 not by our goodness, not by our effort, 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:47.939 not by our law-keeping, 00:07:48.180 --> 00:07:51.100 not by our cultural identity, as the Jews insisted, 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:53.759 but rather, Paul's been saying here, 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:57.180 we are declared righteous in the sight of God 00:07:57.180 --> 00:07:59.639 apart from anything in us, 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:02.839 completely apart from our own obedience, 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:04.699 separate from it. 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:07.620 We are declared righteous in the sight of God 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:12.620 simply by receiving Christ's righteousness in our place. 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:17.379 So then the objection that he anticipates 00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:20.039 to such free grace is this. 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:23.579 Well, if that's how this whole thing works, Paul, 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:25.339 then I guess I can just keep on sinning. 00:08:25.339 --> 00:08:30.319 In fact, Paul, if grace is the whole deal, 00:08:30.539 --> 00:08:33.639 if grace is what magnifies the glory of God, 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:37.319 if God is so eager to show sinners grace, 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.659 why don't we just keep on sinning 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:42.480 so that God can be gracious to us, 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:44.199 and then He gets the glory? 00:08:45.959 --> 00:08:48.839 Why not just walk in sin if we're so covered by grace? 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:49.839 You see the issue here. 00:08:50.959 --> 00:08:52.419 How does Paul respond? 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:55.379 By no means. 00:08:57.079 --> 00:08:57.519 No. 00:08:59.219 --> 00:09:00.360 Absolutely not. 00:09:00.439 --> 00:09:02.659 That's not how Christians ought to think. 00:09:03.459 --> 00:09:05.039 That's not how Christians ought to live 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:06.860 or how they ought to act. 00:09:06.939 --> 00:09:09.240 We don't just keep on living in sin. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:09.839 Why? 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:13.139 Because if you are united to Christ by faith, 00:09:13.579 --> 00:09:17.459 then you have been given a new identity in Christ. 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:21.740 That used to be who you were who walked in sin, 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:23.240 but now, if you're in Christ, 00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:25.019 that's you no longer. 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:27.120 In fact, he says in verse 2, 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:30.139 the new you is now dead to sin. 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:32.139 There in verse 2. 00:09:33.580 --> 00:09:37.419 How can we who have died to sin still live in it? 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:39.820 In other words, it doesn't add up here. 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:41.960 It doesn't make any sense. 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:46.519 Paul says there is something fundamentally off, 00:09:46.660 --> 00:09:48.440 something fundamentally inconsistent 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:51.980 with somebody who claims to be a Christian 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:57.080 and yet lives in unrepentant, persistent sin. 00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:58.440 Why? 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:03.300 Because that old person who once lived in unrepentant, 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:05.740 persistent sin, who walked in it, 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:07.280 that old person is dead. 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:09.280 We've died to it. 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:10.980 We no longer live to sin. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:12.720 We no longer live for sin. 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:14.840 That's what it means to be a Christian. 00:10:15.400 --> 00:10:17.080 That you have died to sin. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:20.420 Now, let me be clear because I want you to notice 00:10:20.420 --> 00:10:22.560 what I said and what I did not say. 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:27.359 I did not say that if you're a Christian, 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:29.099 you will never sin again. 00:10:30.619 --> 00:10:32.839 Raise your hand if you've known that to be true 00:10:32.839 --> 00:10:33.679 in your own life. 00:10:34.699 --> 00:10:36.019 That's every one of us. 00:10:36.119 --> 00:10:38.539 Clearly, Christians still sin. 00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:41.759 You're looking at a Christian who still sins. 00:10:42.459 --> 00:10:45.059 In fact, the more I walk with the Lord, 00:10:45.119 --> 00:10:46.319 the closer I walk with Him, 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:47.979 the more I see His holiness, 00:10:48.459 --> 00:10:52.000 the more I see the depth of my sin in my life. 00:10:53.119 --> 00:10:55.199 Every single week, I mean, my goodness, 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:57.619 I see my attitudes to be sinful. 00:10:58.839 --> 00:11:01.479 The way I respond to my wife and my children 00:11:01.479 --> 00:11:02.799 is often sinful. 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:05.439 I see the depth of my selfishness, 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:06.959 the way I allocate my time. 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:10.699 I am a sinful, sinful person. 00:11:10.859 --> 00:11:13.239 I am not without sin and neither are you. 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:16.439 Paul is not demanding perfection here. 00:11:16.619 --> 00:11:17.379 Okay, I want to be clear. 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:20.399 There is a difference, though, 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:24.480 between battling with sin 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:27.340 and living in sin. 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:28.460 Do we see the difference? 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:32.779 There is a difference between wrestling with your sin 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:35.179 and walking in sin. 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:38.679 There is a difference between recognizing sin in your life 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:39.840 by the grace of God 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.200 and repenting of it 00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:44.379 and grieving it when you see it 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:44.879 and saying, 00:11:45.140 --> 00:11:47.520 Lord, I need your help with it 00:11:47.520 --> 00:11:48.879 and saying, 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.320 well, this is just who I am. 00:11:51.520 --> 00:11:52.820 You have your own flaws. 00:11:52.940 --> 00:11:53.740 I have mine. 00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:55.140 Nothing to see here. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:57.220 I can do what I want. 00:11:57.300 --> 00:11:58.200 I can live what I want. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.940 I'm covered by grace 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:01.640 because I can live however I want 00:12:01.640 --> 00:12:03.220 because I prayed a prayer at VBS 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:04.379 when I was six years old. 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.620 I can live however I want 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.660 because 20 years ago, 00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:10.679 I walked down an aisle 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:11.000 and said, 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:11.919 I want to be a Christian. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.719 Paul says, 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:16.600 if you are in Christ, 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:17.480 if that's genuine, 00:12:18.319 --> 00:12:20.980 then you have died to sin 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:22.579 as a power over you. 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:24.899 It doesn't reign over you any longer 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:25.799 if you're in Christ. 00:12:27.219 --> 00:12:27.860 In fact, he says, 00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:29.360 don't you know that your baptism 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:32.139 is a picture of this new life? 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:33.059 Look at verse 3. 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.159 Do you not know, 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:35.860 verse 3, 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:36.759 do you not know 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:38.620 that all of us 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:39.939 who have been baptized 00:12:39.939 --> 00:12:41.899 into Christ Jesus 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:44.639 were baptized into his death? 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:47.279 We were buried with him, 00:12:47.439 --> 00:12:47.740 therefore, 00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:50.019 by baptism into death 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:51.580 in order that, 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:54.100 just as Christ was raised 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:55.019 from the dead 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.700 by the glory of the Father, 00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:58.879 we too might walk 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:00.539 in newness of life. 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:00.799 Now, 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.279 I can't miss this opportunity 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:04.099 to teach a little bit 00:13:04.099 --> 00:13:04.719 about baptism. 00:13:05.079 --> 00:13:05.240 Okay, 00:13:05.319 --> 00:13:07.439 so we're going to divert here 00:13:07.439 --> 00:13:08.079 just for a second. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:08.659 We'll come back. 00:13:09.979 --> 00:13:10.659 Notice here 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:12.500 that he just assumes 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.299 that everybody 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:15.039 in the church of Rome, 00:13:15.079 --> 00:13:16.159 every member of the church 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:16.579 in Rome 00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:17.639 has been baptized. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:19.859 That's the assumption. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:21.399 Now, 00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:22.159 what is baptism? 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:25.319 Baptism is the public initiation 00:13:25.319 --> 00:13:27.219 into the church community. 00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:28.799 It's marking you off 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.899 from once belonging 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:30.779 to the world, 00:13:30.939 --> 00:13:32.299 now to belonging 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:33.319 to Christ. 00:13:33.599 --> 00:13:34.899 And not just to Christ, 00:13:35.099 --> 00:13:36.159 but it's affirmed 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:36.879 by a community 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:37.579 of believers 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:37.979 to say, 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:38.899 you belong to this 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:40.479 local body of Christ 00:13:40.479 --> 00:13:41.459 here in this place. 00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:44.159 Also notice 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:46.000 that clearly 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.579 these Romans 00:13:47.579 --> 00:13:48.379 have been baptized 00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.859 as believers. 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:52.740 This isn't a children's book. 00:13:53.839 --> 00:13:55.139 These people, 00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.019 these Christians, 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:56.879 are capable 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.740 of understanding 00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.639 this teaching. 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.379 By the grace of God, 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.399 they're capable 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.159 by the power 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:03.080 of the Holy Spirit 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.740 in them 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.620 of walking 00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:06.159 in newness of life. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.759 They are capable 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.019 by the grace of God 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:09.840 and the Holy Spirit 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.299 in them 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:11.620 to look back 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.700 on their baptism 00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:13.620 and reflect 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.840 on the meaning 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.480 and the message 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.419 of what it means 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:18.019 for them in Christ. 00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:18.740 So what does it mean? 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.440 He says, 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:22.500 look back 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.159 on your baptism 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:23.779 and remember 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.059 your identity 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:26.299 in Jesus. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:26.679 Remember, 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.539 you're going down 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.219 into the water. 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:30.539 That's symbolic 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:32.219 of Jesus' death 00:14:32.219 --> 00:14:34.119 and not just 00:14:34.119 --> 00:14:35.119 Jesus' death 00:14:35.119 --> 00:14:36.439 but your death 00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:37.139 in Him. 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:38.679 You were buried 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:39.419 with Him 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.399 by baptism 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:40.979 but you didn't 00:14:40.979 --> 00:14:41.639 stay down 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.299 in the water, 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:42.699 did you? 00:14:42.739 --> 00:14:43.239 Praise God. 00:14:44.079 --> 00:14:45.279 I haven't lost one yet. 00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:46.839 We brought every one 00:14:46.839 --> 00:14:47.319 of them up. 00:14:47.839 --> 00:14:48.899 They don't stay 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:49.899 dead down 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:50.339 in the water. 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:51.479 They are raised 00:14:51.479 --> 00:14:52.639 up to walk 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.100 and newness 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:53.720 of life. 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:56.360 Just as Jesus Christ 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.159 didn't stay 00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:57.819 in the grave 00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:59.500 but was raised 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.360 and resurrected 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.399 by the power 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.019 of God 00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:03.679 just as Jesus Christ 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.759 has now victory 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.679 over sin, 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.620 victory over the grave, 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:08.419 Paul says, 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.779 you believer 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:10.580 in Him 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:11.720 share His victory 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:12.399 over the grave. 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.620 He says, 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:17.000 Christian, 00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:17.639 remember what 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.340 your baptism 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:19.899 represents. 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:20.419 It's just like 00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:22.000 a married man 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.539 might look down 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:23.319 at his wedding ring 00:15:23.319 --> 00:15:26.039 and see 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:27.439 in this physical 00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:29.019 visible sign 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.620 a picture 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.659 of his union 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.879 with his wife. 00:15:33.339 --> 00:15:34.199 It's a reminder 00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:35.099 of the vows 00:15:35.099 --> 00:15:35.759 that they've made 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.539 to each other. 00:15:37.319 --> 00:15:37.959 It's a reminder 00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:38.819 that his identity 00:15:38.819 --> 00:15:39.860 now is I am 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:41.199 a married man. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.779 That's who I am. 00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:44.939 So now the believer 00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:45.659 looks back 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.539 on their baptism 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:47.799 as a picture 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:48.899 of their union 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:50.480 with Jesus Christ. 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.220 A reminder 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.019 of the vows 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.639 that are made 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.379 of Him 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.039 to us 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:56.319 and us to Him. 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:56.819 It's a picture 00:15:56.819 --> 00:15:58.059 of their new identity 00:15:58.059 --> 00:15:59.139 in Him. 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.480 Yes, Christian, 00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:01.899 of course, 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.659 we will wrestle 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.519 with sin. 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.360 We will fall 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.279 into sin 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.340 and the more clearly 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:07.199 you see the holiness 00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:07.720 of God, 00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.519 the more clearly 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.439 you will see 00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:10.819 your own sinfulness. 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.059 And yet, 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:12.860 Paul says, 00:16:13.699 --> 00:16:15.240 if you are in Christ, 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:17.259 your identity 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:19.600 is no longer 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.159 sinner. 00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:22.560 By the grace 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.080 of God, 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:24.120 you are no longer 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:24.580 sinner. 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:26.379 You are saint. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.960 You're no longer 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.159 a child of the enemy. 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.240 You're no longer 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.080 a child of wrath. 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.700 You are, 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.779 by the grace of God, 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:38.620 a child of God. 00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:40.779 By God's grace, 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.919 you are no longer 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.919 dead to God 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:44.219 and alive to sin. 00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:45.299 By the grace of God, 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:45.919 you are now 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:47.179 dead to sin 00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:48.779 and alive to God 00:16:48.779 --> 00:16:49.620 in Christ. 00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:50.719 That's your identity 00:16:50.719 --> 00:16:51.419 in Him. 00:16:52.959 --> 00:16:54.019 Paul says it like this 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:56.000 in Galatians 2, 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:56.679 verse 20. 00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:57.699 He says, 00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:59.059 I have been crucified 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:00.179 with Christ. 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.000 Therefore, 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.519 I no longer live. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.980 But Jesus Christ 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.779 now lives in me. 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.079 The life I live 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.819 in the flesh, 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:11.480 I live by faith 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.899 in the Son of God. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.060 who loved me 00:17:14.060 --> 00:17:15.259 and gave Himself 00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:16.519 for me. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.400 The resurrection 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:19.120 of Jesus 00:17:19.120 --> 00:17:19.759 gives us 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.100 a brand new 00:17:21.100 --> 00:17:22.220 identity 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:23.560 in Christ. 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.420 Not only that, 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:24.960 but second, 00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:26.580 second, 00:17:27.580 --> 00:17:28.360 the resurrection 00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:28.980 of Jesus 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.720 gives us 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:31.420 a new victory. 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:33.759 A new victory. 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.160 And that new identity 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:36.800 in Christ, 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.420 it comes with 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.460 a new position 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:41.039 in regards to sin. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:41.559 it comes with 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:43.099 Christ's position 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.559 in regards to sin. 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:47.119 If you are in Christ, 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:49.000 you have a position 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.299 of victory 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.440 over sin. 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:53.000 Not just in the future. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.940 Right now, 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:55.740 in the present, 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.019 you have a position 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.879 of victory 00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:58.879 over sin. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.619 Do you believe it? 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.139 Look there 00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:01.799 to verse 5. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:03.839 It says, 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.599 for if we have been 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.399 united with Him 00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:06.759 in a death like His, 00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.500 we shall certainly 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.359 be united with Him 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.019 in a resurrection 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.779 like His. 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.039 And we know 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:13.059 that our old self 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.639 was crucified with Him 00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:15.579 in order that the body 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.039 of sin 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.659 might be brought 00:18:16.659 --> 00:18:17.179 to nothing 00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:18.339 so that we 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.359 would no longer 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:20.319 be enslaved 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.279 to sin. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.220 One who has died 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.099 has been set free 00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.139 from sin. 00:18:25.899 --> 00:18:26.359 Now, 00:18:26.419 --> 00:18:27.500 if we have died 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.099 with Christ, 00:18:28.199 --> 00:18:28.959 we believe that we 00:18:28.959 --> 00:18:29.859 will also live 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.379 with Him. 00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.500 We know that 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.620 Christ being raised 00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:33.100 from the dead 00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:34.160 will never die again. 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:34.940 Death no longer 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:36.180 has dominion over Him. 00:18:36.800 --> 00:18:37.980 For the death He died, 00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:39.040 He died to sin 00:18:39.040 --> 00:18:40.000 once for all. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:42.000 But the life He lives, 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:44.140 He lives to God. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:44.980 I want you to notice 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.860 there's two words here. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:48.720 Two images 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.920 that give us a picture 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:53.180 of the power of sin 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.800 over the non-believer. 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.480 Did you see those? 00:18:56.560 --> 00:18:57.740 He says in verse 6, 00:18:58.800 --> 00:19:00.040 Christ has died 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.579 and risen 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:02.159 that by faith in Him 00:19:02.159 --> 00:19:03.099 we may no longer 00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:04.420 be enslaved 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:05.559 to sin. 00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.500 That's the first word. 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.339 Enslaved to sin 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.659 outside of Christ. 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.399 The non-believer 00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:12.639 is enslaved 00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.799 to sin. 00:19:13.879 --> 00:19:14.519 That's number one. 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.000 And then there's 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.819 another here 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:16.639 in verse 9. 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.539 Christ died 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:20.079 and rose from the grave 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.399 never to die again. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.779 He is right now 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.839 in the present, 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:24.980 in this moment, 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.460 totally alive 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.079 to God. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:27.680 Paul says 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.720 death no longer 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:30.519 has dominion 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.820 over Him. 00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:32.779 That's the second word. 00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:34.140 It's dominion. 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.400 Outside of Christ, 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.680 the non-believer 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:41.060 is under the dominion 00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:41.960 of sin. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.980 There is no 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:45.200 neutral territory 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.539 here in the spiritual realm. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:46.980 There's no 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:48.060 Switzerland 00:19:48.060 --> 00:19:49.480 in the spiritual realm. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.100 Okay? 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.320 No neutrality. 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:51.660 And so, 00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.720 Paul says it again 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.680 here in verse 14 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:54.500 to the believer. 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.039 He says, 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.259 sin will have 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:57.279 no dominion 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.220 over you 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.519 since you are not 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.299 under law 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.339 but under grace. 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:02.220 It's one or the other. 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.339 Let's just think 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:04.960 about these images 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.079 for a minute. 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.420 We should realize 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:07.880 here the way 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:08.700 Paul's talking 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.720 about sin 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.019 is not just 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:12.299 the bad things 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:12.799 we do. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:13.700 Okay? 00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.220 It's not just 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:17.579 isolated bad thoughts, 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.680 bad actions, 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.600 mean words, 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:22.399 bad things that we do, 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.439 isolated mistakes. 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:24.079 Paul says, 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.139 Paul describes it 00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:26.059 as a power 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.139 over us. 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:28.879 He says, 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:31.279 sin enslaves people. 00:20:32.679 --> 00:20:34.019 People walk in sin 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.679 because they are 00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:36.179 slaves to sin. 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.859 Sinful actions, 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.299 they flow out 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.919 of a sinful condition. 00:20:42.219 --> 00:20:43.279 They are the result 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.819 of sin 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:45.659 waging authority 00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:46.819 over us. 00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:48.480 We're not neutral here. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.559 Outside of the freedom 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.179 of Christ, 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.099 we can't do anything 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:53.419 other than be a slave 00:20:53.419 --> 00:20:54.059 to sin. 00:20:55.159 --> 00:20:55.559 Why? 00:20:56.679 --> 00:20:57.919 Because that enslaving 00:20:57.919 --> 00:20:59.259 power of sin 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.839 has dominion 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.059 over us 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:03.419 if we're outside 00:21:03.419 --> 00:21:04.059 of Christ. 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:06.519 Outside of Christ, 00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.899 it has authority 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.539 over us. 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.639 If you're not in Christ, 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.839 you are in sin. 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.500 If you're not submitting 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.259 to Christ, 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:14.139 you are submitting 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:15.019 yourself to sin. 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:16.019 You have no power, 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:16.859 no freedom 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:17.720 in this situation. 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:19.700 You know, 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:21.799 people fool themselves 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.279 into thinking 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.460 that they're free 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:25.380 as they live in sin. 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:25.740 They say, 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.900 I'm free to live 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.640 and do 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:28.500 and act as I want. 00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:29.880 How in the world 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.759 if I can do 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:32.039 whatever I want? 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.420 I can choose 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:33.799 to live 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.779 however I want. 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:35.319 How in the world 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:36.039 am I a slave? 00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:37.360 I have the power here. 00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.059 Friend, 00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:38.900 that is a lie. 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:41.940 The Bible says 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:43.120 even your wants 00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:44.820 are controlled 00:21:44.820 --> 00:21:45.560 by sin. 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.900 Even your very desires 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:50.560 that are the impulses 00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:52.040 that your actions 00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:52.960 flow from, 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:53.960 that is under 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:55.280 the dominion of sin. 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.640 Sin is the master 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.220 and you are the slave. 00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:01.500 He tells us later on 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.259 in verse 16, 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.340 you are slaves 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:03.880 of the one 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.480 whom you obey. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:08.599 This is the natural state 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.720 of every single person 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:11.299 outside of Christ. 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:11.759 What they need 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.819 more than anything. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.700 It isn't behavioral control. 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:18.180 It isn't moralism. 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.620 It's not 00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.960 to hear somebody tell them 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.460 do this, 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.200 don't do that. 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.160 Stop doing that. 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:23.860 Try harder. 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.500 Be better. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.620 Clean yourself up. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.660 That's not going to help anybody. 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.559 What they need 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.819 more than anything 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.920 is to hear 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:32.019 the good news 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.620 of the gospel of Christ. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.220 That Jesus Christ 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.079 has come 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.059 to set sinners 00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:38.900 free 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:40.099 from the power 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:40.920 of sin. 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.579 And that is only 00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.259 by coming to him 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.880 in faith 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:45.000 that one is set free 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.120 from the bondage of sin. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.440 And so, 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:48.079 Paul tells us in Romans 10, 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.960 if you confess 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.960 with your mouth 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.500 that Jesus is Lord 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.799 and you believe 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.339 in your heart 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.319 that God raised him 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:54.980 from the dead, 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:57.380 you will be saved. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:00.000 All who are outside 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.680 of Christ 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.360 are slaves 00:23:02.360 --> 00:23:03.259 to sin. 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:05.200 But Paul 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:05.740 isn't talking 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:07.299 to non-believers here. 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:08.259 He's talking 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.379 to believers. 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.039 He's talking 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.379 to those 00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.480 who are professing 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.319 to be in Christ. 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:12.619 And so, 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:13.019 he says, 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:14.759 don't you get it? 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.720 Christ has come 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:19.460 to set you free. 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.980 Don't you understand 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.960 what Jesus has done 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.339 for us? 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:24.240 That's who you used 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.619 to be. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.599 You used to be 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.539 enslaved to sin. 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.279 You used to be 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.059 under his power 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:30.000 but no longer. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.079 Christ died 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:33.220 to set you free 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.019 from the power 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.699 of sin. 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:37.099 Christ raised 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.799 from the grave 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.339 to give you 00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.339 new life. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.000 How can you 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.220 submit again 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.759 to the powers 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.179 of sin? 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:42.639 You're free 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:43.179 from it. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.079 His victory 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:47.579 is your victory. 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.179 His life 00:23:49.179 --> 00:23:50.299 is your life. 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:50.919 His death 00:23:50.919 --> 00:23:51.439 to sin 00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:52.339 is your death 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:52.859 to sin. 00:23:52.939 --> 00:23:53.939 If you are united 00:23:53.939 --> 00:23:55.299 to him by faith, 00:23:55.679 --> 00:23:56.159 everything 00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:57.379 he's earned 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.240 is yours. 00:24:01.040 --> 00:24:01.400 Christian, 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.040 I wonder 00:24:02.040 --> 00:24:03.160 if you realize, 00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:03.660 Christian, 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:06.180 that you 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.280 can walk 00:24:07.280 --> 00:24:08.180 in resurrection 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.240 victory 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.220 over sin 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.520 right now. 00:24:11.520 --> 00:24:12.000 If you are 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.660 in Christ, 00:24:13.780 --> 00:24:15.080 you can walk 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:15.920 in resurrection 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.880 victory 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:18.100 over sin. 00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:20.040 This is 00:24:20.040 --> 00:24:21.120 incredible grace 00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:21.620 towards us 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.000 who believe, 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:22.440 isn't it? 00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.900 Do you realize 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.880 that if you 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:27.000 are in Christ, 00:24:27.280 --> 00:24:28.160 you have 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.340 all the 00:24:29.340 --> 00:24:30.019 authority 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:31.220 over sin 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.140 that Christ 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.460 himself has 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.340 over sin. 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.780 I remember 00:24:36.780 --> 00:24:37.280 when I first 00:24:37.280 --> 00:24:37.980 realized this, 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.460 it was like, 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.280 the lights 00:24:40.280 --> 00:24:40.920 went on. 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:42.920 You're telling 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.960 me I don't 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.600 have to, 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.580 I'm not 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:46.320 controlled by 00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:46.940 this anymore. 00:24:48.540 --> 00:24:49.040 You're telling 00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:49.740 me I actually, 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.060 I can have 00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.660 the freedom 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.540 to resist 00:24:52.540 --> 00:24:53.420 this temptation? 00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:54.040 You're telling 00:24:54.040 --> 00:24:54.720 me I have 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.500 a position 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.360 of victory 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:57.120 over sin? 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:58.700 Paul says, 00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.160 yes, 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.519 in Christ, 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:02.620 sin doesn't 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.299 rule you 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:03.759 anymore. 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.680 Yes, 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.259 you can choose 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.680 to slip 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.299 those chains 00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:06.839 back on. 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.299 Those chains 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.120 leave grooves 00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:08.700 on our hearts 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.039 and make it 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.440 too easy 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:09.819 to slip 00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.220 right back 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.460 on. 00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:11.019 You can 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.519 choose to 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:11.880 slip them 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.420 back on, 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:12.740 but you 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.640 don't have 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:14.039 to. 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.339 Christ 00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:16.640 has purchased 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.559 freedom 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:19.360 and victory 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:19.980 for his 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.319 people. 00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.299 One day, 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.319 Christ will 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.160 return or we 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.500 will go to 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.039 be with him 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.279 and we'll 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.000 be finally 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.700 done with 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.140 the fight, 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:27.779 but until 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:28.180 then, 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.619 Christian, 00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.599 we fight 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:29.940 from a 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.779 position of 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:32.160 victory over 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:33.220 sin because 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:33.740 of his 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.339 victory at 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:34.880 the cross 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.440 in the 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.000 empty tomb. 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.839 So I want 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.339 to close 00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:40.140 third point 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.619 this morning, 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.099 finally. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.660 I just want 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.200 us to consider 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.799 some ways 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:45.140 practically we 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.559 put this 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.200 into practice. 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.319 So third, 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.420 let's see the 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.279 resurrection of 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.599 Jesus. 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:49.759 Jesus, 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.740 it gives us 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.159 a new 00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:51.959 strategy. 00:25:52.699 --> 00:25:53.159 Let's talk 00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.399 strategy this 00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.099 morning a little 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.299 bit. 00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:55.799 How do we 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.279 actually put 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.899 this into 00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.339 practice? 00:25:57.459 --> 00:25:57.699 What can 00:25:57.699 --> 00:25:58.279 we do 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.059 tomorrow, 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.980 this afternoon, 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.539 to fight 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.799 against sin 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.579 and resurrection 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.740 power? 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.059 So let's read 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:08.480 these final 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.159 verses one more 00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:09.819 time and he 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.699 gives us three 00:26:10.699 --> 00:26:12.259 keys here in 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.699 these final 00:26:12.699 --> 00:26:13.459 verses for 00:26:13.459 --> 00:26:14.199 fighting sin 00:26:14.199 --> 00:26:14.719 and resurrection 00:26:14.719 --> 00:26:15.339 power. 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:17.199 Paul says 00:26:17.199 --> 00:26:17.879 verse 11, 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:20.379 in light of 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.379 Jesus' death 00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:22.119 and resurrection, 00:26:22.379 --> 00:26:22.839 he says, 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.799 so you also 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:26.099 must consider 00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:27.379 yourselves dead 00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:28.919 to sin and 00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:29.919 alive to God 00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:30.720 in Christ Jesus. 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.199 That's number 00:26:31.199 --> 00:26:31.500 one. 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.619 Consider, 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.179 consider, 00:26:37.959 --> 00:26:38.459 reckon 00:26:38.459 --> 00:26:40.459 yourself dead 00:26:40.459 --> 00:26:41.879 to sin and 00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:43.199 alive to God 00:26:43.199 --> 00:26:44.079 in Christ. 00:26:44.199 --> 00:26:44.519 The battle 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.000 with sin, 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:45.680 it often 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.500 begins with 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.200 the mind. 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:48.940 So Paul 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.220 says, 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.480 fix your 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:52.259 mind daily 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.000 on the 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.839 glory of 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.339 God and 00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:54.839 the gospel 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.579 of Christ. 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.559 Remember, 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.059 fix your 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.779 mind daily 00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.240 on what that 00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.879 means for you 00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.779 as a Christian. 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.359 I can think 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:01.980 of no better 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.200 strategy to 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.720 give you this 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.160 morning for 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:04.900 fighting sin 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.500 than to 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.960 daily remember 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.819 the gospel 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.660 of Christ. 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.440 Every single 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:10.759 day, 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.359 remember the 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:12.819 gospel. 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:12.899 gospel. 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.720 We're six 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.819 chapters into 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.439 this book. 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.200 I know we 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.079 didn't cover the 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.759 whole book this 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:18.980 morning, 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.879 but this is five 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.619 chapters of 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.960 gospel that's 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.500 leading to this 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.379 application this 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.639 morning. 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.619 Remember the 00:27:25.619 --> 00:27:26.639 bad news that 00:27:26.639 --> 00:27:27.439 yes, 00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:28.599 all have sinned 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.339 and fallen short 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.079 of the glory of 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.399 God. 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.220 Remember the bad 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.099 news that yes, 00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:34.099 you are deserving 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:35.299 of the wrath of 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:35.659 God. 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:37.500 But remember and 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.619 praise God for the 00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.639 righteousness of 00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.860 God through faith 00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:41.880 in Jesus Christ 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:42.740 for all who 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.380 believe. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.240 Remember and 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.540 praise God that 00:27:46.540 --> 00:27:47.420 you are justified 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.680 by his grace as 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:50.000 a gift through 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.640 the redemption 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.300 that is in 00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:52.120 Christ Jesus, 00:27:53.040 --> 00:27:53.840 whom God put 00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:54.600 forward as a 00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.759 propitiation by 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.980 his blood to be 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.240 received by faith. 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.100 Remember and 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.000 praise God that 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.940 Christ was 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.780 delivered up for 00:28:02.780 --> 00:28:04.120 our trespasses and 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:05.200 raised for our 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.800 justification. 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.020 Remember and 00:28:08.020 --> 00:28:08.900 praise God that 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.620 God, since we 00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:10.500 have been justified 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.480 by faith, we 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.519 have peace with 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.519 God through our 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.460 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:14.560 --> 00:28:15.380 We have access 00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:16.700 into the grace in 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.460 which we stand. 00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:18.500 Remember and 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.480 praise God that 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.519 God's love has 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.860 been poured out 00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:22.900 into our hearts 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.860 through his Holy 00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:24.800 Spirit who's been 00:28:24.800 --> 00:28:25.680 given to us. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.500 Remember the 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:26.940 gospel. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.019 Remember who we 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.580 are in Christ 00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:33.540 and who we are 00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:34.960 because of Christ. 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:36.460 Remember daily 00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.600 that Christ has 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:39.119 lived and died 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.219 and risen from 00:28:40.219 --> 00:28:40.959 the grave in 00:28:40.959 --> 00:28:42.759 victory over sin 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.679 and death and 00:28:43.679 --> 00:28:45.259 so you by faith 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:47.039 in him are also 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:48.719 dead to sin and 00:28:48.719 --> 00:28:49.679 alive to God in 00:28:49.679 --> 00:28:50.000 Christ. 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.779 That's number one. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.379 Fix this in your 00:28:52.379 --> 00:28:52.740 mind. 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:53.559 Remember that's 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:54.019 number one. 00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:55.759 Second, second 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.299 strategy. 00:28:57.939 --> 00:28:58.579 Refuse. 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.139 Refuse. 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:04.480 as one who is 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.960 dead to sin and 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.960 alive to God. 00:29:07.040 --> 00:29:07.660 Verse 12. 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:09.960 He says, let not 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:11.920 sin therefore reign 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.900 in your mortal 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.320 body. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.340 Don't let it. 00:29:15.560 --> 00:29:16.640 Let not sin 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:18.300 therefore reign in 00:29:18.300 --> 00:29:19.420 your mortal body to 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:21.080 make you obey its 00:29:21.080 --> 00:29:21.800 passions. 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:26.120 Your body is no 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:27.840 longer under sin's 00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:28.900 dominion if you're in 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.340 Christ. 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.300 But that doesn't 00:29:31.300 --> 00:29:32.080 mean that it won't 00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:33.140 try and take it back 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:33.900 under his control. 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:35.100 You know this. 00:29:35.840 --> 00:29:37.300 Don't let it. 00:29:39.360 --> 00:29:40.080 Let me ask you 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:40.340 something. 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.680 Imagine that you 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.880 were sitting at home 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.600 one night, sitting 00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:44.360 there just relaxing, 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:47.580 watching TV, and you 00:29:47.580 --> 00:29:48.460 look out the window 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:50.080 and you see somebody 00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:50.780 pull up in your 00:29:50.780 --> 00:29:51.180 driveway. 00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.040 Now I already know 00:29:52.040 --> 00:29:52.820 because I know you 00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:53.320 guys, right? 00:29:53.340 --> 00:29:53.880 We live out here in 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.259 the country. 00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:55.060 You're on itch. 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.400 All right? 00:29:56.780 --> 00:29:57.560 You're ready. 00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:59.059 You're alert. 00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:00.899 But imagine you see 00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:01.740 this guy come up your 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.119 driveway. 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.399 He parks. 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.200 He turns off the 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.460 car. 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.659 He gets out. 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.619 He comes right up to 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.339 the front door 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:10.220 uninvited, unannounced. 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.819 You think, okay, it 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.419 might be nothing. 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:15.519 Probably nothing to 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.200 worry about. 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:17.879 Maybe my wife made 00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:19.059 an Amazon purchase 00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:20.039 and he's coming to 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.839 drop something off. 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:21.500 That's usually what it 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:21.720 is. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.259 But now imagine he 00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:24.720 starts letting 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.339 himself in. 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:27.319 What are you 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:27.839 thinking now? 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:30.519 I know you guys, 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.679 again, because we're 00:30:31.679 --> 00:30:32.679 here and you're in 00:30:32.679 --> 00:30:33.279 your right mind, 00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:33.679 you're probably 00:30:33.679 --> 00:30:34.279 reaching for the 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:35.240 gun or reaching for 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.839 the telephone, 00:30:35.959 --> 00:30:36.659 call the police, 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:38.079 but say for some 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:39.399 reason this particular 00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:40.679 evening you are 00:30:40.679 --> 00:30:41.959 feeling unusually 00:30:41.959 --> 00:30:43.199 welcoming that night 00:30:43.199 --> 00:30:43.859 and so you let him 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:44.220 in. 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.579 He kicks off his 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:48.839 shoes, pushes you 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.679 aside, he goes and 00:30:49.679 --> 00:30:50.599 sits in your chair. 00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:53.459 He starts telling 00:30:53.459 --> 00:30:55.219 you how he wants 00:30:55.219 --> 00:30:56.199 the house set up. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.459 He gives his order 00:30:58.459 --> 00:30:59.240 to your wife for 00:30:59.240 --> 00:30:59.839 dinner and then he 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:00.719 kisses her goodnight. 00:31:02.359 --> 00:31:03.480 He starts to tell 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.459 you, I used to live 00:31:04.459 --> 00:31:05.199 in this house, this 00:31:05.199 --> 00:31:06.279 was my home. 00:31:07.179 --> 00:31:08.179 I used to be the 00:31:08.179 --> 00:31:09.179 king of this castle. 00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:10.839 How would you 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.259 respond? 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.519 You would get that 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.659 guy out of there, 00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.139 right? 00:31:16.219 --> 00:31:16.659 Immediately. 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.980 He doesn't own the 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.619 home anymore. 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.639 Maybe he used to 00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:21.339 take up residence 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.019 there, but now 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.979 that's your home. 00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:24.039 You kick him out. 00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:26.759 Paul says that is 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:28.039 exactly how we 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.119 ought to handle sin. 00:31:29.219 --> 00:31:30.319 It used to reign 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.199 in your body, but 00:31:31.199 --> 00:31:31.919 no more. 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:35.079 It doesn't belong 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:35.879 in your body 00:31:35.879 --> 00:31:36.339 anymore. 00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:38.699 If you are in 00:31:38.699 --> 00:31:40.739 Christ, sin is an 00:31:40.739 --> 00:31:42.039 unwelcome intruder 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:43.279 into Christ 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.879 occupied territory. 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.019 Christ reigns over 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.759 this body now, 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.439 not sin. 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:49.600 Chase it off the 00:31:49.600 --> 00:31:49.960 porch. 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.059 Don't give it one 00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:52.420 foot inside the 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:52.700 door. 00:31:52.840 --> 00:31:53.680 You refuse it. 00:31:53.840 --> 00:31:54.900 You reject it. 00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:55.779 You stand your 00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.120 ground. 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:56.740 You let it know 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.820 it's not welcome 00:31:57.820 --> 00:31:58.799 here anymore. 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:01.059 Let not sin 00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:02.660 therefore reign in 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:04.140 your mortal body to 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:05.360 make you obey its 00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:05.779 passions. 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.660 It can't tell you 00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:07.620 what to do anymore. 00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.259 You tell it to get 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.880 lost. 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:10.020 lost. 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:12.460 Which means, 00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:13.060 Christian, the 00:32:13.060 --> 00:32:14.540 moment it comes 00:32:14.540 --> 00:32:15.480 creeping into your 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:17.540 mind, and by God's 00:32:17.540 --> 00:32:18.840 grace you see it, 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:20.140 you recognize it for 00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.800 what it is, the 00:32:20.800 --> 00:32:22.040 moment it comes into 00:32:22.040 --> 00:32:22.800 your mind, that 00:32:22.800 --> 00:32:24.420 lustful desire, 00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:27.300 that jealousy, 00:32:28.300 --> 00:32:29.640 that anger, 00:32:30.580 --> 00:32:32.060 that pride, that 00:32:32.060 --> 00:32:33.400 selfishness, whatever 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.660 it tends to be for you, 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:36.660 the moment you see 00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:38.300 it, you say with 00:32:38.300 --> 00:32:39.860 all the authority of 00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:40.920 the risen Lord 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:42.860 Jesus, get out and 00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.840 never come back. 00:32:46.040 --> 00:32:47.600 I'm not serving you 00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:48.040 anymore. 00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:49.880 You don't own me 00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.360 anymore. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.680 The old me that 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.980 serves sin as a 00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:54.560 slave is dead, and 00:32:54.560 --> 00:32:55.480 the new me that 00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:56.400 lives by faith in 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.660 Christ lives outside 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.820 of the dominion of 00:32:59.820 --> 00:33:00.300 sin. 00:33:00.600 --> 00:33:01.580 Refuse it. 00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:06.579 And third, third 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:08.960 strategy, present. 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:12.179 Do not present your 00:33:12.179 --> 00:33:13.720 members to sin as 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.839 instruments for 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:17.179 unrighteousness, but 00:33:17.179 --> 00:33:18.259 present yourselves to 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:20.399 God as those who have 00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:21.399 been brought from death 00:33:21.399 --> 00:33:23.179 to life, and your 00:33:23.179 --> 00:33:24.279 members to God as 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:26.099 instruments for 00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.699 righteousness. 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:28.159 It is not enough to 00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:29.559 just play defense. 00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:30.480 Defense wins 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.039 championships. 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:32.699 But you've got to 00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:33.399 move the ball up the 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:34.559 field, right? 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.759 You have to play 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.419 offense. 00:33:37.699 --> 00:33:38.980 Stop offering your 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:40.779 members to sin as 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.740 instruments for 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:42.899 unrighteousness. 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.399 But now, positively 00:33:44.399 --> 00:33:45.699 speaking, he says, 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:47.839 now present yourselves 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.819 to God. 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.559 And you know, I 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.339 looked into this this 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:51.480 week, and I've got to 00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.019 admit I'm a little 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:53.859 confused by the way 00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.980 it's translated here. 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:56.740 I don't know why it's 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:58.319 translated instruments. 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.039 Because that makes me 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:00.539 think of like a 00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:00.859 piano. 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:03.359 Or a tool or 00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:03.659 something. 00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:05.519 But that's not what 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.279 the word means. 00:34:06.379 --> 00:34:07.480 This word here for 00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:09.139 instruments, it's 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.519 interesting. 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:11.319 It only shows up six 00:34:11.319 --> 00:34:12.119 times in the New 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:12.500 Testament. 00:34:13.799 --> 00:34:14.920 Everywhere else it 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.679 shows up, you know 00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.299 what it's translated? 00:34:17.299 --> 00:34:18.500 It is not instruments. 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.360 It's translated 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.480 weapons. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:24.059 Or armor, one time. 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:24.500 Armor. 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:24.559 War. 00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:28.039 This is war language. 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:31.159 Do not present your 00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:32.980 members as weapons of 00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:36.099 war used for evil, but 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:38.340 rather lend yourself as a 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:40.059 weapon in the hands of 00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:42.019 almighty God, as weapons 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:43.039 of righteousness. 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:43.300 righteousness. 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:49.199 Let's just do an exercise 00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.759 real quick. 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:51.380 Think with me just for a 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.099 minute about your last 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.460 week. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.900 Sunday to Sunday. 00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:54.559 Okay? 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.039 All your time at work, all 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:59.659 your time at home, all your 00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:00.679 time in traffic. 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:04.900 Ask yourself, have I 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:06.920 offered my mind this week 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:08.760 as a weapon for 00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:09.720 unrighteousness? 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:12.780 Or have I taken every 00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:13.940 thought captive and made 00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:15.380 it obedient to Christ? 00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.740 How about our feet? 00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.500 Where did your feet take 00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:21.320 you this week? 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:23.720 Have we walked in the 00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:25.039 counsel of the wicked or 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:26.840 stood in the way of 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:28.519 sinners or sat in the 00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.559 seat of scoffers? 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:31.559 Or do we walk in newness 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:33.200 of life going as the Lord 00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:34.519 leaves you in paths of 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.980 righteousness for his 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.780 name's sake? 00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:37.680 How about your hands? 00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:40.360 Have you offered up your 00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:42.200 hands as weapons for 00:35:42.200 --> 00:35:43.840 unrighteousness to tear 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:46.260 down and to destroy, to 00:35:46.260 --> 00:35:48.460 harm or to assault, to 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:49.880 desecrate your body? 00:35:51.640 --> 00:35:53.100 Or have they been offered 00:35:53.100 --> 00:35:53.960 as weapons of 00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:56.120 righteousness to build up 00:35:56.120 --> 00:35:57.560 and to serve one 00:35:57.560 --> 00:35:59.320 another and to be used to 00:35:59.320 --> 00:36:00.380 love your neighbor as 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:02.140 yourself and used to help 00:36:02.140 --> 00:36:03.480 and not to harm? 00:36:03.540 --> 00:36:04.380 How about your mouth? 00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:07.119 Have we offered up our 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.980 mouth as weapons of 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.860 unrighteousness? 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.579 Do we with the same 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:14.320 mouth bless our Lord and 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.900 Father and with it curse 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:17.079 people who are made in the 00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:17.900 likeness of God? 00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:21.260 Do we use it to gossip or 00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:23.300 slander or insult? 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:25.059 Or do we use it to to 00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:27.440 encourage one another and to 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.660 build one another up in 00:36:28.660 --> 00:36:30.280 Christ and and to share the 00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:31.640 good news of the gospel with 00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:32.839 our our friends and our 00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:34.139 neighbors and our co-workers 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:35.500 and our family members? 00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:38.779 Paul says your body. 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.500 The members of your body 00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:43.579 are our weapons in an 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:45.379 unseen spiritual war. 00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:47.039 They can be lent to the 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:49.779 service of sin and fired 00:36:49.779 --> 00:36:50.879 off in the direction of 00:36:50.879 --> 00:36:53.779 unrighteousness or now that 00:36:53.779 --> 00:36:55.440 you are in Christ. 00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:57.980 They can be used. 00:36:58.039 --> 00:37:00.380 They must be used as 00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:01.920 weapons of righteousness in 00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:03.079 the service of the Lord. 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:08.000 Paul says, Christian, we 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:10.019 must remember that we by the 00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:11.260 grace of God have been 00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:13.460 rescued from the enemy's 00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:13.960 belonging. 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:15.539 You no longer belong to the 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.159 other side. 00:37:16.260 --> 00:37:17.659 Don't give them guns and 00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:18.000 ammo. 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:20.960 Offer yourselves up. 00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:21.920 Join the fight. 00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:23.740 as those who have been 00:37:23.740 --> 00:37:25.440 brought from death to 00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:25.820 life. 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:27.260 This is the strategy church 00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:27.940 Paul gives us. 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:29.539 Remember your identity in 00:37:29.539 --> 00:37:29.920 Christ. 00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:33.320 Walk in his victory over 00:37:33.320 --> 00:37:33.760 sin. 00:37:34.180 --> 00:37:36.240 Reckon yourself dead to sin 00:37:36.240 --> 00:37:37.639 and alive to God in 00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:37.960 Christ. 00:37:38.280 --> 00:37:40.680 Refuse even one inch of 00:37:40.680 --> 00:37:42.260 territory to the enemy's 00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:44.440 sin and join the fight. 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:47.320 Present your members as 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.980 weapons for righteousness 00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.599 sake. 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:54.019 The Christian life is a 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.659 war. 00:37:55.839 --> 00:37:56.960 We all know it. 00:37:58.099 --> 00:37:59.839 We all experience it. 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:02.179 But we praise God that it 00:38:02.179 --> 00:38:04.299 is a war that has already 00:38:04.299 --> 00:38:05.719 been won. 00:38:08.659 --> 00:38:10.259 Thomas Watson, the great 00:38:10.259 --> 00:38:12.259 English Puritan, he says, 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:13.799 soon the battle will be 00:38:13.799 --> 00:38:14.119 over. 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:16.539 It will not be long now 00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:17.559 before the day will come 00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:18.759 when Satan will no longer 00:38:18.759 --> 00:38:19.539 trouble us. 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:21.440 There will be no more 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:24.019 domination, temptation, 00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:25.500 accusation, or 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:25.980 confrontation. 00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:28.839 Our warfare will be over 00:38:28.839 --> 00:38:29.960 and our commander, Jesus 00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:31.960 Christ, will call us away 00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:33.099 from the battlefield to 00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:34.699 receive the victor's 00:38:34.699 --> 00:38:35.279 crown. 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:36.679 That day will come. 00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:39.059 Soon and very soon, 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:39.480 church. 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:40.380 But until then, 00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:40.819 Christian, 00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:43.420 are we walking in 00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:44.759 resurrection power 00:38:44.759 --> 00:38:46.400 over sin? 00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:48.960 Father, we praise you. 00:38:49.740 --> 00:38:50.920 We praise you for the 00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:52.420 victory Christ has won over 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.240 sin in the grave. 00:38:54.360 --> 00:38:56.180 We are helpless in this 00:38:56.180 --> 00:38:57.660 fight apart from your 00:38:57.660 --> 00:38:58.340 strength, 00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:01.240 apart from your spirit in 00:39:01.240 --> 00:39:01.639 us. 00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:04.460 Lord, we are helpless to put 00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:05.880 sin to death, but because 00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:08.220 of Christ and in Christ and 00:39:08.220 --> 00:39:09.780 by the power of Christ, 00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:11.720 Lord, we have victory over 00:39:11.720 --> 00:39:12.079 sin. 00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:14.779 So we pray we would walk in 00:39:14.779 --> 00:39:14.920 it. 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:16.219 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:39:16.219 --> 00:39:17.519 Amen.