WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.100 In the book of Romans. 00:00:02.760 --> 00:00:04.719 You'll remember that the book of Romans is a letter. 00:00:05.060 --> 00:00:08.779 ! It's a letter written by the Apostle Paul in the 50s A.D. 00:00:09.419 --> 00:00:14.439 It's called Romans because Paul writes it to the churches in the city of Rome. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:18.320 And at the end of the day, it is a letter that is about the gospel. 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:23.519 It's about the good news of Jesus' life and death and resurrection. 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:28.219 Last week, we started chapter 6, and we had this question. 00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:33.379 If God forgives sin, why not just sin more? 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.460 And that's the question Paul asked in verse 1. 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:37.920 He said, what shall we say then? 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:41.859 Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 00:00:42.379 --> 00:00:45.640 If you were here last week, you'll remember the answer was no. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:47.620 That doesn't make any sense. 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:51.000 It doesn't make any sense because you've died to sin, 00:00:51.219 --> 00:00:55.320 and you know that you've died to sin because of your union with Christ. 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:59.659 And then Paul ended verse 4 talking about walking in newness of life, 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:03.200 which is the life that's empowered by the Holy Spirit, 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:09.579 the life where the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is at work in you. 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:15.140 This week, we continue that same question, but we expand on it. 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:16.079 It's the same topic. 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:21.060 We're picking up where we left off with verse 4, walking in newness of life. 00:01:21.060 --> 00:01:25.200 And this passage takes us the next step, which is this. 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:28.780 How do we walk in that life? 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:33.400 If the glory of the Father raised Christ from the dead, 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:37.060 and that power is at work in us, 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:39.000 what do we do with it? 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:40.320 How do we walk in it? 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:43.680 It's going to be what we look at this week and next week. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:46.280 Now, in these verses, verses 5 through 11, 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:51.080 Paul is actually going to repeat a lot of what he said in verses 1 through 4. 00:01:51.260 --> 00:01:57.260 He's even going to repeat some of what we looked at in chapter 5, verses 12 through 21. 00:01:57.540 --> 00:01:59.340 Okay, so we're going to focus this morning. 00:01:59.440 --> 00:02:02.980 Not every verse is going to receive the same amount of attention 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:05.719 because some verses are repeating what's come before. 00:02:06.100 --> 00:02:08.719 Our focus this morning is on two new concepts, 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:11.240 verses 6 and 7. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:14.759 We're going to see that we are free from the slavery of sin. 00:02:16.340 --> 00:02:19.219 Verse 11, Paul tells us, 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:23.360 consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 00:02:23.900 --> 00:02:25.500 So our focus is in those two areas, 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:28.199 focusing especially on verses 6 and 7, 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.379 the idea of being free from the slavery of sin. 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:33.479 Focusing also on verse 11, 00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:35.979 we consider ourselves dead to sin, 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:38.259 alive to God in Christ. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:39.060 Jesus. 00:02:40.020 --> 00:02:43.539 It's with that that I invite you to turn with me to Romans chapter 6. 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:44.560 You can turn in your Bible. 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.719 You'll also find it on page 7 of your worship guide. 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:50.780 As we turn to it, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:55.199 And Jeremiah chapter 23 tells us that God's word is like a hammer 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:57.939 that breaks a rock into pieces, 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:04.740 which is a way of saying that there is nothing more powerful than God's word. 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:08.259 So that's why we read it now, Romans chapter 6, 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:10.139 starting at verse 5. 00:03:10.139 --> 00:03:10.139 00:03:10.139 --> 00:03:16.219 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:21.240 we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:29.260 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, 00:03:29.260 --> 00:03:33.200 so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:38.100 For the one who has died has been set free from sin. 00:03:38.939 --> 00:03:39.820 Verse 8. 00:03:39.819 --> 00:03:45.280 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:51.019 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:54.519 Death no longer has dominion over him. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:58.879 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all. 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:02.579 But the life he lives, he lives to God. 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:11.060 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:15.540 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:16.580 --> 00:04:21.759 Our Father in heaven, we do thank you again for your word that you've given to us. 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:25.120 We thank you that you've united us to yourself. 00:04:25.780 --> 00:04:27.500 That when Christ died, we died. 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:31.740 And when he rose, he brought us new life. 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:34.920 We ask that you'd remind us of those truths this morning, 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:38.220 that you would bring them to life in our hearts, in our lives, in our minds. 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:42.399 That you would help us to understand your word. 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:45.660 Even more than that, you would show us Jesus Christ. 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:50.560 We would see his great glory and power and majesty and holiness. 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:55.420 His authority, his mercy, his grace, and his love. 00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:59.360 And we ask that you would use our time together to grow our love and affection, 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:02.580 our reverence in all, our obedience to Christ. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.180 We ask these things in his mighty name. 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:06.020 Amen. 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:17.280 A couple of years ago, a friend of mine took a trip to the sand dunes in southern Colorado. 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:23.759 And as she was hiking up the sand dunes, she came to the hardest part of the trail. 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:27.180 She's hiking barefoot through the sand, and the trail becomes narrow. 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:31.180 And as she was coming along, trying to get to the top, 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:37.399 there was this obnoxious woman who was spread out, laying down on the ground, 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:40.219 just blocking the path entirely. 00:05:41.099 --> 00:05:45.800 And not only was she just spread out, lying down, blocking the path entirely, 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:48.319 but she was actually smirking. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:52.480 And refusing to move as people would come up along this trail. 00:05:52.540 --> 00:05:55.699 And you'd think, on a normal trail, this wouldn't be a big deal. 00:05:56.019 --> 00:05:57.319 But this is the sand dunes. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.560 And so it's hard enough as it is to walk on the trail. 00:06:00.899 --> 00:06:06.639 It's even harder to navigate around someone who is spread out on the trail. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:10.439 And my friend was hiking barefoot, so that makes it even more challenging. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:12.740 And so as she told this story, she said this, 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:17.420 I wanted to kick sand in her face. 00:06:19.960 --> 00:06:20.920 Which is understandable. 00:06:21.240 --> 00:06:23.620 And the plan, of course, would be she's going to pretend it was an accident. 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:26.680 Oh, sorry, I didn't mean for my foot to move in that direction. 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:30.439 But she said, but then I remembered, 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.300 I'm a child of God. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:37.220 So she didn't. 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:39.480 She didn't kick sand in her face. 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:45.980 I tell you that story because that is the point of this passage. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:50.420 In fact, that might capture some of the point of the end of chapter 5 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:52.180 and what we saw last week. 00:06:52.280 --> 00:06:56.380 That is what it looks like to walk in newness of life, 00:06:56.440 --> 00:06:58.080 according to Paul in this passage. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:03.540 Walking in newness of life is remembering who you are. 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:05.600 Now, my friend could have said, 00:07:05.960 --> 00:07:08.879 you know, I remembered what I remember from Romans chapter 5, 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:10.879 that I was in Adam and now I'm in Christ 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.060 and the power of sin has ceased to have authority over me 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:15.500 and that when Christ died, I died, 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:18.640 and that the reign of sin no longer controls the center of my heart 00:07:18.640 --> 00:07:20.220 and so I've risen to resurrection life, 00:07:20.300 --> 00:07:21.720 which is the newness of life that's empowered 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:23.500 by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:26.259 She could have said all of that, 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:30.040 but she captured all of that by simply saying, 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:35.720 I remembered I am a child of God. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:38.100 That's why I don't kick sand in people's face. 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:44.420 Romans chapter 6 is detailed and technical and complicated. 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:47.480 Romans chapter 5 was the same way, 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:49.020 but at the end of the day, 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:53.480 as we move through those things and understand them, 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:55.280 I want you to remember that. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:59.219 The Christian does not continue in sin 00:07:59.219 --> 00:08:01.679 because the Christian is a child of God. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:03.339 It's as simple as that. 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:04.759 So as we move through this passage, 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:07.299 that is the big idea. 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:12.359 The Christian instead grows to look more and more like Jesus Christ. 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:15.899 So as we navigate through verses 5 and 11, 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:17.559 if you're tempted to get lost, 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:21.119 I want you to remember that is the big idea. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:24.299 I am a child of God. 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:30.579 Much of this passage, as I mentioned, 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:32.620 is repetition from last week, 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:35.039 so we're going to move quickly through some of it. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:39.820 Verse 5 tells us why we have the newness of life 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:42.419 that was mentioned in verse 4. 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:45.500 Sin, this is what verse 5 is telling us, 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:51.860 sin lost power because of Christ's death. 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:59.620 Life gains power because of Christ's resurrection. 00:09:00.300 --> 00:09:06.120 Sin lost power because of Christ's death. 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:11.580 Life gains power because of Christ's resurrection. 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:15.120 Jesus died, you died. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:19.279 Jesus rose, you rise. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.399 By the way, that's the same thing that verse 8 is telling us. 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:23.620 Verse 8 is also saying, 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:25.200 Jesus' death, our death. 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:27.679 Jesus' life, our life. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:30.299 That takes us then to verse 6, 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:33.179 which is the most confusing verse in this section 00:09:33.179 --> 00:09:34.360 because of two phrases. 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:35.639 It uses the phrase, 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:39.199 the old self and the body of sin. 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:42.439 We know that our old self was crucified with him 00:09:42.439 --> 00:09:44.759 in order that the body of sin 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:46.740 might be brought to nothing. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:49.240 And when he says the old self, 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:51.860 he is talking about what we discussed 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:53.199 at the end of chapter 5, 00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:56.159 you when you were in Adam. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.319 So the old self is the self 00:09:59.319 --> 00:10:03.980 when sin controlled and owned your heart. 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:07.019 The old self is you 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:11.079 when sin owned and controlled your heart. 00:10:11.699 --> 00:10:14.539 The body of sin is related 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:18.219 but not identical to the old self. 00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:21.879 The body of sin is how the old self 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:23.980 in the totality of your person 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:27.240 played out in real time and space. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.800 So we could put it this way. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.240 You are no longer in Adam, 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:32.240 so no old self. 00:10:33.060 --> 00:10:36.940 Therefore, your entire life has changed. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:38.440 No body of sin. 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:41.259 That's simply what Paul is saying in a sense. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.480 That's again what we saw last week. 00:10:43.800 --> 00:10:44.779 He's telling us again, 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:46.899 sin doesn't rule over you. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:50.939 You don't have to obey it anymore. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:55.659 Sin does not rule over you. 00:10:55.959 --> 00:10:59.399 You don't have to obey it anymore. 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:03.079 That takes us to the new concept for this week 00:11:03.079 --> 00:11:04.419 at the end of verse 6, 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:06.799 which is the concept of slavery. 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:08.720 Verse 6, he says, 00:11:08.819 --> 00:11:11.100 you no longer be enslaved to sin. 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:12.419 That's the negative. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:13.159 You're not enslaved. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.720 Now verse 7 gives us the positive. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.259 You've been set free from sin. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:19.420 And Paul's again basically saying, 00:11:19.540 --> 00:11:21.779 remember what I told you in verses 1 through 4. 00:11:21.920 --> 00:11:24.980 You are free from the power of sin. 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:26.440 So verses 6 and 7, 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:27.840 two sides of the same coin. 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:29.820 You're no longer a slave, 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:30.960 but free. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:33.279 And so that's the new idea 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.980 that he introduces in this passage. 00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:36.600 And so as we think about 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:38.639 what it means to be enslaved to sin, 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:40.960 I want to return to my 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:43.600 non-sand-kicking friend. 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:46.159 If you're not a Christian, 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.000 you might be thinking, 00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:50.519 that's the stupidest illustration 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.860 of Christianity I've ever heard. 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:55.840 I actually don't need Christianity 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:57.580 to not kick sand in people's faces. 00:11:58.519 --> 00:11:59.299 I'm an adult. 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:02.259 I have something called self-control. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:04.439 And if you thought that, 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.179 you would be right. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:07.980 You probably do have self-control. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:09.279 Most of you are adults. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:16.419 And you would still be a slave to sin. 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:22.599 Whether you do that specific action or not, 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:28.099 sin is still the ruling power in your life. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:31.479 Whether you do that specific action or not, 00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:36.379 sin is still the ruling power in your life. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:38.159 Remember, we talked about this 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:39.539 in Genesis chapter 20. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:40.799 I think that was over the summer 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.559 with the story of Abimelech and Abraham. 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:43.659 And we said, look, 00:12:43.719 --> 00:12:45.279 sometimes Christians act poorly 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:47.740 and pagans behave really well. 00:12:48.699 --> 00:12:51.399 The Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck explains it. 00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:51.899 He says, look, 00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:55.240 non-Christians can refrain from sinful actions. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:56.679 But, 00:12:58.319 --> 00:13:01.019 non-Christians can refrain from sinful actions, 00:13:01.179 --> 00:13:02.259 but it is a battle, 00:13:02.339 --> 00:13:03.220 this is what he calls it, 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:06.699 a battle from the outside. 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:12.139 They cannot do what he, 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:15.139 he cannot invade the inner forces 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:17.120 of the heart. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:24.179 They cannot attack the evil at its roots. 00:13:24.839 --> 00:13:27.699 They cannot invade the inner fortress of the heart. 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:31.159 They cannot attack the evil at its roots. 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:33.439 Then gives us another category. 00:13:33.839 --> 00:13:34.679 If you're not a Christian, 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.319 you can, 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:39.659 by exercising your self-control, 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:43.539 restrain and limit sin. 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:45.599 You can, 00:13:45.599 --> 00:13:46.959 even if you're not a Christian, 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:50.120 restrain and limit sin. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:52.759 But there are some things you can't do. 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:54.839 Bavinck says, 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:58.980 you cannot cleanse it or renew it. 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:04.980 You cannot cleanse it or renew it. 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:07.060 In other words, 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:07.420 yes, 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:09.720 you can be someone who's not a Christian 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.539 and you can live a moral life 00:14:12.539 --> 00:14:13.720 in certain ways. 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:16.560 And you can refrain from certain actions, 00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:18.000 but when you do that, 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:20.659 at your very best, 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:23.300 you are white knuckling. 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:27.860 You are holding on with your strength 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:30.899 to restrain your lusts and your impulses. 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:33.679 You're trying to keep those things at bay. 00:14:34.819 --> 00:14:36.959 But you cannot cleanse your heart. 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:39.399 You cannot renew it. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.559 Of course, 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:42.319 we've talked about this other idea before, 00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:43.980 that something is only truly good 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:45.120 and pleasing to God 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.639 if it's done for the right reasons, 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:48.919 which is for God's honor and his glory. 00:14:50.199 --> 00:14:50.459 Of course, 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:52.000 that's not the function, right, 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:53.699 of someone who is white knuckling 00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:55.299 certain behaviors. 00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:56.500 Bob Vink says, 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:56.679 you know, 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.839 someone might behave 00:14:57.839 --> 00:14:59.639 because they want respectability. 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:01.339 They might behave 00:15:01.339 --> 00:15:02.539 because of the morals 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:04.479 of the culture around them. 00:15:06.339 --> 00:15:07.000 But, 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:12.059 if sin controls 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:15.879 the inner fortress of your heart, 00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:20.559 you are indeed its slave. 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:33.759 We can think again 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:34.799 of what happened 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.799 with my friend. 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.179 You might notice 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:40.379 what her reasoning was not. 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:43.199 Notice what her power was not. 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:44.199 She didn't say, 00:15:45.219 --> 00:15:46.719 I was going to kick sand in her face, 00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:47.719 but then I thought, 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.099 what will people think? 00:15:49.699 --> 00:15:50.899 What if someone saw me? 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.959 That would be the power of shame. 00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.720 She'd be using shame 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:57.300 to kind of hold her behavior at bay. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:58.680 She didn't say, 00:15:58.960 --> 00:15:59.759 what will happen? 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.860 What if this woman stands up 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.400 and wants to have a fist fight with me? 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:06.220 That'd be the power of fear, right? 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.920 That would be 00:16:06.920 --> 00:16:08.500 what's motivating her. 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.280 That would have been 00:16:09.280 --> 00:16:11.200 fighting from the outside, right? 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:11.720 That would have been 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.379 the fortress 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.540 that she can't penetrate, 00:16:13.680 --> 00:16:14.320 but she's holding, 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.000 restraining, 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.360 and limiting sin. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.420 But no, 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.000 when she said, 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:18.700 I didn't do it 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:20.160 because I'm a child of God, 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.440 what she's saying is this. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:24.160 The inner fortress 00:16:24.160 --> 00:16:25.420 of my heart 00:16:25.420 --> 00:16:26.960 has changed. 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:30.160 The power center 00:16:30.160 --> 00:16:31.360 of my life 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:33.740 no longer has sin 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.560 in the chair. 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:37.680 In my command center, 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.440 at the very inner place 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:41.300 of my heart, 00:16:41.900 --> 00:16:43.940 it's actually Jesus Christ 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:45.600 ruling and reigning 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.580 as king. 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:49.300 And so I'm not 00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:49.980 white knuckling, 00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:51.820 not controlling 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.680 my behavior 00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:53.980 for respectability 00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:55.040 or because of the society 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:55.900 around me. 00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:57.360 No, 00:16:57.540 --> 00:16:59.320 I'm a child of God. 00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:01.940 The power of God 00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:02.980 by his spirit, 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:03.879 the same power 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:05.259 that raised Jesus Christ 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:05.900 from the dead 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.860 is at work 00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:07.420 cleansing, 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.259 renewing, 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.579 and transforming 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:11.079 me. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.039 Even more than that, 00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:14.960 what my friend was saying 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:17.079 was I did the right thing 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:20.460 for the right reason. 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.259 I didn't do it 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:23.220 to escape consequences, 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:23.700 I didn't do it 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.559 to escape shame, 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.799 I did it 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:27.660 for God's honor 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:28.900 and his glory. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.079 I'm his child. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.600 Why would I do 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:36.279 anything else? 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:40.059 That's what we sang 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:41.799 about our second song 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.519 this morning. 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.799 We sang Run and Run. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:44.859 It says this 00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.660 in the first verse. 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:46.859 Run and run, 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:48.000 the law demands, 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.460 which is saying, 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:49.960 this is when you're 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:50.359 trying to fight 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:51.399 from outside the fortress, 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.639 but gives me 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:54.079 neither feet nor hands. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.619 In other words, 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:55.420 your only tool 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.359 is white knuckling. 00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.680 Better news, 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.139 the gospel brings, 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.299 it bids me fly, 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.759 it gives me wings. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:04.960 Wings. 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:07.720 Those wings, 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.180 the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.240 the glory of God 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.980 that raised Christ 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.500 from the dead 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:13.059 at work in the heart 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:15.099 and life of the believer. 00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:17.180 We also saw it 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.740 in our Old Testament 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.559 reading this morning 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:20.299 from Ezekiel chapter 36. 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.460 What does God promise? 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.500 This is on page three 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.559 of your worship guide. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.980 I will cleanse you, 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:26.539 I will give you 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.299 a new heart. 00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.900 I will remove 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.779 the heart of stone 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.839 from your flesh 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.740 and give you 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.879 a heart of flesh. 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:36.160 That's in a sense 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.960 what my friend was saying. 00:18:38.020 --> 00:18:39.540 God has given me 00:18:39.540 --> 00:18:41.800 a new heart. 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.520 When she did that, 00:18:47.080 --> 00:18:48.380 she was following, 00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:48.960 in a sense, 00:18:49.020 --> 00:18:50.340 the other new concept 00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:52.000 in this passage, 00:18:52.280 --> 00:18:52.840 verse 11. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.940 Verse 11 says, 00:18:56.040 --> 00:18:57.000 so you also must 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.420 consider yourselves 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.520 dead to sin 00:18:59.520 --> 00:19:01.160 and alive to God 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.580 in Christ Jesus. 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:04.899 And what Paul 00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.919 is saying there is, 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.220 hey, 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.179 remember what's true. 00:19:10.179 --> 00:19:11.059 It's true 00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:13.339 that you are 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:14.819 dead to sin 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.639 and alive to God 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:16.399 in Christ Jesus. 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:17.919 Now you need to 00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:18.659 consider yourself 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:19.139 that way. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.879 You need to remember that. 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:21.720 You need to think 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.359 about yourself 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:23.119 in those terms. 00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:24.619 You need to remind yourself 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:26.259 of what's already true. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.579 That is how you take hold 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.960 of the power 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:32.139 that we saw last week. 00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:34.060 It's also saying, 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:34.200 hey, 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.340 it's actually really easy 00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:36.220 to forget that you're 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.700 in Christ 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:40.000 and to think 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.720 that you're still 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.280 in Adam. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.840 It's easy to forget 00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:45.500 that you belong to God 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.280 and he's changing 00:19:46.280 --> 00:19:47.460 your heart. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:49.300 And so you have to 00:19:49.300 --> 00:19:50.040 constantly be 00:19:50.040 --> 00:19:51.000 reminding yourself, 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:51.660 remembering, 00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:52.920 coming back again 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:54.120 and again to what is true. 00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:54.720 And what is true 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.200 is this, 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.720 when Jesus died, 00:19:56.840 --> 00:19:57.340 you died. 00:19:57.339 --> 00:20:00.199 when Jesus rose 00:20:00.199 --> 00:20:01.079 from the dead, 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.480 he gave you 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.059 new life. 00:20:07.679 --> 00:20:08.679 Scottish pastor 00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:09.919 named Sinclair Ferguson 00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:11.279 illustrates this 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.139 with this concept 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.079 of being called up 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:14.339 to military service, 00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:14.879 the draft. 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.500 And so I've taken 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.059 this illustration 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:17.039 and I've adapted it 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.000 to be about yours truly. 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:21.240 When I turned 18, 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:23.339 as a man 00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:24.579 in the United States, 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.759 I had to register 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:27.159 for selective service 00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:28.659 so that the military 00:20:28.659 --> 00:20:30.299 would know who I was 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.079 if they ever wanted 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:32.779 to have a draft. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.839 Now that hasn't 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:35.359 happened for me, 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.799 but I want you to imagine 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.539 for a second 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.599 that our neighbors 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.259 to the north, 00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:41.240 our great Canadian friends, 00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:42.460 decide they're going 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.559 to have a military draft. 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.599 They're calling up names 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:47.159 and the name 00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:47.839 Matthew Capone 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.579 pops up. 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.699 Matthew is called 00:20:50.699 --> 00:20:51.359 to fight 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:52.759 for the Canadian military. 00:20:53.699 --> 00:20:54.059 And so Canada 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.559 calls me up, 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:54.980 and they say, 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.500 guess what? 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:56.759 You showed up 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.279 in the draft. 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.939 This is your date 00:20:58.939 --> 00:20:59.480 to show up 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.500 and serve in the military. 00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:01.779 You're going to help us 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.339 fight our war 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:03.079 against whomever. 00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:04.980 What am I going to do 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.539 in that moment? 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.980 Do I shake in my boots? 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.480 Oh no, 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.179 I have to go to war 00:21:10.179 --> 00:21:10.599 for Canada. 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:13.879 No, 00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:14.500 I'm going to laugh 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.199 in their face. 00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.919 And why would I laugh 00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:18.599 in their face? 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:22.079 I'm not a Canadian citizen. 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:25.679 You have no, 00:21:25.679 --> 00:21:26.839 what? 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.740 You have no power 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:30.679 over me. 00:21:34.179 --> 00:21:35.159 Point is this. 00:21:36.919 --> 00:21:37.359 Sin 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:40.980 is going to call you up 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.139 as a Christian. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.720 Hey, 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.720 you know what would be 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.279 a great idea? 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:46.960 I think you, 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.600 I think you should flirt 00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:49.019 with someone 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.860 who isn't your spouse. 00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.240 Actually, 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.880 I'm going to command you 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.299 to do that. 00:21:52.340 --> 00:21:52.759 I'm sin. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.620 I'm going to speak to you. 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.000 What do you do? 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.600 You laugh. 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.799 That's really silly. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.579 Why would I do that? 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:04.599 I'm not a citizen of sin. 00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:06.159 That doesn't make any sense. 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:06.960 That actually sounds 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.419 kind of miserable. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.460 That sounds like slavery. 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:12.079 Sin calls you up. 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.259 Hey, 00:22:12.379 --> 00:22:14.039 I have a great idea for you. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.720 I want you to rehearse 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.299 all the ways 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:16.859 you've been hurt. 00:22:18.179 --> 00:22:19.419 Whatever grudges you have, 00:22:19.439 --> 00:22:20.299 I really want you 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.019 nursing those. 00:22:21.439 --> 00:22:21.720 Actually, 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.319 I don't just want you 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:22.659 doing that. 00:22:22.679 --> 00:22:23.659 I command you to do that. 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.179 What are you going to say? 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.779 You're going to laugh. 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.519 I'm not a citizen of sin. 00:22:31.699 --> 00:22:32.199 I don't have to do 00:22:32.199 --> 00:22:32.980 what you tell me to do. 00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.779 That actually sounds 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.259 kind of miserable. 00:22:35.399 --> 00:22:36.480 That sounds like slavery. 00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:38.220 If you're falsely accused, 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.339 sin's going to come to you 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:39.699 and say, 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.279 you know what? 00:22:41.199 --> 00:22:42.000 Punch them back. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.699 They hurt you. 00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:46.500 You hurt them. 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.859 What are you going to say? 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.879 You're going to laugh. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.519 You're going to say, 00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:55.740 I'm actually a child of God. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.319 And you know what God says 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.939 to his children? 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:00.500 He says he's going to defend them. 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.880 He's going to vindicate them. 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.880 I'm not going to worry 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:06.640 that someone's falsely accused me. 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.099 I know that God 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:09.299 is the bringer of justice. 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.500 I don't need to punch back. 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:13.920 I'm what? 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.099 I'm free. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.019 I'm free. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.619 Not a citizen to sin. 00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:21.459 Of course, 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.619 it's easier said 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.579 than done. 00:23:25.439 --> 00:23:26.479 Which is the point 00:23:26.479 --> 00:23:27.179 of verse 11. 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.739 Paul has to remind us 00:23:28.739 --> 00:23:29.919 to do it. 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.619 Paul is saying, 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:30.899 look, 00:23:31.459 --> 00:23:32.739 think in this way. 00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:34.799 Remind yourself 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.919 of what's true. 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.199 The Christian life, 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:39.000 one way of thinking about it, 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.099 it is a battle 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:41.559 to remember 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.819 who you actually are. 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:44.720 It's a battle 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.500 to remember 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:47.159 that you are in Christ, 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:48.980 not in Adam. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.639 It is a battle 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.159 to remember 00:23:50.159 --> 00:23:51.379 you are no longer 00:23:51.379 --> 00:23:53.179 under the reign of sin. 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.500 It has no power 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:56.099 or authority over you. 00:23:56.439 --> 00:23:57.720 You have died to sin. 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.159 You are no longer in Adam. 00:23:59.159 --> 00:24:01.079 You have been set free. 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:03.220 I don't care 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.139 what sin says. 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:07.559 Sin calling me up 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.439 and telling me 00:24:08.439 --> 00:24:09.139 what to do 00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:10.539 is as silly 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.960 as Canada 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.019 trying to draft 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.879 Matthew Capone 00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:14.759 to their military. 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.220 I'm not part 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.879 of that reign. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.359 I'm not part 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.079 of that rule. 00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:20.659 By the way, 00:24:20.699 --> 00:24:21.279 and this is stretching 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.460 back to last week, 00:24:22.939 --> 00:24:24.299 how do I know 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:26.779 I am now in Christ? 00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:30.220 I've been baptized. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.019 Yeah, what sin? 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:35.720 When sin comes to you, 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.439 you remind it. 00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:38.859 Actually, that's silly. 00:24:38.939 --> 00:24:39.519 I've been baptized. 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:42.199 I died when Christ died. 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.579 When he rose, 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.879 I was given life. 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:47.500 Now what I'm about 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:47.960 to tell you 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.399 is going to sound 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:49.000 a little weird. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.779 It's going to sound weird 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.339 because it is, 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.679 but it's also brilliant. 00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.539 I have a friend. 00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:57.659 She's a member 00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.659 of Generation Z, 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.059 and she has trained 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:02.639 ChatGPT 00:25:02.639 --> 00:25:04.559 to remind her 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:06.039 of truths from Romans. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.139 So one time I said, 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:09.819 okay, I want to watch you do this. 00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:10.599 Show me what you do. 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.599 So she opened up ChatGPT. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.539 She's trained it. 00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.240 She said, hey, 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.759 ChatGPT, 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.819 I'm having a really bad day. 00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.480 I really need you 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.899 to help me get back on track 00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.859 and remember what's true. 00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:21.659 And ChatGPT said, 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.079 remember, 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:24.480 you have actually died to sin. 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:26.179 You are no longer 00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:27.399 a slave to righteousness. 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.599 You actually belong to Christ. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:31.799 Sin has no power over you. 00:25:32.959 --> 00:25:33.919 And that, my friends, 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.319 is a modern solution 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.959 to an ancient problem. 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.879 She, in a sense, 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.919 is working to live out 00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:42.679 verse 11. 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.619 She's reckoning herself 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:46.019 dead to sin 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:47.799 and alive to Christ Jesus. 00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:49.439 That is what this passage 00:25:49.439 --> 00:25:50.119 is telling us. 00:25:50.179 --> 00:25:51.939 We return again and again. 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:54.279 We remind ourselves 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.340 over and over 00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:56.740 of what is true 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:58.440 and not just reminding ourselves, 00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.799 reminding each other. 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:02.320 You may still feel like a slave. 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:05.460 You may still act like a slave 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.440 at times, 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:09.400 but you are a slave no more. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.279 You are free. 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:14.259 So act like it. 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.080 Behave like it. 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:19.359 Now, I don't mean 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.799 to oversimplify this. 00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:22.319 There are other pieces 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:24.019 to consider 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.220 in our battle against sin. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.299 It certainly is more 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:27.279 than this, right? 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.980 But it is not less 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.539 than this. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.460 And this is the place 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.839 that Paul leans in 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:34.799 in this passage. 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.079 In this passage, 00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:36.859 as we think about 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.579 what all of the Bible 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:39.000 teaches about fighting sin, 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:39.879 Paul says, 00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:41.079 this is one 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:42.419 of the tools 00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:43.299 in your belt. 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:47.099 Remember what is true. 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.240 Reckon yourself. 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.599 Consider yourself 00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.359 dead to sin 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.500 and alive to God 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:54.539 in Christ Jesus. 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.740 Finally, Paul reminds us 00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.460 it's not just that 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.440 we're free now. 00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.700 He also goes out of his way 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.220 to tell us 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:05.339 we will always be free. 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.200 There's, in fact, 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.500 no chance 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.940 of going back 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.759 into slavery. 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.919 That's the point 00:27:11.919 --> 00:27:13.099 of verses 9, 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.119 and 10. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.419 Verses 9 and 10, 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.500 he's saying one thing, 00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:16.899 essentially. 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.139 Look, 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:20.359 it's a done deal. 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.960 You actually can't 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:24.119 unresurrect Jesus. 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.700 And if you can't 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.759 unresurrect Jesus, 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:29.299 you can't be a slave 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:29.899 to sin anymore. 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.579 Jesus has risen, 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.099 verse 10, 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.159 once for all. 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.339 It's done. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.419 There's no threat 00:27:38.419 --> 00:27:39.399 of Jesus being pulled 00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.259 back into the tomb. 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.839 Verse 9, 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:43.359 never die again. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:43.720 Okay, 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.439 it can't be clear. 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.759 You are free 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.079 from sin forever 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:49.000 because Jesus rose 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.699 from the dead 00:27:49.699 --> 00:27:50.500 forever. 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.459 You're free 00:27:52.459 --> 00:27:53.639 from sin forever 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:55.779 because Jesus rose 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.500 from the dead 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.319 forever. 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.339 Jesus is not 00:27:59.339 --> 00:27:59.859 going back 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.480 in the tomb, 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.799 so you can't go back 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.539 into slavery 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:05.000 to sin. 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.419 It's done. 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.839 The deal's sealed. 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:11.319 return windows over. 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.639 Of course, 00:28:16.679 --> 00:28:17.699 what Paul teaches us, 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:20.659 Jesus taught 00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.740 first. 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.740 Jesus tells us this 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.959 in John chapter 14, 00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:26.879 if you love me, 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:28.259 you will keep 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.980 my commandments. 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:34.360 how do we live 00:28:34.360 --> 00:28:35.620 the resurrection 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:36.440 life? 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.420 How do we walk 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.079 in the newness 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.559 of life 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.579 that Paul talked 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:42.120 about last week? 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.839 We live it 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:45.680 remembering 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.819 that we 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.620 are children 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.779 of God. 00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:50.579 We're no longer 00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.140 slaves. 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:53.220 We are free 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.980 to obey. 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:57.960 So you also 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.860 must consider 00:28:58.860 --> 00:28:59.500 yourselves 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.559 dead to sin 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.880 and alive 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:02.740 to God 00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.660 in Christ 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.519 Jesus. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.980 May the mind 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:09.500 of Christ 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.220 my Savior 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:12.059 live in me 00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:13.000 from day to day 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:15.440 by his love 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.539 and power 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:18.400 controlling 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:21.360 all I do 00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:22.579 and say. 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:25.279 let's pray. 00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:29.059 Our Father 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.399 in heaven, 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:31.079 we praise 00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.379 you 00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:31.859 and thank 00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:32.000 you 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.439 that you 00:29:32.439 --> 00:29:33.379 always 00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:35.119 empower 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:35.500 what you 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:35.839 command. 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:36.779 You bid us 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.059 fly, 00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:37.519 but you also 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:37.839 give us 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:38.119 wings. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.419 You've given 00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:40.879 us freedom 00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.599 through the power 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:42.079 of your Holy 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:42.679 Spirit and the 00:29:42.679 --> 00:29:43.079 resurrection 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.659 of our Lord 00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:43.960 Jesus, 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:44.579 and we ask 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:44.899 that you 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:46.419 would remind 00:29:46.419 --> 00:29:46.779 us, 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.599 especially this 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:47.859 morning, 00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:48.339 that that is 00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:48.859 true and 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.299 that we would 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.299 live into it 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:50.839 as we follow 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.139 you. 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:51.939 We ask 00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.480 all of these 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:52.960 things in 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.559 Jesus' name. 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:54.460 Amen.