Can You Be Sure ?

CAN YOU BE SURE ?

Text: Romans 6: 8-14

Introduction:

One of my favorite TV sitcoms from the early 80”s was M.A.S.H., among the colorful characters that made up the cast was a corporal named Klinger. In one episode Klinger decided he would publish a camp newspaper. He was really just trying to scam his way into extra money. So to say the least, the paper was certainly lacking in content. In order to hold down over head Klinger decided to skip proper channels for such things as weather predictions. Just make up his on , so in his first issue the weather forecast for the following day read: CLEAR MAYBE CLOUDY, HOT OR COLD, RAIN OR NOT.

Corporal Klinger was uncertain; unsure about what would happen so he tried to cover all the bases. But in the attempt he left his readers even more confused and unsure.

Klinger was unsure, his readers were as well, but the Apostle Paul wasn’t .In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul made this fact very apparent he wanted them to be very clear to be certain about their new life in Christ. Paul wanted them to know, to reckon, to yield to the truth. To live there lives understanding they were no longer slaves to sin.

As Christians today can we be sure ?

read text Romans 6 : 8-14

I.TO BE SURE WE MUST KNOW THAT WE ARE IN CHRIST.v. 8-9

A. If we be dead with Christ. v. 8

B. Comprehend this truth Jn. 14:6 I am the truth.

C. Jn. 8:32 the truth shall make you free.

TO BE SURE WE MUST KNOW THAT WE ARE IN CHRIST.

II.TO BE SURE WE MUST RECKON (count) ON CHRIST.v.10-11

A. Reckon means to calculate to count on.

B. He paid the price for all sin once.

C. Christ paid my sin debt broke sins power over me.

TO BE SURE WE MUST RECKON (count) ON WHAT CHRIST DID.

AT THE CROSS. AT THE TOMB . COUNT ON THAT!

III.TO BE SURE WE MUST YIELD TO CHRIST. v. 12-13-14

A. No longer slaves to sin because of Christ . We are tempted, but Christ made way of escape.1 Co. 10:13

B. We must choose to yield to Christ.

C. Sin no longer has dominion over those who are alive in Christ. v. 14

TO BE SURE WE MUST YIELD OURSELVES TO CHRIST TO CHOOSE TO BE USED AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

Conclusion:

Can we be sure that we are no longer slaves to sin.? Yes if we know Christ ! Yes if we reckon on him ! Yes if we yield to him ! The Christian is under no compulsion to live his life under the control of sin. We remain free moral agents capable of choosing good and evil. We have the power and the authority to say no to sin. We don’t have to obey the sin nature. If we are in Christ we are alive in him CHRIST RAISED US UP FROM THE DEAD AND NOW WE WALK IN THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION !

ARE YOU SURE? YOU CAN BE. DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR.

CHRISTIAN ARE YOU COUNTING ON CHRIST or what you can do....

ARE YOU YIELDING TO HIM..... time , money, talents, disobey is sin....

Let us pray.

Pastor Steve Lawrence

Harmony Grove Baptist Church Winfield Al.

02/10/05T F