Live For God, Not For Sin

E. (6:12-14) APPLICATION: LIVE FOR GOD, NOT FOR SIN --

EXHORTATION AND MOTIVATION TO USE GOD'S GRACE TO RESIST FULFILLING THE DESIRES OF SIN AND TO OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR DOING GOOD

1. (:12-13) The Exhortation that we are to carry out

a. Resist fulfilling the desires of sin (:12)

1) the Dynamic of Sin -- it is the same for everyone

(like a powerful magnetic attraction)

2) When are we vulnerable and likely to yield?

3) What is involved in Resisting?

4) The problem comes not in having inward sinful longings, but in failing to resist so that we end up obeying sin

b. Offer ourselves to God as an instrument for doing good (:13)

1) Parallel passages (James 4:7; Rom. 12:1)

2) Meaning of "offer" -- put yourself at God's disposal; make yourself available to be used for God's purpose

3) Nature of the offering

OT background

our entire being

all the specific parts of your body (arms, feet, mouth)

other NT offerings that we are exhorted to make

4) Instruments of righteousness -- God's will for your life

Transition: not saying in a simplistic sense that this is easy to do

2. (:14) The Motivation that will help us carry out the exhortation

a. We have been brought to life and are now able to live for God

(:13b) -- regenerate; new creation; breath of new life

b. We are no longer held in bondage to sin (1 Cor. 10:13)

c. We are not left just to the "mercy of the law"

God's Law -- What it does and doesn't do:

1) It only demands/commands but gives no power to obey

(Rom. 2:14-16)

2) It only condemns us -- showing us how badly we've failed but never making us any better (Rom. 3:19-20)

3) It doesn't restrict/restrain our fallen nature; it provokes it to sin (Rom. 5:20)

4) It can never relieve us from our bondage to sin (and death and condemnation) and free us to obey

d. We are now under the enabling power of God's grace

1) provides guidance and gives power to obey

2) no possibility of condemnation since our merit or performance is not the issue

3) motivates obedience out of love and gratitude rather than stimulating rebellion and sin

4) relieves us from the dominion of sin and frees us to obey

(6:11-14) Four areas of personal responsibility for the believer in the process of Sanctification:

1) Reckon on our union with Christ -- faith

2) Recognize and actively resist sin

3) Renounce control of our own life and yield ourselves as an offering to God's will and service

4) Rest in God's Grace as the Governing Perspective of our lives