Romans:6:15 – 23. “REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!”
ON THE 28TH MAY 1972 THE DUKE OF WINDSOR, THE UNCROWNED KING EDWARD 8TH DIED IN PARIS. THE SAME EVENING A TELEVISION PROGRAMME REHEARSED THE MAIN EVENTS OF HIS LIFE. EXTRACTS FROM EARLIER FILMS WERE SHOWN, WHICH HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS UPBRINGING, BRIEF REIGN AND ABDICATION. RECALLING HIS BOYHOOD AS THE PRINCE OF WALES, HE SAID “MY FATHER WAS (KING GEORGE V) A STRICT DISCIPLINARIAN. SOMETIMES WHEN I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG, HE WOULD ADMONISH ME SAYING, “MY DEAR BOY, YOU MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.” ITS MY CONVICTION THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SAYS THE SAME TO US EVERY DAY: MY DEAR CHILD REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.” JOHN STOTT THE MESSAGE OF ROMANS IVP P187.
IN BECOMING THE NEXT KING CERTAIN EXPECTATIONS WERE PLACED UPON EDWARD, AFTER ALL HE WAS THE SON OF A KING , CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS WERE MEANT TO FLOW OUT OF HIS LIFE ASSOCIATED WITH HIS KINGSHIP,BUT SADLY EDWARD THE 8TH FAILED TO BECOME KING BECAUSE HIS LIFE WAS NOT FITTING FOR SUCH AN OFFICE.
DO YOU CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN THIS MORNING? IF SO YOU NEED TO REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. YES WE ARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD, WE ARE ALSO SLAVES WITH A DIFFERENCE ( WE HAVE VOLUNTARY BOUND OURSELVES) TO GOD. AS A RESULT WE HAVE A NEW MASTER WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LIVE AND SERVE HIM. IF OUR LIFE DOESN’T MATCH UP TO THE POSITION WE PROFESS, YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF “DO I BELONG TO GOD AT ALL?” BELIEVERS ARE CALLED NOT CALLED ONLY TO TALK THE TALK, BUT ACTUALLY WALK THE WALK.”
EVIDENCE OF A TRUE BELIEVER IS NOT ONLY FOUND IN OUR WORDS, THE ORDINANCES WE PARTAKE IN, THE BIBLE WE TRUTHS WE UPHOLD - BUT IN THE VERY OUTWORKING OF OUR DAILY LIVES..... BEING A CHRISTIAN IS MORE THAN SOME DECISION YOU MADE ONE NIGHT (MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING DUPED TODAY THAT THEY ARE CHRISTIANS ) YET THEIR LIVES SIMPLY CONTRADICT IT!
MATT 7:21 JESUS SAID , NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME LORD, LORD, WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT ONLY HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. SO LET’S REMEMBER WHO WE ARE... BECAUSE WE NEVER WANT TO FALL FROM GRACE..... TO HELP US WERE GOING TO LOOK AT THE CHARACTERISTICS FOUND IN A TRUE BELIEVER. WHOSE IS DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER?
1. A TRUE BELIEVER WILL NOT USE THE GRACE OF GOD AS A LICENCE TO SIN V15 – 17
PAUL HAS JUST PUSHED THE REWIND BUTTON , MEANS THIS IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT HE IS REAFFIRMING ONCE AGAIN THAT GODS GRACE IS NOT A LICENCE TO SIN . REMEMBER THE QUESTION HAS ALREADY BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED .... 6:1 - 14 SHALL WE GO ON SINNING .... CERTAINLY NOT! EARLIER HIS ANSWER POINTED TO THE FACT WE ARE NOW UNITED TO CHRIST IN HIS DEATH, AND DEAD TO SIN AND HIS RESURRECTION RAISED US TO NEW LIFE. IN CHRIST WE ARE RECKONED TO BE DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE TO NEW LIFE SO ITS A COMPLETE ABSURDITY BECAUSE WE DIED TO IT IN CHRIST.
HERE ROM. 6: 15 -23 THE EMPHASIS SHIFTS FROM WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN CHRIST. TO WHAT WE ARE DOING, IT INVOLVES OUR CONVERSION, OUR CONVERSION INVOLVES OFFERING OURSELVES AS SLAVES TO OBEDIENCE V16 TO GOD AS HIS SLAVES V16 V22 . AS A RESULT OF OFFERING OURSELVES AS SLAVES TO WHO ARE COMMITTED TO A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE, PAUL IS STIPULATING HOW CAN WE CLAIM FREEDOM TO SIN - AS WE ARE SLAVES TO GOD, WE HAVE A NEW MASTER AND ARE NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN... SO HOW CAN WE CARRY ON SINNING? WHEN WE ARE NOW SLAVES TO GOD! (A SLAVE SERVES THE ONE HE/SHE IS SERVITUDE TO ) V16
LAST WEEK PAUL HAS STRONG WORDS: A PERSON WHO IS USING THE GRACE OF GOD AS A COVER TO HABITUALLY SINNING IS CONTRARY TO GODS WORD AND IS FAILING TO PUT SIN TO DEATH WILL BE CONDEMNED ROM.3:7-8. AND THERE CONDEMNATION IS DESERVED. THE EARLY CHURCH WAS RIDDLED WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD NOT DIED TO SIN AND THOUGHT THAT GODS GRACE WAS A LICENCE FOR THEM TO SIN.... JUDE: V3 - 4. READ WHOSE CONDEMNATION WAS WRITTEN ABOUT....
WE ARE CALLED TO 2COR 13:5 EXAMINE YOURSELVES TO SEE WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH; TEST YOURSELVES.
ITS A HEALTHY THING TO EXAMINE YOURSELF.......JUST AS WE GET PHYSICAL CHECK UPS AT THE DOCTORS FROM TIME TO TIME THEY CAN BRING TO LIGHT PROBLEMS WE MAY HAVE (ARTERIES – HEART – LUNGS - BOWELS) IF LEFT UNCHECKED THEY CAN BECOME MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE TO OUR WELL BEING. WE TOO NEED TO GIVE OURSELVES A SPIRITUAL CHECK UP, AND ASK OURSELVES: AM I LIVING BY THE SPIRIT, AM I READING,MEDITATING UPON HIS WORD? DO I SPEND TIME IN PRAYER AND REFLECTION? AM I MEETING WITH OTHERS FOR PRAYER , FELLOWSHIP AND WORSHIP? AM I APPPLYING WHAT I HERE WEEK TO WEEK FROM THIS PULPIT? AM I WITNESSING TO OTHERS ABOUT JESUS?
IF OUR ANSWER TO MANY OF THESE IS QUESTIONS IS NO .. WE ARE SPIRITUALLY UNHEALTHY EVEN POSSIBLE DEAD ALREADY - IF THIS IS THE CASE YOU NEED TO ACT FAST TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. (REPENT – DO A YOU TURN- ) BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING YOU ARE ACTUALLY DRAWING AWAY FROM THE MEANS OF GRACE ...
PAUL STATES THAT GENUINE GRACE WILL HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT IT WILL DRAW A PERSON NOT AWAY FROM GOD BUT CLOSER TO HIM AND LEAD THAT PERSON TO A LIFE OF GODLINESS TITUS 1:1 V13 V19 V22 OFFER YOU BODY AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTOUSNESS A HOLY LIFE IS WHAT CHRSTIANS ARE ALIVE TO .
2.A TRUE BELIEVER IS CHARACTERISED BY HOLY LIVING V19 READ V22. (SANCTIFICATION)
AT OUR CONVERSION WE VOLUNTARY OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD, WE CRY OUT TO HIM IN REPENTANCE AND FAITH AND AS A RESULT WE ARE SAVED, BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THERE , IT JUST BEGINS. PAUL IS SAYING WE CONTINUE TO VOLUNTARY OFFER OURSELVES TO OBEDIENCE WHICH LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS V16 (REFERRING NOT TO THE IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST BUT A RIGHTEOUS LIFE)
PAUL POINTS OUT FOR US HERE THOSE WHO GOD HAS JUSTIFIED THEY WILL BE SANCTIFIED AND CONTINUE BEING SANCTIFIED ITS ONGOING PROCESS .
AND OFFERING OURSELVES TO OBEDIENCE IS PART OF ONGOING SANCTIFICATION –
ITS NOT SIMPLY A WORK OF THE SPIRIT ROM 8:3-4 BUT A RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY BELIEVER ALSO ROM 6:19 - 8:13 PUT TO DEATH , 1THES 4:3- 8, 1PET 1:15 . THESE COMMANDS IMPLY EFFORT ON OUR BEHALF SO CHRISTIANS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE SPIRIT AND WORD OF GOD, TO BE HOLY .
IN THE VATICAN ART COLLECTION SITS MICHELANGELO’S PIETA, A MARBLE STATUE OF MARY IN ANGUISH AS SHE HOLDS HER CRUCIFIED SON. IT’S REGARDED AS A MASTERPIECE. A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO A VISITOR TO THE GALLERY TOOK A SLEDGEHAMMER AND STARTED SMASHING THE STATUE. BY THE TIME THE GUARDS GOT TO HIM THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE. BUT IT WASN’T IRREPARABLE. THE VATICAN’S ARTISTS WERE ABLE TO RESTORE THE PIETA TO NEAR-PERFECT CONDITION. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE WE ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP, GOD’S WORK OF ART, CREATED TO REFLECT HIS CHARACTER ON EARTH. SADLY, SIN HAS TAKEN A SLEDGEHAMMER TO US. BUT NOW WE ARE UNDER RE -CONSTRUCTION AS WE WALK IN STEP WITH HIS SPIRIT BEING RESTORED INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE? BECAUSE AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE NOT ONLY ARE WE DEAD TO SIN IN CHRIST, BUT WE ARE SLAVES WHO HAVE OFFERED THEMSELVES TO SERVE A NEW MASTER TO A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE WHICH LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS (RIGHT LIVING) WHICH LEADS TO HOLINESS V19
SANCTIFICATION OF THE BELIEVER IS NOT JUST A THEOLOGICAL DOCTRINE IT IS A PRACTICAL REALITY IN THE LIFE OF BELIEVER WHICH IS SEEN BY OTHERS.... AND A CAUSE FOR THANKSGIVING
V17 - 18 PAUL BURSTS INTO PRAISE.... BECAUSE HE KNOWS THEIR HAS BEEN A TRANSFORMATION IN THEIR LIVES THAT DESPITE ONCE THEM BEING SLAVES TO SIN V18 THEY HAVE BEEN SET FREE AND ENTERED INTO A NEW SLAVERY WITH GOD V22 . CONTRASTS: V19 : UNLIKE THE OLD SLAVERY WHICH WE INHERITED AT BIRTH THROUGH ADAM AND WERE BOUND BY , THE NEW SLAVERY IS A VOLUNTARY LIFE CHOICE TO GOD (NOT COERCED – NOT WITHOUT CHOICE) ... INSTEAD OF LEADING TO EVER INCREASING WICKEDNESS IT LEADS TO AN INCREASING HOLINESS V19 . REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE, TRUE BELIEVERS WILL BE CHARACTERISED BY HOLY LIVING
3.A TRUE BELIEVER IS CHARACTERISED BY OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD V17 (SANCTIFICATION)
THERE IS AN OLD JEWISH STORY ABOUT A MAN ONCE WENT TO SEE A OT PROPHET AND SAID, "PROPHET, WHY DO YOU BOTHER? YOU HAVE BEEN PROPHESYING FOR OVER FIFTEEN YEARS, AND STILL THINGS ARE THE SAME. WHY DO YOU KEEP GOING?"THE PROPHET REPLIED, "DON’T YOU KNOW? I’M NOT PROPHESYING TO CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT TO PREVENT THE WORLD FROM CHANGING ME"
THE OT PROPHETS WERE PEOPLE WHO PROPHESIED THE WORD OF GOD TO A NATION MORE OFTEN AND NOT THE PEOPLE NEVER LISTENED AND AS A RESULT THE NATION WENT INTO A DEEPER DEPRAVITY AWAY FROM GOD WHERE AS THE PROPHETS STAYED CLOSE TO GOD … BECAUSE HE LIVED ACCORDING TO GODS WORD.
WHEN WE ARE LIVING BY GODS WORD IT WILL ENABLE US TO GROW CLOSER TO GOD (FOR HIS WILL IS REVEALED) AND THE STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND THE PRESSURES THAT THE WORLD THROWS UPON US TO COMPROMISE OUR FAITH (SIN) AND EVEN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. AFTER ALL JESUS DID SAY GO INTO THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL…. HE WOULDN’T HAVE SAID THAT IF IT WASN’T GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE – LIVES ARE TRANSFORMED THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THIS WORD…..
• ( SHOW ANOTHER BOOK EG:COOK BOOK, SPEAK ABOUTIT AND HOLD UP WHAT EFFECTS IT MIGHT THAT HAVE? ) IT MIGHT MAKE YOU A BETTER COOK BUT THIS BOOK WHEN OBEYED WHOLEHEARTEDLY IT WILL SET YOU FREE FROM SIN AND LEAD YOU TO RIGHT LIVING. HERE IS ANOTHER AVENUE FOR HOLINESS BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES SANCTIFICATION TAKES PLACE AS WE WALK IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT WHEN WE OFFER OURSELVES IN PARTNERSHIP TO RIGHT LIVING. BUT ALSO THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD.
LOOK THESE PEOPLE GIVE THEMSELVES V17 WHOLEHEARTEDLY ( GIVEN YOURSELF FULLY WITH ALL YOUR HEART) OBEYED THE FORM OF TEACHING TO WHICH YOU WERE ENTRUSTED. THESE BELIEVERS WERE OBEDIENT TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE THAT THE APOSTLES HAD PROCLAIMED. THIS IS WHY PAUL BURSTS INTO PRAISE!
WE NEED TO OFFER OURSELVES: HOW MUCH DO YOU GIVE YOURSELVES TO THE TEACHING OF THIS BOOK - HAVE YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY EMBRACED IT? DO YOU OBEY ITS TEACHING OR DO YOU COMPROMISE IT? DO YOU BELIEVE PARTS OF IT AND OTHER PARTS REJECT? DO YOU RESPOND TO ITS TEACHING? DO YOU DO WHAT IT SAYS? JAM 1:22 -25 DO NOT MERELY LISTEN TO THE WORD, AND SO DECEIVE YOURSELVES. WHEN WE DO THIS WE WILL BE BLESSED – THIS IS THE CHARACTER OF TRUE BELIEVER OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD.
A NINETEENTH CENTURY INDUSTRIAL BARON ONCE SAID TO MARK TWAIN. "BEFORE I DIE I MEAN TO MAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND," "I WILL CLIMB TO THE TOP OF MOUNT SINAI AND READ THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ALOUD.""WHY DON’T YOU STAY HOME AND KEEP THEM?" REPLIED TWAIN.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE? CHRISTIANS ARE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK ... WHY IS THERE A NEED TO WHOLE HEARTEDLY OBEY IT ..... BECAUSE A DYNAMIC WORK GOES ON WHEN WE APPLY THIS WORD TO OUR LIVES: THE WORDS OF JESUS WILL HELP US JOHN 17:17 SANCTIFY THEM BY THE TRUTH: YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. JESUS IS SAYING HERE THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD A BELIEVER BECOMES SANCTIFIED (SET APART FOR SACRED USE) THROUGH OBEYING AND BELIEVING THE WORD OF GOD IT HAS A PURIFYING EFFECT ON OUR LIVES AS IT POINTS OUT SIN – MOTIVATES US TO REPENT – TO RENEW OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD – DIRECT US TO INCREASING HOLINESS - AND GUIDES US BACK TO THE RIGHT PATH.
HOW DOES IT DO THIS? HEB 12:4 FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE. SHARPER THAN A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD , IT PENETRATES EVEN DIVIDING SOUL AND SPIRIT, JOINTS AND MARROW, IT JUDGES THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE HEART .
THIS BOOK IS NOT SIMPLY A COLLECTION OF WORDS FROM GOD BUT IT IS LIVING – LIFE CHANGING AS IT WORKS IN US... LIKE A SURGEONS KNIFE IT CUTS INCISIVE IT OUR HEARTS AND LIVES - IT PENETRATES THE CORE OF OUR MORAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE , IT DEMANDS DECISIONS AND RESPONSES IT DESIRES TO SHAPE OUR LIVES. REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE A TRUE BELIEVER WILL BE CHARACTERISED BY WHOLEHEARTED OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD.
4.THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHO WE ARE....TO SIN OR TO GOD.ROM 6:23.
6:23: THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. IS OUR MASTER STILL SIN OR IS IT GOD? JHN 8:34 JESUS SAID WHOEVER SINS IS A SLAVE TO SIN. HE ALSO SAID MATT 6:24. NO – ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS
THROUGHOUT THIS PASSAGE WE HAVE SEEN STARK CONTRASTS BETWEEN SIN AND GOD BOTH HAVE BEEN PICTURED AS SLAVE MASTERS ONE WHICH LEADS TO INCREASING WICKEDNESS THE OTHER WHICH LEADS TO INCREASING RIGHTEOUSNESS.
SUMMING UP PAUL WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR ARE CONSEQUENCES TO OUR LIFESTYLES IF WE ARE OFFERING HABITUALLY OFFERING OURSELVES TO SIN , THEN WE ARE STILL IN SLAVERY TO SIN AND NEED TO ASK OURSELVES AM I A CHRISTIAN AT ALL? BUT IF WE ARE OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD AND HIS WORD AND RIGHTOUS LIVING THEN WE ARE IN SLAVERY TO GOD AND HE IS OUR MASTER
THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR MASTER BEING SIN: THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.. THE THING ABOUT WAGES IS THEY ARE EARNED. YOU AND I HAVE EARNED DEATH OUR SINS EARN US DEATH. THAT’S THE PAYMENT PRICE WE RECEIVE AT THE END OF IT ALL FOR SERVING THE MASTER SIN. ASK YOURSELF IS IT WORTH IT?
AFTER ALL WE ALL DIE .... BUT DEATH HERE IS HELD IN COMPARISON TO ETERNAL LIFE WHICH IS RECEIVED FROM THE GIFT . SO PAUL IS NOT TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL DEATH HERE BUT SPIRITUAL DEATH V16 21 23. ALIENATION FROM GOD ETERNAL PUNISHMENT IN HELL.
AFTER ALL WAGES ARE DESERVED AND EACH AND EVERYONE OF US DESERVE HELL...WE HAVE EARNT IT. NOT ONE OF US DESERVE HEAVEN DO YOU KNOW THAT......YET ON THE OTHERHAND....
THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR MASTER BEING GOD ‘BUT THE GIFT (CHARISMA THE GIFT OF GODS GRACE ) IS ETERNAL LIFE’ WHICH IS NOT EARNT BUT LIKE ANY GIFT RECEIVED WITHOUT PAYMENT - WE DON’T EARN IT WE DONT DESERVE IT BUT GOD DESIRES TO BESTOW IT UPON PEOPLE. HAVE YOU RECEIVED IT?
IF NOT HOW CAN YOU RECEIVE IT?
WELL THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY YOU CAN RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE... THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD – THROUGH HIS ATONING DEATH AND RESURRECTION WE CAN RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE
SLAVERY TO SIN WILL BRING THE PRESENT EXPERIENCE OF INCREASING DETERIORATION INTO SIN AND THE ULTIMATE PAYMENT OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. WHEREAS BONDAGE TO GOD BRINGS INCREASING HOLINESS AND THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
SO WHERE ARE WE AT? ASK YOURSELF? THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. ARE YOU STILL EARNING A WAGE? OR HAVE YOU RECIEVED THE GIFT?
IT TIME FOR US TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE?
THE TRUE CHARACTERISTICS OF A BELIEVER IS NOT FOUND IN OUR OUR WORDS BUT THE WAY WE LIVE. A PERSON WHO HAS RECEIVED THE IMMENSE GRACE OF GOD AS A GIFT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND AS A RESULT WILL DO BATTLE WITH SIN AND NOT USE GODS GRACE AS AN EXCUSE TO SIN, A TRUE BELIEVER WILL BE CHARACTERISED BY RIGHTEOUS LIVING WHICH WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASING HOLINESS. A BELIEVER WILL DEMONSTRATE A WHOLE HEARTED OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD WHICH ALSO HAS A SANCTIFYING WORK UPON THE BELIEVER SO REMEMBER OFFER YOURSELF TO THESE THINGS AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE SANCTIFIED IN YOUR LIFE.
