Living Life to the Fullest
Romans 7:1-6
* In December 2007, the Gallup organization took a survey which revealed 8 in 10 Americans were (are) satisfied with their lives. In fact, almost 6 of 10 are “very satisfied” with their lives. Reading these numbers causes a person to ask this, “What exactly brings Americans personal satisfaction?”
* This question takes on new meaning when considering what the Gallup group discovered in the weeks following 9/11. During this period of time, the number of people who would use “satisfied” to describe their lives dropped to less than 3 in 10. I don’t know what this says to you, but for me it is a eye-opening reminder of how, generally speaking, Americans tend to evaluate their life based on materialistic things. And when confronted with their mortality, all of a sudden, life is viewed differently.
* It would be difficult to believe that there is anyone in this room who desires to life a “so-so” life. Most, if not all, desire to live life to the fullest. We want meaning, purpose, and impact. We want to leave our mark on this world. The question is, “How can we do it?”
* Last Monday evening, Bro. Kevin Hamm reminded us that we only have ONE life. In her 1975 song entitled “We have this moment today”, Gloria Gaither penned these words, “We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch, as it slips through our fingers like sands.” If we only have one life, if there is only one opportunity, and if we are to live our lives to the fullest, “HOW DO WE GO ABOUT IT?”
* It is obvious from the Gallup report that most Americans have defined the “American Dream” as was done after WWII, “to settle down, get a job, and get married, a car, and a house.” Now, I’m not suggesting that anything is wrong with these goals, if these goals are placed in proper perspective. However, if we build our lives on this definition of the American Dream, when faced with the mortality of our existence may well find ourselves among the 70% who, all of a sudden, are dissatisfied with their lives. Most of us, in recent years, do not know what it is to have our lives and our lifestyles tested. An untested life is an undeveloped life.
* We have already read the first 6 verse in Romans 7 which, I believe, give us a picture of the process it takes for us to live life to the fullest. Admittedly, this does not jump out at us on a cursory reading but if we will learn this process and then personally apply it we may discover our lives taking on passion, purpose, and meaning like we have not known.
Living Life to the Fullest – Pg 2
* Don’t forget that Paul was trained as a Pharisee, so he tried to help us live under “GRACE” and no longer “LAW.” To do this, He tells us to;
1. Be Reminded about the Law. First, we must understand the law. Verse 7:1 intimates that only a person who understands the law will grasp this teaching. Think with me about the Law. I read somewhere that in the Old Testament alone there were recorded over 600 laws, precepts, and . But think specifically about what we call the Law of Moses or better said, the 10 Commandments. We find it full of (in the KJV) “thou shalt nots.” God gave us this Decalogue for the purposes of understanding right and wrong. To find and live life to fullest we must come to grips with the law. Think about what this does;
a. It Controls Us. Now look at the rest of verse 1, “the law has authority (dominion, jurisdiction, power, or lord) over someone as long as he lives?” This thought continues in verse 5, “When we were in the flesh.” Another translation says, “Living in the flesh” while another say this, “When we were controlled by the sinful nature.” When we live “under” the law, it controls us. How so? Today, you will leave this building driving your automobile. How fast will you drive going home? Well, you have that choice to make, but if you exceed the law, chances are, one of our finest will pull you over and give you a ticket for breaking the law. Traffic law controls our speed (but it is also designed for your safety-hold that thought). Now Paul raises the bar by using marriage as an example. Understand, Paul is not giving a new teaching on marriage at this point; rather he is using what his readers who understood the law already knew about marriage. Marriage, as designed by God, is still “till death do us part.” The ability of one marriage partner to arbitrarily “take off” and have someone else is against divine law. Remember, he is not teaching about marriage and divorce he is saying that the law controls our action.
b. It Convicts Us. You might ask, “How does the law convict us?” It is the law which reveals our guilt. It shows our sinful desires and our selfish deception. Verse 5 says, “The sinful passions operated through the law in every part of us.” Like it or not we are all sinful beings. It is by our very nature we are sinful creatures.
Do you know or have your ever thought about why we break God’s law? Because we want to. Yes, we have a choice, at times we know better, and yet, we do it anyway.
Living Life to the Fullest – Pg 3
It is the law which says, “YOU’RE GUILTY.” Just as surely as the law of the land convicts people of stealing, rape, and murder, the law convicts you and I of our sin. It says, “Don’t do it”, and we “do it anyway.” Let’s take a quick survey of a couple of the commandments in Exodus 20 and see where we stand. Verse 3 says, “Do NOT have any other gods besides me.” Some will say, “I’m good on this one, so move on.” My response is this, “Oh really.” Remember that a “god” is something which has first place in your life. Everything else you own, possess, do, and have takes second place. You god is what causes you to change your schedule, change your mind, change your location, change your attitude, and even change your finances. What takes priority over your service to and worship of God? What stands in your way of selling out to Him? To only person who can’t be bought is one that is already sold.
Let’s take one more just for the sake of illustration, how about verse 13 or the 6th commandment which says, “Do not murder.” Remember this is “murder” which is by premeditation and malice. It is not speaking of capital punishment nor is it speaking of the killings which are a part of war. Surely we have no murderers in this crowd today. However, consider the words of Jesus. In Mathew 5, at the beginning of Sermon on the Mount, He said, “You have heard it said—‘Do not murder and whoever murders will be subject to judgment’.” We all understand this principle, but now Jesus raise the bar and follows with, “BUT I tell you that whoever is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Jesus doesn’t just stop there but continues this new level of action by adding our tongues to the mix. From His teaching to speak in an unchristian manner about other believers is to break the 6th commandment. Then hear the words of John the beloved and 1 John 3:15, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life.” It seems to me that this is God’s message to small towns all across the USA. I was raised in a small town and am ashamed of how many “believers” cannot seem to get along and talk in an evil manner about one another. They can’t even sit on the same side of the church. There may be some here today in that situation.
But here our problem; “we don’t want to admit we’re guilty.” We think we can come before God justify our lives and talk our way out of it. Make no mistake, the law convicts us.
Living Life to the Fullest – Pg 4
* Be reminded that the law controls us, convicts us and;
c. It Condemns Us. Look at the end of verse 5; “bore fruit for death.” Don’t miss this; eternal death and punishment is produced by a life of sinful desires and selfish deception. Our sinful desires cause us to sin and our selfish deception leads us to believe we can get away with it, yet there is no escaping God. Remember what Paul had just penned? “The wages of sin is death. “ This is the essence of the law. The law controls us, convicts us, and ultimately condemns us. That is what it is designed for.
* Now some are rightfully asking, “What does this have to do with living life to the fullest?” Until we are clear about who we are, what we are, where we stand before God; until we consult the owner’s manual for a full and meaning full life, we have little hope of living life to the fullest. A reminder of where we have been or where we are serves us well.
* If the law does all of this what is our hope? It is to;
2. Be Released from the Law. “Release.” I like the sound of that word. It speaks of freedom, relief, or turned loose. This word is also translated delivered, discharged, and cleared. Every word is speaks of a new life and a new freedom. In fact now we are getting to the crux of the matter about how to live life to the fullest. To be released from the law is to be able to live in the new way of the spirit and not the old letter of the law. But how do we get TO that? Paul offers us a 3 step process. It is not necessarily easy or desirable, but it is foolproof and it is required. I categorize it by the letters “DRS.”
a. Die – Die? You thinking, “HE has lost it,” yet this is exactly what the Bible says. The scripture clearly says, “The law has authority over you as long as you live.” It even illustrates it by the marriage illustration. The only way out of the marriage is death. But let’s get this “dying” in perspective. First, look at verse 6, “Since we have died to what held us.” We must die to our sin, our sinful passions, and our selfish desires. Just exactly when and how does this death happen? Verse 4 tells us it happened when we came to Christ for salvation. When we trusted Christ as our Savior by placing our faith in His and His crucifixion, we die to our old self, our old way of life, our sinful desires, and our selfish passions. To die to all of our likes, loves, and longings is the only way to be released from the law. If you get drunk, have a wreck, and get killed, the police officer will not cite you for DUI. There is no need, you are gone.
Living Life to the Fullest – Pg 5
* They’ll be no more punishment, penalty, or payment exacted because the law has no more dominion or control, you have been released or freed. This same principle applies to you on a spiritual basis.
* One final thought about being freed from the law by dying to what holds you. Until you know, believe, and admit that you have a problem you will never die to it. You may try to change things, but die? Never!
b. Rise – Have you ever considered the ‘what if’ of Jesus’ death? What if Jesus stayed in the ground? 1 Corinthians 15 gives us a laundry list of things which would be affected. It would affect our preaching, our penalty, our predecessors, and even our peace. Why? Because if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead we are not made right before God. The Bible says, “He died for our sins and was raised for our justification.” In rising from the grave Jesus defeated the final, most feared enemy, death.
* 1 Corinthians 6:14 says this, “God raised up the Lord (Jesus) and will raise us up by His power.” Colossians 3 says, “If you have been (present perfect – probably progressive tense) raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with the Messiah in Christ.”
* The very symbol of our faith is baptism and Paul writes (Col 2) “Having been buried with Christ in baptism you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God.”
* Just as surely as Jesus died and was raised, we have to remember to get up and be about the Father’s work. The work of “changing lives” because your life has been changed and we cannot do the Father’s work lying down. We can mulligrub but we cannot complete His mission. We used to sing, “Rise Up, O Men of God.”
c. Serve – What Paul says it all comes down to is being able and willing to serve in the new way of the Spirit. Paul says that it’s not about keeping all the “thou shall nots” as much as it is embracing the “go and touch.”
* Kirk Douglas is a name that many know. Twelve years ago he had a stroke and can no longer make movies. His message is that to sit around and do nothing causes us to get depressed, discouraged, discontent, and maybe downright mean. He and his wife began a foundation and campaign to improve 400 playgrounds in the L.A. area. He says if you serve others, you’ll forget about your problems.
Living Life to the Fullest – Pg 6
* Seems to me this is the message of Jesus. Come and serve. When you serve you’ll discover that you don’t have it so bad after all. You find that you can do things you never thought possible. You will be surprise how you outlook will change IF you do it God’s way.
* Let’s get this right so we don’t forget.
* To live life to the fullest, be reminded of the law. Remember it will control you, it will convict you, and it will condemn you. This serves as the great motivator to make the right change.
* That change will release you from the law. Here’s how it works.
1. Realizing your condition, you come to Christ and through His crucifixion you die with Him to your old way of living. It means you will put some things down, away, and even to death.
2. Then in Christ, you rise up and walk in a new way of life, a life now controlled by the Spirit of God, a life which is constantly changing to become like Christ, and a life that makes a difference.
3. Finally, you serve Him and Them. The greatest personal effort you can give is to discover your spiritual gift and then deploy it.
