Even More Implications of Grace
February 5, 2012 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: Grace has more power than the Law; we must exercise the grace of God in our own lives.
Focus Passage: Romans 7:14-25
Supplemental Passage: "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41 NASB)
Introduction: Tommy Lasorda the former Los Angeles Dodgers manager describes his battle with bad habits: “I took a pack of cigarettes from my pocket, stared at it and said, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” The answer was me. I stopped smoking. Then I took a vodka martini and said to it, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” Again the answer was me. I quit drinking. Then I went on a diet. I looked at a big plate of linguine with clam sauce and said, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” And a little clam looked up at me and answered, “I am.” I can’t beat linguine.
I. Law or Grace
a. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14 NASB)
b. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2 NASB)
II. Temptation or Resistance
a. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB)
b. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; (Hebrews 12:4 NASB)
c. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (James 1:14-15 NASB)
d. Ps.37:4 - “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
III. Sin or Victory
a. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25 NASB)
b. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11 NASB)
Invitation:
