Romans 6:22-23
“Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Three categories of Christians:
Those who think they are Christians
Those who are believers but not fully committed to the Lord
Those who have totally given their lives to Jesus
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Those who think they are Christians:
Raised in a non-believing church all their lives
Never hearing about sin and salvation - only taught "be good and do good works"
Those who have said the “sinner’s prayer” as a magic incantation
Dangerous - to give assurance - (we don't know the heart of the person praying)
Have never “counted the cost”
Has everything moved to being under the control of God
Has His objectives become your objectives
Example of Audrey’s Grandpa on his deathbed - they "Got him to say the sinner's prayer."
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Then there are those who are believers but not fully committed to the Lord:
These are people who have actually repented and turned from their sins and have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation but have not put their entire life and being under the lordship or command of Christ.
This is a life of immense struggle as defined in Romans 7
Notice in this passage that the person struggling with sin never calls on God for help ...
Romans 7:14-25
“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
“And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing.
“Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
“For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
“So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”
Just look at the duality in that! In my mind a slave to God’s law - in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
What a horrible place to live. What a painful condition.
Knowing that you are saved by the grace of God
Knowing that you cannot overcome sin but are enslaved by it
Knowing that there must be something more
There are those who teach that this is the place where all Christians live as long as they are on this earth. Some people believe that this is the unavoidable plight of all Christians and that moving on to living a life of total devotion to God and holiness will only be achieved at death.
But, this place, between salvation and entire sanctification has a distinct function.
It will either drive you to complete devotion to God or back to the world.
We all like a nice comfortable chair, don’t we? Think of the last evening you spent sitting in an nice comfortable chair reading or visiting or watching TV. So, comfortable that you could almost fall asleep and you sat there for hours.
Now envision that same evening sitting on a fence. And, not just sitting on a fence but straddling the fence. You wouldn’t be staying on that fence for very long! You’d be getting off one side or the other.
That’s what the torture of Romans 7 will do for you.
It will either drive you back to the world or forward to holiness in Christ!
Look at these other memory Scriptures …
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
Matthew 22:37-38
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”
2 Timothy 2:15a
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved …”
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Romans 12:1
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.”
What do these Scriptures have in common? Intensity! Flat out devotion! Single-mindedness. This is the target for all Christians.
Romans 8:1-2
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 6:22-23
“Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
So, how does a person get from being a slave to sin to being a slave to God?
It is an act of God’s Grace.
It is God’s will that you be sanctified holy.
Prepare your heart for what He has in store for you; whatever it may be.
Ask God to reveal to you any areas of your life that may be un-yielded to Him where you may still be harboring sin.
Patiently pursue Him. It may take some time for Him to reveal everything in your life that you may be holding back. Don’t become either lax or impatient; neither are good.
Wait expectantly. God will do the work in you when He has formed you into what He can use.
You will know it when it happens. God’s Holy Spirit will let your spirit know when it is done. PTL!!
More Love to Thee - page 463 (this may be more effective read out loud than if it is sung.)
More love to Thee O Christ more love to Thee
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee
This is my earnest plea - More love O Christ to Thee
More love to Thee more love to Thee
Once earthly joy I craved sought peace and rest
Now Thee alone I seek give what is best
This all my prayer shall be - More love O Christ to Thee
More love to Thee more love to Thee
Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise
This still my prayer shall be - More love O Christ to Thee
More love to Thee more love to Thee
Invitation and closing prayer
