SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Every Christian Faces a Battle.
(2). Every Christian Sees Themselves in This Verse.
(2). Every Christian Can Experience Victory
SERMON BODY
Ill:
• Why Is It?
• Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?
• Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?
• Why is a boxing ring square?
• Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
• Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?
• Why is it considered necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?
• Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?
• Why is it that rain drops but snow falls?
• Why is the word dictionary in the dictionary?
• Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?
• Why isn't there mouse-flavoured cat food?
• You know that little indestructible black box that is used on planes?
• Why can't they make the whole plane out of the same substance?
• TRANSITION: Okay, from the stupid to the sensible.
• Why is it as a Christian indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit still able to sin?
• Why is it that even though I want to live in victory;
• Too often I experience defeat!
Ill:
• Remember that winning a war is often determined by a decisive battle,
• One that shifts the advantage.
• With that decisive battle won,
• Winning the war becomes just a matter of time.
• For example, World War II ended on 8th May 1945.
• That day was “VE-Day”, the day of victory and celebration.
• That victory came about;
• Because of the decisive change that came about on 6th June 1944.
• That was when the Allies landed at Normandy.
• That day was known as “D-Day”.
• It was the decisive battle that began the change that finally led to victory.
• TRANSITION: Satan has had his ‘D-Day’.
• On the cross he lost the battle, he lost his hold over humanity.
• By the death of Jesus Christ, Satan has now been defeated, he has had his ‘D-day.’
• And soon – we don’t know when – but soon;
• Satan will face a ‘VE Day’.
• On that occasion God will put an end to all wickedness!
• God will He eliminate Satan's influence forever.
• You can read about it in the book of Revelation.
• And a t the moment with are at that in-between stage
• We are still battling, we are still struggling, we are still fighting,
• But one day, hat battle, that fight, that struggle will be over forever!
(1). Every Christian Faces a Battle.
• Until we are promoted to glory or Christ returns;
• EVERY Christian has to daily battle with is sin:
• Sin is more than just wrong actions, outward disobedience,
• It is a wrong attitude an inner rebellion or desire.
• Sin is disobedience to what God has said (Bible),
• Sin is living independent of God (very 1st commandment “Put God first”)
• When somebody becomes a Christian;
• There are three things to remember concerning sin:
(a).
• Regarding the PAST we are saved from sins PUNISHMENT
• It was dealt with at the cross – once and for all.
• This teaching is called justification.
• Quote: Romans chapter 5 verse 8:
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Quote: Hymn: “When peace like a river”
“My sin – oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin – not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to his cross, and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord O my soul”
(b).
• Regarding the FUTURE;
• The Bible teaches we shall be saved from sins PRESENCE.
• This teaching is called glorification.
• Quote: Romans chapter 8 verses 16-18 teaches:
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
• We shall be changed;
• 1 Corinthians chapter 15 talks about a new body, and a new heart!
• One that will enable us to spend eternity with the Lord.
(c).
• Regarding the PRESENT.
• Each Christian must do daily battle to experience God’s POWER over sin.
• This teaching is called sanctification.
• Quote: Romans chapter 6 verses 18 & Romans chapter 12 verses 1-2:
• N.I.V.: “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”
• NLB: “And now you are free from your old master, sin; and you have become slaves
o to your new master, righteousness.”
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
• Living a life that pleases God is not impossible;
• But very much possible!
• Within every Christian a battle is taking place (civil war),
• God’s Holy Spirit is pulling us towards him and his ways.
• But our old sinful nature, which finds sin attractive,
• Pulls us away from God towards those things that are wrong.
• We must choose which one we want to win,
• The sinful nature or the new nature God has given us.
Ill:
• When I have a meal, I have a choice.
• I can eat junk food, or I can healthy.
• My physical and mental health will be affected by that choice;
• Constant junk in and I will become unhealthy.
• But if I feed my body on good things;
• Then that too will produce results.
• There is of course a spiritual parallel to that illustration:
• What we allow into our hearts and minds will affect us for good or bad.
(2). Every Christian Sees Themselves in This Verse.
• Before we examine the verse;
• Let me make three observations regarding this passage:
Observation #1:
• The theme of battling sin as described in Romans chapter 7 is a passage that grips us,
• Because each one of us can understand exactly what it is saying.
• We see ourselves in it.
• When Romans chapter 7 is read;
• Everyone ends up saying, “Amen, yes, that’s right, that’s true, that’s me.”
Observation #2:
• Romans chapter 7 tells us about the Christian life;
• As we experience it much of the time.
• Paul is not discussing the life of an unbeliever.
• Nor is he describing an immature or a carnal Christian.
• In my opinion, Romans chapter 7 is describing the Christian life;
• As it is experienced much of the time by the people of God.
• Not everyone will agree with that viewpoint,
• But s I have been asked to speak on this one concluding verse,
• I cannot unpack the whole chapter or argument.
• Note: As you read the passage, the apostle Paul is constantly saying; “I … I … I … I.”
• And it’s not past tense.
• It’s present tense.
• It seems to me that what we have here is not Paul’s theory or Paul’s practice,
• But the apostle Paul’s actual experience of the Christian life,
• As he lives it day after day after day after day.
Observation #3:
• There is no escape from Romans chapter 7 in the Christian life.
• If we are alive on planet earth, we will battle daily with sin!
• But please do not be disappointed, because that is not the whole story.
• These verses do not stand in isolation.
• Chapter 7 is wedged between two connecting chapters,
• That lay the groundwork for the Christian’s triumph over sin in this life.
Ill:
• One of the earliest Church leaders Augustine:
• He said he experienced three stages with sin:
• (1). Lord, make me good, but not yet.
• (2). Lord, make me good, but not entirely.
• (3). Lord, make me good.
• Every Christian ought to be desiring that third stage:
• Lord make me good, make me holy, make my life pleasing to you!
• That is what we should desire more and more.
(3). Every Christian Can Experience Victory.
• Verse 25 outlines how we can attain that,
• How we can live in victory and not defeat.
“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.”
This verse is such a contrast to what has gone on before in this chapter:
• The apostle Paul paints an amazing picture of a man;
• Who is groaning under the weight of trying to keep the law,
• Which of course is an impossible thing to do!
• Therefore, he is under the burden of sin and the sentence of death.
• The whole chapter should be defeat, defeat, defeat!
But verse 25 starts with a contrast; “But…”
• He goes on to tell us that victory is possible,
• But victory is only found in Jesus Christ.
• “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord,”
• The apostle knew that without Christ he could do nothing!
• But with Christ who gives us strength, he and we can live in victory!
Ill:
• A Church leader started to speak to a man who had recently come to faith in Christ
• The leader asked him, “How are you finding the Christian life?”
• To the leaders surprise the man said; “It’s terrible”
• Well the leader was shocked, He expected him to be full of the joy of the Lord,
• So, he asked him what the problem was.
• The new Christian said; “It is like I have rope tied around each arm,
• At the end of both ropes there are two horses,
• One is pulling me in one direction towards sin,
• And the other is pulling me in the opposite direction towards holiness,
• I am in the middle being pulled this way and that way and it hurts!”
• The Church leader asked the new Christian; “Which horse is winning?”
• The new Christian said; “The horse to which I say, ‘giddy-up’ too!”
• TRANSITION: That new Christian realised he had a choice,
• Before he was saved, he battled in his own strength against sin and temptation.
• But now he had a choice!
• When a Christian finally realises;
• “Without Christ I can do nothing but in Christ I can do all things..”
• Then and only then, will they discover the secret that it is GOD who gives victory.
• We cannot be justified in our own strength,
• And we cannot be sanctified in our own strength.
• We are not able to save ourselves FROM sin (justification),
• And we are not able to live the Christian live in our own strength (sanctification).
• It is ALL through Christ and Him ALONE.
• The struggle of Roman chapter 7 is the experience of most Christians,
• We trust Christ to save us, we are saved by grace through faith.
• But then we make the mistake;
• Of trying to live their Christian life in our own strength!
• But the apostle Paul reminds us here that in our own strength we cannot!
• It is who empowers and strengthens me as I daily seek to put him first in my life.
Notice: The contrast at the end of the verse:
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.”
• The law of God verses the law of sin.
• My mind verses my flesh.
The apostle Paul in his mind and inner being, wants to do the will of God;
• He has stated that fact earlier on in the chapter.
• Verse 15: He tells us his desire: “…what I want to do…”
• Verse 22: “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;”
• But his old sinful nature keeps pulling him back,
• Keeps hindering and tripping him up.
• But this chapter ends with a note of victory:
• “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
• Our justification came from God’s provision.;
• And our sanctification must also come through God’s provision,
• As you will see in chapter 8.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=tyqyjEC2H9Ccv5QFcC5n6yEF6RLXg2So
