The Devil’s Deadliest Deception
Romans 6:1-2
Introduction: You may be wondering where this title came from this morning. While reading and studying this week I ran upon the following statement. I don’t know who to attribute it to but just wanted you to know that it was not original to me. Here it is…“The biggest deception in the church today is that you can pray a “sinner’s prayer,” live in constant sin and still go to heaven.” When it comes to the work of the Devil we often make the wrong assumption. We think that Satan doesn’t want anyone to go to church, to attend church services and to do religious things. But the truth is far different. Satan wants counterfeit Christians in the church. He wants to fill the church with folks who have made some kind of decision; they then continue in sin and then they expect that they will go to heaven. Before you take offense at this suggestion let me remind of what Jesus declared on several occasions in different ways.
In John 6:70 Jesus said, “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” and…
Matthew 7:21-23 “21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
And also… Matthew 13:24-30 “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
There are so many things wrong with this attitude that I don’t hardly know where to begin but just for this morning let’s consider Paul’s question here in our text…let’s read it and then I want to deal with three issues...
First there is…
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
I. The Presumption v. 1 “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”
a. The context of this section
Paul is seeking to encourage these Roman believers who are having a difficult time of it and in chapter 5 he exhorts them to be mindful of five things.
a. Rejoice in faith vs 1-2
b. Rejoice in suffering vs. 3-4
c. Rejoice in love vs. 5-8
d. Rejoice in deliverance vs. 9-10
e. Rejoice in God v. 11
Paul rejoices in faith and love and then he reminds them about the blessings of grace…
a. The guilt of sin vs. 12-14
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
All men all guilty before God. “There is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10
b. The gift of grace vs. 15
Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
The free gift of grace is available and accessible through Jesus Christ. “The grace that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11
c. The gift of righteousness vs. 17-18
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
II. The Prohibition v.2a (God forbid)
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
John is not speaking of an individual sin but of the habitual practice of sin.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
III. The Paradox v. 2b (How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?)
How can someone who is born again live in the habitual practice of sin?
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
How can someone who has experienced this new creation in Christ continue the habitual practice of sin?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
How can we avoid the paradox of a profession that does not indicate true possession?
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
Conclusion: What’s to be done? How can we help people to truly experience the new birth? How can we know that folks are genuinely saved?
a. Preach and teach the Gospel of the Bible, that a man must repent of his sins, confess that he is a sinner, ask forgiveness of his sins and invite Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. We must make it plain.
b. Preach and teach that there is a direct correlation between belief and behavior. No watered down Gospel of “easy believism,” as Brother Leroy Forlines called it. If we are going to talk the talk then we must walk the walk!
c. As individuals we must “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.” Know that you know that you know!
d. We must be careful to help people understand that discipleship involves self-denial, cross bearing and obedience (following Jesus).
