Rom 6:1-16
6 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?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (KJV)
Do you realize that there are people in this world that know how to become a Christian; they want to become a Christian, but they refuse to be one.
Why?
Because they know that they’re gonna lose. They know beyond the shadow of a doubt that they will never succeed at living an overcoming Christian life.
There is only one way to live an overcoming life & that’s just what we’re gonna talk about tonight.
(Pray)
These people know something that many Christians need to learn.
I) You Can’t Live It
Did you know that it is your human nature to sin? Therefore, it is your nature to give in to temptation. So, when a person sins, he is doing what is natural for him to do.
That’s why it’s so hard to live an overcoming life, because in order to do so, you must do something that isn’t natural for you to do. It’s against your nature to live a sinless life.
You see, as long as I’m living, I’m gonna sin. So, the only way to stop me from sinning is to kill me. That’s what Paul is saying in vs. 7…
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, you died.
II) You Must Die
The Eastern religions that teach reincarnation teach a part truth with lies wrapped around it.
The truth is that in order to live a good life, you must die first & start over again. However, they believe it’s physical death then you start over in your next life.
In the words of Carmen, “You can’t even go out & eat a Big Mac, cause you might be munchin’ on your Uncle Tony.”
No, it’s spiritual no physical.
So many people as what water baptism means. It symbolizes me being buried as I die to sin then being raised to life in Christ.
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
We are with Him in His death & in His resurrection.
Hear me Church, never has there been, nor will there ever be a person that can live a sinless life except Jesus Christ. So, the only way that I can live a sinless life is for Jesus to live it through me.
Gal 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV)
Always remember, you can’t have two people living in one body. So, the only way Jesus can live an overcoming life through me is for me to die.
2 Cor 4:11
11 While we are alive, we are constantly handed over to death for Jesus' sake so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our mortal nature. (GOD'S WORD)
When I die, Jesus does the living.
(I’m gonna get real deep here)
Did you know that dead people don’t sin?
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Dead people don’t feel condemnation, fear, depression, etc.
So, if I have these feelings… If someone offends me & I feel bitter, I’m not dead. I’m still alive. I’m still saved, it’s just that the old nature gets back up every day.
I know that some believe Once Dead Always Dead. However, that’s not what Paul said. He said, “I die daily.” Every day when the old nature rises up, you’ve got to remind him that he’s dead. Tell him he’s dead!
Anytime you respond to temptation, or have feelings of fear, doubt, depression, or guilt, it means you got back up because dead people can’t respond. We must crucify the flesh.
Col 3:5
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. (NLT)
Rom 6:11
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)
But I reckoned all day long & I still did it!
(Grandpa)
Your old nature is dead, yet you keep feeding him!
III) Starve The Old Nature, Feed The New
We wonder why the spiritual man can’t win. It’s because we do just the opposite. We feed the carnal man & starve the spirit man.
We go through our day feeding the carnal man & then at the end of the day when we finally feed the spirit man, we find the shortest passage we can find & the whole time we’re reading, we’re thinking about what we have to do tomorrow.
Another thing, you can’t just cram it down his throat & make him swallow it whole. You have to chew food.
Meditation is the key to getting something out of God’s Word.
Ps 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (KJV)
Most people think this scripture is backwards & they take it that way. They think that if they meditate on the Word, it’ll keep them from following sinners. However, you can’t blame it on the Word. You have to make the decision not to follow sinners & follow the Word.
You say, “I ask God to help me stop hanging around sinners (Bad Influences), but I still do.”
Did your legs stop working?
(Kleenex)
You see, it’s up to you what you eat. You can either eat what the world offers, or you can eat the Word & grow to be strong like a tree planted by the rivers of water…
So, you can’t live without sinning, you have to die. When you accept Jesus as your savior, you die but every day you come back to life & you must die every day. You must starve the old nature & feed the spirit man. How? Meditate on the Word. You see, if you get it in your head & let God get it in your heart, once it’s in your heart, it controls you.
Ps 119:11
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (KJV)
You can’t live an overcoming life unless you die & let Jesus live it in you.
Eph 4:22-24
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (KJV)
(Close)
Are you dying to be a Christian, or is it killing you to serve God?
