Introduction

Ladies and Gentlemen, brothers and sisters, it is a joy and privilege to gather with you all today, to collectively lift our hearts and minds to the Word of God. As we gather in this sacred space, we are reminded of the beautiful tapestry of life that God has woven for us, a tapestry that is interwoven with threads of sin and salvation, struggle and sanctification.

In the words of the great John Piper, "The unbeliever does not cry out for release. He doesn’t. He is at home in it. This is a Christian cry." This quote encapsulates the essence of our discussion today. We are not here to merely understand the severity of sin, but also to comprehend the sufficiency of salvation and the significance of sanctification.

Sin's Severity

In the passage we read from Romans, we are confronted with the harsh reality of sin's power. It's a reality that we often try to ignore or downplay, but it's something we can't escape. Sin is not just a minor flaw or a small mistake. It's a force that has the power to control us, to lead us away from God, and to bring death into our lives.

When we look at the law, we see a reflection of God's perfect character. The law shows us what is right and what is wrong. It sets the standard for how we should live. But the law also reveals our inability to live up to that standard while exposing our sin and shows us how far we have fallen short of God's glory.

The Apostle Paul describes this struggle in vivid terms. He talks about wanting to do what is right, but being unable to carry it out. He talks about being a slave to sin, about being at war with himself. This is the reality of sin's power. It's not just a matter of making bad choices or failing to live up to our potential. Sin is a power that enslaves us, that controls us, that leads us to do things we don't want to do.

But the power of sin is also about our hearts. Sin is not just something we do, it's something we are. It's part of our nature. It's part of who we are. And this is what makes sin so dangerous. It's not just a matter of breaking God's laws. It's a matter of being separated from God, of being cut off from the source of life and goodness. This brings us to the second aspect of sin's power.

Sin deceives us. It tricks us into thinking that we can live apart from God, that we can find life and happiness on our own terms. It convinces us that we don't need God, that we can be our own gods. Paul talks about this deception in the passage we read. He talks about how sin used the commandment to deceive him, to lead him to death. This is the power of sin. It takes what is good - the law - and uses it to bring about death. It twists and distorts the truth, leading us away from God and into destruction.

But the deception of sin is not just about leading us to death. It's also about blinding us to the truth. Sin deceives us into thinking that we are okay, that we don't need God, that we can handle things on our own. It blinds us to our need for salvation, to our need for God's grace. This brings us to the third aspect of sin's power.

Sin condemns us. It brings guilt and shame into our lives. It makes us feel unworthy and unlovable. It separates us from God and from each other. Paul expresses feeling wretched as a prisoner to sin. This is the power of sin. It brings condemnation and death. It separates us from God and from the life He wants for us.

Sin cuts off from God. Sin brings condemnation, but it also brings separation. It destroys us! It brings death and destruction into our lives while robing us of the life and joy that God wants for us. This leads to a destruction of both the physical body and spiritual death.

Salvation's Sufficiency

As we turn our gaze from the harsh reality of sin, let us focus on the sufficiency of salvation ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO