Sinners, Servants, Or Sons?

9-1-04

Title: Sinners, Servants, or Sons?

Text: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. “ (Romans 8:14)

Bible Reading: Romans 8:12-17

Introduction:

In Genesiss, Paul describes the beautiful life God had in mind for people when He created them.

Following every act of creation, God announced that it was good.

When God created man and woman, it was also a good creation.

He placed them in the beautiful Garden of Eden where He provided all they needed.

But, this perfect couple fell into sin and that created a problem for them and for you and me.

In Chapter 5 Paul describes the problem and the cure.

The problem, he says, is sin.

Sin literally means “to miss the mark” or “to fall short of reaching God’s standard.”

Sin is often recognized as bad behavior, such as stealing, murder, adultery, or lying.

However, a more fundamental attitude deep within the human heart lies behind all “sins” and is expressed as “I know better than God in this matter.”

This attitude led Eve to that first, fatal, disobedient act in the Garden of Eden.

Adam had told her that God had forbidden the eating of the fruit, but when the fruit was presented to her as good, pleasant, and desirable, she allowed her own judgment to take precedence over the Word directly from God, and she ate the forbidden fruit.

God has not given us His Word just so we can decide whether or not to obey Him.

He has given us His Word because that Word is truth and life, and we are to obey it without question and with unhesitating confidence.

The problem we face today is the same.

Romans 3:23 says that we are all sinners.

Sin separates the child of God from the blessings of God, and it will separate the unbeliever from Him forever.

But there is a cure for the disease of sin, and His name is Jesus Christ.

His death on the cross paid our sin debt and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God.

In Romans 6:11-14 Paul gives us the choice we must make.

We can do one of two things; we can yield ourselves to God or allow some sin to be the king of our lives.

We will sin as long as we remain in these bodies, but by yielding ourselves to God we will never again be caught in the trap of continuing in sin.

In Chapter 7, Paul pictures the struggles of a person with a mixed nature.

Here is where Paul describes the constant struggle that goes on within the believer between two natures.

Each one tries to control the person.

The old sinful nature causes you to do something, and then hate yourself because you’ve done it.

The new nature is given by God to all who are saved by faith in God’s Son.

This nature cannot sin, so it struggles against the old nature.

In Chapter 8 Paul gives God’s plan for His people.

Folks, our old nature is totally depraved.

God doesn't have a plan to redeem it.

Instead, He gives us a new nature.

In addition, the Holy Spirit lives within every child of God.

Because of what God gives us, and because we are sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, we can live in this world as more than conquerors.

His plan for His children is for them to proclaim Christ for as long as they live, and when we die our soul flies to our Savior.

Read the scripture, Romans 8:12-17.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Those were the words of the apostle.

He has a message for you and me in these verses.

Therefore, lets look closely at the passage, and it will become apparent that--

Every person falls into one of three categories.

Category #1 is Sinners—all sinners are rebels against God

Category #2 is Servants—they were purchased by His blood and belong to Him

Category #3 is Sons (or daughters)—they are those who truly love the Father and desire to please Him