Sermon Central
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The Beast That Lives Within Me
Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jun 28, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: Robert Lewis Stephenson the writer of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde said ”I find that there is always a struggle with the "Beast That Lives Within Me." C.S. Lewis put it this way: “No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.” Updated June 2025.
Beloved .... the scriptures are clear. Hear God's Word from Romans BIBLE ... "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" END (Romans 3:23)
And we are all aware that the "wages of sin is ......... death" (Romans 6:23).
The angel announced to Joseph that the Child in Mary's womb should be called "Jesus, ... because He will save His people ... from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to be baptized, he exclaimed, ... "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
The Scriptures mention sin so frequently ... for a very good reason ... it is sin, ... our sin, ... that separates us ... from God.
And, if not dealt with through faith and repentance, ... it brings forth ... death ... eternal separation.
The biblical definition of sin is found in 1 John 3:4 Hear God's Word BIBLE "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.". END
And the Holy Spirit ... that abides in the very being of every believer ... instructs us and convict us of sin.
All sin ... all sin separates us ... from the love of God.
There are not degrees of sin ... All sin separates us from God ...for God is Holy.
Beloved God hates sin, ... Yet ... He does not ... hate the sinner.
God is holy and cannot tolerate sin in his presence.
That's why the Scripture spends so much time speaking of sin.
However, ... as much emphasis as God's Word places on the reality and peril of sin, ... it puts an even greater weight ... on the cure ... for sin.
And that cure for sin ... is salvation through personal faith ... in the atoning work ... of Jesus Christ.
Beloved ... Sin has been dealt with ... completely.
There is deliverance ... because we have a Deliverer.
There is salvation ... because we have a Savior.
There is redemption ... because we have a Redeemer.
The Good News is ... (Slow) God forgives sin.
God poured out His divine wrath against it ... by sacrificing His own Son ... on the cross.
"He was pierced through ... for our transgressions, ...He was crushed ... for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5).
Sin's penalty... eternal death ... was paid in full by ... the perfect Sacrifice.
When we turn from our sin... acknowledge our rebellion against God ... and our utter inability to save ourselves ... and turn to God in faith, ... we receive the unmerited gift ... of salvation.
We did not earn it ... as it is something ... that cannot be earned.
Amazingly, ... God not only took away our sins, ... but He also credited ... His righteousness ... to us.
"He made Him who knew no sin ... to be sin on our behalf, ... so that we might become the (Slow) righteousness of God ... in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Martin Luther called this the "great exchange," ... Our sin ... for His ... righteousness.
So ... If I'm a Christian and keep sinning, will God turn away from me?
Beloved ... His promise is clear ... "I will never leave you or forsake you."
Yet as we all are aware ... there is a continual battle.
Remember Paul's words ... BIBLE For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. END (Romans 7:15)
Beloved ... There is an unending battle ... for our soul.
Two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute ... that they could not ...resolve.
So, they decided to talk to ...the town sage.
The first man went to the sage's home ...and told his version of ... what happened.
When he finished, ... the sage said... "You're absolutely right."
The next night, ... the second man called on the sage ......and told his side ... of the story.
The sage responded... "You're absolutely right."
Afterward, ... the sage's wife scolded her husband.
"Those men told you two different stories ......and you told both of them ... they were absolutely right.
That's impossible ... they can't both be absolutely right."
The sage turned to his wife and said... "You're absolutely right." (Long Pause)
Beloved ... We have ......this same type of conflict ... This same type of battle ...... within ourselves.
The flesh when it speaks to us ... is trying to convince us ...... that it is ... absolutely right.
Trying to convince us to follow ... it's yearning ... it's feelings ... it's wants.
Tommy Lasorda ... the former Los Angeles Dodgers manager describes his battle ... with the inner self:
