JOY "Under Grace" November 9

Under Grace

November 9, 2011

Romans 6:15-7:6

I)       Slave to Righteousness 6:15-23

II)      No Longer Bound to the Law 7:1-6

(Ray Stedman was an evangelical, Christian pastor and author for much of the 20th century. He pastored the Peninsula Bible Church, in Palo Alta, California, for 40 years. A lot of his ministry was centered in the San Francisco area, which during the 60s and 70s was even more, of an eclectically and spiritually, diverse place, than it is today. One year, J. Vernon McGee invited him to preach, in a series of messages, at the Church of the Open Door, in Los Angeles.  One evening, during a break, he strolled down Hope Street, which reminded him, of many of the streets, in his San Francisco mission field. He hadn't gone very far, before he encountered one of the area's more colorful residents; an eccentric man with long, tangled hair, a scraggly beard, and filthy clothes, was walking toward him, wearing a sandwich board. And written on the front of it, in bold letters------and from the looks of it, by the man himself-----were the words, "I am a slave for Jesus Christ." Ray said that the scruffy prophet held his eyes in a steady gaze until he had passed by. And then, when Ray turned around to read the back side, of the sign, he realized that it said, "Whose slave or you?" He was pulled up short, by such wonderful illustration of Romans 6, 7 and 8, and by such an unusual source----so he took it, as a gift from the Lord, and used it, as a way to teach his congregation, that we all enslave ourselves to something, its just a matter of what.)

Some of us are slaves to work and or volunteerism. The work we do, may be wonderful things, things that benefit our families and things that are essential to good causes, but we can get so caught up in busyness and achievement that we aren't able to shut our laptops down, for more than a couple of hours at a time and our cell phones and other electronic devices, are all, "but surgically implanted in our hands". (Chuck Swindoll) We tell ourselves, and others, that we're going to start living a balanced life, just as soon, as we get through with the current project, that we're working on.

Some of us are slaves to things:  our homes and our cars and our clothes and our furniture---- all of our possessions---- which are nothing, but tangible, temporal, "stuff".  We're driven by the mistaken idea, that security and contentment, can be found in having "things"------we often can't stop acquiring things, long enough, to enjoy what we already have. I read somewhere, one time, that in a believer's life, everything we have, can either be considered an idol or a tool----and we want our possessions to be tools, not idols. It prompts the question, "How much is enough?" H. L. Hunt, a Christian, billionaire oil tycoon, is credited with having made the most truthful reply, I think I've ever heard------when he was asked this question, His reply was,"money, is just a way of keeping score." I think, that what he meant was, "what we do for the Lord, in this world, is more important than what we have". Money was just a means to an end for him, not his reason for living. 

Ironically,I know one of his great-granddaughters, really well. And I know that he wasn't just "saying" those words, he lived them------because he imparted the legacy of that truth, to all the generations of his family, that have come after him. 

Some of us are slaves to relationships. We try to magically transform ourselves, into whatever pleasing shape, will gain us the approval of the person, were trying to garner attention from. We vascilate between self-acceptance and self-loathing, depending on the affirmation and the criticism that we receive. We will sacrifice ourselves and sometimes, even the ones we love, to avoid the most dreadful condition of all: not having a place to belong. (It reminds me of the movie "Run Away Bride", when Richard Geer pointed out to Julia Roberts-----that she changed the way she ate her eggs, depending on the person she was engaged to at the time------cause she wanted to become the person they wanted her to be, not the person she was.)

And last, but certainly not least, some of us are slaves to ourselves. Psychologists call us narcisssists. (The name comes from Roman Mythology-----the story goes, that there was a man named Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection, in a stream. When he tried to kiss the object of his love, his lips disturbed the water and his image ran away, and it left him heartbroken. So, he refused to leave the stream, in case the object of his desire came back, but he, also, refused drink water from the stream, because he was afraid that if he did, he might lose his love, forever. Eventually, Narcissus, a slave to his own self-love, died of thirst.)

When we love ourselves more that we should, we do everything we can, to serve ourselves, even though, we can appear to be selfless. We relentlessly and selfishly, demand the time, attention, admiration, devotion and nurturing of others. But this only leads to an emptiness, in our souls, like every other form of slavery does, that doesn't have Jesus as apart of the equation. 

So, Paul, in this lesson, is pulling us up short. He is making the point, clear---- that we all, do serve something, the question is, what is it?????

Slave to Righteousness: 6:15-23

In this passage, Paul continues to educate his readers, about how to make the heavenly truth of God's righteousness, an earthly reality, in our lives. He wants to make certain sure, that there is no misunderstanding, about the true nature of grace. He reiterates the fact, that grace doesn't give us the chance to do anything that we want, it gives us the opportunity, to live the way, that God wants us to live. He reminds us, that we will become slaves, to whatever or whomever, we choose to obey. And as a slave to something or someone, we become a tool in those hands and have no choice but to serve the interests, of that master. And we need to remember, that any attitude, that welcomes, rationalizes, or excuses sin, is not grace, it is sin, plain an simple. Way too often, we misunderstand the purpose for grace in our lives---we thank God for it and are so grateful to Him, for providing it to us, when we mess up or when go through difficult times-------which is wonderful and is a balm to our spirits-----but, the truth is, God gave us grace, so that we would have the freedom to obey Him, no matter which temptations we face, or what circumstances come our way. Grace doesn't give us an excuse to sin, it gives us the reason to obey.   

And because "grace" has freed us, we have the privilege, of being able to choose between those two masters-------the old master, "sin", which is dedicated to the distruction of those who serve it and the new master, "obedience", which is dedicated to creating a righteous relationship between us and God. The ancient Romans, were well-known for their slavery, which took 2 forms, as I told you a few weeks ago. The more familiar kind, involved capturing an enemy, destroying anything, that might tempt him to try and get back home, and then transporting him to Rome, to be sold, on the auction block. The other type, was an older, more heartbreaking slavery, that was known as "voluntary indenture", which was where an impoverished person, would offer themselves, as slaves, in order to have food to eat and a place to live. A person could and would, willingly accept slavery, so that the basic needs, of their family could be met. 

Neither of these 2 types of slavery would be someone's choice. Nobody would choose a master whose dedicated purpose is to keep you enslaved and ultimately kill you. Paul said it would be like an emancipated slave, choosing to help his old owner, strengthen his chains and build a gallows to hang the slave and his family------and why would anybody willingly choose to do that.

All people are enslaved; either to sin or to rightousness. That's all there is to it, it's either black or it's white, and there's no in-between. That means that friendships and goals and work and leisure and citizenship and parenting and memberships and education and entertainment and debt and marriage and private thoughts, they all fall under one of those categories. We can't have it both ways. There are only 2 choices and there is no middle ground------Jesus told us in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters, either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." Slavery to sin, ultimately leaves us powerless and the end result will always be death; but obedience to God will always lead us to righteousness and eternal life. The bottom line is, that if we refuse to allow God to be the master over our lives, every aspect of our lives, then we are choosing to be slaves to sin.

( I remember, many years ago, Dale and I were having dinner with some very close friends-----the wife was a believer but the husband wasn't--------after dinner we got into a huge discussion about salvation-------I'll never forget, that after much discussion, Dale just finally, said to the man, "If you don't have Jesus, as your Savior, you will go to hell." Just the starkness of those words, put it all in perspective. There was nothing else to say. I couldn't even be mad at Dale, for being so blunt.  It broke my heart, for our friend, because it was the truth and he couldn't argue with it. And I was so sad, because in my youthful wisdom, I thought that our friendship would be over------I can remember going to the altar the next morning, to pray for the friend and for our family's relationship-----but you know, God is so gracious and so faithful------our friend was led to the Lord, by his boss, sometime later, in that year-------and now, his love for the Lord, is a contageous joy, to everyone he meets. 

Dale chose to be obedient with the truth and our friend, eventually chose, to be obedient with his heart. They both, chose obedience to the Lord, over slavery to sin. And God honored the obedience of both men, in such a sweet way----our friend gained a relationship with the Lord Jesus, for all eternty, and Dale has gotten to share in the fruit, of that relationship, for almost 30 years, now.)

Hopefully, we can't help but be like Paul, in our thanks to God, for what He's done for us. Before we were saved, we were wholehearted sinners, even if it was only in our thoughts and our desires. But, immediately, when we asked Him to be our Savior, we were given a new heart and a new nature, that hates sin and that desires to obey His Word. We've been given such a precious gift-----it's impossible for us to be neutral. We can wholeheartedly choose obedience. Even though we still have a propensity to sin, when we're saved; we are not slaves to sin any more. We belong to God! We are set free from the control of evil desires and selfish habits and satan's influence. We can wholeheartedly serve a righteous God, Who, by His relationship with us, is in the process of transforming us, to be more like Him, so that when the time comes, we will, one day, stroll over the streets of heaven, with Him. It makes me want to shout what Martin Luther King did, in his I Have a Dream Speech in 1963: "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" 

I know that my children (bless their hearts) when they were growing up, got sick of hearing me caution them, every time they turned around, "that there is so much more freedom in obedience, than their ever could be in disobdience". But it's the truth----and Paul wanted his readers to hear and understand it too. When we're enslaved to sin, we are in bondage to a master, who doesn't care whether we live or die, just so long as it gets its way-------but when we're enslaved to God, its a totally different story. God doesn't keep us in obedience to Him, against our will-----He plants the desire in our hearts, that makes us want to please Him. We want to live in harmony with Him. When Adam and Eve were created, it was in God's image. And they lived in perfect harmony, with their created purpose----- which was to walk and talk with God, in the cool of the day-----and to enjoy uninhibited intimacy, with Him, and with each other, and to rule over the rest of creation, as His vice-regents. 

When we obey God and are "slaves" to His rightousness, we don't just please Him, but we do what's best for ourselves too. That's how the Lord created the world to work, before it was corrupted by Adam's disobedience, and before humanity's continued exchange of truth, for lies, which has only perpetuated their sin, and intensified their bondage to it, as generations have passed. 

The grace of God gives that harmony back to us. Jesus' sacrificial death created the potential for us to recapture some of the innocence and the freedom of Eden. Just like serving sin, binds us closer to sin; serving righteousness, frees us, to live in harmony with the purpose we were created for---- Positionally, thanks to Jesus, God already sees us as holy-----we are sanctified, in His eyes, but because we are not perfect and because we live in this sin-torn world, we still have to go through the process of  sanctification, so that we will be prepared, to live in heaven. As believers, we are on the road to holiness and I truly believe that God regards the direction that we're walking, just as important, as the place we're going. I think He values the journey, as much as He does the destination. The author, Robert Lewis Stevenson, wrote, "To travel hopefully, is a better thing, than to arrive."

For centuries, people have turned to mind-altering drugs and alcohol, for a variety of reasons, but the most basic desire, is ,so that they can feel good and not feel bad. People usuallly find, that with using drugs, that their payoff, is immediate and immensely satisfying…but that payoff, only lasts for a little while. Because, medically speaking, we know that drugs and alcohol have a double inpact, in the long run. Every time they are used, they increase the user's need for the drug, and they decrease the body's response to it, at the same time. In other words, the drug gradually creates a greater need for more, and it takes larger and larger doses, to achieve the same satisfying effect. 

Sin is the same way, because it is usually the result of someone trying to fill a legitimate, God-given need, in an illegitimate way. Once we have been freed from sin, we still have needs that have to be filled------so we have to learn to fill them in other ways----with things that are pleasing to the Lord----- and because we've been totally freed from the bondage to sin, we can trust God, in His great faithulness, to make sure, that every single one of our needs and most of our wants, are filled. The cycle of sanctification, draws a believer even closer to the center, of where we're supposed to be, which is in God's gracious will and favor. Increasing dependence on the Lord, will provide for us, meaningful satisfaction, and ironically, greater freedom, in this life. Why in the world, would that not be our greatest desire? 

( I heard a story this week from an unexpected source, that has captivated my attention and fits as an example, right here. I was at my sister's, in the latter part of the week. She had someone who apparently, is considered a rock star (Linda Lee) in the sewing world, teaching a seminar of classes, in her sewing machine store. We took the teacher to dinner and were just chatting about our families and our lives. She was telling us about her daughter who had been asked by an ex- pro-basketball player and his wife, to come and live in their home, to help with their children, and with his Christian ministry. She couldn't remember his name, but she remembered, that he used to play for the Kansas University Jayhawks. 

I was intriqued, so I googled what little I knew, and I came up with a remarkable story. 

The young man's name is Wayne Simien. He's 28 years old and he lives and ministers in Lawrence, Kansas. He is married to his wife, Katie and they have 3 children. He serves as a lay-pastor, in the Morningstar Church. He works, as the "Called to Greatness" campus minister, for no salary, at Kansas University, which is an organization, kind of like FCA, that tries to reach young people, for the Lord, through the world of sports. He is also the chaplain for the Kansas University Basketball team. But that hasn't always been his story.

Wayne had always wanted to play college and professional basketball. He was 6'9" and very talented. Was an All-American and played for Roy Williams. Went to church with his parents, but only because they made him. His nickname was Big-Dub and he was wild-----with the alcohol and with the women. His teammates said he got more phone numbers after a game on a road trip than he did rebounds, and he took some of the women up on their offers. He was the heart and soul of the team, not just because of his size, but because of his aura. On the outside, from the world's perspective, everything seemed to be perfect--on the inside, he was miserable. 

In his Junior year, Wayne dislocated his shoulder------his team left for the Sweet Sixteen and he left for NYC for surgery. They came in 2nd in the Final Four championship game and he had contributed nothing cause he had to sit, injured, on the bench. His mother said that he had always been a moody boy----hard on himself, athletically academically------so, without basketball--he couldn't handle the feelings of depression that came over him. Dan Coke, a KU football player invited him to a bible study------it wasn't the first time he had invited him, but it was the first time that Simien had seen him as someone who could help, not someone who wanted to kill his fun. So he went, and he met the Lord, for real, though that experience. He was baptized and joined his church and began to serve right away. 

He was a 1st round draft pick for the Miami Heat. He went, and was ridiculed, for his Christian standards, but he never gave into the temptations, that a lot of his teammates did, while he was there. He met his wife and married her within 7 months. He earned his teammates respect when he chose not to kiss her, until after their wedding. In front to everybody there, he explained that he had not been a virgin when they met and she had been----- and that he didn't kiss her, because he wanted to honor her, by making sure, that in their relationship, they were virgins, with each other. 

He retired from his basketball career, because illness and injury just kept keeping him out of the game, but he would say that the Lord just used those things, to steer him toward the real work, that He had for him, to do. According to Wayne Simien, he  gave up everything that he thought he wanted, and has found real joy, in his obedience to the Lord.)

Romans 6:23 says "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life."  In this verse, Paul used two Greek military words:  the word for "pay" is "opsonia" and it is what a soldier,  earned, at great risk, to his life and limb. It was what was due to him, and it couldn't be taken away from him. It was his, he had earned it. The word for "gift" is "charisma" , which is a totally unearned gift, that the army would sometimes receive. On special occcasions, like the Emperor's birthday or his accession to the throne, or for an anniversary, of some kind, he would many times hand out free gifts of money to the army. It was a gift of the emperor's kindness and grace. 

We are free to choose netween 2 masters, but we aren't free to adjust the consequences of our choice Each of the 2 masters pay with their own kind of currency. The currency of sin is death. That's all we can hope for, in a life without the Lord. Jesus' currency is eternal life ----new life with God that begins on earth and continues forever with God. If we got the pay that we've earned, it would be death; but out of His grace, the Lord has given us life. 

Someimes, I think, that just, not doing something wrong, when we're tempted, isn't enough------I think we need to purposefully redirect ourselves. So, here is 4 step process that we can follow---it's not a formula, just an intentional plan:

1.) flee temptation: change your circumstances. Physically move from where you are and quickly go somewhere different, even if it's just for a few minutes.

2.) do something that brings honor to God, as an alternative: prayer is always a necessity-----but we need to do something that is more tangible---we need to substitute the urge to sin with and Godly activity----turn on praise music---start to sing every hymn you know----read scripture-----call a friend that you know is struggling------volunteer in a ministry to the community, etc. etc. etc.

3.) Spiritual warfare is exhusting. Thank God and praise Him verbally, for providing us wth the freedom to choose Him over wrongdoing and ask Him for encouragement.

4.) Call a godly friend, and try to discern together, what triggered the temptation and take practical steps to steer clear of the same situation.

II. No Longer Bound to the Law: 7:1-6

The basic thought of this passage, is founded on the legal principal, that death cancels out all other contracts. Paul uses marriage, to illustrate our relationship to the Law. When a spouse dies, the law of marriage doesn't apply anymore. And because we died with Jesus, the Law can't condemn us any more, either. We rose again, right along with Jesus, when He was resurrected and now we belong to Him. His Spirit, enables us to produce the good fruit for God, that He created for us to. The result is, that we can now serve God, not by trying hard, to obey a set of rules---- and then failing, more often, than not, but by having renewed hearts and minds, that overflow with love for Him, and obey out of gratitude, for His great faithfulness to us.

When a person dies to his old life and belongs to Jesus, his new life begins. The unbeliever's mind, is centered on how he can gratify his own selfish desires. Anybody who doesn't choose to follow Jesus, has only their own self-determination, as their power-source.

But, by contrast to that, God is at the center of a believer's life and He supplies the power for our daily living. When we belong to the Lord, our whole way of looking at the world changes-------our whole way of interacting, with believers and nonbelievers, doesn't revolve around "what's in it for us anymore" It becomes more of a lesson, of teaching us to  discover, "what would Jesus do" and then doing it as best we can, in His strength. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength." We can claim that verse, to be the truth, with absolute assurance.

The "flesh", is  the word, that Paul used to describe, the human tendancy to be dominated by sin. It is under the Law and the only fruit that can be produced by a life that is under the Law, is sin and death.The "flesh" sees the Law, as a "to do" list, either to, legalistically adhere to, or to arbitrarily ignore, instead of seeing it as God's perfect standard, that He helps us to obey.

But Believers have been released from the Law; our obedience is to God Himself. The Law hasn't been erased, but we don't have to obey it, in the same way anymore. God still desires our moral obedience to His Law, but we are to serve the HIm, out of love, now, not because we're afraid of punishment ,if we don't measure up. Our focus, should be on the Lord's desires, not on a list of commands. We've been released so that we can serve in the new way of the Spirit, who is living inside of us, guiding us and showing us how to please God. 

There is a clear contrast between Slavery, under the Law and the spiritual freedom that we receive, when we yield ourselves to the Lord, as His bondservants: Slavery under the Law makes us dull and ritualistic and lifeless. It stunts our spiritual growth and it eventually leads us to be separated from the Lord, here on earth and ultimately, for eternity. 

But being in bondservice to the Lord makes us vibrant and expectant of God showing up, unexpectantly, and it makes us alive and creative and joyful. It steadily grows us spiritually, and it develops the "fruit of the spirit" in us, that is part of the process of sanctification that fits us for heaven, and allows for sweet fellowship, with the Lord, now, that will just grow deeper and deeper, as we step into eternity.

Slavery Under the Law                        Spiritual Freedom

Guilt                                                     Love

Restraint                                              Joy

Sacrifices                                             Peace

Ceremonies                                         Patience

Emphasis on sin                                  Kindness

Rule Keeping                                       Goodness

External Pressures                              Faithfulness

Failure                                                 Gentleness

Hopelessness                                     Self-Control

We have been released from the penalty of sin; we have been released from the power of sin; someday we will be released from the presence of sin.

We are cleansed from sin and we are counted as righteous.

We are free from the external regulations that have be fulfilled in order to be right with God.

We are free from the ceremonial regulations that pointed to Christ, before He came to die for us. Because he has fulfilled them every one.

We are free to trust the Holy Spirit to turn our eyes away from our own performance and toward the Lord, because He will free us to serve him out of love and gratitude. 

The Lord Jesus has freed us, so that we can live, victoriously, in the way of the Spirit. 

A.W. Tozer, pastor and author, wrote this beautiful prayer in his book, The Pursuit of God, and its a prayer for us, today, "Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come, Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus name, amen."

JOY "United with Christ" November 2

November 2, 2011

United With Christ

Romans 6:1-14

I.       How We Died: 6:1-10

II.      How We Live: 6:11-14

"On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation, which began: 

             'On the first day of January, in the year of our Lord 

              one thousand eight hundred and sixty- three, 

              all persons held as slaves within any state 

              or designated part of a state, the people whereof  

              shall then be in rebellion against the United States,  

              shall be then, thenceforward and forever, free.'

But, the Confederate and Union armies, would have to fight for many months, before slaves in the South could claim their precious freedom. 

(Booker T. Washington, (author, educator, and African-American, civil rights leader, at the turn of the 20th century) was nine, when emancipation reached his plantation, in southwest Virginia. He wrote about that day in his autobiography, Up From Slavery:

' The most distinct thing that I now recall in connection with the scene was that some man who seemed to be a stranger (a United States officer, I presume) made a little speech and then read a rather long paper--------the Emancipation Proclamation, I think. After the reading we were told that we were all free, and could go when and where we pleased. My mother, who was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant; that this was the day for which she had been so long praying, but fearing that she would never live to see.

He went on to say, 'The wild rejoicing on the part of the emancipated colored people lasted only for a brief period, for I noticed that by the time they returned to their cabins there was a change in their feelings. The great responsibility of being free, of having charge of themselves, of having to think and plan for themselves and their children, seemed to take possession of them. It was very much like suddenly turning a youth of ten or twelve years, out into the world, to provide for himself. In a few hours, the great questions with which the Anglo-Saxon race, had been grappling for centuries, had been thrown upon these people, to be solved. These were the questions, of a home, a living, the rearing of children, education, citizenship, and the establishment and support of churches. Was it any wonder that within a few hours, the wild rejoicing ceased and a feeling of deep gloom seemed to pervade the slave quarters?

To some it seemed, now that they were in actual possession of it, that freedom was a more serious thing than they had expected to find it. Some of the slaves were seventy or eighty years old; their best days were gone. They had no strength with which to earn a living in a strange place and among strange people, even if they had been sure where to find a new place of abode. To this class, the problem seemed especially hard. Besides, deep down in their hearts, there was a strange and peculiar attachment to "old Mister" and "old Missus" and to their children, which they found it hard, to think of breaking off. With these, they had spent in some cases, nearly a half-century, and it was no light thing to think of parting. Gradually, one by one, stealthily, at first, the older slaves began to wander from the slave quarters back to the "big house" to have a whispered conversation with their former owners as to the future.')

In time, after the final surrender of the Confederacy, the assassination of a president and a difficult political fight----- the United States, ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, which officially abolished slavery in America. So, on December 18 in 1865, the news swept across Capitol        Hill, down through the Shenandoah Valley, over the Appalachians, along the backroads of the Carolinas, deep into the plantations of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and into the cotton fields of Texas and Arkansas---- the word went out, across the country..…at least, officially, but the practicality of freedom, was a totally different situation. 

History tells us, that after a brief celebration, many former slaves returned to the fields to continue their servitude as "sharecroppers." Though officially free to go anywhere, little changed for them in a practical sense. Legal emancipation, only presented slaves, with the opportunity to live as free men and women. It couldn't make them believe that they were free and it couldn't make them live like they were. Turning their legal status into a reality for them, required an internal transformation---of their hearts and their minds and their spirits. Those, who found this challenge too daunting, chose the unconscionable, but familiar, yoke of slavery, instead.

From the perspective of people, who've never known slavery, this seems so foolish to us. But we need to recognize, even as Christians, that we choose a type of slavery, over freedom, every day. We've been set free from the penalty and the power of sin and we have the promise that someday, we will be set free from the presence of sin------and we no longer have to fear death---but for us to live, like we believe that these promises are true, doesn't come easily or naturally to us. Trusting and living in that freedom, is a process and just like salvation, it has to be accomplished, supernaturally. 

Theologians have given a name to the gradual, internal transformation, of a newly-freed slave of sin, into a fully mature and completely free, individual. That term is "sanctification."  And it's the lifelong process, of God, progressively, and consistently, separating believers from sin, and making us more like Him. It begins, the minute we ask Jesus into our hearts, and it will be completed, that glorious day, when we see Jesus, face to face. 

The process of "sanctification", is one of the most precious gifts that we've been given, as believers, and even though we can't see it, and most days we don't even think about it------ we can know, that it is happening, in our hearts spiritually, just as surely as we know, that we are maturing physically and emotionally, with every passing birthday.

What was a tragedy to begin with------that human beings were owned by masters, who kept them in cruel bondage------became a double wrong, because of the slaves' lack of knowledge and understanding, that they had been set free, by an emancipator. Even if a person with the power, authority, and willingness, to set the captives free, does it-----it doesn't make a "a hill of beans", to the captives, if they don't know what it means to live in their freedom. 

The only thing that the slaves had to do, that were freed by Mr. Lincoln, was to embrace their "freedom", as their new master, and they would have been free. And all that a Believer has to do, to be free from the mastery of sin, is to embrace, the free gift of righteousness, that God gives us, and we will be free. 

So, Paul's message, in Romans 6, is to declare that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is the Believer's Emancipation Proclamation, from slavery to sin, just in the same way, that Abraham Lincoln's was, for the slave community, in the old south. 

I. How We Died: 6:1-10

Paul must have realized that his statement in Romans 5:20, "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more," could and would be interpreted, by a lot of people, to mean, that they should sin even more, if they wanted to experience more grace. He was horrified that they would think that, so, he answered them, with a rhetorical question, that was an unequivocal and emphatic denial, of even the suggestion of it, and then went on to explain, that believers have died to sin, so they can't possibly, live in it, any more. 

We have to remember that when Paul talks about sin, he isn't talking about one or two isolated failures, he's talking about a lifestyle of sin. He is talking about Christians, who live like they did, before they were believers. He is talking about Christians, who live such worldly lives, that you can't see where they end, and the world begins. He is talking about Christians, who would not be recognized by the world, or other believers, as Believers. 

Paul says, that the miraculous power of the Gospel, sets people free, from being under sin's control. It isn't that Christians don't or can't sin anymore, its that they have been given the freedom to choose between, what's right and what's wrong. They can choose whether to sin or not. This freedom that we're given in the Lord, carries with it, a huge responsibility--------we have the responsibility of consciously choosing, to allow the Holy Spirit, to help us make the right choices, and to replace sinful thoughts and actions, with righteous ones. When we don't do that, we're in danger, of continuing to be enslaved to sin. 

In last week's lesson, Paul made it clear to his readers, that sin was our heritage from Adam. That we couldn't escape it, because Adam's choice, passed the taint of sin and death, down to every single one of us. And unfortunately, as children of Adam, we were born with the propensity to sin. But, in this week's lesson, he wants us to understand that we're no longer bound by Adam's sin-------we have been given the free gift of righteousness; and we've been reborn, as God's children, with the supernatural ability, to walk away from sin, and temptation. 

Bible Scholars teach, that there are 2 natures at work in a believer-----the new nature in Christ and the old nature in Adam-----and that's why we feel the conflict, between the two of them, as they war with each other. 

The truth is, though, when we're saved, only one of those natures belong to us anymore, and the one that belongs to us, is the new one that we've been given, in Christ Jesus. The problem is, that our bodies and our souls, have functioned for so many years, under the control of sin, that they still try to go on, in the same way, according to the habits and the patterns, that we inherited from Adam. That's where the evil and the sin, in a believer's life, come from. But as we mature in our walk with the Lord, He reeducates our souls, and our bodies and He changes us, to be more like Him---- and in the process---- our new nature, lives and breathes and grows, and the old one, stays in the grave, where salvation put it, once and for all. 

The new life, that Jesus gives us, is more powerful and persistent, than the power of death that Adam gave us, ever could be. Jesus continually works to bring our hearts and minds and actions, into conformity with Him------to the point, that just like we couldn't avoid sin, when we were in Adam, now, we can't not avoid it, because we're in Christ.

(Last year, Dale and I did something we've never done before--we bought a piece of rental property. The house had only been owned by one family, for 40 years, but the husband had passed away and the wife had been stricken with Alzheimers and the children didn't have any interest in the house, and so it had fallen into great disrepair. It had been on the market for 3 years, and was a shambles, inside and out-----I didn't even want to go in it---but when I did, something about it, captivated me------so, we cut down trees and pulled up ivy and replanted grass, and we cleaned windows and painted walls and ripped up carpet, and we made sure that the heating and air conditioning and plumbing, were in good working order, as well as the stove and refrigerator. 

And all of a sudden, the eyesore of the neighborhood, became a precious little vintage cottage----and not only, have we had wonderful tenants, but we've had 3 offers to buy it, as well. Crazy, right? but the reason for the change is obvious. Someone new had moved in! It is the same thing with a human being. When we're indwelt by Adam, we're filthy and wretched, inside and out------but when Jesus comes to dwell in us, we can't hide it, the change is evident to everybody. It is impossible for our lifestyles to continue unchanged, if Jesus is truly our Lord. 

People who say they can be Christians, while continuing in a lifestyle of sin, are wrong----- they need to reexamine their hearts and make sure that they've had a real experience with the Lord------- otherwise, they're just deceiving themselves and others. The truth is, a person's  behavior, will always, eventually prove, whether there's been a change in their hearts or not. When Jesus is the Lord of our lives, people don't have to ask if we're Christians------you can tell it, by the way we look, speak and act.)

Paul used baptism, as a way to illustrate, just how a believer dies to sin. The Greek word for baptism has 2 basic meanings, one is literal and one is figurative: 1.) to dip or to immerse, and 2.) to be identified with. I think that Paul had both the literal and figurative meaning, in mind, in this passage---because he used the reader's experience of water baptism, to remind them of their identification with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. 

Historians agree that the method of baptism, in the early church was immersion. Baptism would always follow a person's decision to trust in Jesus as their Savior. The believer was buried in the water and brought up again, as a clear picture, of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It was an outward symbol, of an inward experience, where Believers, are spiritually immersed, into Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, and then, they miraculously, become one with each other.

This is the same distinction that John the Baptist made, when he told the people in Matt. 3:11, "I baptize you with water…but after me will come one who is more powerful than I…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit, occurred first, historically, on the Day of Pentecost (50 days after Jesus had ascended) when the Holy Spirit came upon all the believers, who were gathered together, in Jerusalem. This event fused all the believers into one body, with Jesus as the head. It was at that moment, that the Church was formed. The Holy Spirit came that day, for everybody, there, who would receive Him, and for each person, who would make that decision, in every generation, until Jesus comes back again. 

So, it's at the very moment that we believed, and asked Jesus to come into our hearts, to be our Lord and Savior, that we were baptized, with the Holy Spirit, too. The righteousness that we're given by the Lord, is an earthly, as well as, a heavenly reality. If it weren't, it wouldn't be a reality at all. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are indwelt by His divine presence and we are forever different. That's why its impossible, for a true believer, once he's saved, to continue to choose to live, in a lifestyle of sin. 

(I don't want us to get the idea that this is a lesson, on the type or timing of baptism, as it relates to different denominations-----it most certainly is not----it is an historical reference to the way baptism was done, in Paul's day-------but more importantly, it was Paul making sure, that the people weren't engaging in water baptism, without first having been baptized by the Holy Spirit. He wanted them to understand, that just because they were baptized, that didn't make them believers------the Holy Spirit, living in their hearts------that's what made them believers! )

(When, our daughter, Mary Kathryn was 4 years old, she asked Jesus into her heart, while she was watching a Charity Churchmouse video-----we knew that it was true, because up until that time-----she would say, "I don't want Jesus in my heart, I don't want HIm sticking out of me." but from that day forward, she would tell everybody, that He was in her heart----Well periodically, over the next few years, she would ask, to take the Lord's Supper, and we would tell her no, that she needed to join the church and be baptized 1st,-------Dale and I just didn't know how wrong we were, though. 

She was 7, when Dale's parents and grandparents came to visit one weekend. I was sitting at the table with Nana and Mamaw, telling them, that MK was getting pretty insistent, every time we had communion, about wanting to take it. Mamaw pulled me up short, when she said Debra, "you have it all wrong-------no where does the scripture say you have to be baptized to take the Lord's supper-------you just have to be a believer." I was blown away-----I realize now, that I, was the very person that Paul was talking to-----water baptism is just an outward symbol, of what has already taken place inside our hearts------its our identification with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.------well, to make a long story short, the next morning, Mary Kathryn took the Lord's supper, the next Sunday, she joined the church and a few Sundays later, she was baptized, and she publicly declared what had long since happened in her heart.)

Paul relates this issue of baptism, directly to the fact, that, as believers, we are dead to sin. When we were baptized, by the Holy Spirit, He caused us to intimately identify with everything that Jesus did------ Jesus died, and we died; Jesus was buried, and we were buried with Him; Jesus rose again, and we rose with Him. Is it not remarkable to think that we are just as dead to sin, as Jesus is? 

******This magnificent truth is one of the most important promises, to a believer------everything else in scripture, flows to and from, this one, certain hope.

(The Apostle John, illustrated this truth, in the 11th and 12th chapters, of his Gospel, when he told the story, of Lazarus--------When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for 4 days, so there was no question that he was dead. But, by the power of His word, Jesus raised His friend, from death to life, when He raised His voice and said, "Lazarus, come forth!" But when Lazarus appeared at the entrance of his tomb, he was still wrapped in his graveclothes. So, Jesus commanded the onlookers to, "Loose him and let him go!" illustrating the fact, that Lazarus, had been raised, to walk in a new life. And then, little bit later, in the story, we are told that Lazarus was seated beside Jesus, at the table, and they were sharing fellowship together. 

 He had been Dead----then he was raised from the dead-----he was set free to walk in the newness of life-----and then, he was seated in fellowship with his friend, Jesus. 

Lazarus' story, gives us a beautiful picture, of what our relationship with the Lord is, when we have chosen to be identified with Him-----I love the words and their message in Revelation 3:20, that say, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me."  )

There are 3 truths I want us to remember:

1.)When we are united with the Lord Jesus, we have been crucified together, sin died; the old slave master died; the power and lordship of sin, and our old identity, have been destroyed; we have been freed, forever, from the obligation, addiction and necessity to sin. Sin is completely and irrevocably, dead and it can never rule our hearts again. 

2.)When we are united with the Lord Jesus, we have been resurrected together, we have a new identity, we have a new life and a new master, we have a new fellowship with God. We have been set free from sin, so that we can serve Him and each other.

3.)When we are united with the Lord Jesus, we have a new direction, a new purpose, new gifts and a new power, to accomplish God's work. 

I told you, about how there were many, many slaves, who had been set free by the Emancipation Proclamation, who just couldn't live in their freedom----- either because they couldn't believe it, or because they were afraid of it. And, we know that we struggle with the same thing and until we accept the emancipation, that we have, through Jesus, we'll continue, to choose, to be slaves to sin, too. We don't have to, but way too many times, we don't know what else to do. But when we finally learn to accept the truth, of our freedom in Christ---- we can begin to live a new life of obedience, that will free us, even more. In Galations 2:20, Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life, I now live in the body, I live by faith, in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  

The power and penalty of sin, died with Jesus on the cross. We never have to be slaves to our sinful nature again.The "body of sin" that Paul talks about is not our physical bodies----it is   our old sin-loving nature, and we have to believe that we are freed from its power, because that's the only way that we can live, like we're free. 

But we also have to remember, that God doesn't take us out of the world and He doesn't make us robots-------we are still tempted to sin-----we still feel like sinning and we will still choose to sin, sometimes, but the difference is, that before we we saved, we couldn't help but sin------but now, that we are saved, we have a new power, living in us, that gives us the ability to choose not to sin. It's the same power, that helped Jesus live a sinless life; it's the same power that gave Him the strength to go to the cross; it's the same power that held Him there; it's the same power that resurrected Him from the grave; it's the same power that ascended Him back to heaven; and it's the same power that'll bring Him back, someday. We, have that remarkable, unquenchable, unfathomable, and omnipotent power, living inside us-------so we never have to sin again!

If we do sin, it's because we allow it to happen. Old patterns and habits have to be exchanged for new patterns and habits. Once we believe that we are dead to our sin, we can put one foot in front of the other, and move forward, in the life, that the Lord has mapped out for us to live. 

II. How We Live: 6:11-14

When we decide not to sin, we have the power to carry it out, because the Lord is more alive inside of us, than we are alive in this world. Paul gave us a command in verse 11, "Count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God, in Christ Jesus." There are 2 principles that flow from this command that will help us, in times of temptation:  (this sounds so elementary but for some reason, it is so hard for us to stay focused on it) First, when we're tempted, we have to consciously remember, that we don't have to obey sin, that we don't have to allow sin to have free will in our bodies, that we don't have to yield to temptation. The 2nd principle, is that when we're tempted, we have to consciously remember, that the power of Jesus, in us, enables us to offer our bodies to God, to only be used for His purposes. The power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us, is greater than any sin; and its greater than any temptation. We have to learn to embrace it and rely on it. We will always struggle with temptation, but we have the strength and the right, to resist it. 

The temptation is not the sin, the sin, is the yielding to the temptation----but, when we're saved, God has given us the freedom and the desire and the strength, to walk away from it. 

Christianity is not an emotional experience; its a way of life. Christians are not meant to wallow in our salvation experience, we're not meant to stay in church or to only be surrounded by our Christian family and friends---- we're meant to go out and live life, and to face the world's attacks and problems, head-on. We have to translate our love for the Lord Jesus, into action. 

But, in the world, we find ourselves, confronted with a difficult and distracting situation---both God and sin, are looking for weapons to use, for and against, the trouble in the world. God works through human beings----if He wants a word spoken, He gets someone to do it; if he wants a deed done, He gets someone to do it; and if He wants a person encouraged, He will get someone to do the lifting up. Sin works the same way---sin is looking for people who will, by their words or their example, seduce themselves or someone else into sinning. In the eternal battle, between sin and God, we have to choose our side. We are faced with the tremendous responsibility, of making ourselves, either,weapons, in the hands of God, or weapons, in the grip, of sin. 

How can we keep from being afraid, that that kind of choice is too much for us; how can we trust, that it isn't, just a set-up, for failure, that's hanging over our heads? Well, Paul tells us not to be discouraged and not to despair. Because, even though we do fail and we do succumb to sin, we are no longer under the Law, we are under grace, and that should make all the difference. Sin is not our master and the Law is not our master. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Master and He gives us grace and forgiveness. When we fail, all we have to do, is go back to God, confess our sin, and receive His forgiveness-------and then we can get on about the business, of living for Him. We don't have to try and satisfy the demands of the Law, any more, instead, we need to try to behave, like we're worthy, of the gifts of love, that we've been given. 

Because we're His children, God is not a stern judge any more, He is the lover of our souls. William Barclay says that "There's no inspiration in the world, that's better than love. The Christian life is not a burden to be born, its a privilege to be lived up to." James Denney says, "Its not restraint, but inspiration which liberates from sin; not Mount Sinai but Mount Calvary which makes saints." 

Many people, have been saved from sin, not because of the regulations of the Law, but because they couldn't bear to hurt or grieve or disappoint someone that they love or someone who they knew, loved them. At best, the Law restrains people, through fear, but love redeems them, by inspiring them to be better than their best. Believers don't obey because they are afraid of God; Believers obey, because they want to be worthy, of what God has done for them. Grace doesn't give us an excuse to sin, it gives us a reason to obey. 

Imagine someone who was once a slave to sin, being changed into such a person of freedom, that their nature is so completely and totally transformed, that they lose all desire to engage in anything sinful. That person could live the rest of their lives as though earthly laws and policemen and courts and prisons didn't exist. They could live, like God had never defined which actions are sinful and which ones aren't. Rules restricting their behavior would be irrelevant. That, according to Paul, in a nutshell, is the right and privilege and potential, of every believer, who chooses to live, under the transforming power, of God's grace. We just have to believe it and then choose to walk in it. 

(Lewis Sperry Chafer was the founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary. History tells us that he spent the last of his 81 years, teaching systematic theology, from his wheelchair, and his favorite topic was grace. After one particularly moving lecture, Dr. Chafer closed his Bible, rolled over to the door and turned off the lights. Not a single student moved. The he said, "I have spent all my life studying the grace of God and I am just now beginning to understand, a fraction, of its winsome charm. And, gentlemen. it is magnificent!" )

JOY "Fruits of Righteousness" October 26

October 26, 2011

Fruits of Righteousness

Romans 5:1-21

I         We Can Rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God:  5:1-2

II        We Can Rejoice in Sufferings:     5:3-10

III       We Can Rejoice in God, Our Father:    5: 11-21

Rembrandt was one of the most famous artists in post-Reformation Europe. He was raised in Holland, in a devout, Reformed Protestant, home. And by the time he was 25, his portraits were among the most popular of the day. He painted secular subjects, as well biblical ones, just like all of his contemporaries did-----but his art, gradually, over time, became separated from other Protestant and Catholic painters, because they portrayed biblical and spiritual scenes from an unrealistic and mythological perspective-------while he painted the exact same scenes, like they were happening to somebody that he knew. 

Rembrandt's deep theological understanding, of the helplessness, of man, before a holy God, pushed him, to paint, realistically. His own wife and son, as well as street people and beggars became models, for his biblically-themed paintings.

He even painted himself into many of his works. He was one of the enemies of the Lord, in his painting of "The Raising of the Cross. You can see his face, as one of the soldiers, lifting the cross up------ Historians believe that Rembrandt must have understood, that his sin, made him guilty, of helping to crucify, his own Savior, or he wouldn't have been able to paint himself into the scene. 

Toward the end of his career, he was confronted, even more, with his own sinfulness.When his wealthy wife died------he was threatened by her Will-----that he would lose her estate, if he remarried------so, instead, he took his housekeeper, to be his common-law wife, and even had a child with her. His immoral actions brought him into conflict with the Reformed Protestant Church, in Amsterdam, and also, he eventually found himself in a terrible financial situation, which resulted in bankruptcy. But his paintings, have been evidence through the years, that he understood his sin and how far it separated him from God, and that he knew what Jesus had done for him on the cross and what he had been spared. 

When Rembrandt painted one of his last great works in 1662, "Return of the Prodigal Son", he painted his own confession of faith, to God the Father, in painting himself, as the prodigal son, kneeling at the feet, of his earthly father, resting his head, under the father's hand. He was illustrating Roman's 5:8, "God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

We don't all have this skill, that Rembrandt did, to put paint on a canvas, and have it become a work of art------but God does, and our lives are His canvas, and He paints his message, of love and grace and peace and salvation and reconciliation, on our hearts, for all the world to see and His works will last for all eternity. 

Paul understood what Rembrandt understood and what, hopefully we understand-----that in our own strength, we will never be able to achieve peace and reconciliation with God, and forgiveness for our sins-----but, when we put our trust in God, He gives us those blessings and so much more!  

Last week, we learned, that Abraham's life, illustrated the truth, that faith sometimes requires our participation----like waiting and trusting God, to keep His promises---even if they seem impossible. And we learned, that a faith, like Abraham's, never requires blind trust, it requires us to trust, with our eyes wide open. 

In this week's lesson, Paul wants us to understand, that if we will just trust the faith, that God has given us, then He truly will help us, to experience a different kind of life, than the rest of the world. Paul doesn't promise that it will be easy, but he does promise, that it will be a life full of:  peace , joyful hope, spiritual growth, a deep realization of God's love and a daily reconciliation with Him. 

Paul introduces some difficult concepts in this passage. He demonstrates the truth of the Gospel, in ways, that are designed to stretch our thinking. Every commentary that I studied cautioned that verses 12-21, have been debated by theologians, down through the centuries, as the most difficult passage in scripture, to explain. I loved what John MacArthur said though--------"on one hand, as far as complete human comprehension is concerned, the truths of this passage are beyond reach. But on the other hand, the truths themselves, are wonderfully simple and clear, when accepted in humble faith as God's Word. Just as its possible to accept and live, in accordance with the law of gravity, without fully understanding it, so its possible for believers to accept and live according to God's truth, without fully understanding it.-------so, it isn't, that God's truths are unexplainable, it's that the explanations for many of them, are hard to understand and hard to put into words. Our responsibility, is to accept in faith, both what is clear and what is not, what is comprehensible and what remains a mystery."

In order for us to understand and embrace the truth of this------we have to keep in mind, the 2-sided reality of the Christian life. *******On one hand, we are complete in the Lord Jesus, our acceptance by Him, is secure forever, we can never be snatched out of His hand-------- and on the other hand, we may be saved by His grace, but we are still rehabilitated sinners, who have to grow to become more and more like Him, every day, as we walk through every heartbreak and every joy, that this life offers us. ******On one hand we have the status of being a child of the King; and on the other one, we have the duties of slaves. *****On one hand, we can feel the presence of the Lord, and on the other one, we feel the pressure of sin. *****On one hand, we enjoy the peace, that comes, from being made right with God and on the other hand, we still face the daily problems of a sin-sick world.-------If we can just remember the 2 sides, of the Christian life, it will help keep us, from getting discouraged when we face temptations and trouble. We can learn, instead, to depend on the power that's available to us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in, our hearts. That's Paul's greatest desire, for his readers. And the word "rejoice" is key, to our walking successfully and victoriously, through the 2-sided reality of our lives, as Christians.

I.  We Can Rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God: 5:1-2

If we really understand what it means to be Christians, we can rejoice even in the middle of suffering. I'm not talking about people who suffer from clinical depression or bipolar disorder or other medical conditions, that cause depression, because it isn't sinful to or unspiritual to be afflicted with a real, health disorder. I'm talking about most of us, who are quite capable of rejoicing, because of and in spite of, our circumstances. We need to learn how to choose to focus on, our hope in the Lord Jesus, rather than on our disappointments, or our self-pity, or our frustration, or our hurt feelings, or our loneliness, or our weariness, or our fears.

Salvation was designed by God, to create and produce a spirit in us, that can't help but rejoice. Christian joy is not artificial happiness. It doesn't mean putting on a plastic smile and pretending that everything is wonderful when it isn't. It doesn't mean that we shout, "O happy day! We're gonna be bankrupt! or Hallelujah! I've got cancer! Joy is made up of both happiness and sorrow-----joy is being convinced, as it says in Romans 8:38, " that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that we find in Christ Jesus, our Lord." Rejoicing is a deep sense of security in God, even when the circumstances of our lives are crumbling. (Sandra Martin, told us a story, in leaders meeting, last week, that I want to share with you. Her daughter Melanie's husband, passed away about a month ago, at the age of 54, after a relatively short fight with melanoma----It has been a heartbreakingly, painful loss for all them, as you can imagine. Last week, Sandra and her husband, Bill, stopped by, to check on Melanie and which of the 4 children, just might happen to be, at home------when they walked up to the door, they were startled by the praise music, that was turned up so loud, that nobody inside the house, could hear their attempt to ring the doorbell. So they walked on in, and they found Melanie and one of her girls singing and dancing with unabashed joy. Sandra said, that Melanie's explanation was, that heaven was going to be a wonderful place! You can see, that Melanie's joy, certainly doesn't come from her circumstances, they're too hard------her joy comes, from knowing that nothing can separate her from the love of God, which she he has in Christ Jesus.)

There are 3 reasons for us to rejoice, in the hope of the glory of God:

*Our first and most immediate cause for rejoicing, is that we've been justified through God's free gift of faith, which brings us peace with God. All the conflict between ourselves and God is over. We lose our fear of His wrath, but not our awe of His glory. (I remember when I was 14 years old-------I couldn't  go to sleep, every night, for a period of time, because I was scared that the world would come to an end and where would I be----I had asked Jesus into my heart when I was 7 years old, but I had never made a public profession, of my decision-----I was afraid, that that meant, that I wasn't really saved----- but I was also, too scared and too embarrassed to ask anybody, about it. I didn't want people to know that I hadn't claimed the Lord as my Savior, publicly, and that I hadn't been baptized. I will never forget the joy and the freedom and peace, that flooded my soul, when I finally walked the aisle, to the altar.) I lost my fear of God but not my awe of His glorious presence in my life and the peace that He gives, that is beyond, all human understanding.

*Our next cause for rejoicing, that Paul says we have, is that we have access, to a constant supply of grace, from the God, of all grace, which enables us to stand, in the midst of pressures and problems and trials. 

(The book of Esther, beautifully illustrates this: Esther was a lovely, Jewish woman, being held captive, in the land of Persia. The king of Persia was smitten with her and he made her his queen. After that, a plot was hatched, by the wicked prime minister, to destroy all the Jews in the land. The king was manipulated into signing a death decree, against the Jews. 

Queen Esther's godly uncle Mordecai, urged her to go to the king and tell him that the decree was wrong and would destroy her people. Esther knew that this could easily get her killed. it was the law of Persia that no one could come before the king, without being summoned by him----- not even the queen. Esther had only one hope of surviving------and that was for the king to extend his golden scepter toward her when she entered the throne room. If he didn't, she would be executed----- but she knew that if she didn't try, her people would be destroyed, for sure.

So, Queen Esther fasted for 3 days and nights, to prepare herself spiritually. Then she dressed herself in robes of beauty and glory. When she was ready, she went to the throne- room of the king, and appeared alone, before him. The king was shocked at her bold, death-defying entrance. But, thankfully, for her, as he looked at his beautiful queen----he loved her---- and so, he stretched out his scepter and----- with that, she was granted complete access into His presence.)

This is a picture of us, standing before the God, of all the earth; the all-powerful and glorious king of the universe. None of us could dare approach Him, without being granted access and standing. God's amazing promise to us, is that now that we are justified by faith, we have access to His presence, without limit. We don't have to be afraid of Him. He extends his golden scepter of love and mercy toward us. 

*Our 3rd cause for rejoicing, in the hope of the glory of God, is the hope that we have in our future resurrection. The hope, that we have, in the promises of the Lord, is not a wishful possibility; it is a well-founded certainty of something, that isn't yet visible. Jesus promised us in John 14:19, "Because I live, you will also live." That is the certain hope of everyone who has been justified through faith. We can't see the resurrection yet, but we can have a sure and  certain hope of it, because we have God's Word, promising it. 

(I read a story about a man who lived in the midwest who looked out his window of his farmhouse, one day.  It was the dead of winter,and he saw, across the snowdrifts that buried his front yard, the mailman, placing something in his mailbox. Eager for a letter to lift his weather-weary spirits, he hurried out to the mailbox. But the only thing there, was a seed-catalog. He was totally disappointed! He went back inside and was about to toss the catalog in the trash, when on a whim, he sat down and started thumbing through it. On page after page, he saw the brilliant colors of flowers and vegetables. He could almost taste the cool crunch of a cucumber and smell the perfume of the flowers. He could practically feel the sweet-tangy juice, of a ripe red tomato, on his tongue. For just a few minutes, in the dead of winter, the colors and tastes and fragrances of springtime, came alive in his heart.)

That's what our Christian hope is. In this world, life can be like a cold, snowy winter, but we can know that a brilliant and wonderful glory waits for us, beyond this life---------if we look beyond our circumstances, and focus on rejoicing, in what we know to be true, about God, and the future He's prepared for us.

II.  We Can Rejoice in Sufferings: 5:3-10

Suffering is something that all Christians experience, in one way or another. And one of the major blessings of being a believer, is that the Holy Spirit, in our hearts, gives us the ability to rejoice in the middle of our suffering. Non-believers don't understand this, and oftentimes, the way a believer weathers difficult times, will become a wonderful witness, to everybody around them. 

When we are saved, we can rejoice that our sins are covered, and that we are justified through faith, and that we have the certain hope, of an eternal home with the Lord-------but the rejoicing in suffering, that Paul is talking about here, is different-----it's one of the mysteries of God.-------That He can impart to us a supernatural peace, that defies any circumstance, is remarkable and is beyond our human comprehension  The more we trust the Lord, when we walk through trouble, and rejoice in Him, and not in the circumstances, the deeper our relationship with Him will grow, and the more He will mature us spiritually------ and then He can use us more fully, in serving and ministering to others. Sometimes, our hardest suffering becomes the greatest encouragement, to someone else. 

To say that a person is rejoicing in their suffering, doesn't mean that they are being stoic---it is not a "grin and bear it" attitude. It's not a spiritual contest, to see which one if us, can weather the worst trouble, and be the winner, and then be recognized as a spiritual superstar. Its not masochism----the Lord doesn't expect us to enjoy our pain----Paul isn't telling us that we should be glad when tragedy strikes. And rejoicing in suffering is not an act-------God doesn't expect us to pretend that were happy, in times of suffering------He doesn't want us to be phony or dishonest------when we suffer, its ok to say, "this is hard, it hurts and I wish it would stop!"

But Paul, wants his readers to understand, that even though we don't have to be stoics and we're certainly not supposed to be masochists and even though, we can be honest about the pain that we're going through, it is still possible, for us to experience, genuine rejoicing. We can honestly tell the people around us, "I am suffering and I hate to suffer-----but even through this pain, I'm experiencing the joyful presence, of our loving God, in a way that I never have before------I have peace and joy, in spite of my circumstances." 

But, one thing that we need to remember, is that we shouldn't feel bad or disappointed, if we don't immediately feel like rejoicing, when we get hard news-------when suffering strikes, it's normal to cry out in pain and bewilderment and even anger. We have to give ourselves time to adjust, to the experience that we're going through, and to reflect on it, and then as the Lord's peace gradually floods our souls, it will enable us, to listen to the truths and learn the lessons, that He wants to teach us, though our painful experience. That's the reason why sufferings are a good thing, in the life of a believer, and why we need to rejoice in them------the truth is---it's because they produce visible fruit, of God's righteousness, in our lives. 

Suffering produces perseverance and perseverance produces character and character produces hope--and that hope helps us to realize, that suffering is not the result of God's anger toward us, but it's the result of His love for us.

Perseverance----in the Greek, the word literally means, "to remain firm under pressure." Pressure is something we want to get our from under-------we don't like it------we call it stress------but suffering teaches us, to stand firm, under that pressure. Another way it can be described is steadiness-------God uses our trials and troubles to make us more mature and stable and steady, under pressure. Suffering steadies us and teaches us how not to panic. Perseverance, is developed through a process---------We go through a storm and we panic. Then the Lord calms the storm and we think, "I'm glad that's over! I've learned my lesson!" Time passes------and then suddenly, another storm comes! But this time we don't panic, as badly as we did the first time. We respond with greater steadiness and stronger faith. We discover, that we're not as strong as we thought we were, but that we're stronger than we used to be. This means that we've grown------and with each new storm, we learn and grow just a little more, than the time before----- our faith has become a little more resilient. Eventually, we find that we're able to handle challenges, that we never imagined, that we ever possibly could. That's how suffering produces perseverance.

Character: In the Greek, the word for character, means "to be put to the test and approved." Perseverance under pressure, produces proven, reliable character qualities. When Paul wrote about rejoicing in sufferings, he was speaking from experience, he was a tested veteran. He had been through unbelievably, difficult experiences, to the point where numerous times, he had given up hope, of even surviving, but God brought him safely through each storm, every time. Paul wasn't naive enough to think, that there weren't other ones, ahead of him-------but he never stopped trusting that God would always deliver him, one way or the other-----either to walk another day on the earth, or to take him home to heaven. Perseverance had produced character and faith in Paul's life-------and it will do the same thing for us.

Hope: Paul says that character produces hope and "that hope doesn't disappoint us"----we have the hope of a glorious future, with the Lord, beyond this life, but more than that, we have the hope, that we can share the character and the glory of God, right now! and we have the hope, that God is producing a Christlike character, within our hearts, right this very minute. 

Remember, for a Christian, hope is not a wish or a possibility-----its a certainty. Hope doesn't say that we might be changed and made more Christlike------it says that we are being changed, to become more like Jesus! Through our sufferings, God is doing the work He promised to do. He is growing us in Christlike love, maturity and patience. 

(Vance Havner, in his book, It Is Toward Evening, tells the story about a small town, that made its living, entirely, from growing cotton. It was not a great living, but it was a living. Calamity struck, when the boll weevil, invaded the community and threatened to ruin everyone. As it turns out, the farmers were forced to switch to peanuts and other crops which eventually brought them a greater return, than they would have made with cotton. Ultimately, that which had seemed a disaster, became the basis for undreamed-of prosperity. To register their appreciation, they erected a monument----to the boll weevil. To this very day, in that little Southern town, that monument still stands.)  We all have boll weevil experiences-----financial reversals, professional failures, relational disappointments, physiological or physical hurts and illnesses-------but those trials and storms, turn out to be blessings in disguise, because they  can bump us out of our old ways, and force us to find a new way to live. A way that is pleasing to God, because it makes us more like Jesus.

 Unfortunately, not all Christians who suffer, become, increasingly, more steady and reliable and confident in the Lord, in their suffering------tragically, there are many, who become, steadily, more bitter, resentful and angry---- some, even reach the point, of denying their faith.

What makes the difference between a Christian whose faith withers under suffering and the one whose faith grows through suffering? The difference, is in the way that we view God and His love. The simple truth is----if we see suffering, as evidence of God's love, we will rejoice in it, and if we see suffering, as evidence of God's wrath, we will become embittered and angry because of it.

In order to be able to rejoice in our suffering, we have to allow the Holy Spirit, to fill our hearts with the love of God----and when that happens, it is an experience, that is so rich and radiant and glorious, that we can't help but rejoice. We all associate love, with times of blessing and warmth and ease--------but when we suffer, way too often, we tend, to feel broken and empty and forgotten. So, when we are caught in a storm, we need to consciously make the choice, to go back to the place, where we know, that we first felt God's love for us-------and that place is at the cross----because it's there, that He proved to us, that God loves us, even though we're worthless and sin-ridden. It's at the cross, that we can clearly see ourselves and our sinfulness; and it's at the cross, that we can clearly see, God's amazing love for us------because, it was while we were broken and sinful---that Jesus died for you and me. (I told you that when I was 14, I couldn't sleep at night, because afraid that I wasn't saved and I told you, that I was scared to talk to anybody about it. Well, right before I turned 15, I moved in with my grandparents, because my daddy and my stepmother moved away from our hometown, and didn't want to uproot me-------they wanted me to finish high school, where my brother and sisters had. 

Not long after I moved in with them,  Billy Graham held a one-night, Youth Crusade, in our town, and our whole youth group was going. I will never forget, coming into the house from school, that afternoon----hurrying to change clothes, so that I wouldn't be late for my friend's parents, who were picking me up. My grandaddy was sitting in a chair by the window, when I came in, and he directed my attention, to a framed scripture passage, that was hanging on the wall------one that had been there, as long as I could remember, but one that I had never paid attention to, and it said, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans5:8. It hit me like a ton of bricks------and then, all that my wise grandaddy said, was, "I just want you to think about it." All of a sudden, I realized that I hadn't been fooling anybody, except myself. 

I don't remember responding to him, but I'm sure I said something. And then I went off to the crusade------------I have no recollection of the message that night-----but I have a searing memory, of what it felt like, to know, that if I didn't run down that aisle, when the invitation was given, I might never get another chance------and so I ran, and I know that Jesus met me there, with His arms wide open----- and He poured Hid love into my heart---and all my fear and embarrassment and uncertainty, was left there, at the cross.)

Paul wants us to understand, that if we clearly experience God's love, when we give our hearts to Jesus; when we're nothing more than God's enemies; helpless and powerless and sin- sick-------how much more can we count on His love, when we're His children. Even when we suffer, we can trust the fact, that God loves us. And that He is using our time of suffering, to produce character qualities, that will enable us to to become the people, that He created us to be. 

III. We Can Rejoice in God, Our Father: 5: 11-21

Paul concludes this passage, in Romans, with the assurance that we can rejoice in God, Himself. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus, is the way to God. He has reconciled us to God, so that we can have a personal relationship with Him. When we understand the greatness of Jesus, we can understand the greatness of God. When we know the love of Jesus, we can know the heart of God. 

We can rejoice in God, because His plan, for Jesus to take our sins upon Himself and pay the price for them, with His own death, worked, and we don't have to be punished, with the death, that we deserve. 

Paul makes us aware of 2 indisputable facts: 1.)sin and death are universal to the whole world and 2.) life and forgiveness, are offered, universally, to the whole world. Sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and along with his sin, came death, so from the moment we're born, we begin to die. But life and forgiveness, came through one man, Jesus, and along with His free gift, comes eternal life, so from the moment we are reborn, we begin to live. In each case, our entire existence has been altered, by one of these men, either Adam or Jesus. 

We sin and die, because we are the descendants of Adam. Before we're even old enough, to know what sin is, we are subject to death. Even babies, who have never sinned, sometimes die, because the sin of Adam, overshadows us all. Death is the punishment for breaking God's command. God told Adam, in the Garden of Eden, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or he would die. But Adam disobeyed God's command, and he ate the fruit, that Eve offered him. He chose to rebel against God, and as a result, sin and death became his reality, and they became the legacy, that he passed down to all of his descendants. (Beverly Choquette gave me the best explanation of this concept-----she said you can have a beaker of cool, crystal clear, pristine, pure water, and then you can add, just one drop, of dirty sewer water to it, and you will contaminate the entire beaker of water, and it can't be taken back and it can't be reversed. She said that's the way Adam's sin was --------once he was contaminated-------there was no way it could be taken back and there's was no way that any child or children that would be born from him, could be raised free, from his contaminated self.) 

When Adam disobeyed God, sin entered into his life, and it, supernaturally, in a way that we can't explain, changed his nature, from an innocent one, to a sinful one. It was an innate sinfulness (like he was born with it) that would be passed on to every one of his descendants. His sin was not a particular act of unrighteousness-----because there would be many sinful acts, that Adam would commit over the rest of his life----it was a sin nature or the propensity to sin, that lodged itself, in his heart and changed it, and changed mankind's for all time. A person doesn't become a sinner, because he commits sins-------a person sins, because he's, by nature, a sinner. A person doesn't become a liar, when he tells a lie; he tells a lie because his heart's already deceitful. A person doesn't become a murderer, when he kills someone; he kills, because his heart's already full, of hatred and evil desire.A person doesn't become a gossip, when he whispers his first secret; he gossips because his heart's already full of jealousy and vindictiveness. 

Paul said, that death is the result, of breaking a command, and we know, that there has to be a law, in order for a command to be broken. (I don't know how many of you drive down Honeycutt Rd.----but I do, every time I come to church-------up until a few years ago, there were not any stop signs at the intersection of Brassfield and Honeycutt------but shortly after they put them up--I was sailing down the road, like I had done 100 times before, and without even thinking, sped right through, the newly sanctioned 4-way stop------in about 2 seconds, a policeman and his blue light were right behind me------ I told him I was on my way to church-----and I think that's what inspired him to be benevolent, and not give me a ticket-----otherwise he was a grouch. I'd never had to stop at that intersection before-----but a law had been established, and whether I had known about it or not, it was still a law. And I was breaking it, by not stopping. And, from that point forward, if I ever go through that stop sign again, without stopping, I'll deliberately, be breaking the law.)

Adam deliberately broke the law--------God had only given him one restriction and Adam chose to disobey it. And when he did, not only was sin born into him, as a man, and born, into the entire human race----but the penalty for sin, death, became a reality, just like God said that it would. John MacArthur says that there are 3 kinds of death that sin brought with it-------

1.) spiritual death: earthly separation from God.

2.) physical death:  earthly separation from other people.

3.) eternal death: eternal separation from God and eternal torment in hell.

The unbeliever, should fear all three kinds of death. Spiritual death will prevent his earthly joy; physical death will bring an end to his opportunity for salvation; and eternal death will bring everlasting punishment. But Praise God, believers, don't have to fear any kind of death. Jesus has saved us permanently, from spiritual and eternal death, and when we do die, physically, because these mortal bodies will wear out (thanks Adam), or when we're raptured, we will be ushered into His divine presence, to live forever. Jesus, has removed all fear of any kind of death for us. 

Skeptics make the comment, that it isn't fair for God, to condemn the whole world, just because of one man's disobedience. But my answer to that, is the same thing that I told my children, when they were growing up and pulled the "not fair card"------"the word unfair, doesn't belong in a Christian's vocabulary, because the only thing that's unfair in this world, is the fact that Jesus died on a cross to pay the price, for your's and my sin." Human beings are all connected to each other. It's a fact, that Adam's sin contaminated all of mankind-----there's no way that it couldn't have! It's a mistake to think that we stand alone-----the choices that we make, have consequences that affect others----and it started with Adam. So, the answer to the question, "Was it fair for God to condemn the whole world because of one man's disobedience? is yes! In fact, it is not only fair, it's also wise and gracious. To begin with, if God had chosen to test each one of us, individually, the result would have still been the same---we would have disobeyed-------what would have made us, any better, than Adam and Eve. But even more important-----by condemning the human race, through one man, Adam, God was then able, to save the human race, through one man, Jesus. If we can accept the universality of Adam's sin, then, we can accept the universality of Jesus's sacrifice and His free gift of salvation. (not everybody will choose to receive it)

Adam's one act, determined the character of the world, but Jesus' one act determined the character of eternity. Adam's sin brought death and punishment, but Jesus' sacrifice brought forgiveness and life. The death that we inherit from Adam is a one time deal-------but the life that we're given from Jesus, can be renewed, a thousand times a day. Adam's single sin brought guilt and judgment. on the entire human race, but the Lord's single gift of obedience, brought forgiveness and justification, to every individual, who will trust and receive Him, for their collective sin, and for their individual sins. This shows us that God hates sin so much, that it only took one sin, to condemn the entire world and to separate it from God. It wasn't that Adam's sin was worse, than others that he committed later, or worse than we have committed since-----its just that his sin was the first sin. 

But the wonderful thing for us is, that God's love for the sinner is greater than His hatred of sin. The truth that we need to recognize here: is that no matter how many times we sin, God's forgiveness is bigger than our deepest sin.

I mentioned the 3 types of death that sin brought into the world----well, I think there's a 4th one that reigns over mankind just as surely as the other 3-------and I would call it, the death of our rejoicing--------Life, is grace, love, joy, peace, vitality, acceptance, worth and fulfillment------death, is emptiness, loneliness, depression, restlessness and dissatisfaction. How often do we allow ourselves to be robbed of the abundance of life, that God has given us, in the Lord Jesus, by choosing to focus on what don't have or what we've done wrong---- instead of focusing on the immeasurable blessings that we do have and on what the Lord has done right?

At the end of this passage, Paul reminds his readers, of the role, that the Law plays, between sin and grace. We know that the 10 Commandments were were never given to make people do right-----they were given, to spotlight the sin, that they were already participating in. Paul makes it clear, that wherever sin increases, grace increases even more. As the law makes man's sins increase, by revealing them, for what they are, God's grace abounds even more. God's grace is more than adequate to deal with man's sins. Even though sin and death are still reigning in the world, God's grace is also reigning through the righteousness of Jesus.

(As special counsel  to the president, Charles Colson was known as Richard Nixon's "hatchet man". He pleaded guilty to crimes that were connected to the Watergate Scandal and served 7 months in a federal prison in 1974. Shortly before he entered the prison, Colson made a decision to receive Jesus, as his Lord and Savior. While he was in prison, Colson found another Christian brother and they began praying together for their fellow inmates. Soon, they saw God begin to work. One by one, they saw hardened, violent, brutal men-----men who had spent their lives in rebellion against God and man-----begin to break down and to seek God's grace.) If there is one place, where there is no doubt, that sin abounds, it would be prison! And Charles Colson, saw first hand, that where sin was exposed and recognized, that it was increased, and that God's grace was there, to increase even more. 

Jesus breaks through sin, with power and grace. Adam ruined our earthly lives and made us slaves, to sin and death and Jesus set us free. He came to live in our hearts and to infuse us with His strength, purity, wisdom and power----- so that we could be reconciled to God and be able to rejoice in Him, and to be able to walk and talk with him, today, tomorrow and forever.