Dead to Sin.

Steve Gentry

[0:03] Welcome to Village Church. [0:05] This is your first time here. [0:07] My name’s Steve. [0:07] I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church. [0:09] As always, I’m grateful to see each and every one of you. [0:13] If you have your Bibles, go ahead and open them to Romans chapter 6.

[0:17] We’re going to be starting in verse 1 this morning. [0:20] But before we get into that, just by way of announcement, this past week we were able [0:26] to close on our new facility. [0:28] So we praise the Lord for that. [0:31] And on Sunday morning, May 17th, we will begin having our services at the new facility on [0:40] Courthouse Road at 10 a.m.

[0:42] So that’s going to be a change of location as well as a change of times. [0:47] So those of you that got here at 1030, you’re going to need to get here at probably about, [0:55] you know, maybe 955. [0:58] For those of you that got here at 1040, you’re going to need to get here maybe around 955. [1:06] So our services are going to one service at 10 a.m. [1:09] on May 17th.

[1:10] We will be here gathering in two services next Sunday morning. [1:15] So we’re going to take about two weeks to get ready to move over to the new facility. [1:20] And then we’ll be there on May 17th. [1:22] But if you’re in here thinking, man, I would love the opportunity to see the new building [1:27] before May 17th. [1:29] Well, I’ve got great news for you.

[1:31] Tonight at 6 p.m., we’re going to be having an all-volunteer serve team rally. [1:38] We’re going to spend from 6 to 7, casting some vision for what God has done, what God [1:44] is doing, and what God wants to do in the future through Village Church. [1:48] And we’re also going to be breaking up into our different serve teams in order to to [1:52] disseminate the information about what changes are going to be happening as we move to the [1:56] new facility at that time tonight.

[1:59] And if you serve, then you are invited to be a part of that. [2:02] But if you currently don’t have a place where you serve here at Village Church, you are [2:07] invited as well. [2:08] My hope is, is that you’ll come in hopes of finding a way to serve, finding a team to [2:15] join. [2:15] And if you do not have a serve team that you’re a part of, you’re going to be spending

[2:19] a little more time with me than everybody else does, as I kind of help you figure out [2:24] where God is going to have you serve here at Village Church. [2:28] But understand, your service, your servanthood attitude here as a church is vital. [2:36] Without serving, you’re not being made into the disciple that God would have you to be [2:41] made into. [2:42] It’s absolutely impossible to do that.

[2:46] It’s part of being a disciple is serving. [2:49] And so I kind of admonish and exhort you that if you call Village Church home, if you feel [2:55] that this is your family, then we’ve got some chores that need to be done because family [3:00] members, that’s what we do. [3:02] And so please come tonight, join a serve team, because that is how we help the mission of [3:09] Jesus go further.

[3:11] If you think you don’t have the time, then God is calling you to make the time to join [3:16] a serve team here at Village Church. [3:18] But if for some unknown reason, and I can’t imagine this being the realm of possibility, [3:24] as we’re going to see Paul say a little bit later today, by no means should you have something [3:28] better to do than the serve team rally tonight. [3:31] But if there’s a reason that you can’t be here tonight, and you’re like, I wish there

[3:36] was another way that I could see the new building before May 17th. [3:40] Well, I’ve got great news for you. [3:42] On Wednesday night, May 13th, we will be having a night of worship at the new facility, starting [3:49] at 7 p.m., where we’re going to gather as a church and we’re going to proclaim the greatness [3:55] of God to one another through song. [3:57] And we’re going to spend the night worshiping and praying and dedicating the new facility

[4:02] as we seek the Lord’s face and as we just worship Him as a family in the new facility [4:07] together. [4:08] And so there’s two opportunities tonight, the serve team rally, May the 13th, the night [4:13] of worship. [4:14] I invite you to both. [4:16] And then on May 17th, by way of reminder of what I said five minutes ago that many of

[4:20] you may have already forgotten, we will be having a different location of worship on [4:26] 233 North Court House Road. [4:28] And we will be moving to one service at 10 a.m. on May 17th. [4:34] So just in case you got confused, next week we’re going to be right here. [4:39] Two services, 845 and 1030, May 17th, one service, new facility, 10 a.m. [4:44] So change your calendars and your alarm clocks.

[4:47] Some of you really need to change your alarm clocks big time to get there on time. [4:53] But Romans 6 is what we’re going to be taking a look at tonight or this morning. [4:59] At Romans 6 marks a transition of what the apostle Paul has been dealing with there [5:05] a few times in the book of Romans as he unveils the story of Christianity, that he transitions [5:11] from one topic to another. [5:13] What I mean by that is between Romans chapter 1 and Romans chapter 3, around verse 22 and

[5:19] 23, Paul talks about the issue of what you have done for God, what you have done for [5:27] God. [5:27] And what you’ve done is you’ve sinned against Him, you’ve rebelled against the purpose [5:32] that God has designed you for, and because of that you deserve the wrath of God. [5:37] But then in about chapter 3, verse 23 and 24 through chapter 5, he then transitions [5:44] into a segment where he talks about what God has done for you.

[5:48] The fact that even though you deserve His wrath in love, Jesus, the Son of God, came, [5:55] lived a perfect life for you, died a sinner’s death for you, thus paying the penalty for [6:01] your sin. [6:02] And in that, He becomes the way that you can go from being under God’s wrath to being [6:08] under God’s eternal favor as He becomes what Paul says, your propitiation, the propitiation [6:14] for your sin, purchasing your redemption by His own blood through His substitutionary

[6:20] life and death for you. [6:22] And then in chapter 5, towards the end of that, actually through the whole chapter [6:27] of chapter 5, he builds this crescendo of how mighty and how triumphant the grace of [6:33] God through Jesus Christ is. [6:35] And then at the end of chapter 5, he gives us this amazing finale of this subject, and [6:40] he says that no matter how large sin gets, no matter how victorious sin may look in this

[6:48] world, understand that the grace of God abounds more and more, and grace is triumphant over [6:55] sin, will be triumphant over sin, and the grace of Jesus Christ will reign forever.

[7:03] Then in chapter 6, from chapter 6 through chapter 8, he wants to talk about something [7:07] else. [7:08] He wants to talk about what living in reality that the grace of God is triumphant will look [7:16] like. [7:16] So he will go from what God has done for you to what God desires to do in you. [7:23] He moves from what God has done for you to what God desires to do in you.

[7:29] And so at the beginning of chapter 6, he begins by asking a question. [7:33] The question is, what shall we say then? [7:35] In other words, what do we do living in light of this reality? [7:39] How does this affect the every day? [7:42] And the most important question that you as a follower of Jesus Christ can ask yourself [7:48] every morning when you wake up is, in light of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ

[7:54] and the reign of his triumphant grace, how do I live? [8:01] What happens to my life? [8:03] And that’s how he begins chapter 6. [8:06] So join me in verse 1. [8:09] He says, what shall we say then? [8:12] Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

[8:15] By no means. [8:17] How can we who died in sin still live in it? [8:20] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into [8:27] his death? [8:28] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death. [8:31] In order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too

[8:37] might walk in newness of life. [8:40] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with [8:46] him in a resurrection like his. [8:48] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be [8:54] brought to nothing. [8:56] So that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

[9:00] For one who has died has been set free from sin. [9:06] Pray with me. [9:07] Our Father, we are so thankful for the fact that you have won the victory over sin, that [9:17] you have purchased our redemption so that we can live lives reconciled to you. [9:25] It’s my prayer this morning that you would open our hearts and open our minds to the [9:36] Lord, may your victory be seen in our every day.

[9:41] In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. [9:44] Amen. [9:45] You know, in Romans chapter 6, he begins by building this case of answering questions [9:52] that may come about the grace of God. [9:55] But what we find in Romans chapter 6 is really that the entire chapter hinges on one reality. [10:02] And that reality is found right in the middle of Romans chapter 6 in verse 14.

[10:07] And here’s what Romans 6, 14 actually says. [10:10] It says, for sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under the law, but [10:17] under grace. [10:19] And so this week and next week, what we’re going to do between verses 1 and verse 13 [10:24] is we’re going to see how Paul builds a case for verse 14 being true. [10:30] This fact that he gives us that sin will not have dominion over you.

[10:37] He builds a case for that. [10:38] And then after verse 14, between verses 15 and verse 23, what the apostle Paul is going [10:43] to do is he’s going to expound on that reality. [10:46] And he’s going to say, this is what this picture’s going to look like in your life. [10:52] But all of Romans chapter 6 deals with the issue of the fact that you are dead to sin [11:00] and you are alive to Christ.

[11:04] But here’s how he begins and here’s where that comes from. [11:07] In chapter 5, as he builds this case and he says, no matter how large sin is in you, [11:12] in other words, no matter how far you believe you are from God based on the life that you [11:18] have been living. [11:20] And no matter how big sin looks in this world, no matter how far others look in the way [11:25] that they are living, no matter how evil this world may seem, the pain and weight of sin

[11:31] has in this world, grace will always build bigger than that. [11:37] And one response that was going through the church at that point, we know it was going [11:41] through the church because it’s what Paul’s going to deal with in this text is, well, [11:45] wait a second. [11:45] Well, if the grace of God reveals the glory of God to all peoples, and the larger that [11:51] sin gets, the larger grace needs to get, should we then sin more to make God look better?

[12:02] And to that, Paul gives the answer that he’s been giving throughout the book of Romans [12:07] a few more times, by no means. [12:12] And that’s the most aggressive form of no that’s in the original language, because [12:18] there’s a way of telling your child, no, you may not do that right now. [12:23] And then there’s the mother’s way of, no, you may not do that right now. [12:28] One sounds like a suggestion, the other sounds like, I’m going to be killed if I eat that.

[12:35] And Paul’s giving the most extreme version of no and what it means in the picture that [12:41] he draws with the term meganoito is that that is not even on the radar. [12:48] It can’t possibly be true. [12:51] If that were true, it would undo everything I’ve already said. [12:56] Why?

[12:58] Why?

[13:00] Number one, this morning, Paul’s going to prove the point to us that grace changes [13:05] your desires. [13:07] Grace changes your desires. [13:09] Here’s what he says. [13:10] He says, how can we who died to sin still live in it? [13:19] So what he’s saying is, is that if something has died in your life, you cannot, just by

[13:27] sheer logic, put life into it. [13:30] It’s dead. [13:31] It’s gone. [13:32] And this is a kind of putting it over against the word picture that the New Testament gives [13:37] us about how sin reigns in the life of people who’ve not come to faith in Jesus Christ. [13:43] So originally they use the word picture.

[13:45] They’re saying you are dead in your sin. [13:48] Therefore, you are not alive to God because if you’re dead in your sin, you cannot have [13:54] the life of God because God has no sin. [13:56] God has no death in him. [13:58] He only knows life. [13:59] And so you can’t have the life of God because you’re dead to your sin.

[14:03] So if you believe in Jesus, you believe he’s born the penalty for your sin, you believe [14:07] he’s risen from the dead, winning victory over sin and death, then what he’s saying [14:12] is what that has done is that that has put your death to death. [14:19] Therefore, since the wages of sin are death, your sin’s dead. [14:25] So now you’re dead to sin and you’re alive in Christ. [14:30] And so what he’s saying is he’s just using sheer reason.

[14:35] And he’s saying if your sin is dead, then it’s dead. [14:41] It doesn’t have life in it. [14:43] So it would be absolutely impossible for you to have life in your sin. [14:50] When he says by no means, he is actually showing how preposterous he thinks that the thought [14:58] of having a life in sin after your faith in Jesus Christ comes. [15:03] He says it is not even on the radar of truth.

[15:06] When Jesus exchanged your sin for his righteousness on the cross, he died under the weight of [15:12] your sin. [15:13] Therefore, part of you died on the cross with him that day. [15:17] And it was the part that was separated from the life of God. [15:21] It was the part that was not reconciled to God. [15:24] It was the part that he said previously that made you enemies of God.

[15:28] But when he defeated that on the cross, you were there with him. [15:33] It can’t reign in your life any longer. [15:37] Jesus’s death was more than mere allegory in your life. [15:42] Paul is saying that it has very real implications for the life that you will live if you believe [15:50] it. [15:51] It changes who you are.

[15:54] It changes the life that you will live. [15:57] You cannot live in something that is dead. [16:02] And this is true in the deepest level of your life if you have faith in Jesus.

[16:09] So the question that we must deal with in this point is what do you base your life on? [16:14] At the deepest level, what defines you? [16:17] And I would say it is that which you have great longing for. [16:23] It is that which you desire. [16:26] It is the hope that wells up in you that determines the pursuits in your life. [16:32] If you are alive in sin, then you desire sin.

[16:39] Which is anything apart from Jesus. [16:44] See when we start talking about the death of sin and the life of sin and the death in [16:48] Christ and the life in Christ, it is so tempting for us to just bring out our lists of do’s [16:54] and don’ts. [16:56] Those things that we avoid, therefore we believe they make us righteous and those things that [17:00] we do because we believe that they make us righteous.

[17:03] But what Paul is doing here is he’s building a larger foundation than that. [17:08] Because he knows that if once we come to faith in Jesus, once we look at the cross and we [17:12] say that’s great, I want that, so we just get busy doing a bunch of stuff without ever [17:17] thinking about what it is that we are doing and why it is that we are doing it, then some [17:21] very bad things are going to happen. [17:23] And so between chapters 6 and chapters 8, Paul is not going to deal with specifically

[17:28] what you are to do. [17:30] He’s going to deal with the thing behind that. [17:32] He’s going to deal with the motivation that what you do is going to come out of. [17:36] It’s not until chapter 12 that he’s actually going to start dealing with what it is that [17:39] you do. [17:40] And so Paul wants to build a foundation because if you do not build a foundation of faith

[17:47] in the grace of Jesus Christ, one of two things is going to happen. [17:51] You are going to become completely self-righteous and religious, thus denying the gospel in [17:57] the long run because your salvation is thus based in how good or bad you are. [18:03] Or number two, you’re going to burn out completely because you never get to the satisfaction [18:09] you had hoped Jesus would get you because you are doing it for all the wrong reasons. [18:13] It will eventually become this karmic Christianity between you and God in which you do things

[18:19] for God in hopes that you will get something from God and when you don’t get all of those [18:24] things you thought you were going to get because of following Jesus, you thus get frustrated [18:29] and burn out on the faith. [18:31] Either way, your life in Christ will not endure because that is not the life of faith. [18:39] And so what Paul wants to do is he wants to make sure rock solid that the actions that [18:45] come out of our faith in Jesus are rooted in faith in the gospel because that is what

[18:54] gives us life. [18:55] That is what kills our sin and that is what we must constantly go to for our hope to [19:02] be sure in Jesus both for when we are obedient and when we struggle with obedience and have [19:10] moments of disobedience. [19:12] If it’s not rooted in grace, you will not endure because what he is talking about here [19:19] is a total change of life.

[19:21] There is not much more of an extreme example to be used in how different life in Jesus [19:26] Christ is than the example of, well you have gone from dead to alive. [19:31] Those are completely polar opposite realities. [19:34] And so what God is talking about is this term conversion that is often used in Christianity. [19:40] What conversion means if you look it up in any dictionary is one of the best definitions [19:44] inside of Christianity is that it is turning.

[19:47] You are converting from one thing to a very different thing. [19:51] And from God’s point of view this is how extreme it is. [19:54] Look in Colossians chapter 1 the apostle Paul says this. [19:57] He says that he, Jesus, has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us [20:04] to the kingdom of Jesus.

[20:08] So when God says you have gone from one kingdom that was reigned by darkness, reigned by sin, [20:14] and he has actually transferred you, he has converted you over into a completely different [20:21] kingdom. [20:22] His kingdom. [20:24] But at your level, here is how extreme it is. [20:27] In Ephesians chapter 2 the apostle Paul puts it this way.

[20:31] He says that you were dead in sin.

[20:36] And guess what? [20:37] You walked that way.

[20:40] You looked that way. [20:42] Your life was about other things.

[20:46] But then he says in that very text, but God being rich in mercy because of the great [20:56] love with which he loved us. [20:58] Loaded statement right there. [20:59] Why did he save you? [21:00] Because he loves. [21:02] That is it.

[21:04] Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace [21:12] you have been saved. [21:14] So he is saying that what has happened in your life is that you were dead. [21:20] And he uses all of these pictures to show your death. [21:23] He says that you were like a son of disobedience. [21:26] You were a child of wrath.

[21:28] You were under the reign of the prince of the power of the air. [21:30] But then he says something that levels us all. [21:33] It’s in this statement like the rest of mankind. [21:38] Five words that go to the heart of every one of us. [21:42] Because a tempting way to put this is you know that house down the block where you just [21:48] look at them and you are like those people are out and out pagans.

[21:53] Their house stinks. [21:55] Their grass is always high. [21:56] They are throwing ragers all the time. [21:58] People are passed out in the front yard on Saturday morning and you just tell your kids [22:03] to look the other way as you drive by and you are like oh thank God I am not like those [22:09] people.

[22:10] And you use it on a Friday when you come home from a tough week and you look at that house [22:15] and you are like well at least I am not like those people. [22:18] And God knows that that is our temptation to make ourselves feel better. [22:22] And so what he does is through the apostle Paul he comes in here and he says no not them

[22:28] alone. [22:29] He says like everyone so also like the people you drive by their house and you say I wish [22:37] I had their house. [22:40] I wish I had their life. [22:42] I wish I had their landscaping ability. [22:46] I wish I had their spouse.

[22:49] I wish I had their kids. [22:52] His car is better than mine. [22:53] I wish I had his car.

[22:58] Because anything other than Jesus that commands your deepest longings and your pursuits in [23:09] your life is dead in sin.

[23:17] That’s the level he is talking about. [23:20] So it is not just that which you avoid. [23:22] It is also that which you would run headlong into were it not for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[23:32] Because he is dealing with more Wayne Grudem says when he is talking about faith. [23:38] He is dealing with more than knowledge. [23:42] Because it is more than just knowing the facts of the gospel. [23:47] He is dealing with more than just approval. [23:51] So he is dealing with more than just the nod of the head you give when you are like [23:56] absolutely man Jesus lived Jesus died Jesus rose from the dead.

[24:01] I agree. [24:02] That is not faith. [24:04] Faith is more than knowledge. [24:05] Faith is more than approval. [24:07] Faith goes past those things to the level of personal trust. [24:13] Because it changes your life.

[24:17] Faith is something that you do know is true. [24:20] Faith is something that you do approve of. [24:23] But the step of faith is when you actually lean your life into the truth of the gospel. [24:30] When you actually prop your life on the gospel to such a way that if the gospel were removed [24:36] from your life you would fall flat on your face.

[24:43] If the gospel were not true people would look at the way you live and actually say [24:50] I pity them because they were living so much for the gospel.

[24:58] Once it is removed everything else is gone.

[25:02] Grudem says personal trust is when you just lean so hard into the gospel when your life [25:09] ends and where it begins is unseen because you are so overcome with the truth that Jesus [25:14] has destroyed sin.

[25:21] Number two this morning.

[25:25] It takes faith to believe you are dead to sin. [25:31] It takes faith to believe you are dead to sin. [25:36] Look at the picture he is painting in your life. [25:40] He says you can’t follow after sin you will follow after Jesus. [25:44] Then in verse 4 he starts painting this amazing vision for us. [25:48] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death in order that just as Christ was

[25:53] raised from the dead by the glory of the Father we too might walk in newness of life. [25:58] For if we have been united with him in a death like his we shall certainly be united with [26:03] him in a resurrection like his. [26:05] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be [26:13] brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. [26:20] He doesn’t say we think.

[26:23] He doesn’t say we consider. [26:27] He doesn’t say we ponder. [26:29] He doesn’t say we meditate on. [26:31] He doesn’t say we take about a year moratorium and think about these things. [26:36] He says we know concrete that our old self was crucified with him.

[26:54] That is a compelling vision.

[26:59] That is language that has got some teeth on it. [27:02] That is something that you can bite into. [27:05] That is something that you look at it and the eyes of faith and the life of faith look [27:10] at it and say that is what I want.

[27:15] But here is what I also know.

[27:20] So often in life we see that compelling vision and we say it doesn’t feel that way.

[27:30] What do you do if you don’t feel like your sin is dead?

[27:38] What do you do as you look at this and so you declare it and you say I am alive in Christ. [27:43] I know that my old self has been crucified on the cross with him. [27:48] I have been buried with him in a death like his. [27:50] I have been raised with him in a resurrection like his. [27:53] I will no longer be a slave of sin and then very quickly it looks like right beside you [27:59] the man of sin is alive and well.

[28:04] Because you are trying to flee temptation but temptation is about as fast as you are. [28:09] It seems like it is your running partner. [28:12] You are fleeing and it is like yeah we are making good time here bro.

[28:20] What do you do? [28:22] Because sin still feels so powerful but note the text says that you are no longer enslaved [28:31] to sin but it does not say that you will no longer struggle.

[28:38] This is why faith is so important.

[28:43] I have no five steps to freedom.

[28:49] I have no five steps to how you can be more obedient right now. [28:53] What I have for you is the answer that God gives us to the Apostle Paul. [28:57] And that is that faith is the only thing that will defeat the man of sin in your life. [29:04] Faith is the only thing that will keep you from becoming self righteous. [29:09] Faith is the only thing that will keep you from burning out. [29:12] Faith is the only thing.

[29:14] You must believe that Jesus took your sin to the cross and you must trust that it does not have power over you. [29:22] You must believe that you are free to not give in to the temptation to sin that will come. [29:29] Sin does die through faith and grace.

[29:35] But here is how difficult it is.

[29:40] I have two children right now and I have watched both of them learn to walk. [29:46] And there is that moment of joy where it is like oh my goodness. [29:50] And then there is that month of comic relief. [29:55] As you watch them try and try and fall and fall because they just have no balance because their heads are so big.

[30:04] So big and they fall flat on their face and so they will return to crawling for a minute. [30:11] And then they will pull up and then they will go and they will fall again. [30:14] But you probably don’t remember what it was like to go through that. [30:19] But I promise you that if you are able to walk you went through that. [30:24] And if you do remember that you have got a gift. [30:28] I don’t know that is some crazy memory right there.

[30:31] That is tough to remember. [30:33] It is a great analogy but it is tough to remember. [30:36] So the easiest way for us to understand this are really two different analogies. [30:41] And that is that you are a person that has gone through a traumatic injury or a life changing surgery. [30:48] And you have to go through intense physical therapy either to get out of a wheelchair, to get off of crutches, [30:55] to get away from the cane, to get out of the walker.

[30:59] And you go to physical therapy and you think that the person hates you. [31:04] They are like I can’t and they are like you need to. [31:07] I can’t I am going to fall. [31:09] No you need to. [31:11] And so you just struggle putting one foot in front of the other. [31:15] One foot in front and then you fall so you grab the wall or you fall so you grab someone’s arm.

[31:20] And they pick you back up and you just put one foot in front of another. [31:24] But then it gets easier and it gets easier and you just start walking and you start walking and you can walk. [31:30] And now my kids can walk and they don’t even need my help most of the time. [31:34] Even though sometimes they look a little drunk. [31:35] But they can still walk most of the time by themselves.

[31:45] There is this thing in our lives where Paul uses this great analogy of enslavement. [31:51] He wants us to understand from chapter 5 when we were born in Adam. [31:57] But all that we have ever known in our lives is a prison cell. [32:02] All that we have ever known is these shackles around our wrists and these shackles around our ankles. [32:07] And we were chained to the wall of sin inside of the prison cell of sin. [32:11] Inside of the prison of sin.

[32:15] And through the power of Jesus Christ God has come in and He has removed the prison. [32:20] He has removed the prison cell. [32:23] He has taken the keys. [32:26] He has taken those chains off of our hands. [32:28] He has taken those chains off of our feet. [32:30] And He has said live as one who is free.

[32:33] But there are times in life, and this will happen, studies show us psychologically, that when that’s all that you’ve ever known. [32:40] Even though somebody that doesn’t understand it won’t understand how that could possibly be a temptation. [32:45] But we are so conditioned to the feeling of those shackles around our wrists that we will sometimes try to sneak back into the prison. [32:54] And we will try to put those shackles back on ourselves because it does give us some comfort in hard times.

[33:04] Because that’s all we’ve ever known. [33:06] That’s how life was defined for us. [33:10] So understand that the scope of your life must change through faith. [33:14] And it will be difficult. [33:18] Because think about it. [33:19] You are rebuilding your entire life.

[33:23] Jesus has come in and in one sense He has taken everything that you’ve ever known. [33:29] Every passion, every longing, every desire. [33:32] And He’s taken it away.

[33:35] He said no live.

[33:38] And then He shows us how. [33:40] And so we’re trying to put on these new clothes. [33:42] We’re trying to build a life under a new foundation. [33:45] We’re trying to live in a new kingdom. [33:47] But it is uncomfortable. [33:49] And we are like a one year old sometimes.

[33:52] And we fall flat on our face. [33:54] So we reverse back to crawling when we should be walking. [33:59] Because it’s all we’ve ever known. [34:01] We try to close the door to the prison cell. [34:04] Even though Jesus has said I took the lock off. [34:07] And where did you find the cell to begin with?

[34:09] Because I’ve destroyed it. [34:10] It’s dead.

[34:16] So what do you do? [34:18] Galatians 2.20 uses a very similar language. [34:22] Where the apostle Paul writes. [34:24] I’ve been crucified with Christ.

[34:27] Don’t just take that as a pretty quip. [34:30] Don’t take that as a little allegory he’s given. [34:32] No, Paul is saying. [34:33] I through faith believe I was up there.

[34:38] He says this is no longer I who live. [34:39] I live in the body of Christ who lives in me. [34:40] And the life I now live in the flesh. [34:42] I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me. [34:45] And gave himself for me. [34:46] So what does he say he lives by?

[34:48] He lives by faith. [34:49] Faith in what? [34:50] Faith in Jesus. [34:52] But what is Jesus saying to him? [34:53] What shapes this?

[34:57] What shapes this is what God has promised. [35:02] To bring to completion in your life. [35:05] See God has promised in his word. [35:06] That there is coming a day. [35:09] When he will refine all of creation. [35:13] To fit his kingdom vision.

[35:16] He will bring this great victory. [35:18] Through what he talked about in chapter 5. [35:20] The victory of the triumph of the gospel in this world. [35:25] Therefore whatever is true in that kingdom. [35:30] The kingdom of his beloved son. [35:32] Whatever is true in that kingdom.

[35:35] Is what you shape your life around now.

[35:42] Friends sin has no place in the kingdom of God. [35:50] Therefore you are to live with a vision of the gospel. [35:56] Triumphing over sin in your life. [36:00] Every single day. [36:03] Why? [36:04] Because sin has no dominion in God’s kingdom.

[36:07] Therefore it has no dominion to reign in your life now.

[36:15] It takes faith to believe that.

[36:19] But I tell you believe it.

[36:23] Trust it. [36:25] Paul goes further and he says. [36:26] Build every reality of your life. [36:32] Your longings and your pursuits on top of that foundation.

[36:42] But it is difficult.

[36:45] To relearn how to live.

[36:48] We should not lie about that. [36:50] We should not pretend. [36:53] That there are not moments where we fall.

[36:58] That there are not moments where it is tough. [37:00] There are not moments where we want to quit. [37:02] There are not moments where we don’t want to give up.

[37:09] But that is the temptation and the struggle. [37:13] Paul is giving you the words of victory. [37:16] When he says you are dead to sin. [37:24] And we say how do I believe that? [37:26] And Paul says because Jesus died to sin. [37:31] And rose from the dead.

[37:34] And if he has defeated it on the cross. [37:38] Then he has defeated it for you. [37:40] Why? [37:40] Because you have been crucified with Christ.

[37:48] Romans chapter 6 verse 6 in this passage declares that you are crucified with him. [37:54] Galatians 2.20 there declares that you are crucified with him. [37:57] The death of sin through Jesus is declared over and over again in the New Testament. [38:02] And this vision must overcome the vision for your life. [38:06] It must overcome your values. [38:08] It must overcome your pursuits.

[38:09] It must bring you the new life that God has promised to give you by faith in Jesus Christ. [38:17] Because only death stagnates. [38:19] Life moves.

[38:23] Life walks. [38:25] Life talks.

[38:30] Because finally this morning the way that you live testifies to what Jesus did. [38:39] The way that you live testifies to what Jesus did. [38:44] Friend your life must testify to the death of Christ for sin.

[38:51] When we are dealing with that we must ask ourselves the question. [38:53] What does your life testify to?

[38:56] You may be asking. [38:58] Why is my life vital if grace will be so victorious? [39:04] Why me? [39:05] Why do I need to take part? [39:07] Why can’t I just share in it after I am dead and in this life I just don’t have to worry about it. [39:12] I don’t have to think about it.

[39:13] Because God has not only destined the ends of victory. [39:19] But he has also determined the means of the victory. [39:24] And he means to use your life as a witness to the power of his grace. [39:30] He means to use your life to bring redemption to the lives of others. [39:37] And he does that through sin not having dominion over you. [39:42] And instead he must reign in your life.

[39:48] If we fast forward from Romans 6 to the section where he begins to just unpack how this all works. [39:57] In Romans 12 verse 2 he says this. [40:02] He sums up by saying do not be conformed to this world. [40:08] But be transformed by the renewal of your mind. [40:13] That by testing you may discern what is the will of God. [40:17] What is good and what is acceptable.

[40:21] Throughout scripture the term for repentance is used often. [40:26] He has already used it in Romans. [40:28] He says the kindness of God meaning in his love coming and dying on the cross. [40:32] The kindness of God he moves us to repentance.

[40:37] And in Romans chapter 12 verse 2 he gives definition to repentance. [40:42] Because he says that you have been transformed. [40:45] You have been converted. [40:47] You have been brought over. [40:49] You have been changed. [40:50] You have been given faith.

[40:53] By what? [40:54] By the renewal of your mind. [40:58] Every time the term repentance pops up in scripture this is the definition of it. [41:03] Because it is this term metanoia which literally means change of mind.

[41:09] It is so often we are trying to get our hands to do. [41:13] We are not convinced in here. [41:15] Jesus is done.

[41:22] Because we are missing the very repentance that God wants to sow into our lives. [41:29] How you live is determined by what you are believing and what you are trusting.

[41:38] So what will determine your life? [41:43] Often times whether you believe in the power of sin or whether you believe in the power of Christ.

[41:54] So friend what is reigning in your life?

[41:59] Romans 6 and 7 uses the phrase has been set free. [42:02] Look at what he says specifically. [42:05] He says for one who has died. [42:07] He has already said that is every believer in Jesus. [42:12] Every follower of Jesus. [42:14] This is one who has died has been set free from sin.

[42:22] Those are important phrases there.

[42:26] Because what he means there in the original language he uses the term justified. [42:36] This is the term that is so important from chapter 3 through chapter 5. [42:40] Because it means that we have been declared righteous by God. [42:44] With this penalty of sin has been removed. [42:46] The righteousness of Jesus has been given into our lives as if we did it. [42:50] Even though we know he did it.

[42:52] So the term that he uses here is so important. [42:55] He uses it in such a way to explain freedom. [42:58] He says you have been set free.

[43:04] Not your freedoms determined on how good you are for the next week.

[43:11] Not your freedom is determined by how nice you are to your spouse over the next week.

[43:20] Your freedom is determined not by how good of a parent you are over the next week. [43:27] How good of an employee you are over the next week. [43:29] How much money you make over the next week. [43:31] Just how much goodness you can squeeze out of your life over the next week. [43:36] No he doesn’t say that. [43:38] He says one who has died has been past tense.

[43:44] Set free. [43:46] Present tense. [43:47] You are declared free by God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. [43:59] Therefore live free.

[44:04] Your life should testify that freedom is different than bondage to sin.

[44:15] Live differently. [44:18] Because he has freed you to live differently. [44:22] Sin fights very hard for you to believe that it is still your master. [44:30] The enemy wants you to believe that you are still enslaved.

[44:34] But friend what Paul is telling us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit right here is that Jesus has purchased your freedom. [44:41] And you must fight sin. [44:44] Not with your gumption. [44:47] Not with your obedience. [44:50] Not with how good you are. [44:51] But instead you fight it with faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[44:58] You believe that the gospel is true. [45:01] You look into the mirror of your life. [45:03] And when we say words like preach the gospel to yourself daily. [45:06] That’s what we mean. [45:07] You look in the mirror of your life when temptation is coming in. [45:11] And when despair feels imminent.

[45:13] And you look and you say no I believe that Jesus has paid the price. [45:17] I believe that I have been redeemed. [45:19] I believe that Jesus’ blood is enough. [45:22] I believe that his resurrection reigns supreme. [45:24] And I believe that there is coming a day where he will refine this earth. [45:29] Where he will refine the new heavens.

[45:31] Where we will reign victorious in a kingdom where there is no sin. [45:34] Where there is no temptation. [45:36] Why? [45:36] Because Jesus rose from the dead. [45:39] Therefore I will rise.

[45:43] Those are the weapons of our warfare. [45:47] The warfare is real.

[45:50] So in closing this morning. [45:53] I want to first speak to the believer. [45:56] Among us who is struggling. [45:59] To continue to believe that you are not a slave to sin.

[46:04] Friend those things that you return to when you have had a tough day. [46:11] When you have had a hard conversation. [46:14] When you got passed over for promotion or when you got laid off. [46:18] When you didn’t feel like your spouse was loving you right. [46:20] When you didn’t feel like being a parent. [46:22] Those vices.

[46:23] Those things that you are returning to that make you feel alive.

[46:30] That’s a lie.

[46:34] That’s a lie.

[46:36] Because that feeling will last for a moment.

[46:40] But it’s not true.

[46:42] Fight that with the gospel of Jesus Christ. [46:47] Fight it with the truth. [46:48] That if you are in Christ you are no longer a slave to sin. [46:53] You will stumble. [46:54] You will fall. [46:55] But the grace of Jesus Christ is enough for you and it will pick you back up.

[46:58] Keep walking. [47:00] Keep struggling. [47:01] Do not give up. [47:01] [47:01] [47:01]

[47:01] Do not give in. [47:03] Because your endurance is important.

[47:07] Secondly I want to speak to the person among us. [47:11] Who is realizing in this. [47:14] That you are alive in sin and you are dead to Christ.

[47:20] Because sometimes.

[47:24] It’s not just something that we return to in hard moments. [47:28] But rather it’s an ongoing pattern.

[47:32] It’s a continuous cycle.

[47:35] Where you don’t return to it because you are deceived alone. [47:38] But because that’s all the life you have. [47:41] Is in that pursuit. [47:43] In that sinful longing. [47:45] In running away from Christ. [47:47] And you don’t have in yourself any desire to follow Jesus.

[47:53] You have in yourself nothing but desire for sin.

[48:00] Friend I plead with you. [48:03] Do not let your desire for sin condemn you to eternity in hell.

[48:14] Repent of your sin and believe in Jesus. [48:20] Your very life is at stake.

[48:27] But I’ve got the greatest news for you. [48:34] Is that the truth of Romans chapter 6 verse 7. [48:37] That is true for me is true for you. [48:40] If you believe it. [48:42] Jesus will set you free in a moment. [48:48] He will give you his grace.

[48:49] He will give you his love. [48:51] He will give you his mercy. [48:52] And he will give you life.

[48:58] If you believe.

[49:01] If you trust.

[49:04] If you will accept his gift of faith. [49:06] And lean in to him.

[49:13] I ask you in closing what does your life testify to.

[49:18] What does your mind testify to friend. [49:22] The focus of your life must be the victory of Jesus over sin. [49:27] Your life speaks to the truth of what you are trusting in. [49:31] What environments are you entering to stoke the flames of your affection for God. [49:38] You are meant to reign in life through the power of Jesus death and resurrection. [49:44] Live free for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[49:48] The power of God’s spirit.

[49:54] This leads into the life mission. [49:57] He is designed for you. [49:59] A life in which those around you see your faith. [50:05] And long for your freedom.

[50:10] And then you can respond. [50:13] I’ve got good news.

[50:21] Live.

[50:23] Believe. [50:25] As the band comes up. [50:27] Every week here at village church we respond to the truth of God’s word. [50:33] Through communion. [50:35] Communion is a time of expressing what we believe. [50:39] That we believe this very message that has been shared today.

[50:43] We eat and we drink the bread and the cup. [50:46] To proclaim that we believe that Jesus has purchased the death of our sin. [50:54] He has given us life through his resurrection. [50:59] Friend if you believe that you are dead to sin. [51:02] Through the victory and triumph. [51:05] The grace of Jesus Christ.

[51:07] Come. [51:09] Eat. [51:10] Drink. [51:10] Do it in celebration. [51:14] Of the only beautiful death this world knows.