DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE TO GOD

DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE TO GOD

Romans 5:6-11; 6:1-23

The Church in Rome was thriving before Paul the apostle got to Rome. Some people say that it was Peter who established the Church in Rome but there is no historical evidence to support this. Many of the pilgrims who went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost would have returned as Christians (3000 were converted on that last day). The pronouncement of Christ in (John 7:37-39) was fulfilled. He brought the Water of Salvation to a thirsty world. His death on the Cross and His resurrection would bring reconciliation with God. Many gentile believers were part of the Church in Rome.  Paul’s message of the grace of God was very powerful. Some began to act like the grace of God permits them to continue to sin. The Holy Spirit through Paul corrected that notion. Grace does not licence us to continue in our sins. Believers in Christ are dead to sin and alive to God in righteousness.

1. GOD’S LOVE JUSTIFIED US WHILE STILL SINNERS (Rom.5:6-11)

The message of the grace of God is very liberating. It is meant to be. Our redemption was accomplished while we were yet sinners (Rom.5:8; Eph.1:3-7; 2:1-7). We are freed from condemnation. We are justified freely through the death and resurrection of Christ. All our past sins have been wiped off the record (Rom.4:7-8; Psalm 32:1-3). No wonder the book of life is just one book (Rev.20:11-15). We have peace with God (Rom.5:1). God no longer counts us as enemies. The wrath of God is not upon us anymore. All this is done for us by grace through faith. Where sin abounded before, the grace of God did much more abound (Rom.5:20; 8:33-39).When we become reconciled with God, no one can bring any charge against us before God! Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We are no longer under the curse of the Law (Ga.3:13). We are justified or made right by faith in Christ Jesus (Acts 13:39; 1Cor.6:11). Remember there is no other way of being justified except through faith in Christ (Jer.2:22).

2. GOD’S GRACE GIVES NO LICENCE TO SIN (Rom.6:1-10; 8:29)

The apostle was dealing with Christians who at that time saw the grace of God as something that freed them from being accountable for their sins. God’s grace does not encourage us to sin. The debate that has divided evangelical Christians is whether a saved Christian can be lost again. Many evangelical teachers say that a truly saved Christian cannot be lost. When you confront them with Mat.7:21-23), they say that those people were never saved in the first place. Many wonderful scriptures are sited (John 10:27-29). But what does the apostle Peter say (2Pet.2:19-22)? In (Ezekiel 18:24) we read God's mind. One point is clear, sin can never enter heaven (Rev.21:27). The believer is metaphorically called the Temple of God (1Cor.3:16-17). We are thus commanded to keep the Temple of God holy. The warning of the Holy Spirit in (Eph.5:1-7) cannot be ignored. Neither can the one in (1John 3:6-10).

3. UNION WITH CHRIST MAKES US DEAD TO SIN AN ALIVE TO GOD (Rom.6:11-23)

Christ is sinless. Christ in us is our hope of glory. When we are united with Christ we are dead to sin and alive unto godliness. When we are united with Christ, we are no longer under the dominion of sin. Old things have passed away. We are metaphorically crucified with Christ yet alive (Gal.2:20; 5:24). Let us follow the instruction of the Holy Spirit:

(i)                       Recon yourself to be dead to sin but alive to God

(ii)                      Do not let sin reign your mortal body

(iii)                    Do not yield your members as instruments of sin – those instruments belong to Christ now

(iv)                   Yield yourself to God and your members as instruments of righteousness

It is very important to note that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore sin will not have dominion over us. Enjoy your freedom in Christ. Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. But DO NOT turn the grace of God to licence to sin. Instead reckon yourself to be dead to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ

WHEN THOU PRAYEST

SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

Matthew 6:1-18

1.    GIVING ALMS (Mat.6:1-4)

Alms giving is translated as acts of righteousness fulfilling certain religious obligations. It involves giving to the needy as an act of mercy. Not to be done in public – meaning not to be done to receive the praise of men. That public show of piety was sharply rebuked by Jesus when He was dealing with the Pharisees (Mat.23:1-8).

1.1      The Pharisees wore WIDE phylacteries (tefilin) – boxes containing four scripture passages (Exod.13:1-10; 13:11-16; Deut.6:4-9; 11:13-21). It is tied to the forehead with a black leather strip. It is also tied on the arm, reminding them of God’s deliverance from Egypt.

1.2      They Made LONG Tassels (Tzitzit) – fringes tied at the four corners of the garment. It was a reminder to the observant Jew to keep the commandments of the Lord. But the made it long and elaborate for public show of piety. Jesus rebuked that.

 

He tells us that all our acts of righteousness, if they are to be acceptable, should be done without ostentation, without making a show of them.

The other extreme is when you know that there is some act of righteousness to perform and you avoid it. There are people in the Church or outside it who your resources could help but you avoid it. There are responsibilities in the Church, like evangelism, prayer meeting, Bible study, to attend but you do not care about it. You know you have to give your tithe to the Church but you are not doing it consistently.

2        PRAYING (Mat.6:5-15)

When you pray… Jesus expects us to pray. Prayer is communication between us and God. If we are not praying we are not communicating with God. Praying is the only way God’s people communicated to Him. Saints of God of all ages prayed – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Noah, Daniel, Jonah, Hannah all prayed (Dan.6:10).

Jesus prayed regularly (Mark 1:35; Luke 22:32; Mat.26:39) – when he began His ministry, during His ministry, when He performed miracles, during the time of His agony and on the Cross, Jesus prayed.

The disciples of the Lord prayed. They saw Him pray and desired to be taught how to pray (Luke 11:1). He taught them what we know as the Lord’s Prayer and gave that wonderful parable about persistence in prayer (Luke 11:2-13).

Why do we need to pray every day? Because we live in a fallen world! The effect of our fallen condition is everywhere – sin, sickness, crime of every kind, disappointment, hopelessness, selfishness, love of pleasure more that God, rape, murder. Have you observed how killing others is fast becoming fashionable for certain people?

Knowing that we will live in a fallen word the Lord gave us the gift of prayer. Jesus prayed to the Father for us. Hear what He said (John 17:15-17).

Prayer is given to us to protect us from the evil of the world. Through prayer, God can reverse the effect of sin in our lives. He can prevent calamities from befalling us. He can divert away from us the evil originating from the fallen nature in other people. If Jesus was here today He would accuse us of prayerlessness! But it should not be so.

3        FASTING (Mat.6:16-18)

When ye fast… Again here Jesus is saying that we have to fast. However we must not make a public show of it. The Jews of old when they fasted, would tear their clothes, put on sack cloth and throw ashes over their heads as a sign of mourning and repentance (1Kings 21:47; 1Chron.21:16). It would appear that the Pharisees made an open show of this so as to be seen of men.

But fasting is a way of humbling ourselves before God, possibly one way of bringing the body under subjection (Psalm 35:13). Fasting will intensify our prayer. Intensified prayer is real prayer, it is prayer that will receive answer. Therefore if fasting intensifies prayer, it means that fasting is necessary for some prayers to be answered.

Again fasting is not meant for public show. It is not public show when we gather like this to pray and fast as a church. It is not public show if your wife/husband knows that you are fasting. When we fast as prescribed by the Lord, there is reward from the Father.

It is not public show, it is not sounding the trumpet when there is a need in the Church and the pastor asks you to help with that need and you comply.

It is not public show for you to pray out loud when we gather together in Church. When you pray out loud you are being scriptural, not unscriptural (Psalm 55:16-17; 3:4; 5:1-3).

The Lord wants to answer our prayers. He wants to free us and protect us from the effect of the fallen nature. He wants to increase His Church through our prayer. He wants to bless us abundantly through prayer. Let us then come boldly to the throne of Grace to pray. He will hear our voice.

THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP

THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP

Luke 9:1-9, 22-27; 57-66

1.    COMMISSIONING OF THE TWELVE (Luke 9:1-6)

This chapter is packed with emotionally charged events both for Jesus and all His disciples. In another place it is written that Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve (Luke 6:12-16). Here is chapter 9 we see Him commissioning them to go and preach, conferring on them power and authority. Here is their remit:

(i)                       Power over all demons

(ii)                      Power over all diseases

(iii)                    Power to proclaim the Gospel

(iv)                   Power to heal the sick

And here are things they were to avoid:

(i)                       Take nothing for the journey

(ii)                      No staff, no bags, no food, no money

(iii)                    No change of clothes

They were to depend on the goodwill of the people they meet. How is this possible? They people the minister to will surely take care of their needs with excitement. Some suggested that it was because of the brevity of their ministry. I rather believe that Jesus meant it to be the norm since theirs was a power ministry (Acts 16:12-15).

This power is lacking in the Church today. While it is true that not everyone will believe the Gospel, this kind of authoritative ministry will definitely attract a lot of attention and draw many to the Church.

2.    CUTTING OFF OF JOHN’S MINISTRY (Luke 9:7-9)

At this time John’s ministry was coming to an end, not necessarily because of the Herodian persecution and imprisonment, but because he was simply the forerunner of Christ (Isa.40:3; Mal.3:1; Mat.3:3). Jesus ministry had taken off in earnest with the commissioning of the disciples.  Some of the disciples of John even complained to him that Jesus was now making more disciples than him (John 3:26-30). Even John knew that his ministry was at an end. But his beheading by Herod was a traumatic time for our Lord (Mat.1:1-14), and was sequel to warning he issued to all those who would follow Him. He had to let them know the kind of persecution which would beset them. Power will follow them, but power and authority would not prevent persecution, even execution.

3.    CROSS-BEARING FOR ALL DISCIPLES Luke 9:22-27)

Jesus knew the kind of death that faced Him. He knew from that start of His ministry that He faced death by hanging on the cross. He also knew ahead of time what type of life faced all His disciples, especially the apostles.

He warned His disciple that He was going to suffer crucifixion, and that they would face similar situations leading to similar consequences in their lives. To be His disciples, men must:

(i)                       Take up their Cross and Follow Him (Mark 10:38; Luke 14:17)

(ii)                      Prepare to Lose Their Lives for His Sake

(iii)                    Beware of Being Ashamed of Him and His Words

According John Wesley, a disciple must be willing to quit that which was dear to them and they must come to Jesus thoroughly weaned from all their creature-comforts. They must be willing and cheerful to part with all those things rather that quit their interest in Christ. Every good man loves his relatives, but if he is a disciple of Christ, he must comparatively hate them. This means he must love them less than he loves Christ.

Every man loves his own life. No man ever hates his life. But if we become Christ’s disciple, we must love Him more than our own lives. So were the martyrs. They loved not their lives unto death (Rev.12:11). It is better for our lives to be embittered by cruel bondage or even ended by cruel death than to dishonor Christ. This is a hard saying, but the pleasures of the spiritual life and the believing hopes and prospects of eternal life make the saying easier.

Disciple must be ready to bear very heavy burdens. The early apostles experienced this literally.

4.    COUNTING THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS (Luke 9:57-62)

Three different people wanted to follow Jesus and be his disciple in this section. All three were presented with the stark consequences of being Christ’s disciples.

(1)           THE FIRST MAN: Foxes have holes (Luke 9:57-58) – Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world. He has no palace, not home. There is no evidence that He went back to Nazareth after staring His public ministry. He had no break in His ministry. He must pursue it till the end. Anyone who wishes to be His disciple must follow in His footsteps. He must be here to build great mansions or great business empires. His primary assignment must be the recovery of men.

(2)           THE SECOND MAN: Let the dead bury their dead (Luke 9:59-60) – These warnings were not meant to discourage people but to encourage true disciples. Cultural necessities must be subservient to our service to Christ. The preaching of the Gospel must have precedence over everything else that surround our lives as disciples. When the Gospel call comes, every other thing must be suspended! Family matters cannot override the demands of the gospel. Remember, “he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy to be my disciple”, He said.

(3)           THE THIRD MAN: Cannot look back once you have become a disciple (Luke 9:61-62) – No turning back once you have been accepted to be a disciple of Jesus.

It is shame and dishonor to Christ if after we start following Him, we then turn back along the way. His soul has no pleasure in such people.

We need to power with which the early apostles were commissioned to preach. We want to cast out devils, heal the sick while declaring the Gospel of the Kingdom. Then we will have the good will of those who are believing I Jesus, who are being healed, being delivered and being saved.

To have the power of Christ to preach, we must be willing to fulfil all the conditions of true discipleship.

OFFERINGS THAT ATTRACT DIVINE BLESSINGS

OFFERINGS THAT ATTRACT DIVINE BLESSINGS

 ABRAHAM OFFERING: His Only Son Isaac (Genesis 18:1-18)

This is one of the greatest stories of God dealing with man. The whole story of Abraham offering Isaac originated in Go and ended with Him blessing the human agent Abraham.

Lessons to learn:

(i)          Prompt Obedience To God. This was Abraham’s character. Whenever God said go, he went. Whatever God said do, he did. He was told to leave his kindred for a place God appointed for him, he obeyed. He was told to offer the son of Promise, Isaac, he obeyed (Heb.5:5-9). Have you learned to obey the Lord?

(ii)        Not Conferring with Flesh and blood. There is no evidence he discussed with Sarah his wife in any of the occasions. Abraham knew the voice of God. It was not necessary to cast a vote concerning it. Do you know when God is speaking (1Sam.3:1-7; Heb.4:12)?

HANNAH’S OFFERING: Her Firstborn Samuel (1Sam.1:1-20, 24-28)

This was a noble woman. She made a vow to the Lord and when God answered her, she immediately fulfilled the vow. She brought Samuel to the Lord and left the little toddler with Eli in fulfilment of her promise. Did the husband stop her? No! They both knew what it meant to make a promise to God. Do you know what it means to make a promise to God? God is a promise Keeper and would expect all who follow Him to be covenant keepers, not covenant breakers!

 GOD’S GIFT TO MANKIND: His Only Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18)

The story of the offering up of Jesus would take us back to the offering up of Isaac. In asking him to offer Isaac, the son of Promise, He was picturing to us what He had planned from eternity – to give His Son Jesus to be Saviour of a condemned world.

The Old Testament prefigured the New Testament. To give you one more figure, listen to Jesus (John 3:14-15). Christ is the fulfilment of the Old Testament. He is the Gift of God to mankind. No one can enter God’s Kingdom except through Him. By God I mean the God of the Universe, the Maker and Possessor of heaven and earth and that are in them.

Have you received this gift? Has Jesus become Lord in your life? If not you are in a grave danger.

WHAT IS YOUR OWN SACRIFICE (Prov.23:15, 19, 23, 26)?

The first and most important gift anyone would ever give to God is not money, important as that is. It is not any other material thing we may possess, important as such gifts to God may be. The very first and foremost thing we must give to God is our heart.

Why does God want our hearts? Because that is the centre of all our life (Mark 7:21-23; Jer.4:14; Prov.4:20-23; Mat.5:8). Everything we do, every action we take, every desire we have springs out of the heart.

When God gave us Jesus to die for us, He gave us Himself! Nothing else could He withhold from us! How do we respond to that gift? We give God our heart. When we do, we can withhold nothing from God.

The total giving of your heart to God will attract an ever flowing river of divine blessings which will flowing into eternal life in Heaven.

THE HEAVENLY POTTER

THE HEAVENLY POTTER

Jer.18:1-12; Gen.1:26-28; Rom.9:20; Isa.26:16; 45:9

God is our Maker. When He made us, He made us in His image – perfect, fearfully and wonderfully made. But sin corrupted (and continues to corrupt) the perfect image which God had made. But God is still a Potter and will rework what He had originally made till it becomes perfect once again;

Remolding the Marred Vessel (Jer.18:4)

God wants to bring us back to what He originally planned us to be:

(Gen.1:26-28) – The image of God

(Rom.8:28-32) – The Image of Christ

God is the Potter. He forms, but He also mars. He can vary what He created as He pleases. He made man and formed them different colours and races. It is foolish to query Him (Isa.45:5-10). Our bodies can be instantly brought low by disease, and no physician can be of any help till God blesses the means. Our souls depend entirely on Him. In His time, the stiff-necked (obdurate) soul will relent, the dead will rise, the drooping comforted, and the weak made strong…Till then the Bible is a sealed book! By God’s sovereign fiat the most flourishing families are speedily brought low, and also, they speedily be restored to their former prosperity. A mighty empire can be raised from the most humble beginning (Isa.51:1-2; Deut.7:7). But it can also be brought down to ruin in one single hour (2Kings 19:35; Exod.14:28) (See Horae Homileticae V.9).   

Repentance Leading to Malleability (Jer. 18:7-8)

How do we respond to this knowledge? Holy fear and reverence to God (Psalm 139)! Repentance is God’s provision for the restoration of the image of God in man. Even before Christ came God loved it when His people repented and turned back to Him (1Kings 21:27-29; Dan.4:34-37; Exod.33:19). God’s character is unchangeable. He is waiting every day to show mercy and grace to all who would request it.

Whoever you are, you are at this very moment preparing for heaven or hell. Through our repentance and His restoration, He will make us vessels unto honour (2Tim.2:20-21). If in the end you turn out as a vessel of dishonour, know that the fault will be yours. Remember it is God’s love and creative power that transforms us into honourable vessels. We must be like clay in His hands – soft and remoldable – ready to repent and change into God’s divine image. We must submit to and trust in this God who has all power, who holds our future in his hands. God is not arbitrary in His actions towards us. When He acts towards us, He acts in accordance with His eternal purpose for us and in accordance with our response to His commandments, while at the same time applying His mercy as well as severity.

When we submit in His hands as the clay totally yields to the potter’s hands, He will make all things beautiful in His time. God remolds and reshapes us through His word:

(Rom.12:1-2) – Present yourself a living sacrifice

(Eph.4:30-32) – Grieve not the Holy Spirit… be ye kind one to another

(Eph.5:18-31) – Be filled with the Spirit… etc.

(Lev.11:44; 20:28; 1Pet.1:15-16) – Be ye holy

Resistance Leading to Stubbornness and Destruction (Jer.18:9-10)

God’s character is unchangeable (Exod.33:19). But notice in this verse that past righteousness if not maintained does not commend anyone to God’s benefits.

Stubbornness always leads to destruction. Stubbornness destroyed Pharaoh and his army. God gave them a long time to repent. He warned them by sending plague after horrible plague, but they refused to repent. Then suddenly, tall firstborn male children died in one night. Then the entire Egyptian army perished in the Red sea.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride brought his downfall. His Belshazzar was destroyed for foolishly toying with the vessels of God’s Temple. King Ahab died in war. Jezebel his wife was thrown down from the upper story of their palace. Her blood spattered everywhere and the dogs licked it up (2Kings 9:30-37).

God wants us to walk in the way of righteousness and of holiness (Isa.35:8; 49:11; 62:10).

(Heb.3:7-13) – God tells us through His word not harden our hearts against His word as those people did, and as the Israelites did in the wilderness, and God swore that they would never enter the Promised Land.

So what is God saying today? Repent and believe the Gospel so that you will be saved.

He is saying commit your life to Jesus the Saviour who died on the Cross to purchase your pardon. He is saying, be like soft clay in the hand of God so that He may make you into a vessel unto honour.

As hardened clay, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb.10:31)

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Romans 6:6; John 12:24, 25

Calvary is the place of victory.  The secret of spiritual victory is deliberate identification with the crucified Lord and Christ.  All Christian experiences have their root at the Cross.  The Blood of Christ guarantees our redemption and consistent life of victory over sin and temptation.

The declaration of Paul in our text reveals the secret of his life and ministry. “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). This in essence makes the life of Christ a reality in the life of a Christian. All that Calvary accomplished is at our reach by faith when we experience the crucified life.  Through this, we are dead to the world, experience the crushing of the old man and daily live the fruitful life of the risen Christ.

1.    THE CROSS OF CHRIST

Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 1:4; Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 2:16; Hebrews 2:9

The Cross of Christ is the central message of the Gospel.  Humanity must be reminded of what man’s redemption cost Christ, our Lord.  The CROSS symbolizes: (i) the Death of Christ (ii) the Blood of Christ (iii) Suffering of Christ (iv) Sacrifice of Christ (v) Crucifixion of Christ (vi) Humiliation of Christ (vii) Reproach of Christ.

No sinner can afford to snub such a price paid on his behalf. Little wonder the apostle asked, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).

Sober, positive response through repentance and faith bring great results.  These include:

(i)     Forgiveness of sins – Ephesians 1:7

(ii)   Peace with God – Romans 5:1

(iii)  Reconciliation with God – Ephesians 2:15-17

(iv)  Deliverance from the power of sin – Colossians 1:13,14

(v)    Redemption through His Blood – Colossians 1:21,22

2.    CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Romans 12:1, 2

No Christian can truly experience real victory without identification with the Cross of Christ.  After we are saved from the outward sin, the inward depravity must be crushed.  Without this, full victory will be a mirage.  “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).  This is the glorious experience of sanctification. The crushing of the Adamic nature, the propensity to sin.

However, the flesh often struggles to stage a come-back.  To maintain a consistent life of victory, we must remain crucified.

What does being Crucified mean?

(i)     To crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts – Galatians 5:24

(ii)   Crucified to the world – Galatians 6:14; I John 2:15-17

(iii)  Mortify the deeds of the flesh – Colossians 3:5; Romans 8:3

(iv)  Put the body under subjection – I Corinthians 9:27

 

3.    CHRISTLIKENESS OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRISTIAN

Galatians 2:20; I Corinthians 11:1; Romans 1:17; I John 5:11; Colossians 3:12-14

The purpose of the crucified life is to reproduce the character and nature of Christ in the believer.  Closely examined, the word “life”, “liveth” and “life” occur 5 times in the single verse of Galatians 2:20.  This is highly instructive.  This is the essence of the crucified life.  This life is described as:

(i)       The life of righteousness – Ephesians 4:23, 24

(ii)     The life of godliness – Titus 2:11, 12

(iii)      The life of holiness – I Thessalonians 2:10

 

Conformity to the image of Christ is the goal of every Christian.  A state when the very nature of Christ is gloriously reproduced in us.  This can only be attained by personally identified with Christ and His Cross.  Then, we would be able to say like Paul, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).