UNITED WITH OUR SAVIOR (CC)

LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT RECORDED FOR US IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS, WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 6, THE FIRST ELEVEN VERSES: SHALL WE GO ON SINNING SO THAT GRACE MAY INCREASE? BY NO MEANS! WE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE DIED TO SIN; HOW CAN WE LIVE IN IT ANY LONGER? OR DON'T YOU KNOW THAT ALL OF US WHO WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH? WE WERE THEREFORE BURIED WITH HIM THROUGH BAPTISM INTO DEATH IN ORDER THAT, JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD THROUGH THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, WE TOO MAY LIVE A NEW LIFE. FOR IF WE HAVE BEEN UNITED WITH HIM IN A DEATH LIKE HIS, WE WILL CERTAINLY ALSO BE UNITED WITH HIM IN A RESURRECTION LIKE HIS. FOR WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM SO THAT THE BODY RULED BY SIN MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH, THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN -- BECAUSE ANYONE WHO HAS DIED HAS BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN. NOW IF WE DIED WITH CHRIST, WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM. FOR WE KNOW THAT SINCE CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, HE CANNOT DIE AGAIN; DEATH NO LONGER HAS MASTERY OVER HIM. THE DEATH HE DIED, HE DIED TO SIN ONCE FOR ALL; BUT THE LIFE HE LIVES, HE LIVES TO GOD. IN THE SAME WAY, COUNT YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD. LET US PRAY: GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN. [TEXT TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA, INC.] DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST: THE APOSTLE PAUL REALLY DOESN'T MINCE ANY WORDS. HE COMES RIGHT TO THE POINT IN THIS SECTION OF HIS LETTER TO THE ROMANS, A CONGREGATION THAT WAS MADE UP OF CONVERTS FROM JUDAISM, CONVERTS FROM GENTILES. IT REALLY WAS A VERY MODERN CONGREGATION IN THE SENSE THAT IT HAD BELIEVERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO HAD COME AND WERE LIVING IN ROME. BUT ISSUES IN THE CONGREGATION AROSE FROM THE FACT THAT THERE STILL WERE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO HOLD ONTO THEIR OLD JEWISH WAYS AND JEWISH TRADITIONS. ALWAYS THINKING SOMEHOW THAT THOSE GENTILES REALLY NEEDED TO BECOME JEWISH BEFORE THEY COULD BECOME CHRISTIANS. AND THE GENTILES WERE STILL LEARNING TO UNDERSTAND THIS WONDERFUL NEWS THAT THEY HAD BEEN FREED FROM ALL OF THEIR SINS. SO SIN AND GRACE IS A BIG TOPIC IN PAUL'S LETTER TO THE ROMANS. AND HE WANTS TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT SIN SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH. BECAUSE THE APOSTLE KNOWS THAT SIN IN US, THAT SIN THAT IS A PART OF US THAT IS OUR VERY NATURE, IS CONSTANTLY AT WORK TO DO THE THINGS THAT GOD DOESN'T WANT US TO DO. THE APOSTLE KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME PEOPLE LOVE TO SPEND ON SIN. AND THAT PROBABLY IS NOT A THOUGHT THAT HAS CROSSED YOUR MIND. BUT THINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE TIME AND THE ENERGY AND THE MONEY YOU PUT INTO DOING THE THINGS THAT GOD DOESN'T WANT FROM YOU. AND FOR IGNORING THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS ASKED YOU TO DO. HOW QUICKLY AND HOW HAPPY WE CAN BECOME WHEN SOMEONE SHARES WITH US THAT LITTLE BIT OF NEWS THAT MAKES SOMEONE LOOK BAD. AND HOW WE CAN'T WAIT THEN TO TAKE THE TIME AND TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO SHARE THAT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. LET'S JUST HOP ON THAT GOSSIP LINE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO! TIME AND EFFORT SPENT IN SIN. THE FACT THAT WE CAN SO EASILY HOLD GRUDGES. AND HOW OFTEN DURING THE DAY DON'T WE POUR OVER THOSE IN OUR MIND? WHENEVER THAT THOUGHT COMES IN AND WE JUST SIT WITH IT. AND WE LET IT STEW; AND WE LET IT EAT AWAY AT US. TIME WASTED IN SIN TO THE DEVIL. AND MONEY. MONEY THAT WE'VE SPENT ON THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO MAKE US HAPPY AND BRING US PEACE AND GIVE US COMFORT, AND THEY JUST PASS AWAY AND THE JOY DOES NOT LAST. MONEY SPENT ON THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT OF GOD. AND THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS TO US: WE SHOULD BE DEAD TO SIN. DEAD TO SIN BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BURIED WITH CHRIST. AND WE SHOULD BE LIVING FOR GOD. IT'S THE MESSAGE THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE CHURCH IN ROME; IT'S THE MESSAGE THAT HE BRINGS TO US: DEAD TO SIN. DEAD TO IT! UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN TO A PARTY WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE WHO BRINGS THEIR TODDLER ALONG WITH THEM. AND THE TODDLER'S RUNNING AROUND HAVING A GREAT TIME PLAYING AND JUST ENJOYING THEMSELF. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU TURN AROUND AND LOOK AND THE KID IS SPRAWLED OUT HALF ON THE OTTOMAN ... HALF ON THE FLOOR DEAD TO THE WORLD. THE WHOLE PARTY'S GOIN' ON AROUND THEM. AND THAT KID IS SLEEPING LIKE THERE'S NO NOISE OR NOTHIN' AROUND. AND THE PARENTS WHO COME AND PICK 'EM UP SCOOP 'EM UP IN THEIR ARMS AND THEY'RE STILL DEAD TO THE WORLD ASLEEP. THAT'S HOW GOD WANTS US TO BE TO SIN. DEAD TO IT! NOT AFFECTED BY IT. NOT EVEN BEING A PART OF IT IN THE WORLD AROUND US, JUST IGNORING IT. AND WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BURIED WITH CHRIST IN OUR BAPTISM. THAT CONNECTING-UP WITH CHRIST. JUST READ THROUGH THESE VERSES AGAIN LATER IN THE DAY AND HEAR HOW OFTEN PAUL USES THAT PHRASE: WITH CHRIST ... WITH JESUS ... WITH HIM. THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONNECTED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM. HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO REALIZE THAT BAPTISM IS NOT JUST SOME NICE THING THAT WE DO TO DEDICATE CHILDREN TO GOD IN THE FUTURE IN THEIR LIFE. BAPTISM IS SOMETHING THAT CREATES FAITH AT THAT MOMENT THE WATER IS APPLIED WITH GOD'S WORD. AND THAT CHILD THERE BECOMES A CHILD OF GOD AND IS SAVED. HAS FAITH. BELIEVES AND TRUSTS IN JESUS AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR; THEY ARE WITH CHRIST. CONNECTED WITH HIM. CONNECTED WITH HIM; BURIED IN DEATH WITH HIM. BECAUSE DEATH IS THE RESULT OF SIN. BECAUSE WE SIN, WE SHALL DIE. IT IS THE ULTIMATE CURSE. IT WAS WHY JESUS HAD TO COME INTO THE WORLD. IN THAT PAYMENT THAT HE MADE FOR SIN HE GAVE HIS LIFE. HE GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT THE PUNISHMENT OF SIN COULD BE MADE WHOLE. HE COULD PROVIDE THE SACRIFICE. HE 'DID' PROVIDE THAT SACRIFICE! AND THROUGH BAPTISM WE ARE CONNECTED WITH HIM WITH THAT DEATH. THAT DEATH THAT HAS PAID THE PENALTY FOR YOUR SINS AND MY SINS. THAT DEATH THAT HAS, KEEPS US CONNECTED WITH GOD TO KNOW THAT OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. WE LIVE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT WE LIVE IN GOD'S GRACE. AND PAUL SAYS AS CHILDREN OF GOD, PUT YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORT INTO BEING WITH CHRIST. CONNECTED WITH HIM. CONNECTED WITH HIM KNOWING THAT YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN. NOT LIVING IN GUILT. NOT BEING STRESSED THAT YOU ARE NOT PERFECT ENOUGH, BUT KNOWING THAT GOD HAS LOVED YOU AND HAS FORGIVEN ALL OF YOUR SINS. THEY WERE BURIED WITH CHRIST. YOU WERE BURIED WITH CHRIST AND NOW YOU'RE DEAD TO SIN. AND WE START LIVING LIKE THAT. SO THOSE TIMES WHEN WE THINK THAT WE WANT TO KNOW THAT GOSSIP, WE STOP! AND WE DEFEND PEOPLE. AND WE SPEAK WELL OF PEOPLE. AND WE TELL PEOPLE: WE DON'T WANNA HEAR THIS! STOP SENDING ME THESE EMAILS. STOP CALLING ME WITH THIS. AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE WHO PASSES IT ON. TIME SPENT WITH GOD. THOSE GRUDGES THAT WE HOLD. THE REVENGE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP. EVERY TIME WE START POURING OVER THOSE THOUGHTS IN OUR HEAD, GET OUT YOUR BIBLES AND POUR OVER THE WORD. REALIZE THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS SHOWERED UPON YOU BY YOUR FORGIVENESS. AND FORGIVE OTHERS REPEATEDLY IN YOUR OWN HEAD, TIME AND TIME AGAIN IF THAT'S THE CASE. HOW POWERFUL THOSE EMOTIONS CAN BE SOMETIMES. BUT IT'S TIME SPENT WITH GOD; CONNECTED WITH CHRIST. AND ALL THOSE THINGS WE THINK THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE US HAPPY AND KEEP US SAFE, AND BRING US CONTENTMENT WHEN THEY DON'T ... WE COME BACK TO GOD ... AND LOOK AT THE SIMPLE BLESSINGS THAT HE HAS PROVIDED WITH US AND YOU AND I CANNOT SPEND ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY REFLECTING ON JUST THOSE SIMPLE THINGS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US. THE ABILITY TO GET OUT OF BED. THE ABILITY TO WALK. THE ABILITY TO SEE. THE GIFT OF PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES. SIMPLE, WONDERFUL BLESSINGS THAT COME FROM GOD. WE SPEND TIME FOCUSED ON THOSE THINGS THAT KEEP US WITH GOD. BECAUSE WE'RE DEAD TO SIN, SO THAT WE CAN LIVE FOR GOD. THAT IN OUR LIFE, WE CAN PUT INTO PRACTICE THOSE THINGS WE DEMAND FROM EVERYONE ELSE. AND ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH? BECAUSE WE CAN BE SO EASY TO POINT OUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD BE DOING; HOW OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD BE LIVING THEIR LIFE OF FAITH. AND WE DON'T GIVE OURSELVES THAT SAME THOUGHT OR THAT SAME EFFORT. TO LIVE WITH GOD WE WERE NOT ONLY BURIED WITH CHRIST, BUT WE HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST. WE HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. AS SURE AS WE BREATHE, AS SURE AS WE'RE HERE THIS MORNING, HEAVEN IS OURS. GOD HAS ACCOMPLISHED IT. HE HAS GIVEN IT TO US. AND YOU AND I LIVE IN THAT KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH THAT WE ARE HEADED FOR ETERNAL LIFE. WE WILL BE WITH GOD NOT JUST IN THIS WORLD, BUT FOR ALL ETERNITY! WE LIVE WITH HIM. WE ARE CONNECTED TO HIM. WE WANT OTHERS TO SEE THAT IN OUR LIFE WE SHOW THE BLESSINGS THAT COME TO US FROM BEING CHILDREN OF GOD AND YES, WE REALIZE IT ISN'T EASY. OUR SAVIOR HIMSELF SAYS THAT LIVING AS PEOPLE OF FAITH IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY. HE DIDN'T COME TO BE EASY. HE DIDN'T COME TO BRING PEACE. IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER, AND THERE ARE FAMILY MEMBERS IN YOUR LIFE WHO ARE NOT BELIEVERS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE AT ODDS WITH THEM. THAT'S THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. BECAUSE THE BELIEVER AND THE UNBELIEVER HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON IN WHAT REALLY MATTERS. WE'RE TO LOVE NO ONE ELSE MORE THAN GOD. JESUS MINCED NO WORDS EITHER. IF YOU LOVE YOUR FATHER OR MOTHER MORE THAN ME, YOU'RE NOT WORTHY. IF YOU LOVE YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER MORE THAN ME, YOU'RE NOT WORTHY. HE DEMANDS ... THAT NUMBER ONE SPOT IN OUR HEART AND IN OUR LIFE. AND HE WANTS US TO LIVE AND TO SHOW THAT. TO RECEIVE PROPHETS, HE SAID, WITH RESPECT FOR THEM AS BEING PROPHETS. TO RECEIVE A RIGHTEOUS PERSON, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE A RIGHTEOUS PERSON. AND EVEN IF YOU GIVE A GLASS OF WATER TO A CHILD WHO IS A BELIEVER, YOU HAVE DONE IT FOR CHRIST. YOU'RE LIVING YOUR FAITH. THE APOSTLE SAYS TO US: THAT IS IMPORTANT. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE WE SHOULD BE DEAD TO SIN. WE SHOULD SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM IT AND STAY CONNECTED WITH CHRIST. TO LIVE WITH HIM. TO BREATHE WITH HIM. TO DO EVERYTHING AS IF CHRIST WERE STANDING WITH US BY OUR SIDE, PARTICIPATING IN THAT ACTIVITY. AND HOW WONDERFUL AND BLESSED IT IS FOR US TO KINOW THAT. THAT OUR GOD IS NOT WITH US JUST IN THOSE DIFFICULT TIMES WHEN WE CALL AND ASK HIM TO BE THERE. LIKE BEFORE SURGERY. OR WHEN A TRAGEDY STRIKES. BUT HE IS WITH US WHEN WE SIT AT OUR DESKS AT WORK. HE'S WITH US ... HE WATCHES TELEVISION WITH US AT NIGHT. HE IS THERE WITH US KEEPING WATCH OVER US WHILE WE SLEEP. THAT'S HOW HIS LOVE AND HIS CARE AND HIS CONCERN IS FOR US. SO WE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THAT SIN. PAUL SAYS: FIGHT THAT TEMPTATION TO JUST BE IN SIN. BE DEAD TO IT. UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE WITH CHRIST. BURIED WITH HIM IN HIS DEATH. RISEN WITH HIM. LIVING WITH HIM HERE AND FOR ALL ETERNITY. AND NOW TO MAKE THAT EFFORT TO SHOW OTHERS WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE A CHILD OF GOD. TO RETURN IN THANKS TO GOD THE BLESSINGS. WORDS OF THANKS FOR THE BLESSINGS THAT HE HAS GIVEN TO US. TO STOP SPENDING TIME AND WASTING TIME ON THINGS THAT ARE AWAY FROM GOD. AND TO BE WITH GOD. EACH AND EVERY DAY. TO RISE UP IN YOUR BAPTISMAL GRACE AND THE FAITH THAT HAS COME FROM THAT AND SAY: TODAY I AM DEAD TO SIN. I'M ALIVE AND LIVING TO GOD. AMEN. LET US RISE. NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.