UNITED WITH OUR SAVIOR (CC)
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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.