Pastor Mike : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN : A Ministry of CHRIST-LIVES MINISTRIES

Chapter seven finds the Apostle Paul still trying to make this matter of our being dead to the Law and to sin clear. In the last of chapter 6, he used the analogy of slavery to teach us that, in Christ, we were free from the old master of sin and alive to a new Master: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, he moves from the analogy of a master and slave to a husband and wife. He uses marriage as a picture of our new relationship to the Law. The fact is, spiritually speaking, we are married to either the Law or the Lord. So, tonight, I would like to look into these verses for a few minutes and consider the question "Who Are You Married To?"

For those who still feel like they are trapped in their sins, this passage offers help this evening. For Christians to be free from the power of sin, they need to understand a few fundamental truths. Notice the word "knowing" on verse 6. This is a word that means "to know by personal experience." To bee free, there are some things that we need to know for sure!

Up until this point, the Apostle Paul has been building a case for the necessity of salvation. We have been told that we are all sinners. We have been shown that there is one means of salvation: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been told that by placing our faith in Jesus for salvation, we are given the gift of eternal life in Him. Paul has let us know that the human race is doomed because of the sin of Adam! However, those humans who come to Jesus for salvation are saved from that doom and are given a new life in Christ!

Romans 5:15-21

PARADISE REGAINED

Intro: In our last study from Romans, we talked about how paradise was lost. We learned that Adam, the father of all humanity, sinned against God. As a result of his sin, the whole world was plunged into darkness. Adam's sin had dire consequences for the whole of humanity. As we move on in this chapter, we will see here how paradise is regained. What Adam gave away, Jesus bought back!

Lets read from Gods Word

Romans 5:15-21

King James Version

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

This passage is very difficult to understand. When it is read, it seems very confusing and fuzzy. This makes these verses extremely hard to outline. However, it may help to look at this passage as a series of contrasts. Paul is trying to show his readers the difference between what they received from Adam and what they have received from Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:12-19

King James Version

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Paul has spent considerable amounts of time in the book of Romans proving that man is a sinner. He has shown us that every class of human in the world is guilty in the eyes of God. Folks, there is no denying that truth! If you doubt that man is guilty, then travel to any spot on the globe, pick up any newspaper or listen to any news broadcast anywhere and the truth will be made plain to you once and for all. Man is a sinner!

In this passage, we find the Apostle Paul still rehearsing the benefits that are ours as children of God. These verses makes plain the great provisions that have come our way through the death of the Lord Jesus and by virtue of our placing our faith in Him for salvation. These verses tell us of the wonderful things we have in Christ. I want to draw your attention to verse 8, and the last phrase of that verse, then look at the last 2 words: "for us". Those two words sum up the content of this message. As the Lord gives me liberty this evening, I would like to preach for a while on the thought, "All For Us."

Thus far in Romans, Paul has spent considerable time detailing man's need for salvation. We have learned that man is a sinner and that he abides under the wrath of God. We have learned that nothing associated with religion, works, the Law, or with rituals can ever provide salvation to humanity. We have seen that we are totally dependent upon faith to bring us into a right relationship with the Lord. It all comes down to realizing that it is not what we do that makes the difference in the saving of our souls, it is all about Who we know. When we know Jesus, we have salvation, when we do not know Jesus, we are lost, 1 John 5:12.

With this truth firmly nailed down, Paul now moves forward in his discussion of the doctrines of salvation. Now, Paul begins to tell his readers the benefits of being saved by grace through faith. In these first 5 verses of chapter 5, Paul tells us Why True Believers Can Rejoice in their salvation. It is that theme that I want to spend some time looking at this evening. I want to tell you Why True Believers Can Rejoice. If you haven't been in a rejoicing mood lately, I want to show you why every child of God has the right to praise the Lord and be filled with "joy unspeakable and full of glory", 1 Peter 1:8.

Rom. 4:13-17

WHERE THE LAW FAILS, FAITH PREVAILS Intro: As we continue to move through this fourth chapter of Romans, we have been challenged by the life of Abraham. He was a man who was highly revered by the Jews of Paul's day, and Paul appealed to Abraham's life to teach his readers that salvation was purely the work of God. He has already taught us thatworks cannot save, v. 1-8; then he showed us thatcircumcision could not save the soul, v. 9-12. In these verses, Paul is going to reveal to us the truth that keeping the Law cannot save the soul either.

Lets read from gods Word

Romans 4:13-17

King James Version

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Sadly, many in our day seem to think that salvation works according to that principle. Many believe that if they do all the good things and avoid the bad things, then God is obligated to let them into Heaven when they die. My friends, if you believe that, you are guilty of believing false doctrine! The truth of the matter is this: nothing you do can save your soul! It is not, nor has it ever been, about what you do. Salvation has always rested on Who you know!

Romans 4:9-12

HOW RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OBTAINED

Romans 4:9-12

King James Version

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Intro: There is much confusion in the world surrounding the matter of salvation and getting right with God. I find this amazing since the Bible is crystal clear in this area. However, there are groups that say baptism is a requirement for salvation. Others tell us that we must belong to their denomination or group if we hope to be save. Still others claim that we must keep certain sacraments, or holy ordinances, if we expect to get to Heaven. If you listen to every voice out there, you would be in a terrible fix and would never know where you stood with God. All you would know is that no matter what you did, it was never enough.

Rom. 3:19-31

THE NEW MAN

Intro: 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Last lesson , we studied verses 9-18 and found that man is a totally depraved creature. There is absolutely no good in him at all! Everything he touches is tarnished by the sin that fills his being and he is wretched in the sight of God. As we talked about those things, we were talking about the Man In Our Mirror. Well, as the text continues to unfold before us, Paul continues his line of thinking, but he shifts directions on us. He gives us a concluding thought concerning the old man and he begins to talk about that new creature that Jesus makes when He saves the sinner. It is that new, saved fellow that we want to consider this evening. So, with that in mind, let's consider this passage and think for a while about The New Man In My Mirror. As we will see, he ain't what he used to be!