LBC Sermons & Messages

Romans 6:8-14

John Newton was a man who had a grasp of what grace really is. In his hymn, “Amazing Grace,” he writes ‘twas grace that taught my heart to fear. Before we can receive the grace of God, we must have fear. This is what Paul spends the first several chapters of Romans discussing. Our sin when brought into the light of God’s holiness and justice should send fear racing through us. However, this fear pushes us to a loving God who has made His grace available to all.

Once grace teaches our hearts to fear, it then can relieve our fears. Once our fears are relieved, then verses 1-7 teach us that our identity can be in Christ because through His death we have conquest over sin. Sin no longer has power over us.

Then God, through Paul, tells us in verse 8-11 that through the resurrection of Christ from the dead we have the capability to live. This is not talking of the function of the heart beating pumping oxygen all through our bodies, but rather the abundant life that we can have in Christ. Once again, this is possible because sin has been destroyed, Romans 5, and remission is granted to all who call on His name, Luke 24:46, 47. In addition, we can live because Christ who was once dead is now alive unto God, Philippians 3:10.

However, most of the time, we fall prey to the traps that are so cleverly placed before us. If we could see sin the way God does, I am convinced it would revolutionize our lives. Especially now that the power of sin has been destroyed. I also think that if we really understood God’s grace and the price at which it comes, our lives would be altered once and for all.

Finally, God encourages us to fight and endure. Once we see our sin and God’s grace, we cannot help but run into the arms of a loving God. Once in His arms, we see the job that he calls us to do and we should give ourselves to the task 100% each day. If we want to finish the task and have God tells us, “well done thy good and faithful servant,” then, we must rely on the power of God, II Cor. 10. We must come to grips with reality and understand the fact that there is not a single ounce of power inside myself. It is all from God. God’s power demolishes sin and death, raises the dead, and heals the sick.

We also must realize the presence of God, Ps. 139:7-16. No matter how hard the battle gets, how dark the pathway grows, no matter how insurmountable the odds get, God is always with us. When and where God calls He gives ability and He leads the way.

Next, we must remember the scripture, Ps. 119:11. When tempted by Satan to sin or give up, scripture is our sword. We must have verses memorized and ready to be unsheathed at any moments notice. The Word of the Lord is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.

Lastly, we must recruit righteous friends, Ecc. 4:9-12. God has designed us in a way that we need each other. You need to have someone in your life that is not afraid to tell you when you are wrong and someone who can challenge you in the Word. A spouse can be a great accountability partner but men need to have a man and women also need another woman. We must be able to ask the hard questions and exhort each other. When we put into practice these steps, we will begin to have the life in the risen Lord that He wants us to have.

Romans 6:1-7, Matt. 21:1-11

We had a great conference with Dr. Peck and his wife. The main theme was becoming an over comer. We live in a day and age in which we are bombarded with messages promoting selfishness and lust. Times are hard. Many around us are falling but God has given us the ability to over come. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

Today is Palm Sunday and we will look at Romans 6:1-7. If you could sum up this passage in one word, what would it be? I think it would be, identity. When I think of identity and Palm Sunday, I cannot help but look at Matt. 20 and 21. Christ has done several miracles and a large crowd now follows Him and the disciples. At the end of chapter 20, Christ heals two blind men. These events all lead up to chapter 21.

In verses 1-7, we see the compliance of the disciples. Christ tells them to go get a donkey from a certain man in the city. The disciples obey Christ and Christ heads into the city with His disciples and the multitude.

Next, in verses 8 and 9 we see the ceremony of the crowd. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, they made much pomp and circumstance. They laid down their coats and cut palm branches to pave the way for their king. They also cried, “Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Then in verses 10 and 11, we see the confusion of the city as well as the multitude. The city was moved and they all said, “Who is this?” The crowd replied, “This is Christ, the prophet from Nazareth.” No one understood the true identity of the Messiah. The crowd just saw Christ work several miracles and they heard Him speak but still had no idea of Christ’s true identity. The identity of Christ escaped them all but by no fault of His. Who is Christ to you?

Once we really understand who He is, then and only then can we be identified with the Messiah. Romans 6 tells us of some benefits of being identified with Christ. First, we have fortitude to live, verse 1-4. Sin no longer has power over us. We now sin because we choose to. We do not have to sin. We also have the ability to do whatever God wants us to do. We have the strength to live the abundant life that God wants us to live.

Secondly, we have fellowship with God through Christ’s sacrifice, verses 5 and 6. Through Christ, our sin no longer has power over us. With our sin nature destroyed, we have the ability to cry out to God and receive forgiveness, which brings us into fellowship with God.

Then we have freedom in Christ, verse 7. For he that is dead to sin is free. Once again, this is only possible through the person of Jesus Christ. So, have you identified yourself with the true Messiah? Have you cried out for forgiveness and asked Christ to save you and become your Lord?

There are two beautiful ordinances that Christ gave the church to remind us of our identity in Christ. First is baptism. This is the first step of obedience for the Christian. It is an outward picture of our spiritual identity with Christ. There is no saving, magical power in baptism. It is a fabulous picture of identity.

The second is the Lord’s Supper. It too is a picture of what Christ did on the cross. He gave his body to be broken, taking the full wrath of the Father upon Himself for us. He poured out all His blood to wash away our sin. In addition, Christ tells us that He will not drink the wine or eat the bread until he does it with the church in heaven. Christ gives us a promise to return. He did all of this to allow us the privilege to be identified with Him and when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are showing our identity in Christ.

Let me leave you with a question, if you are a child of God and your identity is in Christ, are you living like it? If you are not living your identity, then you are missing the blessings of your identity. Allow God to receive glory through your life of identity in Christ.