Romans 6:1-2 (An introduction)

How can you not love the good doctor...

Union with Christ Mind: Renewing Foundations - Sinclair Ferguson

This is so good. What a great resource to prepare to preach on Romans 6.

Romans 5:18-21 "The Final Argument" - 1/18/2018

Excellent as always....

Romans 5:18-21

Romans 5:18-21

Grace Did Much More Abound!

Rom 5:18  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.

Rom 5:19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. Adam’s Fall Brought Condemnation on Us All – vs. 18a*
1. Romans 5:12 
2. Because of a Righteous Sacrifice (Passive Obedience – his passion on the cross) Mankind can Receive a Free Gift of Righteousness and be Set Free From Their Condemnation – vs. 18b*
1. 1 Peter 2:21-25 
3. Because Adam Disobeyed God’s Command, We as His Descendants Were Made Sinners (Transgressors of God’s Law) – vs. 19a*
1. 1 John 3:4   
4. Because Christ Lived a Sinless Life (Active Obedience – His life lived in obedience to God) We Are Given His Righteousness, That He Lived for Us. – vs. 19b*
1. 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 
5. When the Law of God was Given to Moses All it did was Reveal the Extent of Our Guilt – vs. 20a*
1. This is why the Law of God (or any morality) cannot save us, it can only show us how sinful and deficient we are.

                                                              i.      Romans 3:19-20 

6. No Matter How Sinful We are, Grace Can Cover that Sin and Make Us Whole – vs. 20b*
1. You can never out sin the grace of God. There is hope for anyone that would turn to Christ no matter how black their heart is.

                                                              i.      Romans 3:21-25 

7. Sin Reign Over Us in Death – vs. 21a*
1. Romans 6:1-4 
8. Grace Can Reign Over You in Righteousness, Which Leads to Eternal Life in Christ Jesus Our Lord – vs. 21b*
1. Romans 6:11-14 

Romans 5:15-17

Romans 5:15-17

Grace Wins!

Rom 5:15  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.

Rom 5:16  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.

Rom 5:17  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.)

  

 1.      Unlike the Fall, Grace is Free – vs. 15*

a.       In Adam’s nature we are condemned to eternal death which is hell.

                                                              i.      Romans 6:23 

                                                            ii.      James 1:14-15 

b.      In Christ we are given a free gift of eternal life that is not given in tiny small amounts, but with incredible generosity. It is poured over our sin without measure.

                                                              i.      James 1:5   

                                                            ii.      1 Timothy 1:12-17 

2.      Unlike Sin, that Brings Condemnation and Judgement, Grace Justifies All Sin – vs. 16*

a.       Sin was brought into the world by one man and so death and condemnation is passed on to us all. Adam was not partially fallen in his nature. He was so completely lost he was beyond hope of recovery, and so are we.

                                                              i.      James 2:10 

                                                            ii.      Galatians 3:10-11 

b.      The generosity of Christ’s grace is not that it covered a few of our small mistakes, but that it is richly given to those who have committed the most serious of errors, through faith. How many of us would enjoy getting a gift that was not completed, or lacked its most important parts? Christ is not this kind of giver! He gives until we are overflowing with His grace.

                                                              i.      Isaiah 1:18 

                                                            ii.      Isaiah 43:25   

                                                          iii.      1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

3.      Unlike the Fall, that Reigns Over Mankind in Death, Grace Can Reign Over You With Righteousness and Life – vs. 17*

a.       Those that are still in Adam’s nature are slaves to sin and death.

                                                              i.      Romans 6:18-23 

b.      Those that have committed their lives to Christ live under the glorious reign of grace.

                                                              i.      In Christ we enjoy the following benefits:

1.      Abundant Grace

a.       Romans 5:20 

2.      Gift of Righteousness

a.       Philippians 3:9-10 

3.      Life Eternal

a.       1 Corinthians 15:55-58 

Romans 5:15-17 "Three Great Contrasts" - 12/14/2017

If you have not been watching these you are truly missing out...

Incredible: Christian vs Atheist Debate (White & Durbin vs Clark & Ellis)

Very entertaining. I think the atheists showed up to a gun fight with a knife. :)

Mollie Hemingway | Political Divide in America

Very interesting...

Romans 5:12-14

Romans 5:12-14

By One Man Sin Entered into the World

Rom 5:12  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:

Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Rom 5:14  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.

1. Sin Came Into This World By One Man – vs. 12*
1. Was Adam a myth? – vs. 12a*

                                                              i.      If Adam was a myth and we do not believe the Genesis account than we cannot understand that sin, death and pain all came into the world at a fixed point and time through a certain individual. Without this understanding we are left with a cruel God who created man to live in an eternal state of suffering.

                                                            ii.      If there is a fixed point when sin and death came into this world through a certain individual than we have a reasonable explanation for all sin and death. A reasonable answer to the question: why does a good God allow suffering?

2. All descendants of Adam have fallen and are under sin’s curse. All humans in their natural state are separated from God for eternity because of their sin.

                                                              i.      Genesis 2:16-17 

                                                            ii.      1 Corinthians 15:22 

3. All men are guilty because of Adam’s sin.

                                                              i.      Romans 5:18 

4. All men lack original righteousness.

                                                              i.      Romans 3:10 

                                                            ii.      Ephesians 2:1 

                                                          iii.      Psalm 51:5 

5. All men are condemned because of their own sin as well.

                                                              i.      Romans 3:23 

                                                            ii.      Matthew 15:19 

6. All men, because of their sin, have lost communion with God.

                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:3 

2. Before the Mosaic Law There Was Sin – vs. 13a*
1. While the consciences of men convicted them of their sins; their sins against the law were looked on with leniency because they did not have direct commandment from God like Adam did. Paul is making a clear statement that our hope is not in moralism. Because all the law did was bring more conviction in our hopeless state without Christ. – vs. 13b
3. Before the Mosaic Law There Was Death – vs. 14a*
1. Men still died before the Mosaic Law because their consciences convicted them, but their guilt is not as bad as Adam’s because he directly disobeyed God’s command. The law or moralism cannot help us, it can only condemn us. Our hope must be in a Savior that can deliver us from the nature given to us by Adam. – vs. 14b*
4. The First Adam is not the End of the Story. Thank God we have a second Adam in Jesus Christ. – vs. 14c*
1. Condemnation and guilt was brought into the world by one man and deliverance can only be brought about by one man who is not under that condemnation. That man is Christ, He lived, died and rose from the dead so we can be defined by a new nature in Him.

                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 15:21-22 

                                                            ii.      Romans 6:23 

                                                          iii.      Romans 5:19-21 

Romans 5:12-14 "Adam and Christ" - 12/7/2017

Very good as always...

Romans 5:6-11

Romans 5:6-11

Christ Died For Sinners

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

Rom 5:7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

1.      Paul is Explaining What He Meant in Verse 5. He is Revealing the Source of Power by Which the Christian is Changed into the Likeness of Christ.

a.       Romans 5:5 

                                                              i.      It is in the meditation of the grace and love of Christ that a Christian transforms his affections. In order overcome sin one does not simply stop doing bad things. The gospel is not only about behavior modification. It transforms our affections.

1.      The reverse is of true of this passage in 1 John. As you fill your life with the love of the father their will be no more room for a love of the world.

a.       1 John 2:15-17 

2.      We Begin to Understand and Fathom the Love of God When We Understand that God Initiated it by Giving Us His Son.

a.       Christ died for you when you were helpless and hopeless – vs. 6*

                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:1-10 

b.      God proved his love for you by sending His Son to die on behalf of you, when you were in sin and rebellion – vs. 7-8*

                                                              i.      This is something that no man would do for you. Some men are willing to die for a good man, but no one cares for a worthless rebellious wretch like you and me. Yet God did and He sent His Son to take your place. – vs. 7*

1.      1 John 4:9-10 

2.      Isaiah 53:3-6 

c.       Christ justified you with His blood so you could be saved from wrath in Him – vs. 9*

                                                              i.      This confidence or assurance is the bases on which we can live a changed life in Christ. Catholic Theologian Robert Bellomine says that the greatest of all protestant heresy is not salvation by grace alone but the assurance of salvation. Thankfully this is not what scripture tells us. This verse very clearly tells us that our justification (and security) has already been purchased through the blood of Christ.

1.      Ephesians 1:11-14 

d.      How can you not believe that the God that would die for you when you were His enemy, would not provide for you a new life changed by His grace? – vs. 10*

                                                              i.      Romans 8:10-11 

e.       Christ has restored our joy in God because He has made the Atonement for us – vs. 11*

                                                              i.      You cannot learn to love something you fear and hate, and we no longer need to fear God because of the restoration Christ has provided. Knowing God can now bring immense joy that can take over your life and change you from the inside out.

1.      Isaiah 61:10

Sinclair Ferguson: A Reformation of the Heart

We desperately need to have more of this understanding of the gospel preached today. Especially when so much of our pop music tells us "to tell your heart to beat again" like message. There is no hope in a gospel that is like a physician healing a sick man; what we need is some on that can raise us from the dead. 

Romans 5:6-11 "The John 3:16 of Romans" - 11/9/2017

I love this passage...