Dead & Alive in Christ
Series: in Christ
Speaker: Nick Freestone
Date: 23rd August 2026
Passage: Romans 6:1-14
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 In Pastor Steve's opening sermon to this series called In Christ, he said,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:18 ! If we misunderstand our relationship with Jesus, then we entirely misunderstand what it means to live the Christian life.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 ! What it means to live the Christian life.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:25 What it means to be a Christian determines how we live as a Christian.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:32 God gives Christians this understanding in the Bible and in many places.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:48 So we're going to explore some of these passages in this season so that anyone here or tuning in can get a true picture of what a Christian is and of their new life in Christ.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53 So pray with me and let these words be your own words.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:59 Lord God, from your word, would you reveal all that Christ has done for me?
00:01:00 --> 00:01:13 Please give me a greater confidence in your grace to me, a deeper assurance of my hope in Jesus, and strength from your spirit to live my new life in Christ.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:14 Amen.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 Imposter syndrome.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:27 Most of us know what the feeling of imposter syndrome is, even if we don't know the phrase.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:32 It's when we are out of our depth or we feel like a fraud.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 You might be performing on stage.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:41 You might be one of a couple who are bringing a newborn baby home for the first time.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 And there's no manuals with babies.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:50 You might be writing a report or an essay or a sermon.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:58 At any moment, someone might realize that you don't know what you're doing, that you don't belong.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:07 That feeling can come at any time and in any group in your life, that feeling of being an imposter.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:13 And back when I was first calling myself a Christian, I felt like an imposter.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:24 I was 15 and I was watching my youth leaders live out their lives thinking, I don't live like that.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:29 I must not yet be good enough at being a Christian.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 They seemed to never struggle with sins like I did.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 I worried that I wasn't really saved.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:46 Whenever I counted my sins, I thought sin still ruled me and not Jesus.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 I felt like a Christian imposter.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:58 This misunderstanding is dealt with in Romans 6.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 Today's passage in front of us.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:11 It answers the question, what should Christians do about their sin in their life in Christ?
00:03:11 --> 00:03:19 What should Christians do about the sin that persists as they live as Christians?
00:03:22 --> 00:03:26 There are two extreme reactions to this.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 Should Christians be just anti-all rules?
00:03:30 --> 00:03:37 If Christians are saved by the unending, unearned grace of God through faith,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:42 then can't they just ignore sin going on in their life or even embrace it?
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 But Paul starts off Romans 6 by shouting,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 by no means!
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 See, I told you I'd get loud.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 By no means!
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 Shall we go on sinning?
00:03:53 --> 00:04:04 Every Christian in their life has softened a sin that they are aware of
00:04:04 --> 00:04:10 or refused to find sin and root it out in their life.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:19 And we may discover that we've defined ourselves by our sins and our feelings rather than Christ.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 That is not allegiance to Christ.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:30 It is giving him our momentary attention while remaining in allegiance to ourselves,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 our sins and our feelings.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 But what if Christians, at the other extreme,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:43 were only saved through obeying all the rules kind of Christians?
00:04:45 --> 00:04:50 Anti-grace, legalistic believers.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:54 That is not faith at all.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 Paul, at the end of our verse,
00:04:58 --> 00:04:59 shouts again,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 you are not under the law,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 but under grace.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:08 Christians need to be ruled by grace,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 not Christian rules.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:20 feeling controlled or mastered by sin leads to despair.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 How can I call myself a Christian if I don't act enough like one?
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 This is not an acceptance of grace.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:34 This is a desire to just get a little bit of help from Christ
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 and will earn the rest of the way to God.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 Have you embraced a Christian identity
00:05:42 --> 00:05:47 that is just about living a little less sinful?
00:05:47 --> 00:05:52 Or is Christ your new identity?
00:05:53 --> 00:05:58 The gospel doesn't support either of these two extreme perspectives.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 But as we open the word and go through it in detail,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 think about which of those two extremes or misunderstandings
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 you might be allowing to dismantle the confidence
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 that you could have being in Christ
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 like I did when I was first a Christian.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 In recent weeks,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 we've heard about salvation
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 and forgiveness in Christ
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 and justification
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 with righteousness credited to us
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 in Christ.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 But what do we do about the persisting sin
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 in our life
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 while we are in Christ?
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 What is God's alternative
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 to Christian imposter syndrome?
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 Well, Romans 6 is going to show us
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 that the presence of sin
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 does not dismantle our salvation,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 doesn't rip it up and throw it in a bin,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 but that our salvation
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 dismantles the rule
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 of sin over us.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 So here are my two points
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 that are going to help us explain
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 and apply this.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 In Christ, our sin is dead
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 and we have new life.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 Point one.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 Point two.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 Counting sin dead
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 in our new life
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 in Christ.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 So, point one.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 In Christ, our sin is dead
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 and we have new life.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 In our community group in this season,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 we have decided to read
00:07:35 --> 00:07:35 the book of Luke,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 same as Vox
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 is going to be opening up
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 in a few weeks.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:42 Luke is,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 as the Vox video said,
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 it's a historical account
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 written by a non-Jew
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 from eyewitness accounts.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 And in our community group,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 we wanted to see
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 the life of Jesus
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 if it's relevant to us
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 as a group of,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 small group of non-Jews
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 2 years later.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 And in Luke 3,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 the prophet John
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 was baptizing
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 repentant people
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 in the wilderness
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 to ready them
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 to meet their Christ,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 their saving King,
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 the one who could
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 forgive their sins.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 The repentant were sinners
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 and they knew it.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 They were on the extremes
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 of society
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 like the tax collectors
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 and the soldiers
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 ruling over the people.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 But they came asking,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 what shall I do?
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 What should I do
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 about my sin?
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 But their answer came
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 in a person
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 who asked to be baptized.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 Jesus came to be baptized
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 alongside repentant sinners.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 even though he was not
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 a sinner.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 And when Jesus was baptized,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 the proof that he was not
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 a sinner came
00:08:57 --> 00:09:03 from heaven.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 A voice came from heaven
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 and said,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 you are my son
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 whom I love.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 With you,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 I am well pleased.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 Jesus wanted to be baptized
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 to align himself
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 with repentant sinners
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 a hint
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 to how he would
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 forgive their sin
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 by being baptized again
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 but in a different way.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 That's what Romans 6
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 helps us get into.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:33 I don't know
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 if you've been baptized.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 You've stood in front of people
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 and been baptized
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 and declared your faith
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 amongst us.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 A couple of Fridays ago,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 one of our youth
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 was baptized at youth.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 It was an amazing thing
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 to witness
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 and be a part of.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 It's a symbol
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 of going from death
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 to life.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 We go down,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 dunked into the tank
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 of water
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 to show our desire
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 to die
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 to our old way
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 of life
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 but we don't stay
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 under the water.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 We come out
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 of the water
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 set free
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 to live a new life.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 And so,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 let's have a look
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 of Romans 6
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 in verse 3,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 Paul used
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 the baptism practice
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 of Christians
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 to show us
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 something deeper
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 about
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 what being
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 a Christian
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 is.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 He says,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 all of us
00:10:27 --> 00:10:27 who were baptized
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 into Christ Jesus
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 were baptized
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 into
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 his death.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 All Christians
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 were
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 baptized
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 into Christ
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 the moment
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 we decided
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 to follow Jesus.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 Now,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 just as an aside,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 that doesn't mean
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 all Christians
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 have to be
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 baptized
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 or dunked
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 underwater
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 or splashed
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 on the forehead.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 When we come
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 to faith,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 this baptism
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 happened.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 Verse 4,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 we were
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 therefore
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 buried
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 with him
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 through
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 baptism
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 into
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 death
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 in order
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 that
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 just
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 as
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 Christ
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 was
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 raised
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 from the
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 dead
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 through
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 the
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 glory
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 of
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 the
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 Father,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 we too
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 might
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 have
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 life.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 Jesus'
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 death
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 and his
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 resurrection
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 were a
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 kind of
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 baptism.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 Jesus
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 was
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 dunked
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 under
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 and
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 drowned
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 under
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 the ocean
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 of the
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 sin
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 of all
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 mankind.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 And when
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 that sin
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 was justly
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 punished
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 on the
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 cross.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 But on
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 the third
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 day,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 Jesus
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 was
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 raised
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 out of
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 water
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 to
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 everlasting
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 life.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 To
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 pledge
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 allegiance
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 to
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 Christ
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 is to
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 join
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 in his
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 baptism
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 of
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 death
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 and
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 new
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 life.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 In a
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 similar
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 way to
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 Jesus
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 choosing
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 baptism
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 in Luke
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 3,
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 but with
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 the
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 rolls
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 completely
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 backwards.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 Because when
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 we go under
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 the waters
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 of Jesus'
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 death and
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 declaring our
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 faith in
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 him,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 as he
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 took our
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 sin and
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 died for
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 it,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 we are
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 raised to
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 a declaration
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 from heaven,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 God is
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 pleased
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 with us.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 What a
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 grace.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 Look at
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 verse 6.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:24 verse 6.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 We see
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 that just
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 like our
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 symbolic
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 church
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 baptisms,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 this
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 spiritual
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 baptism
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 in Christ
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 is the
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 moment,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 happens at
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 the very
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 second,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 when we
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 turn from
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 our own
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 way of
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 life to
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 follow
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 Christ.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 It says,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 for we
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 know that
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 our old
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 self was
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 crucified
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 with him,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 so that
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 the body
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 ruled by
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 sin might
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 be done
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 away with.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 In a
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 way,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 when you
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 come to
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 Christ,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 you are
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 baptized,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 and that
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 moment is
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 your funeral.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 Baptism
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 was your
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 funeral,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 in a way.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 When you
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 followed
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 Christ,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 you said,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 I die
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 to my
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 old way
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 of living.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 I die
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 and I
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 turn to
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 God and
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 live for
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 him in
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 all I
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 do.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 It's a
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 moment of
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 death where
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 every old
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 allegiance is
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 dead,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 killed,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 so that
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 we may
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 follow
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 Christ.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 Another
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 way of
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 putting it
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 might be
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 that the
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 eye of
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 the
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 Christian
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 died with
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 Christ and
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 was replaced
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 with Christ
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 in me.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 When
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 Christ
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 died,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 my sin
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 was killed.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 Verse 7,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 anyone who
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 has died
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 has been
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 set free
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 from sin.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 That's how
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 sin works.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 When the
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 person who
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 committed the
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 sins dies,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 the sin is
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 paid for and
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 dealt with.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 It's gone.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 So if our
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 sin goes to
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 Christ and
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 his death
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 has already
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 died,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 then our
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 sin is
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 completely
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 gone.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 When Jesus
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 died,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 the sinner's
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 death,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 their sin
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 died with
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 him.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 sin is no
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 longer our
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 master.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 In our
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 new life in
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 Christ,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 verse 6,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 we should no
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 longer be
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 slaves to
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 sin.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 sin.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 When sin
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 once reigned
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 over us,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 our
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 enslavement
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 from sin
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 is over
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 and we
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 are freed
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 spiritually,
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 completely,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 once and
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 for all
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 in Christ.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 Sin is
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 no longer
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 our
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 master,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 for we
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 have a
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 new
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 allegiance.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 We are
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 in sin
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 no more,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 but we
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 are in
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 Christ.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 That's
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 why Paul's
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 shouting at
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 the beginning,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 like in
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 verse 2,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 is so
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 strongly
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 worded,
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 we are
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 those who
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 have died
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 to sin,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 how can
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 we live
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 in it
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 any longer?
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 Well,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 one answer
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 might be
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 that like
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 a reflex,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 sometimes we
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 continue to
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 hear and
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 respond to
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 the voice
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 of our
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 old
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 master.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 Now,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 when I was
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 a child,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 the first
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 movie,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 I think
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 the first
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 movie I
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 ever went
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 to see
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 at the
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 movies,
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 in the
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 small town
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 where I
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 grew up,
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 in the
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 one
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 room
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 theater
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 in my
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 small town,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 was the
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 movie
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 Aladdin.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 I don't
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 know if
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 you've
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 ever seen
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 it,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 it's a
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 very old
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 Disney
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 film,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 it's
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 one of
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 the
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 best
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 films
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 ever,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 in my
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 opinion,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 I
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 love
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 it.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 And in
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 that
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 movie,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 there is
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 a
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 genie.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 He lives
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 in a
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 lamp,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 and Aladdin
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 finds the
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 lamp,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 tries to
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 clean it
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 up,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 and the
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 genie
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 comes out.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 The
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 genie must
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 grant three
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 wishes to
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 anyone who
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 finds his
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 lamp.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 The genie
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 is a
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 prisoner
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 to the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 lamp,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 and a
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 prisoner
00:16:27 --> 00:16:31 to the
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 will of
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 his
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 master.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 Genie
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 says,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 phenomenal
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 cosmic
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 powers,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 itty
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 be
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 living
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 space.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 He wears
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 these gold
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 shackles on
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 his wrists
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 to show us
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 that he's
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 a slave.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 He may
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 only grant
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 wishes and
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 then disappear,
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 unless,
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 unless his
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 master uses
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 one of those
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 three wishes
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 to set him
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 free.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 Of course,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 no one ever
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 had.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 It would have
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 been thousands
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 of years,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 according to
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 genie,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 that he'd
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 been in
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 slavery.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 And why
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 would anyone
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 do that?
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 Why would
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 anyone give
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 up one of
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 three wishes?
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 Have you ever
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 played the game,
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 if you had
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 three wishes,
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 what would
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 you do?
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 And you
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 can't wish
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 for more
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 wishes.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 It's really
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 hard to
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 only think
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 of three
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 things,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 isn't it?
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 I wish I
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 had five,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 I wish I
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 had ten,
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 I wish I
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 had twenty
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 wishes.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 You're not
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 going to
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 burn one
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 on setting
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 the genie
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 free.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 But,
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 spoiler alert,
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 Aladdin
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 does.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 Genie,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 I wish
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 for your
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 freedom.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 Immediately,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 Genie is
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 kind of
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 overpowered
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 and his
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 shackles
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 fall off,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 powerless,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 on the
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 floor.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 And as
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 if to
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 test his
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 new freedom,
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 looking down
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 at his
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 wrists,
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 and then
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 at Aladdin,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 he grabs
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 Aladdin and
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 says,
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 wish for
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 anything,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 say,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 I wish
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 for the
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 Nile,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 wish for
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 the
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 Nile.
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 And
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 Aladdin
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 says,
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 I wish
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 for the
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 Nile?
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 No way!
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 Ha ha ha!
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 And he
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 laughs in
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 his face.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 Because he's
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 free.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 He's
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 truly free.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 But imagine
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 if that movie
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 ended with
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 Genie getting
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 back in the
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 lamp.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 Why would
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 the Genie
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 get back
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 in the
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 lamp?
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 Genie was
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 no longer
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 enslaved
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 by his
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 old
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 master.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 That is
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 how dead
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 our sin
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 is against
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 God.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 The
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 shackles
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 are gone
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 and we
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 are dead
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 to sin.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 Sin is
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 no longer
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 our master
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 once our
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 allegiance
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 is in
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 Christ.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 But so
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 often Christians
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 live like
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 their
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 shackles
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 are still
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 on.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 So what
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 does this
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 new life
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 in Christ
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 look like
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 without
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 shackles
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 on?
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 There is
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 a new
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 life to
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 be lived.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Look at
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 chapter
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 verse 8.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Now if
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 we died
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 with Christ
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 we believe
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 that we
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 will also
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 live
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 with him.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 Paul's
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 logic is
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 this.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 Jesus
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 was bodily
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 raised from
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 the dead
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 and cannot
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 die again.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 Unlike
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 Lazarus who
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 Jesus did
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 raise from
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 the dead
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 but who
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 did die
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 again.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 This proves
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 that the
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 consequences
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 of our
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 sin,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 our death,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 has been
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 died along
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 with all
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 our sin.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 Even the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 sin from
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 after we
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 believed in
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 Christ for
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 all of the
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 rest of
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 our life.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 Christ
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 already
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 died it
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 dead on
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 the cross.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 Verse 10,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 the death
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 he died,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 he died to
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 sin once
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 for all.
00:19:56 --> 00:20:00 But unlike
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 the death
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 of our
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 sin,
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 the life
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 we are
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 to live
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 in Christ
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 is in
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 the present
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 and ongoing.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 Our sin
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 has been
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 dealt
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 with,
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 that our
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 life and
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 being alive
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 in Christ
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 is now
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 and into
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 the future
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 and then
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 beyond the
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 grave.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 For
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 Jesus,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 the life
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 he lives,
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 he lives
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 to God,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 lives,
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 lives,
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 happening
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 now.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 As we
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 are unified
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 with Christ,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 his baptism
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 of death
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 and
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 resurrection,
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 we are
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 made
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 dead
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 to sin
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 and we
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 are
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 raised
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 from the
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 dead,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 verse 4,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 raised from
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 the dead
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 through the
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 glory of
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 the Father,
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 we too
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 may live
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 a new
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 life.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 The
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 resurrected
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 life of a
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 Christian
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 has
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 already
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 started.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 While we
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 will die
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 one day,
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 our
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 relationship
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 with God
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 will not.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 In
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 Christ,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 our
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 life
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 is
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 Christ's.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 To
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 another
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 church,
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 Paul said
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 that we
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 should think
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 of Jesus
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 as
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 Christ,
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 who is
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 your
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 life.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 It's
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 hard for
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 someone
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 claiming to
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 be a
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 Christian
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 to hold
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 on to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 the
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 ownership
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 of the
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 choices
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 of their
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 life,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 choosing to
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 live in
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 line with
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 their
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 feelings,
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 or their
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 desires,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 or their
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 sins,
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 or their
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 plans,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 any longer
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 because
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 their life
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 is no
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 longer
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 theirs
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 to live
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 but
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 Christ's.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 My second
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 point is
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 counting sin
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 dead in
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 our new
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 life with
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 Christ.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 This is
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 what we do
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 about it.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 Spiritually,
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 we are no
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 longer slaves
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 to sin,
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 and yet,
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 the living
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 experience of
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 a Christian,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 every single
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 Christian,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 is a
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 continued
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 struggle
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 with sin.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Sin has
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 no
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 spiritual
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 hold on
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 us.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 So while
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 it remains
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 in our
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 life,
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 how might
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 we take
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 hold of
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 it?
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 In the
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 same way,
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 Paul says,
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 count yourselves
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 dead to
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 sin,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 but alive
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 to God
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 in Christ
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 Jesus.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 That's a
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 verse in
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 your Bible
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 worth
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 highlighting.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 Verse 11.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 Count
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 yourselves as
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 dead to
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 sin,
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 but alive
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 to God
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 in Christ
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 Jesus.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 Paul suggests
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 that we
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 choose to
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 witness the
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 death and
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 resurrection of
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Christ like
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 the ticking
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 seconds hand
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 on a
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 watch or
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 a clock,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 counting
00:22:58 --> 00:23:01 the proof
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 that sin
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 is dead.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 Paul doesn't
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 expect you
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 to live
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 without
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 sinning
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 anymore
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 or command
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 you to
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 be dead
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 to sin.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 Instead,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 he says,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 count your
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 sin dead.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 And there
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 are two
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 ways that
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 Paul
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 encourages us
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 to do
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 this counting.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 He says,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 let sin
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 reign in
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 you no
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 more,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 in any
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 part of
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 you.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 We're to
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 be
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Christians
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 who resist
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 the power
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 of sin
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 over us,
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 yet without
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 despair.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 Do not
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 let sin
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 reign in
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 your mortal
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 body so
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 that you
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 obey its
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 evil desires.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Do not
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 offer any
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 part of
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 yourself to
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 sin as
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 an instrument
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 of wickedness.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 We're to
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 pay internal
00:23:55 --> 00:23:58 and external
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 attention
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 to the
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 avoidance,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 rejection,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 fleeing from,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 repenting of,
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 and talking
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 openly with
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 other Christians
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 about our
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 ongoing,
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 yet dead,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 sin.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 Internally,
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 we must
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 battle our
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 desires towards
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 sin,
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 as if our
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 old master
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 sin is
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 still directing
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 our reflexes,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 our longings.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 We can
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 still hear
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 and feel
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 sin's
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 voice.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 Almost like
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 we are
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 addicts
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 who hate
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 and flee
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 from their
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 old behaviour,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 yet cannot
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 stop leaning
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 back on it,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 yearning
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 for another
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 hit.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 It is
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 good that
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 there is
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 infinite
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 grace for
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 those who
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 sin.
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 But
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 externally,
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 we must
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 not let
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 our bodies
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 be wicked
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 instruments
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 of sin.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 Look at
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 your hands,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 hold them
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 in front of
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 your face.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 Do it.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 There's still
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 some crossed
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 arms, pull
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 your hands
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 out.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 I want
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 you to do
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 this.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 Yeah.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 These hands
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 can hold
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 another's,
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 in comfort.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 But they
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 can also
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 strike
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 in violence.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 Now move
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 your tongue
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 around in
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 your mouth.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 Mm-hmm.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 Your tongue
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 creates your
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 words.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 They can
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 heal.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 They can
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 bring joy.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 They can
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 even carry
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 the words
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 of God.
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 But they
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 can also
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 lie and
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 lead away
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 from Christ.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 Do even
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 more damage.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 It does
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 not follow
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 logic and
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 is not
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 good that
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 our lives
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 in Christ
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 be called
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 new without
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 a constant
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 set-free
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 battle
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 against sin
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 being openly
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 waged alongside
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 others in
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 community,
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 alongside
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 others who
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 are living
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 that new
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 life alongside
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 you.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 It's not
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 in my
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 script.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 But that
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 young kid
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 who thought
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 himself a
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 Christian
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 imposter,
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 when I got
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 to uni,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 I found
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 two others.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 We
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 together
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 felt like
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 imposters and
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 we went to
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 the Bible
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 together and
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 saw that our
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 sin was dead.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 But without
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 their help,
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 I would not
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 have seen
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 it.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 Their actions
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 and their
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 words led
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 me to the
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 grace of God
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 in Christ.
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 So the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 alternative then
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 is to,
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 verse 13,
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 rather offer
00:26:55 --> 00:26:57 yourselves to
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 God and to
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 those who have
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 been brought
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 from death to
00:27:00 --> 00:27:02 life and
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 offer every
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 part of
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 yourself to
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 him as an
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 instrument of
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 righteousness.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 We want
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 Christ to
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 reign in
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 every part of
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 us, inside
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 and out.
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 To offer
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 ourselves to
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 God is not
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 just to give
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 him
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 only our
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 attention
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 sometimes,
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 or when it
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 suits you,
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 or when you
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 feel like it,
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 when you've
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 finally answered
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 all your
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 emails and
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 your task
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 list is
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 completed,
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 when you've
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 answered all
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 your text
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 messages and
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 you've got
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 every response
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 in return.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 No.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 To offer
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 yourselves is
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 worship language.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 It's whole
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 body and
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 life sacrifice.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 It's full
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 allegiance as
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 if Christ
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 was living
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 your life
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 now.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 Galatians,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 another church
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 that Paul
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 wrote to,
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 he wrote
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 this in
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 verse 20
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 chapter 2,
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 I, Paul,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 a Christian,
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 I have
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 been crucified
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 with Christ
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 and I no
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 longer live,
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 but Christ
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 lives in me.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 The life I
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 live in the
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 body, I
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 live by faith
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 in the Son
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 of God.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 So if
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 someone asked
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 you, what
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 is being a
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 Christian about?
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 What does it
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 mean to be a
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 Christian?
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 Would you
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 say, I
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 no longer
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 live, but
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 Christ lives
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 in me?
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 Our
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 offering of
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 ourselves to
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 Christ is to
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 be complete,
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 or we are
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 not living in
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 Christ.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 If we are
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 to be
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 instruments,
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 of
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 righteousness.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 For
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 instruments
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 make noise,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 don't they?
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 Like my
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 guitar this
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 morning.
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 Instruments
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 make noise
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 for all to
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 hear.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 We are to
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 be instruments
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 of righteousness.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 We must
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 count ourselves
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 as dead to
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 sin and
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 alive to
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 God,
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 alive to
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 Him,
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 and alive
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 to
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 righteousness.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 Now that
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 train of
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 thought,
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 Paul continues
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 in the rest
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 of chapter 6,
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 and we don't
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 have time to
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 go through
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 that this
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 morning.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 I
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 encourage you
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 to read
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 it.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 In light
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 of hearing
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 about verses
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 1 to 14.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 But next
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 week we're
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 going to
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 hear about
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 how allegiance
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 to Christ,
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 how being
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 in Christ
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 inspires a
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 grace-born
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 desire for
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 holiness.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 Count
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 yourself as
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 dead to
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 sin and
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 alive to
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 God in
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 Christ Jesus.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 Christians
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 receive God's
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 grace through
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 faith.
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 God's grace
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 through faith
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 in a
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 relationship
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 with Christ.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 And it's a
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 relationship that
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 is dynamic
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 and it's
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 living.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 And it's
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 formed once
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 for all by
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 the saving
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 worth of
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 Jesus on
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 the cross,
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 proven at
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 His
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 resurrection.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 salvation.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 And it
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 includes the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 gift of
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 Christ's
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 righteous
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 life when
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 we are
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 justified in
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 Him.
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 But now we
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 must add
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 to that
00:30:12 --> 00:30:15 what a
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 Christian is
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 and does
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 counts
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 themselves
00:30:19 --> 00:30:21 dead to
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 sin but
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 alive to
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 God in
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 Christ Jesus.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 So if you
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 feel like
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 a Christian
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 living with
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 imposter
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 syndrome
00:30:31 --> 00:30:34 or you've
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 stopped
00:30:34 --> 00:30:37 caring about
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 the sin in
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 your life as
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 you follow
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 Jesus,
00:30:40 --> 00:30:42 let me say
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 that whoever
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 you once
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 were,
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 you no
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 longer are
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 if you
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 follow Jesus.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 Whatever sin
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 characterized
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 your life
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 in your
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 past,
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 no longer
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 characterizes
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 your life
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 and your
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 present.
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 In Christ,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 sin is
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 dead.
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 A Christian
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 who sins
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 experiences
00:31:07 --> 00:31:09 their
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 dependence
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 on Christ
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 in a way
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 that keeps
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 them coming
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 back to
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 Him.
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 Look for
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 your sin.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 Repent
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 of your
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 sin.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 talk to
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 others about
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 your struggles
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28 because in
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 Christ,
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 sin is
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 the imposter,
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 not you.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 The presence
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 of sin
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 does not
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 dismantle
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 your salvation
00:31:38 --> 00:31:40 but Christ's
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 salvation
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 dismantles
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 its effect
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 on you.
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 So count.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 count.
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 In verse
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 11,
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 the word
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 count,
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 in different
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 English
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 translations
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 it's
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 translated
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 as
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 reckon,
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 consider,
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 regard,
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 look at,
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 count.
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 They're all
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 an action
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 that we
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 are to
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 do in
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 rhythm.
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 They're for
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 you to do
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 repeatedly.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 Count,
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 reckon,
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 consider what
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 being a
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 Christian really
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 is.
00:32:13 --> 00:32:15 Start by
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 exploring
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 Scripture
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 in
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 rhythm
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 as
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 often
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 and as
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 regularly
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 as you
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 can
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 because no
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 single
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 Christian
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 ought to
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 stop
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 counting
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 the
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 graces
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 of
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 Christ
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 towards
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 us.
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 The Bible
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 is thick
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 with
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 unending
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 joys for
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 the
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 Christian,
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 fuel for
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 our
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 righteousness
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 and grace
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 for our
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 struggles
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 with sin
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 on every
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 page.
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 You will
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 never get
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 away
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 from your
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 daily
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 need
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 for
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 counting
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 your
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 faith
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 in
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 Christ.
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 Paul wrote
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 Romans 6
00:32:50 --> 00:32:52 because he
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 knew or
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 was witnessing
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 or even
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 experienced
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 himself how
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 prone we
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 are to
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 forget
00:32:58 --> 00:33:00 to count
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 our
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 blessings
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 in
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 Christ.
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 That's
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 why this
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 service is
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 on
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 weekly.
00:33:07 --> 00:33:11 we're
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 counting
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 together
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 in
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 corporate
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 worship
00:33:16 --> 00:33:18 who
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 we've
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 been made
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 to be
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 in
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 Christ.
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 And if
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 you're
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 struggling
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 to open
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 the Bible
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 on your
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 own
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 and do
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 that,
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 take
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 the example
00:33:28 --> 00:33:30 of me
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 as a
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 young kid,
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 open the
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 Bible with
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 other
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 people.
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 Weekly
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 we have
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 community
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 groups on
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 where we
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 open the
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 Bible and
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 we see
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 how it
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 is shone
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 onto our
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 lives so
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 that we
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 can see
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 the sin
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 in our
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 life and
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 wrestle with
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 it, even
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 as we are
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 in Christ
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 and it
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 is dead.
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 Join a
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 community
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 group.
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 If you're
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 here today
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 or you're
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 watching online
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 and you
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 are not
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 in a
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 regular
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 pattern of
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 coming to
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 be a
00:34:00 --> 00:34:02 part of
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 a service,
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 stick it in
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 your diary,
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 make it a
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 priority above
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 everything else
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 in your
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 week,
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 over your
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 work,
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 over your
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 rest,
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 over everything
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 and gather
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 with God's
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 people and
00:34:12 --> 00:34:14 count the
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 grace of
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 God every
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 week together.
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 But if
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 you're not
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 yet a
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 Christian,
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 consider
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 reading the
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 Bible with
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 someone else.
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 There are
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 people in
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 this room
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 who long
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 and are
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 excited to
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 read the
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 Bible with
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 you.
00:34:32 --> 00:34:34 so come
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 speak to
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 me and
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 I will
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 connect you
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 to them
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 or I
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 will read
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 the Bible
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 with you.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 There's a
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 time and a
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 place that
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 suits.
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 Can you put
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 up verse 11
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 on the screen,
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 Dean?
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 What we're
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 going to do
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 is we're
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 going to sing
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 a response
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 to God.
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 It's a
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 prayer,
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 very much
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 in line
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 and in
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 a helpful
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 way,
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 reflecting on
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 Romans chapter
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 6 and
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 everything that
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 I've just
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 shared.
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 Before we
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 do,
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 take one
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 minute to
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 reflect on
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 this verse
00:35:10 --> 00:35:12 and be
00:35:12 --> 00:35:14 thankful for
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 all you have
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 in Christ.
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 For you are
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 dead to sin
00:35:18 --> 00:35:20 and alive to
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 God in
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 Christ Jesus.