Bible Text: Romans 8:1-17 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Last week we studied how the Law is spiritual, and we are flesh and blood; how Christ has freed us from sin and death, and has granted us forgiveness and eternal life.
1Corinthians 15:56, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the
law.” (The Law judges us as lawbreakers, guilty before God, and deserving of His righteous punishment.) 57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:1-4… As a believer and follower of Christ you have God’s promise that no sin you could ever commit will be held against you by God, because of Christ.

God poured out His righteous judgement on sin by making His own Son (Jesus) to be a sin offering, freeing us from sin’s penalty and condemnation, in order to live by God’s Spirit.
Romans 8:5-8… Unbelievers will desire and seek that which feeds and pleases the flesh; whereas believers will desire and seek to do that which honors God, for they are led by God’s Spirit, not by the sinful flesh.

Sinful man is a dead man walking! He can do nothing to please God, for he is an enemy of God; but believers are members of God’s own family, seeking to please our Father in heaven (see Galatians 5:16-24; 6:7-10)!
Romans 8:9-11… But those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord, repenting of their sins and trusting God’s Son for salvation, have God’s Spirit placed in them (John 1:12-13; 3:3, 6; 1Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2Peter 1:3-4).

Without God’s resident Spirit, a person is still dead in sin; but if God’s Spirit is in you, you have been made alive spiritually in Christ for eternity.
Romans 8:12-15… We are no longer to be slaves to our flesh, to the sinful desires of the unregenerate body we live in; and so, we struggle to put to death the control our flesh wants to hold over us.

We are to feed upon God’s Word, expressing our love for the Lord by seeking to obey the commands we are given in His Word, telling us how we should then live as those who are born of God’s Spirit, children of God.

God’s Spirit is always in alignment with God’s Word, leading us to do what is right in God’s eyes (Ephesians 5:1-17). God is our Father, Christ our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our trainer, conforming us to the character and nature of God. We have God’s Spiritual DNA in us, marking us as belonging to God.
Romans 8:16-17… All true believers, having been made children of God, will suffer along with and because of Christ, who was hated by the world, rejected by His own people, the Jews, abandoned by His very closest followers, the Disciples, after He was arrested; and yet He sacrificed Himself to set us free from sin’s penalty and condemnation.

The bad news is, that in this world God’s people will suffer because of the name of Christ.

John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is
why the world hates you.”

2Timothy 3:12, “in fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

The good news is that even though we will suffer in this life, we are heirs with Christ, and we will be given glorified bodies that will enable us to live for eternity in heaven with God.
Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

2Corinthians 4:7-18, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Those who genuinely belong to God through the death and resurrection of God’s Son, have been born again by the Spirit of God, in order that we will live in such a manner as to bring honor and glory to God, while we are still on this side of heaven, because once we go to be with the Lord, we will never again be able to do anything that offends or displeases Him.

Now that is something to be thankful about!

Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 7:14-25 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

See Romans 7:14… The law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave, i.e., a servant, to sin.
John 3:3, Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 6 “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
John 6:63, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”
John 8:34, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

So, there is spirit, and there is flesh and blood, spirit can inhabit flesh and blood, but flesh and blood cannot inhabit spirit.

Before coming to Christ, i.e., repenting of our sins, believing in Him as Savior, and confessing Him as Lord, we were slaves to sin, i.e., to the desires of the flesh. Romans 6:16, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which
leads to righteousness?”

But through Christ we are born of, and able to live by, the Spirit of God, no longer slaves to the flesh (see John 1:12-13; 3:3, 6; 14:16-17, 25-26). Romans 5:12-13, “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned– for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.”

We all are accountable to the law of God, at the very least, to the Ten Commandments. What does it mean, “sin is not taken into account when there is no law”?
Romans 8:2, “through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

We don’t have to be slaves to the sinful nature, but instead through the Spirit of God, we are to live as slaves of Christ, through the Spirit of God.
Galatians 5:16-18, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.”

See Romans 7:15-17… Paul is basically trying to sort this out, saying, I don’t understand why I do what I don’t want to do; in fact, at times I do what I hate! What is this all about?

By doing what I don’t want to do, i.e., by disobeying God’s law, I must agree that the law is good. For I know I shouldn’t break it, but I do anyway. What causes me to do what I know I shouldn’t do? It is sin living in me!

See Romans 7:18-20… There is nothing good in my sinful nature, in fact, there are no redeeming qualities in my natural man, in comparison to the incomprehensible holiness of God.

Ephesians 2:1-3, “you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”

Paul says (v. 18) he has good intentions to do what is right. Isn’t the road to hell paved with good intentions? The truth is, even when we know what should be done, and even if we want to do it, we seem to be incapable at times in following through with it.

Instead of doing what we know is right and good, we actually go against our own consciences at times, doing things we know are wrong; we seem to be incapable, at times, of doing what we know we should do.
Genesis 3:22, And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.”

Romans 2:13-15, “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)”

Do you see the spiritual nature of the law? Remember what we read in John 6:63? Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” When we obey God, we show that we are His slaves, living by His Spirit; when we disobey God we act like those who have been taken captive in their minds and hearts to do what they ought not to do, even the things they know and agree are wrong, for the works of sin are evil.
Verses 21-23… Paul has deeply thought about this, and he has experienced it repeatedly: in his mind and heart he really wants to do that which pleases God, that which aligns with God’s law, but his fleshly self-centeredness drives him to do what feels good (like us), instead of what is good, to do what is easiest, instead of what is right.

Many times we sense a battle going on in their emotions and in our minds, at times we feel as if we have been taken captive, or at the very least rendered inoperative to do what is right and good and true.
Verses 24-25… Sometimes it is like standing by and watching a horrible accident happen, we could have helped to prevent it, but we seem not to be able to do anything about it. The truth is, we are in the accident, and we can’t seem to help ourselves; without help, the outcome is potentially fatal. That is why Christ came, to save us (Luke 19:10), “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

The Book of Romans is so clear: (3:23) we are all sinners, and (6:23) the penalty for sin is death; but (5:8), Jesus took our punishment upon Himself, on the cross, and therefore (8:1) we are saved, acquitted from all our sins, and therefore, without condemnation.

Paul exclaims (v. 25), “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” 2Peter 1:3-4, “His (God’s) divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you (and I) may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Through Christ, we are able to experience God’s forgiveness, and new life from God (2Corinthians 5:17), this happens when we repent and believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Even so, until we are given new glorified bodies (our heaven suits) and brought into the presence of the Lord, our spirit, which has been made alive in Christ, will be in conflict with our flesh, which is inflamed by sin.
2Corinthians 5:1-5, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
1Corinthians 15:53-58, “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the
Lord is not in vain.”

The law is spiritual (2Timothy 3:16-17), but we are unspiritual (dead in our sins), until we repent, believe, and follow Jesus, for He alone grants us new life (spiritual and eternal life) from God, and we are no longer slaves to sin, for we have been made servants of God.

As Paul exclaims (2Corinthians 9:15), “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! [God’s Son, Jesus Christ, Creator, Sustainer, Lord, Savior and Judge over all has freed us from the law of sin and death].”

Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 7:7-13 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Verses 7-8… Clearly, the “law” is not the problem, but instead, it is our response to the law that is the problem. When we do not do what the law requires, we are breaking the law, and therefore we are guilty of sin, failing to do what God requires.

Sin is our disobedience to what we are clearly supposed to do. If the law says don’t lie, or steal, or murder, or covet, and yet we do these things, we have broken the law and are to be punished.

Sin is our natural inclination or propensity to do what we want or choose to do, instead of what we should do.

Paul asks (v. 7), “is the law sin?” Paul answers, using the strongest Greek negative [me genotio “may ge-noi-taw] “certainly not,” which means “may it never be [said],” or “God forbid!”

God’s law is perfect and it therefore reveals our imperfection. Paul says he wouldn’t know what sin was except for the law. If there was no law, there would not be any lawbreakers, and therefore there would be no punishment (Romans 5:12-13).

Burt God has made known His law concerning righteous [right standing before God], and all humans fall short, we all fail to meet God’s standard for righteousness (see Romans 3:20; 4:15).

Think about that, apart from the law we have no way to judge our sinfulness. Any child seems complacent until they are confronted with a directive to do or not do a certain thing, only then do we see the sin nature in its active form.

God’s law reveals His standard or expectation for us, which in turn shows us not only how far we are from reaching it, but that we can never attain it by our own human efforts or abilities.

Needless to say, until a person admits they are a sinner in need of a savior, there is no hope for them. Paul says (v. 8), that the law basically exposes and inflames our sin.

Wet paint, don’t touch! Don’t pick the flowers! Fresh cement, keep off!

Why is it that we often have an impulse to do that which we are told not to do? That would be sin, living in you and me, for sin was living and active long before the law was given (5:13), “for before the law was given, sin was in the world.

So (v. 8), how is sin dead apart from the law? Before the law, sin was dormant, once the Law was given or made known, sin was activated, like a dreadful dragon sleeping at the mouth of a cave you go in and out of daily; it awakens as you are passing!

Verses 9-11… Paul says, he didn’t know he was a law breaker, he felt alive, good, even favored by God, for he was doing what he thought was right in his own eyes, or in accordance with the majority consensus or popular mindset (see Philippians 3:4b-6).

When Paul began to see himself from God’s perspective, as a sinner, a lawbreaker, he realized that sin lived in him and he was not acceptable to God, even with all his religious accomplishments and cultural/ancestral attributes; these amounted to nothing for he was dead in his sins (Philippians 3:7-8).

Paul says, by his own striving to keep God’s commandments he should have received life from God, but instead, these have only brought death to him; for no one can attain righteousness by the law, the law only brings death.

Notice (v. 11) he says, “sin deceived me, it actually killed me.” Paul was deceived into thinking he was good enough through his works and his ancestry, and his religious standing, that he did not need the forgiveness and salvation brought by Jesus Christ.

Religion will damn more people to hell then atheism and agnosticism; for religion makes a person think they are good enough for God by their good deeds and religious practice.

For anyone to think they are acceptable to the Holy and Righteous God of Creation, based upon something they do, are, or have, is the greatest deception of the devil; in fact, it is the greatest evil done to mankind (Genesis 3:1-7; 2:15-17).

Verses 12-13… Paul earlier asked, “Is the Law sin?” Here Paul makes it clear that the Law of God is “holy, righteous, and good.”

Psalm 19:7-11, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping

them there is great reward.”

Yes, the law exposes and then judges sin, bringing death to the sinner; but the law is not evil, only the sin it reveals. Breaking the law makes us a lawbreaker. We are all sinners (Romans 3:10-12, 23) and the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23); it would seem we are not able to keep or obey the law of God.

Spiritual death is the consequence of sin, when we break God’s law or disobey Him, as did Adam and Eve at the very beginning (Genesis 3:8-13). Adam and Eve made excuses for their sin, instead of admitting it and asking for God’s forgiveness.

Sin broke the relationship Adam and Eve had with God; they lived in wonderful garden, in peace, totally provided for by God, but God would no longer come and walk with them; in fact, they would have to leave the garden (Genesis 3:16-24).

You see (v. 13), sin is utterly sinful, it must be exposed so that we see our need for forgiveness. The purpose of the law is to show us our sinfulness, that we might look to the Savior. We must confess our sins and believe in God’s salvation through Christ.

Once we admit that we are sinners and ask for God’s forgiveness, we are saved through Christ, sealed by God’s Spirit living in us, and set apart for the work of God, as His very own children. We are then to continue looking into the Word of God, the mirror of Scripture, in order that when we sin against God we freely confess it to Him.

Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

1John 1:5-9, “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

The Law of God exposes our sin – every one of us, at the very least, has lied and stolen something, not to mention most likely dishonoring our parents, i.e., God says we are liars, thieves, and disrespectful to our parents, we have failed to keep God’s Laws or Commandments. God is so Holy and Righteous, that our failing to keep even one of His commands, makes us guilty, bringing the penalty of death upon us from God.

But you see, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior, has removed the curse and the condemnation of sin, by taking our punishment Himself, on the Cross; and then, He raised us to new life by His own resurrection from the grave. Oh, what a Savior!

If you have never admitted that you are a sinner, why not do that right now? The truth is, we are all sinners; but only those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, will be granted forgiveness for their sins and eternal life.

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Bible Text: Romans 7:1-6 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Last week (Romans 6:15-23), we studied how God freed us from the control, corruption, and condemnation of sin, through Jesus Christ; the purpose of our freedom being, to serve the Lord according to the Word of God.
Psalm 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
Psalm 119:1, “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.”
Look up Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Ecclesiastes 12:13.
Moses told his father-in-law Jethro that his (Moses’) primary purpose and responsibility, as the leader of Israel (Exodus 18:16), was to “make known God’s decrees and laws.”
In time of Christ, many Jews considered obedience to God’s law the means by which salvation was obtained; although this was never God’s intention or instruction.
Before coming to Christ, Paul, the author of the book of Romans, considered himself the poster child for Jewish legalism; if salvation could be obtained by law keeping, he above all men would be saved (see Philippians 3:4-6).
But Paul understood that righteousness could not be obtained by keeping the law (see Romans 3:19-20).
Read Romans 7:1-6… Paul tells us (v. 1), we are set free from the judicial authority of the law, just as a dead person is set free from all the authorities that ruled over him or her while they were alive (gravity, driving, IRS).
In Romans 7:2-3, Paul makes an illuminating analogy between God’s law and marriage law. Simply, he is saying that marriage laws are only valid and binding as long as both the husband and the wife are alive.
For example, if a married person has an affair, they are guilty of fornication; if they marry another person or have an affair with a married person, they are guilty of adultery; but after a married person’s spouse dies, they are free to marry another person.
Paul is using marriage law to teach us about being dead to one relationship and alive to another. But what about divorce and remarriage? See Matthew 19:3-9; 1Corinthians 7:10-16; 1Peter 3:1, 7.
So, a divorce because of unfaithfulness or because an unbeliever wants out of the marriage, is allowed; for by the death of a spouse, or by decree of divorce (which is equal to the death of a marriage, when granted for either of the two stated reasons above), a spouse is no longer bound to the law of marriage.
Paul’s analogy teaches that marriage laws are binding only while both spouses are alive, or there has been a lawful divorce (equaling the legal death of a marriage).
In Romans 7:4-5… The law was never intended to provide salvation (Romans 3:19-20); but instead the law brings judgement (Romans 6:23a); for the law has no power to redeem sinners, it only makes sinners aware of their need for forgiveness and salvation.
The marvelous message of the gospel is that by faith in Jesus Christ, we become dead to sin’s authority over our life, having been freed from it’s curse in order to live a new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-7).
Through the body of Christ we are freed from a judicial relationship to God’s law, just as a widow, or one divorced for the reasons permitted in God’s Word, is freed from her lawful relationship with her former husband.
In the same way, believers are freed from the law and joined to another [Jesus Christ], who is (Colossians 1:18), “the head of the church,” (Colossians 2:9), “the head over every power and authority.”
Salvation causes total transformation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (2Corinthians 5:21), “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” (Romans 7:4), “in order that we might bear fruit to God.”
We are freed from the law’s jurisdiction, so that we might serve God and do the works He prepared in advance for us to do, in Christ (Ephesians 2:10).
Under the law we live and act as carnal persons, displaying our sinful unredeemed humanness. Apart from our knowledge of God’s law, we cannot know what is truly good, for the works of the flesh only bring death.
See Romans 7:6… True believers in Christ are freed from their bondage to God’s Law. Paul says (Romans 7:1) the law has power over a person only as long as they live; for when a person dies, they is free from the control and the condemnation of the law.
In Christ, we are no longer bound by the law; but are free to do what pleases God, for He is our Savior, Lord and Master; we are no longer ruled by our sinful nature.
Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
A Christian who doesn’t do what pleases God does not have the assurance of forgiveness and eternal life. When we are justified by faith in Christ, we are free to serve God, and we will bear fruit that lasts (John 15:1-8).
Those who belong to God through Christ will desire to obey God’s Word, for they have been made new in Christ (2Corinthians 5:17), and they are now able to serve God, because of God’s Spirit in them.
Ephesians 1:13, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”
Galatians 5:16, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Galatians 5:22-23, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there
is no law.”
As believers and followers of Christ, we are dead to the law’s authority in our
life, for we now walk in a new life, with a new purpose, through the indwelling of God’s Spirit, that we might serve God and obey His Word, in order to bring honor, glory, and praise, to Him.
John 14:15, “”If you love me, you will obey what I command.” 21, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” 23-24, “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me.”
Having been made dead to the law, through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are set free to live by God’s Spirit, expressing our love for God the Father, who is in heaven, while exemplifying the character and nature of God the Son, while we serve Him here on earth!
Amen? Amen!

Bible Text: Romans 6:15-23 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

God created us for freedom, to be totally set free in order to enjoy all that God has made and all that God has for us to do.
Isn’t it interesting, that through Christ we are freed from the slavery of sin to become slaves to God. In Romans 6:15-23 Paul teaches us two important truths.

1. Slavery Is Inevitable (6:15-18), we are all going to serve somebody or something.

2. Slavery Is Intentional (6:19-23), we have to decide to either continue serving
sin, or to serve Christ.

Read 6:15-18… Every person on the planet is a slave. Paul says (v. 16), don’t you realize that you are a slave to the one you obey; for your obedience to someone or something shows you are serving that person or thing.

The truth is, we are all slaves. Not one of us is free, because we are in bondage to whatever controls our lives.” Some people are slaves to food, some to drink, smoke to exercise, some to entertainment.

The Christian who cannot put down the computer or turn off the television in order to read the Bible, pray to the Lord, or to spend time with his or her loved ones, is a slave to a screen of sorts.

The person who cannot break an addiction to pornography is a slave to immorality. The person who cannot say anything that builds others up, but only tears them down, is a slave to the wicked tongue that is set on fire by hell itself (James 3:5-8).

The bad news is, we will become slaves to whatever controls or captivates our minds and hearts. But there is good news: As believers and followers of Christ, we get to choose our master!

Unbelievers are slaves to self, and therefore, slaves to Satan himself, from whom they can never break free of their own accord, they remain Satan’s indentured servants.

But a Christian has been liberated from the bonds of sin in order to serve a new Master, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Christ came to set the prisoners free (2Corinthians 4:4), “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners & recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,”(Is 61:1-2 In 6:17-18 Paul reminds his readers, as he reminds us, “But thanks be to God, “you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

The Roman Christians had been “slaves of sin,” but now they have been “freed from sin” and made “slaves of righteousness.” Paul says they have become obedient from the heart [wholeheartedly] through the teaching they had received about Christ (v.17), “the form of teaching to which you were entrusted [or committed].” When you place your faith in Christ, God instantly sets you free from sin’s authority, literally, you are “handed over” by God to a new kingdom, that you
might serve as slaves of righteousness.

Paul says, before Christ you “were slaves of sin,” but now you have “become obedient” to the message of eternal life in Jesus Christ the Lord. What is he saying? That they had listened to, heard, and obeyed the gospel!

Read 6:19-22… No one becomes a slave to Christ by accident or happenstance. To be Christ’s slave requires intentional effort and determined will on your part. Paul is contrasting a Christian’s former way of life, serving self and sin, with their present way of life, serving Christ through sanctification [the ongoing process of being set apart for God’s honor and glory]

Before Christ (v. 19), we “used to offer the parts of [our] body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness,” but now, in Christ, we “offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.”

As slaves to sin, we would tell a lie, and then tell another, and another and another,in order to cover up the previous ones. One sin leads to another, that is the
nature of sin. Envy leads to more envy and more envy. Lust leads to more lust
and more lust. Bitterness leads to more bitterness and even more bitterness. Sin
is“ever-increasing wickedness.”

Do you remember the Lay’s potato chip commercial that challenged, “Bet you can’t eat just one?” That expression is so true for sin. If I say to you, “Bet you can’t just do one sin.” You might say, “Oh yes I can. I can sin whenever I want and I can quit sinning any time I want.” We all know that is just not true, don’t we? The truth is, the freedom to sin will lead to more sin, leading to our slavery to sin. Paul says (v. 20), “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control
of righteousness.” He goes on to make the point (v. 21), “What benefit [fruit] did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!” In other words, how did that work for you when you were a slave to sin?

Five times (vv. 13-19) the verb “present” or “offer” is used: in a positive way, “to offer yourself to God’s service,” in a negative way, to offer yourself to sin.” Paul encourages us to demonstrate the same zeal for righteousness that we once did for sin. Think back to how consumed you once were with sin and how you gave yourself over to all kinds of immorality and lawlessness.

Paul exhorts us to commit to Christ’s service, in the same way we did to sin and self, for we have been freed from sin in order to be slaves to God. The benefit we receive through our sanctification is eternal life.

Christ did not take our punishment, pay for our sins, and redeem us from sin’s curse, so that we could be set free in the world to do whatever we want. He bought us with His own death, that we might then live for Him.

Paul concludes this passage by arguing that following God results in holiness and eternal life (v. 22). Paul contrasts the new life (living under God’s grace) with the old life (living under sin’s curse).

As a result of being “freed from sin and becoming slaves to God,” we reap great “benefit,” in fact, we even benefit our spouse, our children, our church family, and our unbelieving friends. We benefit all who know us, because Christ is in us, and as we honor and obey His Word, we grow to be more like Him.

Paul sums it all up in the final verse of chapter 6, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We mostly use this verse with unbelievers in mind, and it no doubt applies to unbelievers; but in this passage of Scripture Paul seems to be applying it to the believers to whom he has been writing, not to unbelievers.

How does this verse apply to us? How can we apply this text to our lives? The person who does not place his or her faith in Jesus Christ will receive the wages of sin. “The wages” refers to a payment. When a person works, the person receives a wage or payment for their work.

The person who serves sin, remaining a slave to it, will receive the payment of spiritual death, i.e., eternal separation from God, in hell. But, through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, the gift of eternal life is granted to those, like us, who were enslaved to sin. God’s gift is freely given through God’s grace because of what Jesus did on the cross, dying in our place, for our sin.

Prior to faith in Christ, we were slaves to sin, and if we had remained sin’s slave, the outcome would be death. We cannot earn our freedom from sin’s captivity by religious ritual, ancestry, our own goodness, or any manmade thing. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

All those who reject Christ will receive what they have earned, what they deserve, eternal death in hell; whereas, all those who believe in and follow Christ will receive what they couldn’t earn and don’t deserve, eternal life in heaven. Jesus
Christ is the only way, the only truth, and the only life from God (John 14:6).
Jesus Christ freed us from the power, the control, the corruption, and the condemnation of sin, so that we might serve God with all the wisdom, strength, power, provision, and protection that is granted to those who belong to God through Jesus Christ the Lord.

True and genuine freedom, to live and enjoy all that God has made, and all that God has for you to do on this earth, is only made available to those who chose to believe in and confess Christ as Savior and Lord, seeking to serve Him with their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through [in] Him [Jesus Christ] who gives me strength.” 19-20, “…God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 6:1-14 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Last week, we studied how, as descendants of Adam, sin was passed to us through him; and so, we continually struggle with envy, bitterness, anger, lying, cheating, impatience, lust, etc., for these are an expression of the curse we inherited through Adam.

The death and resurrection of God’s Son, forever removed the curse of sin for anyone who would but repent and believe in Christ.

Read Romans 6:1-2… Are you seeking to serve God by obeying and honoring His Word? Or do you continue to do what is easiest, or what “you believe” is best, instead of what is clearly taught in God’s Word?

What should our attitude be toward sin in our lives? Paul says, “By no means, may it never be, certainly not!”

Paul declared in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Now that is the right attitude. We have been given new and eternal life from God, through Jesus Christ, for the purpose of honoring and worshipping Him, by finding out what God wants us to do and and then seeking to do it with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, i.e., to serve God completely, holding nothing back, appropriating the resources He has given us.

God has given us everything we need to serve Him here on earth through our knowledge of Christ, as well as to escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires, while we wait to be with Him in heaven forever

2Peter 1:3-4, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Philippians 4:12b-13, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” 19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Paul states it so well, but let’s be real, apart for Jesus Christ, there is no one who has lived, is living now, or will live in the future, who is going to serve God perfectly and completely. Why is that, because, although we are forgiven, we are still sinners, and we invariably go back to our old ways or seek satisfaction in new ways, often being influenced by the world or the people we hang around with.

However, I believe that most of those who genuinely belong to Christ, want to do what pleases God. So, how can we really .know what pleases God, how can we know God’s expressed will for us? I’m so glad you asked.

1. God wants us to be saved, i.e., He wants us to repent of sin, and to trust and believe in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life.

1Timothy 2:3-4, “God our Savior [who] wants [wills] all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”

John 14:6, Jesus [said], “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (no one receives salvation or goes to heaven) except through Me.”

The only way to be saved from the penalty of sin is to confess Jesus Christ as Lord, believing in Him as Savior.

2. God wants us to Be Spirit-Filled, i.e., He wants us to be continually feeding upon His Word, filling our hearts and minds with God’s instruction.

Ephesians 5:15-18, “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit [being filled, continually filled].”

Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
The only way to live as one filled with God’s Spirit, is to consistently feed upon

and obey God’s Word.

3. God wants us to Be Sanctified, i.e., He wants us to be set apart as His representatives in this world, examples of the life-changing transformation made effectual through Christ’s death and resurrection.

Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

1Thessalonians 4:3, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

We are sanctified [set apart] not by where we are, or what we are doing, but by how we express the presence, purpose, pleasure and power of God in our life.

4. God wants us to Be Doers of Good, i.e., He wants us to follow the example of Christ, doing what He did, bringing honor and glory and praise to God.

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Romans 12:9-10, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Good must be defined by the teaching and the authority of God’s Word, if anything pleases God it is good, if it doesn’t please God it is evil.

5. God wants us to be willing to Suffer for His Sake, i.e., God tells us that the world hated Jesus and therefore, it will hate those who believe in and follow Him.

2Timothy 3:12, “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1Peter 4:16 “if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

Christian life is not for wimps nor spectators; only those born of God’s Spirit will be able to endure a world that rejects our Lord and persecutes His followers.

Read Romans 6:3-11… Christ died for our sins, and when He died, He not only put to death the power and influence of the old life we received from Adam, but He demonstrated the new life we receive from God.

The baptism mentioned here (vv. 3-4) is not water baptism, it is the baptism of the Spirit, by which we are made part of the body of Christ; at the moment we repented and believed we were filled with the Holy Spirit and at the same time we were placed in the Body of Christ, the Church, the Family of God

1Corinthians 12:12-13, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

This is talking about the baptism of [by or in] the Holy Spirit, not water baptism; although, the Scriptures do command water baptism for new converts to Christ, symbolizing what has already taken place in our hearts and minds through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

1Peter 3:18-22, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand– with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Death came to us through Adam, life comes to us through Jesus Christ, enabling us to be born from above by God’s Spirit, Who indwells every true child of God.

John 1:12-13, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God– children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

John 3:3, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 6-7, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”

Read Romans 6:12-14… When we yield to God’s Spirit and the Word of God, life is rich and rewarding, happy and healthy, because we are no longer slaves to sin, but instead, we are servants of Christ; and He is perfectly adequate and perfectly competent, to meet every need in every situation of our lives, no matter what or when.

Our obedience to the authority of God’s Word, will equip us and stimulate growth in our personal relationship with God and the Family of God, through Christ.

In Ephesians 4:17-24, it should seem that some of the Christians in Ephesus had fallen back into unbelieving lifestyles.

Ephesians 4:17-24, “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Paul admonishes them, and us, that as servants of God we must have a desire and propensity to know and to obey God’s Word, to live in a manner that pleases God, for we have changed minds and hearts concerning sin, self, and God; unless of course, we don’t really belong to Christ, but remain dead in our sins, separated from life with God.

Many people are fooled into thinking they are saved because they do good deeds, attend church, or believe there is a God. But salvation is granted only to those who believe in Christ, by faith, repenting of their sins.

Only Christians can apply the wisdom of God’s Word to their life, but it takes diligent effort and obedience to do so. It would seem that some of the Christians in Ephesus were ignorant of what God’s Word says.

Paul warns us (vv. 17-19) not to live in futility, ignorant of God’s truth, as the morally depraved. Every Christian was an unbeliever at one time, living like those who do not know God.

Paul exhorts us (vv. 20-24), to put off the old self, resembling Adam, and put on the new self resembling Christ, living to please God; there must be a displayed difference in the lives of those who are born of God.

Imagine that you worked in a sewer all day: you get home, remove your soiled clothing, take a long hot cleansing shower, and put on clean clothes! You wouldn’t dare put back on those filthy sewer soaked garments!

Paul says, put off [lay aside] the sinful attitudes and actions of your old life, for they are like sewage soaked clothing. Christians are to model Christ (2Corinthians 5:17), and therefore, we are to “dress differently,” i.e., our walk and talk must reflect Christ’s Lordship.

When you repent and confess Christ, He cleanses you from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). You go from smelling like a sewer to the sweet fragrance of Christ.

Everyone is born dead in sin and separated from life with God; but through Christ, we are granted the righteousness of God, and immediately placed into the family of God, with a desire and propensity to live in a way that pleases, honors and glorifies our Lord, Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

Sin is no longer to be your master, for you belong to God, and will desire to serve Him, sharing God’s love, while living out and proclaiming the message of Christ to all anyone who will listen.

Romans 10:11, “As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

Bible Text: Romans 5:12-21 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Our text today tells us sin entered our world through Adam, bringing a curse upon all of creation. Sin didn’t originate with Adam, but with Satan, who was: John 8:44, “a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
1John 3:8, “the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

Sin’s curse, passed on through Adam, brought death to the human race; but God’s provision would remedy sin’s curse and bring life through Jesus Christ, where death had previously reigned through Adam.

There is a stark contrast between what Adam did to allow sin and death into our world, and what Christ has done to bring redemption and eternal life.
Verses 12-14… Sin entered our world, through the disobedience of the very first man, Adam (see Genesis 3:1-15, 21-24).

Instead of obeying God, Adam joined his wife Eve (who was clearly deceived), and instead of protecting her from the wiles of the devil, and doing the right thing, Adam willfully disobeyed what God had commanded him, bringing death into the Garden of Eden, and the curse of sin, which would destroy the unity God intended between humanity and Himself, from the very beginning.

Death was the natural result of sin (see Genesis 2:15-17), for God had clearly warned Adam not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God warned Adam that disobedience to that command would bring death to him. And although, when Adam sinned, he did not immediately die physically, he suffered spiritual death, [becoming an enemy of God], and so he was sent out of the Garden to toil the earth until he would eventually die physically.

This has been the condition of humanity since the first man Adam was created by God (see Ephesians 2:1-3). Death came through Adam’s sin to all of us, for through Adam, to all humans, sin was passed on at birth.

Back to Romans 5 (v. 13), “if there is no law, we can’t be charged with breaking the law.” Punishment for sin is only imputed [taken into account or credited toward] when there is law; and yet (v. 14) death (the result of disobeying God’s commands) ruled over all humanity, long before God gave His law to Moses.

Although the rest of humanity may not have sinned as overtly as Adam, who disobeyed a direct command from God Himself, all humans are nevertheless sinners, who must be held accountable for their sins, and death is the end result of, or the payment for. sin.

But still, it begs the question, if there was no law until Moses, if there were no direct commands from God, how can a person be guilty of breaking the law or disobeying God when there aren’t any direct commands to break.

Paul explains this in Romans 2:12-15, for everyone [Jew and Gentile] has God’s law written in their hearts, so that their consciences either accuse or excuse

them, depending on whether they are obedient or disobedient to God’s revealed truth concerning right and wrong.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3), bringing sin’s curse upon all of humanity and the world we live in, God shed the blood of an animal for Adam’s sin (Genesis 3:21), and covered both Adam and Eve’s nakedness with the animal’s skin; after which (Genesis 3:22), “the LORD God said, ‘the man has now become like one of Us, knowing good and evil.’ ”

Verses 15-17… The trespass [transgression] refers to Adam’s sin. Adam, like all of God’s creatures, reproduced in his own likeness, though he was made in God’s image.
Genesis 4:1-2, “Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, ‘With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.’ Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Genesis 5:3, “When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.”

Adam passed on sin’s curse to all humanity (v. 15a), in fact, we received death as payment for sin (Romans 6:23). But (v. 15b) says the gift of God (eternal life) came by way of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8).

The sin of one man, Adam (v. 16), resulted in the condemnation of all humanity, whereas, God’s gift, through the one man, Jesus, brought justification to those who have committed numerous sins. Our own sinful condition, passed down from Adam, deserves God’s righteous judgement, and yet, even in our sin, God justifies us freely through Christ (Romans 5:8; 8:1).

Paul says (v. 17), that through the righteousness that comes by Jesus Christ, we are able to reign in this life. What does that mean, to reign in this life?

Well, we are sons and daughters of the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, and therefore, we are royalty.
1Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

As children of God, we ought to be accessing all the privileges and resources provided to us by God (see Philippians 4:13, 19; 2Peter 1:3-4).
Verses 18-19… Jesus said (John 10:10b), speaking of those who believe in and receive Him, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” We, as God’s people, should be living at a level that is not experienced by the “common, or natural” person [i.e., unbelievers].

God has taken our punishment, justified us, and redeemed us; He has removed our condemnation, the condemnation that resulted from Adam’s disobedience, which consequently, made all of us sinners. God, in His mercy and grace, made us righteous through Christ’s obedience, even to the point of death on the cross. (see Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 9:27-28; 10:5-10).

Verses 20-21… This is so clear: the law was given so that the awareness of sin would increase, and in fact, sin has increased: look at the world we live in – pornography, profanity, immorality, adultery, homosexuality, the murder of babies, the abuse of children, as well as the elderly, the lack of care for the poor and downtrodden, and for those who are mentally and physically disabled.

Even so, God’s grace is much more than sufficient to provide the remedy for sin; sin brought death, God provided grace and eternal life through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:4-7, Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His

kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
1Corinthians 15:45-58, “‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam [Jesus Christ] a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the , second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Death and the condemnation brought on by sin’s penalty, came through Adam to all humanity; but Eternal Life and the justification of God’s righteousness which redeems us, was provided so that everyone who repents of sin, confesses Christ as Lord, believes in Him as Savior, and follows Him by obeying the Word of God, has been set free form sin’s penalty and condemnation, forever.

Truly, we are a blessed people, chosen by God to experience God’s glory and goodness, which has been given to us through Christ the Lord, that we might serve Him on earth while waiting to join Him in heaven, forever!

Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 5:1-11 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Read verses 1-5… As we have previously studied, we are justified, made acceptable to God, having been made righteous, through our belief and confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The peace we receive is not a temporary feeling, it is a permanent gift from God. All humans are at enmity with God, meaning we are at war with God spiritually, before coming to Christ.

Once we repent and confess Christ, our war with God is over, for all of eternity we are at peace with God, because we have the peace of God, made effectual through the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

I believe most unbelievers would say that they do not consider themselves to be God’s enemy, for they are not purposely opposing God; perhaps they feel that they are neutral towards God, and may not have given much thought to His existence or will. They may not have any solid belief one way or the other.

But then, our feelings are not avery good standard on which to base our convictions, for they fluctuate like the weather, depending on the situation we are in, or perhaps, who we are with.

God is very clear about human responsibility concerning accepting the truth and revelation of God (Romans 1:18-20), for God has made Himself known; although sinful mankind continues to reject God’s existence and His revealed expectations for all of mankind, in reference to how we are to live and what we must do to become right with the God.

Even Israel, God’s chosen race, through whom the Savior came, is condemned for not heeding and obeying God’s revealed will. Before entering the “promised” land [given to them by God as an inheritance], God told them (Deuteronomy 4:25-26), “After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time–if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and provoking him to anger, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed.”

Humans wrongly think that because God is a loving and merciful God, He will not bring judgement upon them; but we purposely forget that He is a just and holy God also, and He must punish sin and all unrighteousness (Ephesians 5:5-6), “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person–such a man is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

On the cross, Jesus took the full weight of God’s wrath upon Himself, so that we do not have to suffer it (2Corinthians 5:21), “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God’s wrath will come upon all His enemies [all who reject God’s Son]; but all those who believe in God’s Son [Lord & Savior] will not receive God’s wrath, but instead, they receive peace with God through Christ.
Colossians 1:19-22, “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated

1

from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation– if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”

God’s gift of peace is immediate, eternal, and irrevocable, through Christ all our sins (making us unacceptable to God) are forgiven: past, present, future.
Hebrews 8:12, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 10:15-18, “The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’ Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’ And where these have been forgiven,there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.”

Jesus Christ paid for all sins, for all time.
Hebrews 9:27-28, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”

This is great news: We can never lose salvation, we can never be separated from the love of God in Christ.
Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Ephesians 1:13-14, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.”

Because we are secure in Christ, we are freed up to serve the Lord, for it is not our obedience to God’s Word that saves us; in fact, we seek to obey God’s Word because we are saved. We are God’s possession, heirs with Christ, and children of God, therefore (Hebrews 4:16), “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

As we serve God and seek to honor Him, we can count on the fact that the world and those who belong to it, will come against us (2Timothy 3:12), “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

But more importantly, we receive God’s blessings.
Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Read verses 6-8… We were helpless, hopeless, lost, ungodly; and yet, Christ died for us. As condemned sinners, we have nothing to offer God, and everything to gain, for God will judge all sin and unrighteousness; and yet He offers full payment for the punishment we ourselves should receive from God.

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It has been said, “as long as one has life’s breath in them, there is opportunity for salvation.” Only at death, is God’s offer of love revoked from unbelievers; for those who die apart from God’s forgiveness, those who reject Christ, will receive God’s wrath for all eternity.
Read verses 9-11… Paul makes it very clear that all believers and followers of Christ are saved from God’s wrath through the sacrifice of God’s own Son, the Lamb of God, who died to save us, and then rose from the grave to keep us, forever.

We are granted peace with God, through Christ (Isaiah 9:6) the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor [Holy Spirit], Almighty God [Triune God], Everlasting Father [God the Father], Prince of Peace [God the Son].
Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” 27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Ephesians 4:1-6, “…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called– one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Philippians 4:4-6, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Do you understand, you have peace with God, for you have the peace of God, through Christ the Lord.

If you believe in and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have the very peace of God; if you reject Jesus Christ, you cannot have nor can you know God’s peace, for you remain an enemy of God.
Hebrews 13:20-21, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 4:13-25 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Verse 13… The promise of God was to provide Abraham with descendants (too numerous to count, like the stars in the heavens, Genesis 15:5); these descendants would be considered righteous by God, not by keeping the law, offering sacrifices, or performing rituals, but by faith.

Verses 14-15… If, by keeping rules and rituals, we could somehow earn what

God has promised to give us (eternal life with Him in heaven), then faith alone would have no value and God’s promise would have conditions that could void the promise of God.

The law of God (God’s standard for righteousness) only brings God’s wrath. If there was no law (divine rules and requirements to be met) then there would be no penalty (no expected punishment, no just payment) on behalf of the Law Giver, given to law breakers.

Romans 1:18-20… God’s existence has been clearly demonstrated, so that no one is excused from personally accepting or rejecting God’s revelation.

Romans 2:12-15… When we know what is right and we don’t do it; and when we know what is wrong and we do do it, we have sinned against (broken) God’s law.

Romans 3:10-12… We are all sinners, there is no one who is good on his or her own merit, not one!

Romans 3:23… We are all sinners, and we all have broken God’s Law (the Ten Commandments – we each at the very least, are liars, thieves, and idolaters).

Romans 6:23… The penalty for sin is death, but God, who is rich in grace and mercy, exchanges our death penalty for eternal life, in Christ.

Romans 8:1-5… By believing in and confessing Christ, we are eternally set free from sin’s penalty.

In Christ, we are forgiven our sins and made alive by God’s Spirit. We are no longer under law, for the law only exposes our sinful nature and condemns us, where as, the Spirit sets us free and works to conform us to Christ, in order that we do that which pleases and honors God (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

Verses 16-17… Our relationship with God is by faith, not by works. Abraham was saved by faith (by believing God), it was counted to him as righteousness; it was not the rite of circumcision that made Abraham righteous.

We are considered righteous in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:29), as descendants of Abraham by faith. God told Abraham (Genesis 15:5) his offspring would be numerous as the stars in the heavens (his spiritual descendants).

Notice the last part of verse 17, God “gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” Abraham was 100, Sarah was 90, when Isaac was born to them. Sarah had been barren, yet God brought life to her womb: Isaac would father Jacob, who would have twelve sons, of which Judah would be the bloodline through which the Savior would be born.

Verses 18-22… Abraham was told he would be father of a multitude, even though he and Sarah were both old at that time, but God fulfilled His promise (Genesis 12-17).

Abram (exalted father) – left UR at age 75, obeying God, without knowing where he was going.

Abram – at age 85, was told he would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens.

Abram – at age 86, had a son (Ishmael) through his wife’s handmaiden, Hagar.

Abram – at age 99, has his name changed by God to Abraham (father, of a multitude or of many nations).

Abraham – at age 100, has a son (Isaac) through Sarah, just like God promised.

This would seem a rather late and meager start, to one who would have

descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens. But Abraham had faith that both believed and obeyed God, that is why God credited him with righteousness.

Verses 23-25… Notice, saving faith genuinely believes God concerning the

coming of God’s own Son who would die for our sins and then rise from the grave, proving He had the authority and power of God.

Turn back to Romans 1:1-4. Clearly, the gospel was promised through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures to all those who would believe.

The very first account of the Gospel of Christ is in the OT (Isaiah 53:1-12); it tells us God’s Son will come as a guilt offering sacrifice for sins; taking our punishment to the point of death, yet the grave could not hold Him.

See Romans 1:1-2… 1Corinthians 15:1-4 says Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures (Acts 2:23-24; Romans 10:9-10).

See Romans 1:3… Jesus was God’s Son (Divine Spirit), He was also a Son of Man (flesh & blood), just as God had predestined, through the line of David (Isaiah 7:14).

God sovereignly determined and declared (Genesis 3:15) that through the seed of a woman (Mary), the victorious Savior & Lord would come to defeat sin’s curse. In Luke 3 and Matthew 1, we are given the lineage of Christ through Adam’s son Seth to Noah’s son Shem, Abraham’s son Isaac, Isaac’s son Jacob, Jacob’s son Judah, on and on to David, and all the way to the fathers of both Mary and Joseph.

See Romans 1:4… Jesus is God the Son, demonstrated sovereignly by His resurrection from the dead. We are redeemed from both sin and death; by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are made righteous.

See Romans 3:22-24… Righteousness does not come through our ancestry, our religious practice, or our good works; our righteous standing before God is a gift from God, for if we could earn our own forgiveness for sin, our own entrance into heaven and eternal life, it would then not be a gift, it would be a payment for something we have done, something we have acquired, or for something we have become (see Ezekiel 18; Acts 2:38, 41).

Romans 10:17, “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (John 1:1-4; Hebrews 1:1-3a).

The righteousness from God is a gift, to all who trust in Jesus, believing in Him as Savior and serving Him as Lord. By faith, God’s righteousness is imputed [placed upon, credited] to us, totally removing sin’s penalty, making full payment for our sin, eternally changing us.

Jesus came to remove sin’s condemnation, at the same time, granting us His own righteousness. He did this because He loves us so much, that He took our punishment upon Himself. While on the cross, God’s wrath was poured out upon Him.

2Corinthians 5:21, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Righteousness is a right standing before God, having been made acceptable, in fact, having become God’s very own children, now and forever, by faith in Jesus Christ.

No wonder Paul declared (2Corinthians 9:15), “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

Bible Text: Romans 4:1-12 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Romans 1:16-17, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”
Paul is talking about that gift of acceptance to, being made righteous by, and eternal relationship with God — it is a gift of the grace of God.
One of the earliest and clearest Biblical examples of this is Abraham. Paul uses Abraham as an illustration of a man who was made righteous before God.
Abraham is known, revered, and honored by three faiths: Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Paul is especially using Abraham here in Romans, as an example for the Jewish readers of this letter.
In today’s lesson we will consider How Abraham was made righteous. When Abraham was made righteous.
Look at verses 1-3… The very first account of Abraham is found in Genesis 11:26-12:9. He was born to Terah, a descendant of Shem (one of Noah’s three sons). Abraham was living in the city of Ur of the Chaldea in the Mesopotamian Valley, and although he was a religious man, he was most likely an idolator like his father Terah (Joshua 24:2), who like most of the residents of Ur worshipped the moon goddess, out of an ignorance of the One True God.
At that time, God appeared to and called Abraham, who believed and obeyed God, trusting God to take care of his family, leading him to a land he had never seen.
Paul states (v. 2) of our text, “If in fact Abraham was justified [made righteous] by works, he had something to boast about,” i.e., if works could make Abraham righteous, he had something to brag about.
That is the way it is in the world is today, isn’t it? We gain reputation and popularity among one another by what you do, what we have. We impress one another by our deeds, but God is not impressed. God knows our hearts, He knows why we do what we do; He sees the greed, self-centeredness, and manipulation that goes on in our minds and hearts, rendering our actions to be. invalid, worthless in the eyes of God.
Any sense of righteousness from our own self-centered performance is short lived. The righteousness from God lasts for eternity, and that is what Abraham received. Paul says (v. 3), it was by Abraham’s belief that God’s righteousness was credited to him (see Genesis 15:5-6).
God no doubt explained to Abraham what He meant by offspring [seed, used first in Genesis 3:15, of Christ].

Galatians 3:6-9, “Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” 16, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”
God must have explained to Abraham that there was One coming who would fulfill God’s promises concerning Abraham’s spiritual, as well as his physical, descendants. It is through Jesus that this would be fulfilled.
James 2:23 quotes Genesis 15, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” then James adds, “and he was called God’s friend” — not because he behaved well, or was self-righteous, but because he believed God’s promise of the One who was to come through Abraham’s line – Jesus of Nazareth.
Look at Verses 4-5… Yes, we can take credit for what we do, but not for what God does in us; and only God can make us righteous. Verse 5 is a declaration of the gospel, in that we can only be made right with God by God, and we can do nothing good of ourselves (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 3:10-12; 8:1).
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Anyone who tries to earn acceptance, to earn God’s love, to become right with God by what they do, or who they think they are, will fail. God’s GRACE is the unmerited favor and mercy of God.
Many Christians, having once believed in Christ for salvation, they try to gain God’s approval and love by works or rituals; but you can never earn God’s love that way. God’s love is a gift and it is yours by faith in Christ, fresh every morning, for all of eternity.
Look at verses 6-8… Paul now reminds us of David, another great example of a man who gained God’s favor by faith, not by performance or lack of performance.
Verses 7-8 are quoted from David’s 32nd Psalm. David received God’s gift of mercy when he was being tortured by a guilty conscience, for he had murdered Uriah the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, to cover up his own adulterous affair, even as the king of Israel.
Abraham was not considered righteous by being good and moral; but only when he believed God, concerning Jesus, the seed Who would bring righteousness to all those who believe in Him. Abraham was called the friend of God, not because of his deeds, but because he believed in what God said.
David failed to be righteous as the king of Israel, but in the midst of his depravity he turned to and trust in God concerning the Savior yet to come. David learned that God did not want the sacrifice of animals, but a willful spirit that trusted in what God said about the Sovereign Sacrifice of His own Son. And so, David is called a man with a heart after God.
As a Christian, a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you are a friend of God. This is made effectual not by your good works, good looks, or good heritage, but by your trust in the life, death and resurrection of God’s Son.
Look at verses 9-11a… Abraham was circumcised fourteen years after he was pronounced righteous by faith, fourteen years after he was called the friend of God.
The Jews, of Paul’s day claimed that it was the ritual of circumcision that made them acceptable to God; clearly, righteousness was credited to Abraham long before he was circumcised, i.e., circumcision has no value for righteousness or salvation.
Consider this, the modern equivalent of Jewish circumcision is Christian baptism; people are justified before God [made righteous in God’s sight] – not by being circumcised or baptized, but by genuine saving faith in Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected, coming again.
Circumcision was useless in saving anyone, the real purpose of circumcision was to serve as a sign and a seal.
As a sign, it served to identify God’s people, set apart from all others, for no other people on the earth at that time circumcised their male offspring.
As a seal, every time circumcision was performed, it served to remind the people of God’s righteousness that was credited to Abraham, and to all believers, through faith, apart from circumcision (see Romans 2:28-29).
Look at verses 11b-12… The righteousness from God was to make Abraham the father of many spiritual children who would come through God’s seed, God’s Son [the Word of God: Luke 8:11; John 1:1-3, 14, 18].
Most of us here are not descendants of Abraham by blood. However, we become sons and daughters of Abraham by faith, when we receive God’s gift – Jesus Christ, of Whom Paul wrote (2Corinthians 9:15), “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
When we believe God, like Abraham, trust in God’s seed, we show that we are Abraham’s descendants.
Galatians 3:26-29, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
All those who walk in the footsteps of faith associated with Abraham, whether circumcised or not, belong to God and are considered righteous.
No Jew is saved [made righteous] by being circumcised and obeying the law, anymore than any Gentile is saved [made righteous] by being baptized and going to church.
Abraham was made righteous when he believed and obeyed God, and by doing so, Abraham expressed faith in God to protect and provide for him, not just here on earth, but forever in heaven (Hebrews 11:10), “Abraham was looking forward to the City Whose architect and builder is God.”
The Bible says everyone who calls o the name of the Lord will be saved; we are saved by believing God and trusting in His Son, nothing else can make us righteous.
Therefore, we don’t need to base our worth on what others think about us or what we are able to accomplish. God loves us and makes us eternally righteous, through His own Son. We don’t have to prove anything to anyone; but need only to Love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others on God’s behalf, for as long as we live on this planet.
We can cease trying to please others or trying to please ourselves; instead, may we ought to commit to honor and obey our Father in heaven, living as sons and daughters of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ, Who is both Lord & Savior: crucified, resurrected, coming again.
Pastor Mike