WWW Be Right (31)

In one paragraph

This message walked through Romans 6, focusing on what it means that Christians are no longer slaves to sin. The preacher opened by grounding the chapter in the larger arc of Romans, making sure the distinction between justification and sanctification was clear before pressing into the text. The heart of the teaching was that the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power...

Read together

1. James 2:14 faith without works cannot save
2. 1 Corinthians 15:45 describing Adam and Christ as the first and last Adam
3. Matthew 1:20 angel tells Joseph the child conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit
4. Romans 5:18 one transgression brought condemnation; one act of righteousness brought justification
5. James 2:10 breaking one point of the law makes a person guilty of all of it
6. Hebrews 4:15 Christ was tempted in all things as we are yet without sin
7. Romans 6:1 rhetorical question whether we should continue in sin that grace may increase
8. Romans 6:3-7 baptized into Christ's death, buried with him, raised to newness of life, old self crucified
9. John 11 story of Lazarus raised from the dead as a picture of new life in Christ
10. Ephesians 1:19-20 the surpassing greatness of God's power toward believers, the same power that raised Christ
11. Ephesians 2:1 we were dead in our transgressions
12. Ephesians 2:4-10 God made us alive with Christ by grace, raised us up, created for good works
13. Colossians 3:1-3 set your hearts on things above, life hidden with Christ in God
14. Romans 6:8-14 dead to sin and alive to God, do not let sin reign, present members as instruments of righteousness
15. Philippians 3:12 Paul says he is not already perfect but presses on
16. Romans 6:15-23 slaves to the one you obey, freed from sin, enslaved to righteousness, wages of sin is death
17. Matthew 6:24 no one can serve two masters
18. Romans 8:36 for his sake we are being put to death all day long
19. Romans 7 the good I wish I do not do, but I practice the very evil I do not wish
20. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul at end of his life says he fought the good fight and a crown of righteousness awaits

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray described Romans as Paul's least personal letter because he had never met the Romans. How does knowing that context change the way you read the doctrinal statements in this letter?
2. The sermon described justification as freedom from the penalty of sin and sanctification as freedom from the power of sin. In your own experience, what does it look like day to day to actually live as someone who is free from sin's power rather than just free from its penalty?
3. The Lazarus illustration pictured believers walking out of the grave still wearing their grave clothes, and then having those clothes removed. What 'grave clothes' have been the hardest for you to let go of since becoming a Christian?
4. The sermon quoted Wiersbe's description of 'betweeners', Christians who believe in the cross but are not yet living in the power of the resurrection. Where do you see yourself in that picture, and what would it mean for you personally to stop living between Good Friday and Easter?
5. The sermon used the image of a wheel that can only turn one direction at a time, and the idea that exercise breeds more exercise, to describe how yielding to God builds momentum. Where in your life right now is God calling you to yield, and what is making that difficult?