Purpose: To explain the transformation that life in Christ brings.
Aim: I want the listener to surrender to Christ’s forgiveness.
INTRODUCTION: "The day after Easter, the newspaper headline read: ’Entire World Celebrates the Risen Christ.’ On the same page under smaller headings ran stories about war and death, racial clashes, and an ultimatum issued to the United States by a hostile nation. As I read the discouraging news, I thought, how contradictory. The headline declares that the entire world celebrates the risen Christ, but the balance of the page tells of people disregarding the blessing and grace Christ provided by His resurrection. Apparently the millions of people around the world who flock to churches on Easter don’t all live as if they believe in the historical resurrection nor recognize its true spiritual significance." [1]
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is much more than just an important event in human history. It is the climax of eternity. Never before had there been a separation between God the Father and God the Son! When our sin was placed on Jesus Christ, God’s holiness demanded that the Father look away. As the Scripture explains: 2 Corinthians 5:21 He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf.... (NAU) 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (NAU)
This is why, after three hours of complete agonizing darkness, Jesus cried Mark 15:34 ... "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (NAU)
Then the God of life died. Jesus surrendered His life so we could have life. After three days Jesus raised Himself from the dead never to die again.
Those are two-thousand year old facts of history that we celebrate on Easter Sunday. But what do they mean to us today? Paul answers that question in today’s text. But, before Paul looks at how the death and resurrection of Christ can forever change our lives, he makes sure we understand what it does NOT mean.
➽Vs.1-2 I. False Christianity "continue to sin"
Paul just finished proving that God’s grace is greater than all of our sin. Since Paul used to be a Pharisee he knew how religious people usually react to God’s grace. Human wisdom tells us that if Jesus died for our sin [notice: Romans 5:18-19 18 ...through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19...through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. (NAU)] then we can take advantage of our forgiveness and go on living the way we want.
Isn’t this is how we respond to most other transactions? Plunk down your money for a DVD player, for example, and then you take it home and watch any DVD you want. You don’t call back to the store for a list of movies that they approve of you watching.
God’s grace is different. ➽ When we own God’s grace, God’s grace owns us.
➽Three Ways to be Religious Without Christ
➽ #1 Moralism
This is the idea that Jesus primarily came to teach us good things so we can know how to live better lives. For example: Do good to others and everything will work out; or be sincere and do your best and God will accept you.
Moralists believe that sin (if they even use that word) is a human problem that can be solved through human effort.
Dr. John MacArthur warns us that, "There are people who think that if America becomes moral, God will bless America. There are people who think if America becomes moral and religious, then God will doubly bless America. So, let’s put God back in the public discourse; let’s put prayer back in the schools. Let’s put the Ten Commandments up on the wall in public places, in courtrooms. Let’s stop abortion; let’s stop rampant homosexuality; let’s stop pornography, et cetera. And if we can just bring about some kind of morality and, better yet, some kind of commitment to God, then we will be blessed." [2]
The truth is that the only way to gain God’s blessing is submission to His Son. Paul made that clear when he said, 1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha. [i.e. may the Lord come quickly] (NAU)
Morality will not save anybody. Our nation needs Jesus, not better morals.
➽ #2 Legalism
This is the idea that God will forgive us if we keep a list of rules. The end result is that rules become more important that Jesus.
"A modern version of this argument is as follows: ’You say that men are saved by grace through faith, apart from the law. But if all you have to do to be saved is believe, then you could go out and live in sin.’ According to this argument, grace is not a sufficient motivation for holy living. You must put people under the restraints of the law." [3]
Religion teaches that we must do certain things or else God won’t accept us. Listen to Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (NAU)
➽ #3 Cheap Grace
This idea teaches us that we have to acknowledge Jesus as our savior, but our lives don’t have to change. German pastor and martyr Dietrich Bonheoffer, refers to this attitude this way, "I’ve been forgiven and I will go on being forgiven whatever I do, so I can do whatever I wish." I’ve heard people say, "I know what God says but I also know that God wants me to be happy." Or, "Everyone sins so why does it matter if I do this? God will forgive me anyway." [4]
A man with a nagging secret was unable to keep it any longer. He went to confessional and admitted that for years he had been stealing building supplies from the lumberyard where he worked. "How much lumber did you take?" The priest asked. "I took enough to build my home and enough for my son’s house. Then I took enough to build houses for my two daughters, oh, and our house at the lake." "This is a very serious offense," the priest said. "I’ll have to think of a far-reaching penance. Have you ever considered doing a retreat? "No, father, I never have," the man replied. "But if you can get the plans, I can get the lumber."
The Bible makes it clear that God’s grace does not leave you unchanged. Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (NAU)
➽Vs.3-7 II. The Believers Old Life
Verse five tells us that Christians are "united" with Christ, so Christ’s death and resurrection must have a profound effect on us. But, what does that mean?
First of all, let’s think about what it means to be united with Christ’s death.
➽Vs.3-5 A. Christians die completely "baptism into death"
Just as Jesus had to really die physically, we must also see ourselves as dead. This is why Paul said, Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, (NAU)
➽ There is no resurrection until there is death.
Jesus was talking about His coming death when He said, John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (NAU)
If you are not willing to die to your old life, you cannot have a new life.
A statement which the great George Muller once made about himself seems to illustrate this very clearly. He wrote:
"There was a day when I died, utterly died, died to George Muller and his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame of even my brethren and friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God."
The problem is that death doesn’t look like progress, or like prosperity.
➽ Vs.6-7 B. Christians die like Christ "crucified with Him"
Here Paul moves from talking about Christ’s death to HOW He died.
An old lady went to a tombstone-cutter’s office to order a stone for her husband’s grave. After explaining that all she wanted was a small one with no frills, she told him to put the words "to my husband" suitable place. When the stone was delivered, she saw, to her horror, this inscription: "To my husband-in a suitable place."
We may laugh, but death is not only a suitable place for sinners, it is required if we are to have new life.
Vs. 6 "The Gr. word for "old" does not refer to something old in years but to something that is worn out and useless. Our old self died with Christ, and the life we now enjoy is a new divinely-given life that is the life of Christ Himself [cf. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (NAU)]." [5]
In order to understand what it means to be crucified with Christ, or to be united in the likeness of His death, we need to remind ourselves how Jesus died.
Obviously we can’t die on a cross exactly the way Jesus did, but there are some ways that Jesus died that we need to die.
➽How Did Jesus Die?
➽ #1Jesus died alone
The crowds turned against Jesus, the Romans turned against Jesus, the religious turned against Jesus, even His own followers turned against Jesus, and then His own Father turned His back on Him. Isaiah 53:10 But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering ... (NAU)
We must be willing to follow Christ even if no one else is coming with us. Luke 9:23 He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. (NAU)
Are you willing to be alone in order to follow Christ?
➽ #2 Jesus died humiliated
Jesus was stripped naked, beaten brutally, and ridiculed. Following Jesus means we must be willing to endure the same. Hebrews 12:2-3 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NAU)
Are you willing to endure humiliation in order to follow Christ?
➽ #3 Jesus died in complete submission
Matthew 26:42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." (NAU)
Matthew 6:10 ’Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. (NAU)
Are you willing to submit your will for your life to Christ’s will for your life?
➽ #4 Jesus died forgiving others
Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. (NAU)
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (NAU)
Are you willing to forgive those who hurt you just because Jesus is willing to forgive the way you have hurt Him?
➽Vs.8-11 III. The Believers New Life
➽Vs.8-9 A. Believers live with God "live with Him"
John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (NAU)
One day we will be with Jesus, but even today Jesus is with us.
Matthew 28:20 ... lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (NAU)
Do you live every day, conscious that Jesus is walking with you?
➽Vs.10-11 B. Believers live to God "alive to God"
Colossians 3:1-3 1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (NAU)
A real believer’s life is pointed toward God. If Jesus has rescued you from sin and death, then you will want to live each day for His glory.
CONCLUSION: "Recently, at a fund-raising banquet for a school for children with special needs, one of the fathers got up and told a story about his son named Shéa. He described how he and his son had been walking through the neighborhood of Brooklyn a week before, and they stopped to watch a group of boys playing baseball. Shéa does not communicate well, but he let his father know in his own way that he so wanted to play baseball with these boys.
"The father thinks that there’s no chance of this happening but he goes up to the pitcher and explains the situation. The pitcher makes an executive decision and says, "You know, it’s the eighth inning. We’re down by six. What have we got to lose? Come on in, we’ll let you bat in the bottom of the ninth." Shéa is ecstatic.
"But when the ninth inning comes things have turned around. Now they’re down only by three runs and the bases are loaded. If they get a home run, they’ll win the game. And now it’s Shéa’s turn to bat. The father’s heart begins to beat rapidly as he wonders if they’ll keep their promise to Shéa and let him bat. The team realizes their predicament so they have a little huddle. Then, to the father’s amazement, they say to Shéa, "Come on. You’re up to bat." And Shéa is absolutely delighted. He clutches the bat at a strange angle and holds it tightly.
"Then the pitcher from the opposite team does an amazing thing. He takes several steps forward and lobs an easy one right over the plate. Shéa swings wildly and misses widely. Then a player from Shéa’s team comes up behind him and gently wraps his arms around him. Together, they hold the bat. The pitcher lobs another one, and they bunt it, and the ball just rolls to the feet of the pitcher.
"It’s an easy out, but everybody’s screaming: "Run to first. Run to first, Shéa!" And the pitcher throws it far and wide. Shéa makes first, and they say, "Run to second, Shéa! Run to second!" The guy out in the field is planning to whip it into second, but then realizes what is going on and throws it far and wide. Everyone starts yelling, "Run to third! Run to third!" All the other players have crossed home plate and they start yelling, "Run home, Shéa! Take it home!" And just as he hits home plate the ball zings in. A loud uproar from both teams erupts; they put Shéa on their shoulders and parade him as a hero.
"Friends, because of our sins we have all struck out spiritually. But Jesus has wrapped His arms around us so that what He has experienced we have too. He’s hit it out of the park in order to bring us safely home. In the meantime we enjoy the victory that He has won." [6]
➽If you want real life in Christ, then you must be willing to die.
➽Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins. Thomas Brooks[7]
[1] Our Daily Bread
[2] The Deadly Dangers of Moralism (Selected Scriptures) Copyright 2002 by John F. MacArthur, Jr.
[3] MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ro 6:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[4] Briscoe, D. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 29: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 29: Romans. Formerly The Communicator’s Commentary. The Preacher’s Commentary series (127). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.
[5] MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ro 6:6). Nashville: Word Pub.
[6] “Preaching Today,” Issue #285 From a sermon by Brian Bill at www.pontiacbible.org/index.php?/sermons/more/the_freedom_youve_always_wanted/
[7]Thomas, I. (1996). The golden treasury of Puritan quotations. Includes index of authors. General index created by Christian Clasics Foundation. (electronic ed.). Simpsonville SC: Christian Classics Foundation.
