Sermon Central
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"Saints Struggle" Romans Pt. 9 Series
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 9, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: This chapter addresses the struggle that goes on in the inner man between the works of the sinful nature and the way of the Spirit. But in the end the way of the Spirit is to be the dominant force in a saints life.
"Saints Struggle" Romans pt 9
Opening Illustration: Diamond Rio song with video and the Blue fish TV video of the Virginia Tech candlelight prayer service.
This illustration reveals to us that every person on this earth is in a struggle between good and evil. This struggle is real and when we suffer the repercussions of it we must look to the Lord for help and healing but yet commit to staying committed to Jesus Christ through the struggle.
Thesis: This chapter addresses the struggle that goes on in the inner man between the works of the sinful nature and the way of the Spirit. But in the end the way of the Spirit is to be the dominant force in a saints life.
Introduction:
Summary of the series of sermons on Romans:
Martin Luther in his book "Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans" He argues that:
"This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian’s while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes. Therefore I want to carry out my service and, with this preface, provide an introduction to the letter, insofar as God gives me the ability, so that every one can gain the fullest possible understanding of it. . . . it is in itself a bright light, almost bright enough to illumine the entire Scripture."
John Calvin said that, "When anyone gains a knowledge of this Epistle he has an entrance opened to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture."
F.F. Bruce is quoted as saying "Time and again in the course of human history {Romans} has liberated the minds of men, brought them back to an understanding of the essential gospel of Christ, and started spiritual revolutions."
Warren W. Wiersbe: in his commentary on the book of Romans tells the story of a man whose life was changed by this book and who in turned changed the lives of literally millions of men and women:
"On May 24, 1738, a discouraged missionary went very unwillingly to a religious meeting in London. There a miracle took place. About a quarter before nine, he wrote in his journal, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
That missionary was John Wesley. The message he heard that evening was the preface to Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans. Just a few months before, Wesley wrote in his journal: "I went to America to convert the Indians; but Oh! who shall convert me? That evening in Aldersgate Street, his question was answered. And the result was the great Wesleyan Revival that swept England and transformed the nation."
The book of Romans is to Christianity what the Declaration of Independence is to America and the Magna Charta is to Great Britain! It can set you free if you study it and believe it.
*Roman’s is a book written to the ones who were at one time called "§aints" and have now become "saints" because of the addition of the Spirit into their lives.
*Roman’s tells us that the saint is one who lives their faith on a daily basis. There mindset has an eternal perspective and focus and it plays out in the way they live their lives daily.
*Roman’s says we are either saints or outlaws in the Kingdom of God and it depends on if we have repentant hearts, if we are doers of the Word or just hearers, and whether we have kept our covenant relationship with the Lord Jesus or if we have broken the covenant we have with the Lord.
*Romans reminds us that no one is right in the eyes of the Lord today except for the forgiven, "The Saint." God saw the need for all of us to be rescued so He sent Jesus to rescue us from sin. He also sent His Word to keep us safe from falling back into the trap of sin after being rescued.
*Saint Abraham is our spiritual father and he had resurrection faith because he believed even when there seemed to be no hope of becoming the father of many nations. His faith in the Lord opened the door for God to raise a dead womb and to birth a new nation in his wife Sarah. His choice to believe and place his trust in God made him the father of all of us who believe because he was the first to have faith.
