To Whom Are You Yielding?

According to the Bible, Satan cannot force a person to do anything and God will not force a person to do anything. The title of the message is “To Whom Are You Yielding?” I am going to paint a image of “yielding” that we know and understand, but it is not the yielding that’s described in the Bible.

Most of the time when we hear the word “yielding,” we know it means that a person has stopped in order to give the other person the right of way. The person yielding is willingly giving up his right to proceed.

We’re going to see from scripture, ladies and gentlemen, that when the Bible talks about yielding, it’s talking about something completely different.

So turn with me to Romans 5. We’re going to read a lot of scripture this morning, but it’s necessary to get the context. I’m not going to dwell on the verses but I may make a comment here and there. Romans 6 is really our focus. But we’re going to begin in Romans 5, verse 12.

(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, [Who was that one man? Adam.] and death by sin; [What does this tell us? Before Adam sinned, death did not exist. So, how can dinosaurs die before Adam? If you believe the Bible, the reality of death did not exist before Adam.] and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: [How did all men sin? All men sinned simply by being born. All men are born with a fallen sin nature.]

(13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

(14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. [Who is the figure to come? Jesus.That’s why He is called the last Adam.]

(15) But not as the offence, [What was the offence? Adam’s transgression.] so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be made dead, [Dead in terms of having a sin nature and not going to heaven.] much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

(16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

(17) For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; [What death? The spiritual death of the sin nature as a result of Adam’s transgression.] much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) [Why? They are born again and now have a life that was birthed from heaven.]

(18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

(19) For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

(20) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

(21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verse 1, chapter 6.

(1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Are we not hearing this today? The question Paul is asking: Does more sin open the door to more grace? Are we not hearing from the pulpits a person doesn’t have to repent of their sins? Are we not hearing that grace covers our sins, past, present and future?

Can you say “lie from the pit of hell?” That is exactly what that is because if you don’t have to repent, 1 John 1:9 means nothing. It means absolutely nothing.

Paul asks the question as if to say “Are you serious?” Is that what you believe? The first two words of verse 2: GOD FORBID.

(2) God forbid. [You are nuts! To me, that’s what Paul is saying.] How shall we [those who are born again with a sinless spirit], that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

If we are dead to sin, how can we commit sin? Do you see this? How many of you have family members who have died? How many of you have talked to them recently? Called them on the telephone? Sent them an Instant Message on Facebook? Sent them an email or a text?

You haven’t. Why? They are dead. They cease to exist. When a person dies, he no longer lives in the place where he used to live. When we were born again and the sin nature was removed, the sin nature ceased to exist in us. Spiritually, we no longer live in sin. That’s why we are dead to sin.