Where were you tempted this week?
· 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV – 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Big Idea: Choose to walk in the New Life Christ has given you.
Sin Definition – Missing the Mark
· Anything that is against God, His Word and His will
· Romans 3:23 NLT – 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Scripture: Romans 6:5-14 NLT – 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So, use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
If we are alive in Christ, how should we live?
· Alert to sin and its consequences, but alive to the truth
o Romans 6:5 NLT – 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.
o 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT - This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
o Romans 6:23 NLT – 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
· Choose to live free from sin and its power
o Romans 6:6-7 NLT – 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
o Galatians 2:20 NLT – 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
o Repentance – turning from sin to God, changing your mind (sorrowful)
o Matthew 12:43-45 NLT – 43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.
o Acts 19:19 NLT – 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.
· Give ourselves completely to God
o Live free to do God’s Will
§ Romans 6:13b NLT – Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
o Offer your body to God
§ Romans 12:1 NIV – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Do you need grace this morning?
· Ephesian 2:8-9 NIV – 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Next Steps
- Memorize: Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
- Evaluate: Am I choosing to walk in the new life God has called me too?
- Action: Remove the things in your life that are causing you to stumble.