The passage he read was our passage today Romans 13:13-14 the call for a changed life

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1 THE POWER OF A CHANGED LIFE Romans 13:13-14 Dr. Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor May 10, 2015 Note: The following are the pastor s notes used in preaching this message. This is not a complete, word-for-word transcription of what was preached. These notes serve as a companion to the complete message, which is available by listening to the audio version. Bible quotes are primarily from NASB and ESV, respectively. Aurelius Augustine was born on November 13, 354 A.D. in Tagaste, North Africa mom (Monica) was Christian dad wasn t wanted him to become great and wealthy man educated in Carthage as rhetorician made living by arguing law cases or giving speeches promiscuous with many women by 16 at 17 he formed 14 year long relationship with a woman didn t marry her because parents thought this would impact his career moved to Milan then to Rome mother followed him, praying for his salvation very wealthy and influential achieved the fame he sought realized his goals wouldn t bring satisfaction developed love for philosophy resolved to make pursuit of truth his sole focus in life followed Manichaeans who respected Jesus but didn t believe in His miracles or in sin allowed Augustine to speak well of mother s religion and excuse his sin disillusioned drifted to Platonist who sought for truth in immaterial world Came under influence of Ambrose in Milan great intellect outstanding preacher who exposed Augustine to the gospel began to read the Bible greatly moved by Victorinus, a rhetorician like Augustine, who became a Christian at great cost, but Augustine loved the world and couldn t give it up understood but resisted he later wrote, But I, miserable young man, supremely miserable even in the very outset of my youth, had entreated chastity of thee, and said, Grant me chastity and continency, but not yet. For I was afraid lest thou shouldest hear me soon, and soon deliver me. cried out to his good friend Alypius, What is wrong with us? The unlearned start up and take heaven, but we, with our learning, but wanting heart, see where we wallow in flesh and blood! Because others have preceded us, are we ashamed to follow, and not rather ashamed at not following? One day he and Alypius were reading the Bible together he became so distressed that he withdrew to a private part of the garden where Alypius couldn t see him cry I flung myself down, how, I know not, under a certain figtree, giving free course to my tears. And, not indeed in these words, yet to this effect, spake I much unto thee But thou, O Lord, how long? How long, Lord? Wilt thou be angry forever? O, remember not against us former iniquities ; for I felt that I was enthralled by them. Why not now? Why is there not this hour an end to my uncleanness? I was saying these things and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo, I heard the voice as of a boy or girl, I know not which, coming from a neighboring house, chanting, and oft repeating, Take up and read; take up and read. Immediately my countenance was changed, and I began most earnestly to consider whether it was usual for children in any kind of game to sing such words; nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So, restraining the torrent of my tears, I rose up, interpreting it no other way than as a command to me from heaven to open the book, and to read the first chapter I should light upon.... So quickly I returned to the place where Alypius was sitting; for there had I put down the volume of the apostles, when I rose thence. I grasped, opened, and in silence read that paragraph on which my eyes first fell, Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. No further would I read, nor did I need; for instantly, as the sentence ended by a light, as it were, of security infused into my heart all the gloom of doubt vanished away. Alypius was converted himself at this time, and both of them went to tell Augustine s mother, Monica, who had been praying for her son for years returned to Africa and became the bishop of Hippo for the next 40 years and one of the most treasured theologians of all time 1 The passage he read was our passage today Romans 13:13-14 the call for a changed life I. ARMOR OF LIGHT Summarize Romans 13:12 night is a time of wickedness and evil John 3:19 man loves the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. the day refers to the coming of Christ when all evil will be finally judged and eradicated Romans 13:12 ends with a contrast between the deeds of darkness and armor of light Romans 13:13 picks this up with Paul s instruction to behave properly as in the day i.e. behave James Montgomery Boice, Romans: The New Humanity, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1991 ), 1

2 as if the coming of Christ was imminent I John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. What would you do if you knew Jesus was returning next month? Next week? Tomorrow that s the type of behavior Paul encourages Luke 1:6 Elizabeth and Zacharias, the parents of John the Baptist were like that They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 1 John 2 continues in 1 John 2:29 continued reflections on the behavior of Christians: 1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. pretty high standard most of us exhibit a typical American attitude no one can tell me what to do think we have complete freedom to act in any way that we want go where we want think what we want watch what we want say what we want not so for Christians 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 John continues 1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Between now and the time of Christ s return our behavior reflects our desire to purify himself and be like Jesus because He is pure. What does that look like examples of Christ s life: Power of priorities Jesus first miracle John 2:4 And Jesus said to her, Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come. The power of being alone after Jesus fed the 5,000 John 6:15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. Popularity is fleeting! If you never spend time alone with God you will never stand alone for Him! Sacrificial living 1 John 3:16-17 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? do you serve anyone? II. DEEDS OF DARKNESS Hebrews 12:1 we are to lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us undress, take off old clothes A. Carousing and drunkenness First of three couplets of sin carousing komos = drunken feast originally linked with the birth of the theater described disguises, masks, music and dances performed in honor of the gods came to describe dinner entertainment but these dinner parties, accompanied by music and dance, degenerated, ending up in drunkenness and license. 2 Warning the world of the theater and entertainment are especially vulnerable to carousing festivity often turns to frivolity when accompanied by drinking 1 Peter 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you (you used to act this way) to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. This is the way non-christians act - 2 Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994),

3 drunkenness goes along with carousing one is usually impossible without the other the Bible doesn t teach abstinence but most of what happens after two to three drinks of any kind isn t good drunk usher! B. Promiscuity and sensuality Promiscuity plural word for sexual intercourse in Hebrews 13:4 it s used to describe the marriage bed points to one who regards sexual conquest as a game this person is completely self centered and immoral causes great pain to women and any children he leaves in his wake promiscuity seems like a private affair but it destroys the self-respect of a woman it contributes to the demise of our culture when a child is brought into the world without the benefit of marriage and it drags the name of Jesus through the mud if the person claims to be a Christian Sensuality aselgeia = licentious in some translations it means indecency, lewdness it pictures the arrogance of a lack of sexual restraint one who is a player and is proud of it Herod the Great was this kind of man died of chronic kidney disease and what is now called Fournier s gangrene (gangrene of the genitalia) caused by compulsive sexual practices a fitting end for a profligate, lewd man C. Strife and jealousy Strife to fight, contend, selfish ambition 3 it s my side vs. your side jealousy - zelos (zeal) it pictures one who is completely self-absorbed they resent anyone who comes between them and their objectives James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. in James 1:18 and James 5:19 James identifies truth with the gospel that changes lives and serves as an example to others James 3:15 this kind of self-centered arrogance is not from God it s demonic James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. These two attributes are political in nature the goal is to bury the opponent 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are you not mere men? These two things are church killers Nominating Committee we want this guy as elder I don t visit from Mark T church needs balance of power no that s guaranteed strife! III. STARVE THE FLESH Romans 13:14 is the best one sentence instruction for living the Christian life in the whole Bible But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. A. Put on Jesus The first step in any kind of behavior change is to emulate Jesus - true and lasting change only happens when we forsake our self-centeredness and revolt against our revolt against God! Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ last week putting on has the idea of putting on new set of clothes Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. we don t often think of this most often think of salvation as the forgiveness of sin but it is also taking on the righteousness of Christ 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This is positional righteousness God never looks at us as sinners He sees only the righteousness of Christ New image for us our self-image isn t linked to past 3 Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 69. 3

4 Provides a template for our behavior our conscience People put a lot of effort in trying to change bad habits and unwanted behavior try harder B.F. Skinner advocated lobotomy to remove offending parts of the brain that governed aberrant behavior two psychologists once were asked to help a ten year old adopted child bond with her mother had detachment issues invented new therapy called rebirthing wrapped her in a blanket to emulate the birth canal and had her beg for air thought this would make her value life it did they killed her John Owen Herein would I live; herein would I die; hereon would I dwell in my thoughts and affections, to the withering and consumption of all the painted beauties of this world, unto the crucifying all things here below, until they become unto me a dead and deformed thing, no way meet for affectionate embraces. For these and the like reasons, I shall first inquire into our beholding of the glory of Christ in this world by faith. 4 B. Make no provision for the flesh Romans 13:14b and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Absolutely impossible for non- Christians if you haven t put on Jesus you will never be able to deny your natural fleshly impulses you won t even want to The struggle between the flesh and the spirit is the crux of the problem for Christians Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace no other options Romans 8:7-8 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Galatians 5 deeds of the flesh vs. fruit of the spirit But the question is not to identify it but to do something about it first action is here in Romans 13:14 make no provision for the flesh double blow make is imperative provision = root word is nous mind or think with prefix pro it means to think or perceive beforehand the idea is to do nothing that will give any opportunity for the flesh anticipate every temptation of the flesh and cut it off before it happens Change doesn t come naturally before we are saved we are slaves of sin no power to resist sin except by our own will and discipline but after we are saved we have the power to conquer sin Romans 6 explains two key words: 1) Consider Romans 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. consider = logidzomai (logic) count or number something used in mathematical computations figure this out Romans 6:3-4 we have been baptized into His death... so that we might walk in newness of life Romans 6:6 that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin Romans 6:9 since Christ conquered death then death no longer is master over Him. Romans 6:10 since He died to sin, so did we! Reason it out consider yourselves to be dead to sin that s the truth we now have the freedom and the power to conquer sin because we are in Christ! We re not playing mind games we re acting on something that is literally true! 2) Present Romans 6:12-13 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. stresses a conscious act give each member of our body to Christ as an instrument of righteousness These two words are underlying truths of sanctification thinking and doing we are to think through the realities of who we are and what God has done then we are to begin new habits if you start with habits first that will result in legalism must understand the nature of what you are doing first 4 John Owen, The Glorious Mystery of the Person of Christ, God and Man (New York: Robert Carter, 1839),

5 Example I ve learned if I keep calories at 1700 I will lose weight also learned that sugar, fat lost ten pounds ate at Joe s Crab Shack and Maria, Maria lots of salt retains water gained three pounds! Just like sin I have to consider what certain foods do then I have to present my body to begin new habits Understanding is the first step when do you sin, why do you sin Starting new behavior is hardest step second and third aren t easy either Five to six days gets easier Two to three weeks new habit QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1. What is the most powerful evidence for Christianity? 2. Describe the behaviors we are to put on according to Colossians 3: What does as in the day mean in Romans 13:13? 4. How would you summarize the three couplets of sin in Romans 13:13? 5. What does make no provision for the flesh mean in Romans 13:14? 6. Has your life changed by knowing Christ? How? 5