WEEK 7: God s Gift of Sanctification Romans 6-7 February 18, 2016 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23 NLT Those who are in Christ find themselves in a daily battle. They have been set free from slavery to sin, but still find themselves having to fight their sin nature each and every day. But, while prior to coming to know Christ, we had no option but to give in to our sin nature, we now have the ability to live or rightly before God. The battle is real, but the outcome is not pre-determined. We don t have to give in to sin. We are being transformed into the likeness of Christ, day by day, through the power of the Spirit. He uses our sin to convict us and to remind us of our need for God s ongoing mercy, grace, forgiveness and power. Take Notes (Teaching): As you listen to today s lesson, write down anything significant that you hear. Be ready to share them with the men at your table during the discussion time. 2016 Ken Miller 31 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Take Part (Discussion): Sometimes God has a way of speaking through others as they provide insights or different applications from the lessons. As you discuss around your table, write down anything you hear that makes an impact on you. Or if you hear another man share a struggle or concern, write it down so that you can pray for him during the week. Take Time (Prayer): Be sure and leave a few minutes for the sharing of prayer requests. Remember, keep your requests short and sweet. Don t let the details bog you down. We don t have to understand all that is going on to pray effectively. 2016 Ken Miller 32 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
HOMEWORK Homework for week 8 The Role of the Spirit Romans 8 Read chapter 8 all the way through, being sure to mark any repetitive words or phrases. Look for anything that catches your attention or raises a question. Write them down here: In verse 1, what do you think Paul means when he says, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus? According to verses 2-4, what is the basis for Paul s assertion? What has happened that has freed us from condemnation? In verses 5-11, Paul talks about living according to the flesh and living according to the Spirit. He refers to having a mind set on the flesh and a mind set on the Spirit. Write down all that you find in these verses that contrast these two ways of life: Mind set on the Flesh Mind Set on the Spirit It is the Spirit within us that enables us to have new life and to live in a new way. The very same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead now lives within us. He has made His home in our hearts. Do you not know that you are God s temple and that God s Spirit dwells in you?, Paul asks. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV). The Holy Spirit lives in us and lives through us. It is through His power that we are able to fight against our own sinful flesh. 2016 Ken Miller 33 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
According to verse 13, how are we supposed to deal with our sinful flesh? What would this look like in real life? Read verses 18-25. What are some of the sufferings of this present time that we experience as believers? How do we see creation suffering and waiting with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God? Why would Paul say that we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons? What is it we should be waiting eagerly for, and how should that help us endure any suffering in this life? Look at verse 28. This is probably one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. Given the context of present suffering and future glorification and the redemption of our bodies, what do you think Paul means by this verse? In verse 30, Paul says that God has called us, justified us and glorified us. He uses the past tense in all three cases. What would be the significance of this when referring to our future glorification, which has yet to take place? Finally, read verses 31-39. What does this passage say to you? What kind of hope or comfort does it provide? 2016 Ken Miller 34 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
WEEK 7: God s Gift of Sanctification: Romans 6-7 The gospel, God s abounding grace as revealed through the sacrificial death of His own Son, had not only justified Paul in God s eyes, it had provided him with the power needed to say no to his old sin nature that waged war against the Spirit of God within him. But Paul knew that, for believers, our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its lower in our lives (Romans 6:6 NLT). This new life in Christ is not without its struggles. We still have our old natures living within us. We still have the capacity to sin. But Paul s point is that we are no longer slaves to sin. We have a choice. The key is that we must remember our new life in Christ. Ken Miller, Justified: The Gospel of God in the Book of Romans The Free Gift Vs the Trespass - We were imputed Adam s guilt and condemnation - We inherited his sin nature and there s nothing we could do about it - But God could and did by sending His Son - It is a gift, provided by His grace, and through His Son What Shall We Say? Two Extremes: Self-reliant activity Sanctification by self God-reliant apathy Let go and let God PAST - We have been baptized - We were buried - Our old self was crucified - Has died - Have died - Were once slaves of sin - You once presented your members as slaves to impurity 2016 Ken Miller God-dependent activity He who began a good work will complete it PRESENT - We have been united - Body of sin might be brought to nothing - No longer be enslaved - Have died with Christ - Has been set free - Have become obedient from the heart - Having been set free - Have become slaves of - So now present your members as slaves to - Have become slaves of God FUTURE We shall be united Might walk in newness of life Body of sin might brought to nothing Will also live with Him The fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
JUSTIFICATION Judicial: declared righteous Instantaneous Positional Imputed Our standing before God Understand who you are SANCTIFICATION Moral: made righteous Ongoing Practical Imparted Our practice before God Behave like you are INDICATIVE IMPERATIVE Indicating the fact or our new condition telling us how we are to respond - Dead to sin - What to do and not to do - Alive to Christ - What not to do - Slaves of God - Present yourselves to God - Instruments of - Let not sin reign in your body - You are not under law - Don t obey it passions - You are under grace - Don t present your members to sin - You have been brought from death - Present your members as slaves to to life - You have been set free from sin - Produce fruit that leads to - You have become slaves of sanctification and eternal life The Practical Reality of Sanctification Chapter 7 - Ours is to be a future-focused faith - Our desire for sanctification is to be motivated by our belief our future glorification - Our actions are to be based on belief regarding our present reality and future certainty - Paul reveals the struggle we all face - We live in this world, but are citizens of another world - We live between the already and the not yet The Already The Not Yet 14 The law is spiritual But I am unspiritual (flesh) 15-16 I want to do what s right But I do what I hate 17 I have good desires in me But sin dwells in me too 18 I desire to do good things But lack the ability 19 I want to do God s will But I keep doing evil 20 I want to give in to the Spirit But I give in to sin instead We live straddling two ages: This present age and the age to come - We have been made right with God - We have the indwelling Holy Spirit - We have new natures - But we still have active sin natures - We have been set free from sin s dominance - But not from its influence - We no longer need to fear its condemnation - But we must constantly resist its contamination 2016 Ken Miller Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church