26-0531sc Transcript

(0:04) So, what Paul is pointing out to us is that what is, what gives sin so much power in our lives? (0:18) And Paul points out, it’s the law. The law is what is giving sin the power. (0:28) And so, sin knows that you don’t want to violate the law, but he wants you to violate the law.

(0:38) And that’s the reason why it wrestles with you, because, as Paul points out, (0:44) I did not know that coveting was a sin. Apparently, he practiced coveting. Don’t we all? (0:53) But he says, I didn’t realize it was a sin until the law came into effect and said, (0:58) Thou shalt not covet.

And once it gave me, gave that law, it gave sin the power to say, (1:07) You are going to covet. You don’t know anything about coveting. (1:11) So, what gives sin the power? It’s the law.

(1:16) So, when we die with Jesus and are baptized into His death, burial, and resurrection, (1:26) what happens to us? This is very important. We are dead and dying to the law. (1:36) As Paul points out many times, especially here in Romans, that where there is no law, there is no sin.

(1:45) Why? Because sin doesn’t have anything to use against you. (1:51) So, if there’s no law to break, it isn’t there to make you break it or encourage you to break it. (1:57) And if there is no law, no matter whether you covet or not, it’s not going to condemn you.

(2:05) It can’t condemn you because there’s no law against coveting. (2:13) And so, Paul is pointing out to us that when we reenact Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, (2:22) that we’re dying to sin and we’re dying to the law. (2:26) And we’re being removed from the law and we’re being put into the law of sin.

(2:33) And we’re going to be operating on faith only and not the works. (2:39) Because if you’re under the law, you’re under works. (2:43) But if you’re under faith, you’re free from works and you’re free to receive God’s grace.

(2:55) God couldn’t give you grace under the law because He had to honor the law. (3:00) He had to respect the law. (3:01) And that’s the reason why Jesus had to come and die so that He could remove us from the law (3:07) and put us into faith so that we could be recipients of His grace.

(3:14) And He could say to us, you are righteous. (3:19) And so, we don’t have a law. There’s no sin.

(3:27) So, any questions? Any comments? (3:30) And that last verse, chapter 7, is really critical. (3:36) Because this is the mindset one needs to then have no condemnation under the law. (3:47) Exactly.

(3:48) And that is, in our mind, we recognize that the law says, and that’s true. (3:58) And hopefully, we don’t want to do that because it’s the law. (4:04) In our flesh, when it says, in my mind, I am serving the law of God.

(4:13) So, in my head, I want to do what God wants me to do. (4:19) I’m afraid I’ve fleshed up something else. (4:24) That mindset is no condemnation.

(4:29) And it’s different from the mindset of what we normally try to do is justify our actions. (4:37) We try to justify what our flesh is doing. (4:41) Oh, that’s not really bad.

(4:43) Or, I’m a pretty good person, you know, most of the time. (4:51) But, that mindset isn’t working. (4:55) That’s what he wants us to get away from.

(4:58) He wants us to recognize he’s right. (5:02) He determines what is right. (5:04) His law is right.

(5:06) And recognize, yes, we’re frail, and on our own, our own willpower, (5:15) we have, like, little chance of overcoming our flesh. (5:21) And so, you need that. (5:23) You need this dichotomy.

(5:25) You need to think, in my mind, that we agree, the law, that it’s right. (5:33) And God’s law, he knows what’s best for us. (5:35) He made us.

(5:38) I’m weak. (5:39) The flesh is weak. (5:41) My mind is willing.

(5:43) Okay. (5:45) I’m in complete agreement with you, and I hope I understood exactly where you were coming from. (5:51) So, with this thought in mind, just because we’re moved out of the law into faith, (6:00) doesn’t mean that we’re not going to covet.

(6:03) Doesn’t mean that we’re not going to do some type of sin against God’s will. (6:09) But it does mean that it’s not going to condemn us. (6:13) Why? (6:15) Because, according to John, 1 John 1, verse 5, (6:21) as long as we’re walking in the light as he is in the light, his blood will continue to cleanse us.

(6:27) And as you like to try to point out, because he continues on and says, (6:31) but if we sin and confess our sins, he is going to forgive us. (6:36) So where is Jesus? (6:39) Jesus is on the right-hand side of God doing what? (6:44) Interceding for us. (6:45) What does interceding mean? (6:48) He’s pleading our case.

(6:50) What is he pleading us about? (6:52) Because we sin. (6:56) But there is now, therefore, no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. (7:09) So that’s what Paul is pointing out.

(7:11) Oh my goodness! (7:13) What a relief! (7:14) I do things that I don’t want to do, and I don’t do things that I know I need to be doing, (7:20) but thanks be to God in the mind, I am serving God and not Satan. (7:27) So, as long as we walk, what does the word walk imply? (7:33) A tenor of life. (7:37) A tenor of life.

(7:38) I like to use the illustration, because as I was growing up, (7:45) you may have heard this and may have been working under this assumption, (7:50) that when you die, you want to die with a prayer on your lips asking God for forgiveness of your sins, (7:56) so that he can forgive you, and you walk right into heaven. (8:02) But if you don’t pray before you die, you’re going to be facing God with the sins. (8:10) So the question often times asked, (8:15) if you were to die today, do you know that you would be with God in heaven or not? (8:22) Let me see if I can rephrase it.

(8:24) If you were to die today, do you know if you would be with God eternally or not? (8:29) And the answer most generally is, I don’t know. (8:37) I might be. (8:38) Why? (8:39) Because it all depends on how I die.

(8:42) Am I dying with God on my mind or am I dying with a curse on my mind? (8:47) I use the illustration about this truck driver who’s hauling gasoline, fuel, (8:53) and he’s going down the road. (8:54) He’s going to go, he’s full, and he’s going down to a gas station. (8:59) And as he’s going, all of a sudden, he’s clipped off with another car, (9:05) and he swerves and he tips over, and the gasoline is coming out of the tank, (9:10) and all of a sudden, it flashes on.

(9:13) And what do you think is on the mind of that truck driver? (9:18) God bless that driver. (9:23) God bless that driver. (9:25) Do you really think he’s going to be saying that? (9:29) I don’t know about you.

(9:30) I would have a hard time thinking I would be saying that. (9:37) So am I going to be condemned because I’m going to die with a curse on my mind? (9:43) No, because it’s not my tenor of life. (9:47) My tenor of life, God or Jesus is defending me.

(9:53) Because up until then, everything was perfect. (9:56) I’m driving down the road. (9:57) I’ve got prayer on my mind.

(9:59) I may even be singing a psalm. (10:01) Who knows? (10:02) I used to put verses on my dashboard as I was driving down the road (10:09) when I was working for Coca-Cola at that time, (10:12) and I would be memorizing Scripture. (10:17) But anyway, as long as I’m walking in the light, (10:25) His blood continues to cleanse me.

(10:29) The sacrifice on that cross did not cease (10:33) just because I did not have to be re-sacrificed according to Hebrew letters. (10:39) He would have to be re-crucified, re-crucified, re-crucified. (10:43) But he isn’t.

(10:44) He only dies once, (10:45) and he only dies once to cover the sins of the multitude of people that will come to him. (10:51) Look at the value that God places on righteousness. (10:57) And so the value that God places on righteousness (10:59) and Jesus is declared to be righteous (11:01) and the Holy Spirit answers for that fact.

(11:05) He lived a righteous life. (11:08) That’s what the Holy Spirit did. (11:10) He validated Jesus.

(11:12) He said He lived a perfect life, (11:16) and that gave God the power to raise Him from the dead. (11:21) And that’s what is going to give God the power to raise us from the dead. (11:27) I love that, too.

(11:30) So we’re righteous, (11:32) and as long as we’re in the blood, (11:35) Jesus' blood continues to cleanse us. (11:38) We’re righteous, period, (11:42) until we, in our minds, reject God somewhere along the way, (11:48) which I don’t think any one of us is going to do. (11:52) And God gives us that righteousness, (11:55) so it’s not anything that we do.

(11:57) We do not have a righteousness of the world, (12:02) and we wouldn’t be righteous (12:04) if God didn’t give us righteousness. (12:07) He does all of them. (12:09) So we are righteous, (12:12) and 1 John, where we were talking about walking in the light, (12:18) John contrasts that with walking in darkness.

(12:22) And he’s not talking about the world. (12:24) He’s talking about the Christian. (12:26) And that passage goes in 1 John 1, verse 6, (12:34) the preceding verse of walking in light, (12:37) that we say we have fellowship with Him, (12:40) and yet walk in darkness.

(12:43) We lie. (12:44) And here’s the point. (12:45) We do not practice the truth.

(12:49) He’s not saying we do not practice righteousness, (12:52) because we don’t have a righteousness of the world. (12:54) He’s saying we do not practice the truth. (12:58) And what’s the truth? (13:00) After 7 of Romans, (13:03) we follow God, (13:08) we agree with God in our minds, (13:11) in our flesh, (13:13) we would obey His sentence.

(13:15) So that mindset is really important. (13:20) It’s practicing the truth. (13:22) The truth of what sin is, (13:24) and yes, even add those phrases, (13:33) in lightness and in darkness.

(13:35) If I just get baptized, (13:40) and then say I’m saved, (13:44) and then go on my merry way, (13:45) never go back to church, (13:47) never do anything else, (13:48) I’m not free from condemnation. (13:52) I’m walking in darkness. (13:53) I don’t know what the Bible says.

(13:55) I don’t know what Jesus Christ is all about. (13:58) I don’t know the doctrine of righteousness. (14:01) I don’t know Romans.

(14:02) I don’t know any of this stuff. (14:04) That’s darkness. (14:06) Walking in darkness.

(14:08) If I say I have fellowship with Him, (14:11) and don’t do anything to become enlightened, (14:16) I’m a liar. (14:20) I’m walking in darkness. (14:22) Walking in the light is learning about Christ, (14:27) learning what the law says, (14:28) learning the doctrine of righteousness, (14:32) where righteousness comes from.

(14:34) You have to be active in learning. (14:39) In that environment, (14:42) there’s no condemnation, (14:44) because God knows He made us. (14:46) We can’t change overnight, (14:48) and we’re going to be sinning, (14:50) but He allows us, (14:52) if we’re walking in the light, (14:55) as we learn these things, (14:58) we’ll change.

(15:00) He puts us in a penalty, (15:02) I like to think of it, (15:04) in a penalty-free environment, (15:07) while we learn and change. (15:10) And then there’s no condemnation. (15:13) Okay.

(15:15) So, righteousness is a gift, (15:19) and we know that, (15:20) there’s no question about it, (15:21) because that’s what Paul is trying to point out to us (15:24) in chapter 5, 6, and 7, (15:28) is the fact that we are under the law, (15:32) and the law is condemning us. (15:35) There is no doubt about it. (15:37) And God wants to give us righteousness (15:42) without having to work for it.

(15:45) So, the law requires you to work for it. (15:49) That’s the reason why He asked the question, (15:52) you know, about…​ (15:55) He identifies those who are under the law (15:58) as being workers, working for it. (16:01) And they’re trying their level best (16:03) to achieve righteousness.

(16:05) But God is saying to you, (16:08) I want to give you righteousness (16:10) if you will come to me through Jesus. (16:12) And so He’s saying to you, (16:16) He wants to take you out of the law of works (16:18) and bring you into the law of faith, (16:21) because that’s what is going to be required. (16:24) Believe that I am wanting to reconcile you to me.

(16:29) Believe that. (16:30) And you need to come to me through Jesus. (16:33) You need to believe that.

(16:35) So you have to walk in faith. (16:38) And faith gives you the…​ (16:40) Faith gives God the right to give you righteousness. (16:44) He’s giving it to you.

(16:46) You’re not earning it. (16:48) You’re saying to yourself, (16:49) I don’t have to climb the highest mountain? (16:52) I don’t have to swim the deepest sea? (16:55) I don’t have to say how many hail mares? (16:58) I don’t have to walk around the city seven times? (17:05) No, I’m giving it to you. (17:09) It requires faith.

(17:12) And so what is Paul saying? (17:14) I am not ashamed of the gospel of God (17:16) for it is the power of God unto salvation. (17:19) And then he goes on in that point and says, (17:21) the saved or the Christian will walk by faith. (17:27) The righteous will walk by faith.

(17:30) And so our walk is in faith. (17:35) Jesus is saving me. (17:37) Now what I do, Jesus is saving me.

(17:41) It’s not what I’ve done or how I’m doing it. (17:44) It’s not that I’ve gone to the hospital (17:46) and visited X number of people (17:48) or gone to the nursing home and visited (17:50) and spent the night with holding somebody’s hand. (17:54) It’s not any of that.

(17:55) I am being saved because I believe in God. (18:01) And I believe that he wants to reconcile me (18:04) to him through Jesus. (18:08) That requires faith.

(18:10) So the Christian will walk by faith (18:14) or live by faith, faith unto faith. (18:19) And recognize that walking in the light (18:23) is not righteousness. (18:25) No.

(18:26) Because you already have righteousness. (18:28) No. (18:29) Walking in the light is a demeanor of life.

(18:39) You have no other way of walking. (18:44) You have no desire to walk by the world. (18:47) You are transformed.

(18:49) You are where you want to be. (18:52) You’re in Christ. (18:53) And God has given you righteousness.

(18:57) He’s crediting you with righteousness. (18:59) That’s the word we need to have. (19:02) He’s crediting it to you whether you earned it or not.

(19:06) He’s giving it to you. (19:08) It’s a gift. (19:09) That’s the reason why it’s called grace.

(19:11) It’s a gift. (19:13) And so we need to realize that we’re going to go to heaven (19:17) because God wants us to. (19:20) And he’s giving us righteousness.

(19:23) But there’s a stipulation. (19:25) The stipulation is we must come to him through God (19:28) or Jesus. (19:36) We’re justified legally by Jesus' death on the cross.

(19:42) We’re justified. (19:44) And so our debt has been paid to the law. (19:48) The law has been honored.

(19:50) The law has been given its credit. (19:53) We recognize it for what it is. (19:55) It has a hold on us.

(19:57) But we’re being given righteousness because of Jesus satisfying the law. (20:03) You can use any words you want, any phrase. (20:06) He paid the debt.

(20:08) He satisfied the law for us by dying on the cross himself. (20:14) And he was able to come forth from the grave because of his righteousness, (20:19) which the Holy Spirit attested to, (20:21) and gave Jesus, or God, the right to say, (20:26) I’m reversing that penalty that the Hebrews put on him, the Jews put on him. (20:34) They condemned him to die on the cross because they didn’t believe that he was the Son of God.

(20:43) And so they accused him of being hypocrisy. (20:49) And so, because of that, he could not prove that he was the Son of God (20:56) until he was raised from the grave, (20:58) which God then demonstrated, he is my Son. (21:05) He is.

(21:07) And so he was telling the truth. (21:12) So, what we want to know is, (21:15) when we stand before God, are we going to be based on the law or based on faith? (21:23) We’re definitely not going to be based on the law because that means we’re trying to get there by works. (21:30) We’re going to be standing before God based on faith.

(21:34) So why should I let you into my heaven? (21:38) Because I was baptized for the remission of my sins, (21:42) the right to walk in a newness of life. (21:45) What is the newness of life? (21:47) That life that I left behind, that I repented from. (21:52) And so, the main thing is that there’s no condemnation.

(22:02) According to the Hebrew letter, when it comes to the end of the time, (22:07) Jesus is going to come and he’s going to say, (22:11) everyone who has that Christian mark on them is saved. (22:15) What is the Christian mark? (22:18) The Holy Spirit. (22:21) Because we were given the Holy Spirit as an earnst, a down payment, according to the Ephesian letter.

(22:27) And that is a guarantee that we are going to be entering into heaven. (22:34) And so that’s why we received the Holy Spirit at baptism, (22:39) because it is a sign of our righteousness. (22:43) What was circumcision? (22:46) Circumcision was a sign of Abraham’s righteousness.

(22:48) But Holy Spirit is a sign of our righteousness. (22:55) And so when Jesus comes, according to the Hebrew letter, (22:59) the reason why those who died before has not entered into heaven already (23:06) is because God wants them to share the same blessings that you and I are sharing. (23:12) And he wants them to share them at the same time we share them.

(23:18) And so when that day comes, according to the Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, (23:26) when Jesus comes, there will be a shout of the archangel, (23:30) and we’ll see the dead in Christ rise, (23:32) and then we who are still alive at that time will be changed, (23:37) and we’ll rise to meet him in the sky too. (23:41) Isn’t that beautiful? (23:43) That’s beautiful. Those are thoughts.

(23:45) So that’s the reason why. (23:51) Let’s go to chapter 8. (23:53) We’ve got 10 minutes. (23:58) The 10 minutes is going to be enough, I’m sure, for what we want to know.

(24:07) We’re prepared. I think we’re prepared for this, therefore. (24:13) We’re prepared for this, therefore.

(24:15) Therefore, there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. (24:26) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. (24:34) For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did, (24:42) sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and as an offering for sin, (24:48) he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled (24:56) in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

(25:04) As long as we walk in the light, as he is in the light. (25:07) That’s what he’s saying here, and that’s what John is repeating for us. (25:09) So, let’s go back to verse 3. (25:17) For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, (25:22) God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, (25:28) and as an offering for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, (25:34) so that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us (25:38) who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

(25:43) And what I get out of that is that this desire of the sin using law, he’s condemned sin. (25:55) How did he condemn sin? How did he get it out of there? (25:58) By removing us out of the law where sin gets its power. (26:04) Sin gets its power from the law.

(26:07) Bless you, bless you. (26:11) Sin gets its power from law, from authority, (26:17) from that which you are supposed to live up to. (26:21) He’s removed you from that.

(26:23) There is now, therefore, no condemnation because he did what? (26:27) He removed us from the law of sin and death. (26:33) We’re no longer subject to the law of sin and death. (26:37) It has been satisfied, and therefore, according to the 7th chapter, (26:43) which we read just prior to this, it gives us the ability to decide who we want to follow.

(26:51) Do we want to follow God, or do we want to stay with Satan? (26:55) We are given that power because we obey from the heart that form of doctrine. (27:01) So we’re given that ability to make a decision. (27:05) Our decision is, I don’t want to be under sin anymore.

(27:10) I don’t like what it brings to me. (27:14) Hatred, backbiting, divorce, all kinds of things, ugliness. (27:22) Sin brings that forth.

Why? (27:25) Because they are rejecting God, and God wants you to have His Spirit. (27:32) And what is His Spirit? (27:34) If you conform to His will, what’s going to happen? (27:42) Galatians 5. (27:44) We’re going to experience love, joy, peace, which there is no law against. (27:53) And so, what is He doing? (27:55) He’s removing us from the source of that which denies us love, joy, peace, and happiness.

(28:05) That which denies us love, joy, and peace is that which is walking in the world, by the world. (28:14) So, when you’re walking in the world, you have no hope of love, joy, and peace, and so on. (28:27) But if you comply yourself and repent, and conform yourself to God’s teachings, (28:34) and approach life the way He wants you to approach it, (28:37) He’s guaranteeing you, you’ll know love, joy, and peace.

(28:42) Except for the fact, on the way over here, I was listening to the Gospel Hour, (28:49) and it’s pointing out that the world’s going to hate you, (28:54) and they’re going to have the world as an enemy, (28:56) and they’re going to want to kill you just like they did Jesus. (28:59) And they don’t want to hear your message. (29:02) And your message brings light to their lives, (29:06) because they’re walking in darkness, (29:09) and you’re bringing light, (29:11) and they can’t stand that light.

(29:14) And so, if we do what God wants us to do, (29:19) we’re going to have His benefits, (29:21) and the ultimate benefit is, (29:24) life to God in Heaven, (29:26) eternally. (29:28) Any other comments or discussion? (29:32) Let’s pick up with verse 4 then. (29:34) I believe that was verse 3. (29:41) Okay.

(29:43) Verse 3. Let’s reread verse 3. (29:44) For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, (29:48) God did, sending His own Son in likeness of sinful flesh, (29:53) and as an offering for sin. (29:56) He condemned sin in the flesh. (29:59) Verse 4. (30:00) So that the requirement of law might be fulfilled in us, (30:05) who do not walk according to the flesh, (30:08) but according to the Spirit.

(30:11) So there’s the two types of life. (30:14) One walking according to the flesh, (30:16) one walking according to the Spirit. (30:19) For those who are in accord with the flesh, (30:24) set their minds on the things of the flesh.

(30:26) But those who are in accord with the Spirit, (30:30) the things of the Spirit. (30:32) For the mind set on the flesh is death, (30:35) but the mind set on Spirit is life and peace. (30:41) Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God.

(30:46) For it does not subject itself to the law of God. (30:51) For it is not even able to do so. (30:54) And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

(31:01) However, notice how negative that is. (31:07) And that’s all because they’re walking in the flesh and rejecting God, (31:11) do not want to have the knowledge of God. (31:15) But we do.

(31:17) Verse 9. (31:18) However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, (31:22) if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. (31:25) But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, (31:28) he does not belong to Him. (31:30) That’s God.

(31:32) If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, (31:38) yet the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. (31:42) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, (31:47) He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead (31:49) will also give life to your mortal bodies (31:53) through His Spirit who dwells in you. (31:57) Did you pick up on a teaching? (32:00) Our time’s up.

(32:03) Physical resurrection. (32:05) Bodily resurrection. (32:08) We’re going to have a body.

(32:12) We’re not going to just be a spirit floating around in a nebula. (32:18) We’re going to have a body. (32:19) And I love the Thessalonian writer.

(32:22) To him who is able to save both spirit, soul, and body. (32:28) And according to 1 Corinthians 15, he discusses the resurrection, doesn’t he? (32:35) And that resurrection is what is sown is a fleshly body, (32:41) but what is raised is a spiritual body. (32:43) What does he mean by that? (32:46) I believe it means that we’re not physically capable of living on the moon without protection.

(32:56) We’re not physically capable of living outside of this world without some form of thing. (33:06) The stars are given a certain body, radiance. (33:10) The sun is given a different body, but it’s considered to be a star.

(33:14) The moon is given a different body. (33:17) And the earth definitely is given a different body, isn’t it? (33:22) So we’re going to be given a body that is designed for heaven. (33:28) Just think about that.

(33:31) Everybody from the resurrection is going to be given a body that is designed for heaven. (33:40) What happens to those who are not Christians? (33:45) Those who are not Christians are given a body just like us, designed to be with God eternally in heaven. (33:51) What’s going to happen to them? (33:54) They’re going to be cast into the hell that is designed for Satan, not for heavenly bodies.

(34:01) So if we’re going to be in a heavenly body destined for hell, it is going to be hell. (34:09) Thank you so much for your attention. (34:11) We’ll pick up with verse 12 next week. (34:14)