The Limits of Forgiveness and the Power of New Life: September 17, 2017

TEXT: Romans 6:1-10

1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.  8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

QUOTES:

To be convinced in our hearts that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace alone is the hardest thing   ― Martin Luther

 Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.  ― Corrie ten Boom

TITLE:  The Limits of Forgiveness and the Power of New Life 

1. Forgiveness is not enough
2. Being dead and buried is the path to New Life
3. Offer yourself to God and be set free

 Conclusion
REFLECTION: Following Christ is not a ticket punching exercise, where you can say, “I’m a church member or I’m baptized and that is all there is to it to be a Christian.” The decision to follow Christ is not the end of the road; it is the start of an adventurous journey, a new kind of journey—a journey that leads us to a holy life in Christ. All too often Christians think that getting their personal forgiveness for sins is the main point. No! It is the starting point to a journey with the Lord our Savior, through life and in death. It is the life that God wanted for Adam and Eve; but they rejected it.  Will we? It is the life He wants for us, to walk side-by-side with our loving Creator through the ups and downs of this life. When we receive Christ, our desires are transformed. The evil we once embraced no longer has the same attraction, because we have the freedom to live the truth before God and others. We now value love and want to bring love and justice to our society. Let us take on that life of Christ and experience the joy that comes from knowing Him. Will you?