Forgiveness Is Not Enough: May 27, 2018

Title: Forgiveness Is Not Enough
Text: Romans 8:12-17 (NIV)
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to
live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the
Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are
led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not
make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received
brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are
children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we
share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

INTRODUCTION

I. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION/DUTY
TEXT: 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the
flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but
if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

II. WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN IF WE ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT
TEXT: 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The
Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the
Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry,
“Abba, Father.”

III. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT POINTS US TO OUR INHERITANCE
TEXT: 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if
we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we
share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

CONCLUSION

JOHN WESLEY’S JOURNAL (1738)

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my
heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.
I began to pray with all my might for those who had in a more especial manner despitefully used me and persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there what I now first felt in my heart. But it was not long before the enemy suggested, “This cannot be faith; for where is thy joy?” Then was I taught that peace and victory over sin are essential to faith in the Captain of our salvation; but that, as to the transports of joy that usually attend the beginning of it, especially in those who have mourned deeply, God sometimes giveth, sometimes withholdeth, them according to the
counsels of His own will. After my return home, I was much buffeted with temptations, but I cried out, and they fled away. They returned again and again. I as often lifted up my eyes, and He “sent me help from his holy place.” And herein I found the difference between this and my former state chiefly consisted. I was striving, yea, fighting with all my might
under the law, as well as under grace. But then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered; now, I was always conqueror. Thursday, 25.—The moment I awakened, “Jesus, Master,” was in my heart and in my mouth; and I found all my strength lay in keeping my eye fixed upon Him and
my soul waiting on Him continually. Being again at St. Paul’s in the afternoon, I could taste the good word of God in the anthem which began, “My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord: with my mouth will I ever be showing forth thy truth from one generation to another.” Yet the enemy injected a fear, “If thou dost believe, why is there not a more sensible change? I answered (yet not I), “That I know not. But, this I know, I have ‘now peace with God.’ And I sin not today, and Jesus my Master has forbidden me to take thought for the morrow.”