The Great Dethroning of Reigning Sin – Part 1

Romans 6:10-14, preached Sunday, June 21, 2009, Grace Family Church of Americus

Here is an excerpt:

*****

There is a battlefield around us that many know nothing about. It is a battle that all must fight, and win, else it cost you your life. The reality of the battle against the dominion of sin is a real one…and he who denies the reality of the battle is a fool. From John Owen's "Mortification of Sin":

"…sin is always acting, always conceiving, always seducing and tempting….If, then, sin will be always acting, if we be not always mortifying, we are lost creatures. He that stands still and [allows] his enemies to double blows upon him without resistance, will undoubtedly be conquered in the [battle]. If sin be subtle, watchful, strong, and always at work in the business of killing our souls, and we be slothful, negligent, foolish, in proceeding to the ruin thereof, can we expect a comfortable [outcome]?

That is not a very popular teaching in evangelicalism today. The teaching that we are to be actively engaged in the battle of killing sin in our lives. It is not a popular thing, to say that those who live sinful lives…those who are ruled and live under the power and reign of sin…even those who are good people in the eyes of the world, but live a life that is oblivious to the battle against indwelling sin that goes on all around us….shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

This is a huge teaching! And many have taken on the Christianity of culture, which says that there is no standard, postmodernism is the rule, if it feels good do it, let us sin so that grace may abound, I'm covered in the blood, therefore my sin is no big deal, don't waste my time talking to me about sin and death and hell….the Christianity of culture says, "I want to have life improvement, I want stuff, and food, and wealth, and sex, and my own morals that are not dictated to me by anyone else, I want to please myself and my desires"…those who speak thus therefore are dead to what I am saying here today. There is no emotion connected to it, no desire to hear the Word speak to it, to fight sin and pursue holiness…only deadness and lifelessness and numbness to this, one of the greatest teachings in all of the Christian faith – that as Christ has died to sin to live to God, so all who are His, are dead to the reign of sin, and live in the reign and power of God.

O, Father, create life, where there is only death! Create in those who are deaf to your words, hearing, and to those who are totally blind to your truth, give sight! Where there is hardness, create tenderness and emotion! There is a battle, and we are on the battlefield! Let us hear Your Word, and be triumphant in the power of the Spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead!

******

Click here to download the audio and listen now!

You can download the complete sermon manuscript by clicking here.

Newness of Life – Part 1

Romans 6:1-7, preached Sunday, May 31, 2009, Grace Family Church of Americus

Here is an excerpt:

*****

What did the death of Christ accomplish? It crushed the head of Satan. The death of the Son of God thwarted Satan's rule over God's people. It is exactly contextually complete with what has been said already. In Adam, we died. Satan wielded the power that God gave him, and used it to inflict a mortal wound. But God made a promise, directly concerning this…that the seed of the woman would come. Perfect, sinless Man; infinite, holy God in human flesh would live and die and be raised again conquering death. That the death of Christ, being just a bruise on His heel, would crush the head of Satan. Satan, who tempted and drew mankind into sin, who rules and reigns as the god of this world, has been dealt a fatal blow to the head, in that he cannot rule and reign over those who are in Christ. His throne has been debunked.

Now again, I do not wish to make this statement sound incredulous, or otherwise hard to believe, but I do want it to be said in the sense and in the power of argument in which the Apostle makes it. In the same way that the free gift of grace sounds too good to be true to the unbeliever, so as much that it sounds scandalous, we find here the same sort of scandalous teaching of Paul….in that sin can no longer rule over believers! Now let me say this about this statement, which has been said of the statement in verse 1…. "....If your preaching of salvation has not been misunderstood in this way, then you had better examine your sermons again, and you had better make sure that you are really preaching the salvation that is offered in the New Testament"

Folks, it is wrong to use the pulpit as a place of condolence to shallowness. No, it is a place to say the incredible things that the Bible says, and to let them rest on your minds and hearts as incredible. I won't say what is too often said, "…Well, we are all sinners, so we can't help what we do." God forbid! We who are in Christ are not sinners, in the sense that sin is the controlling influence on us! I shall by no means shallow-up these deep waters so to make you think you can wade in them. Because if you come in expecting to wade, you will drown. Brothers and sisters, I shall not do any such thing, but I desire to show you how deep the water is, and then teach you how to swim in it, adoring its depth!

******

Click here to download the audio and listen now!

You can download the complete sermon manuscript by clicking here.

Abounding Grace or the Love of Sin

Preached Sunday, May 24, 2009, Grace Family Church of Americus

Romans 6:1-2

Click here to listen now!

You can download the complete sermon manuscript by clicking here. Here is an excerpt:

*****

If you were to ask me what was the greatest problem in American Christianity, I would say that it lies in the church's lack of teaching of the theology behind Romans chapter 6. This lack of teaching, indeed, is what John Piper refers to as the tragedy of "healing My people lightly". If indwelling sin is indeed a reality, and if the teachings of the New Testament are true, then there is a great disparity between the teachings of the church today and the teaching of the Bible. The Bible clearly teaches that there is a battle with sin that exists in the life of every Christian (Romans 7:20), and that every true Christian is actively engaged in the battle. It is a battle in which the true Christian has been uniquely given the power by the Spirit of God to win. The believer knows the theological fact that he is righteous only through the righteousness of another, but, as Spurgeon prays, "but we pant and pine for personal likeness to Thee." The disparity in teaching in the modern church comes where we do not find Christian leaders teaching on the biblical reality that there is a difference in the believer and the unbeliever…that where justification by faith is taught, leaders often skip the teaching of how every believer will see evidence of his justification, and find great assurance thereof, in his daily sanctification.

It has been said that there is little difference between the world and the church. Many surveys have been conducted, and statistics have been printed and distributed that tell the tale. It has been found by researchers that, as far as things like divorce, abortion, sexual immorality, stealing, lying, greed, abuse, outbursts of anger, etc., that there is no statistical difference between those inside the church and those outside the church. The reason for this is how the statisticians define the term "Christian." But lest we lay the blame for this at the feet of the statisticians, we must acknowledge that their definition of a Christian is no different than how much of the leadership of the modern church now defines it…..if you've been baptized, are a member of a church, or even go to a church occasionally…if you've been to church at least once in your life, or know someone that has, or live in the same city as a church, if you were dropped off at VBS as a child, and led in a coerced prayer by the pastor or evangelist…..if at least one time in your life, you knew when to say "uh, huh" when the evangelist asked you if you were a sinner and wanted to go to heaven instead of hell, then you're a Christian. Then it is [quote] "scientifically" observed that the behavior of these [quote] "Christians" is no different than those who do not profess to be Christians. In fact, in some cases, it is found that those naming the name of Christ actually are worse in their moral behavior than those who do not.

Is it true, that there is no difference between the unbelieving world and the church? If it is, then I am wasting my entire life in the study and the preaching of the Scriptures and so are you. If these things be true, that the world is just as moral (or immoral) as the church, then Christianity is a lie and Jesus was the person that he is made up to be by the Discovery channel…..just a guy who had some good teachings, but very mysterious and suspect. Is it true that the Church, the bride of Christ, has defiled herself, and is not ready for her Groom? Certainly not! If there is nothing more blasphemous coming from the mouths of men today I do not know what is. No, there IS a difference between the world and the Church. There is a difference between the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ and that hideous bride of the Devil. For the Bride of Christ is glorious, and chaste, and prepared to meet her Groom. The true Church is holy, and separate from the world. The true followers of Jesus crucify the flesh daily, and though they battle, and battle long and hard, and get cut up and shot up and wounded and broken in the battle with the sin that dwells in them, they do find victory. By the Spirit of our God they slay one Goliath after another, as David, who "….killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine [of sin] will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God….The Lord, who delivered [David] from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver [you, believer] from the hand of this Philistine [of sin]." (1 Samuel 17:36-37, NKJV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

Preached Sunday, April 26, 2009, Grace Family Church of Americus

Romans 5:12-15

Click here to listen now!

You can download the complete sermon manuscript by clicking here. Here is an excerpt:

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, (Romans 5:14, NKJV)

Death reigned….people died…between the time of Adam and Moses. The question, again, is, why did they die? Personal sinning, or something else? Paul's argument, and the argument for the Gospel, is…..they died because of something else. Their death is a symptom of a disease, and Paul sees past the superficial diagnosis, that wrong diagnosis being that death is due to personal sinning, by looking at when exactly the symptom began to manifest itself. That's the mark of a good doctor. Instead of giving a patient Tylenol for a headache, a good doctor will ask the patient to recall when he first started getting the headaches. Allergies. Food. Diabetes. Many other causes. So when the doctor and patient can come together and pinpoint when the symptoms started, they can together see what causes it, and avoid that cause, or in this case, give a cure that specifically removes the cause.

When did death begin, and under what circumstances? Death reigned from Adam to the Lawgiver…… even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam. Paul's nailing the point here…and I want you to see it! I have read over these verses hundreds of times and did not see this HUGE point….I want you to see it. Death reigned…..even in those who did not sin personally. Who are these people who did not sin personally, but died anyway? And why does it matter?

One thought was that these are the "sinless perfectionists", who deny the doctrine of Original Sin, and therefore believe that a person can live sinless. Impossible. They die. End of argument. Another is those who do not know the Law of Moses. They die too. Scripture teaches that the Law is written on their hearts. People die. All people die. Paul is getting us to see why. So what Paul is speaking of here….whom he is speaking of here…that there are those who did not have knowledge of God's commands, and died in complete innocence. They never sinned personally. Who are these people?

Scripture is clear….there are none of these people alive. No one does good…all have turned aside. So who can these people be, that paid the penalty for sin that they did not personally commit? Those in whom death reigned, but did not sin like Adam (with personal knowledge of the command)….must be babies. Infants. I agree with the Puritan commentator Matthew Henry here….the only people these can be and move Paul's argument forward and focus it like a laser…are infants who died.

Embryos do not peruse a buffet of attributes, and decide which ones they will take on and which ones they will refuse. No child has ever looked at the vast array of eye colors and said…."I think I'll have hazel eyes. Take these blue ones and give me hazel." Or, "I want to be tall, so take this short stature and let me trade it for tall." How ridiculous is that! In the same way, no embryo has the ability to choose a sinless nature. They are created like their father, Adam, conceived with the penalty of death being standard equipment. It is not an option…..

They did not commit sin, because they did not have the capacity to know a Law to sin against….but they died. They did not die because of personal sinning, but of something much deeper than that….sin was imputed to them….by their union with Adam. They died because sin was imputed to them by the one man….Adam….who is a type of Him who was to come. (Romans 5:14, NKJV)

Then Paul gives us some strange words here….Adam was a type, or a pattern, or figure. He was like Christ in some way that Paul is teaching us here. How so? In Adam, through this one man, sin, and death through sin, was IMPUTED to us. This was given to all people without exception, by virtue of our being in Adam. It was given to all who are IN ADAM. Given without our assent, but sovereignly, by God. All who are in Adam….die. And Adam is said to be a pattern…a type….of Christ. Read on…. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. (Romans 5:15, NKJV)

There is more in this verse that we will be able to tackle today, but I will use it to conclude the argument Paul is making in our time together this morning. Adam is a type Christ, in that through this one man, what was Adam's (sin) was imputed to all people who are
in him….which is all people. He is like Christ in that way…that all who are in Him receive something freely, and without choice. Even infants, the most helpless of all, who have no choice to make good or bad, receive what Adam has given them. And Christ gives freely in the same way. In that all who are in Him receive freely what is Christ's alone…..to the most helpless of all creatures, unable to do anything for righteousness sake…..all who are in Him receive the free gift of His righteousness, not by our own will or decision, but by the free mercy and predetermined will of our God.

God used one man, Adam, that sin and death would enter all that are in him, not by anything that we have done, but by virtue of our being in Adam…..so that He could use One Man, that sin and death would be defeated, in all that are in Him….not by anything that we have done, but by virtue of our being in Him….Jesus Christ, the Righteous.

This is an amazing truth that could never be conceived by mortal man. It is far too glorious to be man's invention. Well does the Scripture say, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9, NKJV).

Sermon for May 4, 2009

Preached May 4, 2009, by Chase Ostrander

2 Samuel 24

Listen Now!

Much More – Assurance and Perseverance

Preached Sunday, April 26, 2009, Grace Family Church of Americus

Romans 5:9-11

Click here to listen now!

You can download the complete sermon manuscript by clicking here. Here is an excerpt:

********

…..Now let's look at the phrase "saved by His life". When someone comes to die, the appointed time comes to take a look at that person's will. The heart desires of that person for those who are left behind are manifest in that written will, and it is up to the family to see that those wishes are carried out. Nowadays, in particular, the wishes of the deceased are becoming less and less attended to, as the materialism of this world increases, selfishness and greed reign supreme, siblings fight over things that will not matter in eternity, as the executors of the will dissent and forget what the person who died wanted altogether in their will.

But this is not so with the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes indeed, Jesus died, and even died with a will for what was to happen after His death. Now today, there are many who fight and squabble over what His will is, and how they interpret it, and what they think He would have wanted. But our Lord Jesus Christ did not leave this world with a will and a hope that His children could carry out that will for Him. No, according to the Scriptures, Christ has died. He was buried, according to the Scriptures, and according to the Scriptures He was raised. So unlike those who squabble over wills today, our Lord Jesus did not leave us to carry out His will on our own…..but He lives to carry it out Himself. For the resurrection is proof of His faithfulness, in that He has the authority to lay down His life, and He has the authority to take it up again!

The will of God in Christ Jesus is that not one of His own perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). So you can know that as you go about preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom to every person who has breath, not one of the elect of God will perish. His will is to redeem His people, that none be lost. We need not question our Lord as to what He wanted in His will! Go, and preach the Gospel to every creature….He will surely draw them unto Himself! And if the Christ who shed His blood in death for His people now lives for them, you can be sure that not one drop of His blood will be shed in vain, because if His blood be shed for you, then that holy blood that was shed for you in the horrors of His death shall be vindicated in the beauty of His life!

The will of God is to deliver us from the evil of this present age (Galatians 1:4). Dear friends, you can know that the God whose will it is that you be delivered from evil, will surely do it, for He died to justify you from it, and He lives to sanctify you from it! Your sins, though they be as scarlet, yet shall they be as wool. Your cross may look heavy and burdensome, your flesh though it be ever so weak, if it be the will of God for all of His children to be delivered from evil behaviors and sins, then you shall indeed be delivered if you are in Him. For it is furthermore the will of God….your sanctification (1 Thess. 4:3)…and this will is not left to sinners to carry out, but to the Sinless One, the One who died and now lives shall see to it that every jot and tittle of His will be carried out to the letter. You who struggle and fight this sinful flesh today, you fight in the strength of the Son of God, for if it were not for Him you would not fight. For your strength to fight against sin is not found in a cold dead body underneath a cold dead tombstone in a graveyard, but if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, you come not to a cold dead stone, but:

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." (1 Peter 2:4-6, NKJV)

The will of God is that Christ makes intercession for the saints (Romans 8:27). Folks, I know that there are many times that I need more prayer than I can utter, for the Scripture is true, that I do not know how to pray as I ought. But the eternal will of God is this….that the Spirit of God intercede for us….even the Son….who lives, and now stands at the right hand of the Father. And He that became sin in death for you becomes righteousness and sanctification in life for you, and it is He who lives and pleads for you at the Father's throne. And if He who is infinitely valued and loved of the Father pleads for you, you shall surely never be lost!

And dear friends, if today you have no assurance that you are His, but your desire is to come to Him, in repentance for breaking His Law, and in childlike faith knowing that you are without strength, then come to Him. You who are weary and heavy laden with sin….come to Him. You who are estranged from Him, be reconciled to your God. Come to Him. For He is gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find peace for your souls. For His words are these:

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:36-40, NKJV).

The Death of Jesus Applied

Preached Sunday, April 12, 2009, Grace Family Church of Americus

Romans 5:6-8

Click here to listen now!

You can download the complete sermon manuscript by clicking here. Here is an excerpt:

********

Notice what the Scripture teaches in verse 7. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die…

For a long time, this verse was a little of an enigma for me. I thought it was strange, even a bit out of place. It was one of those that we often read over, and don't take much from. But let me give you an illustration here that may help bring it to light….and remember that the context here is the doctrine of Christian Assurance:

Perhaps, in your mind, you can imagine a great historical figure who has made a distinct impression on you, and been the result of a great life change, or a person that has been helpful or kind to you. That person has been held hostage, and the moment comes where you could place yourself in harm's way on his behalf, to help him escape. You might do that. You might even die for such a person.

Or, imagine that there is a person in a similar situation, who may not be as influential to you, but is otherwise a good and decent person. The criminal has him by the throat and is about to execute him, and suddenly, you have that window of opportunity to save him, but it might cost you your own life. It is not out of the realm of possibility that someone might do such a thing for an otherwise innocent person.

But then the same situation comes up. You see a man who is being held at knifepoint, his life threatened by an attacker. All of the sudden, there is a window of opportunity to rescue him, but it might cost you your life. In that instant, you look into the eyes of the hostage….and you remember his face. There with his life hanging in the balance is the man who killed your wife in cold blood. There is the man who raped you. There is the man who drowned your child. There is the man who stole your life savings. There he is, the one who murdered your parents. And you have the ability to prevent his death, at the risk of your own life. Now that is a different situation indeed. But hear the Word of God this morning…..YOU are that criminal….and CHRIST died for YOU anyway.

You were the enemy of God, and God demonstrated His love for you. He showed you His love, in that He gave His Son for you, not when you were a good person, or a righteous person, or even an otherwise innocent person….but while you were a sinner. An enemy. You hated God, and rebelled against Him……

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NKJV)