A Remarkable Change

TEXT:  Rom. 6:17-18

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY THE SAME.

          1.       Same now as back then.

          2.       Individuals do change radically, but rarely.

B.      WE SEE A REMARKABLE CHANGE IN THE ROMANS – AND IN US!

I.      WHAT THEY WERE – SLAVES OF SIN.

A.      GUILTY – WHAT SIN IS (1 John 3:4;  James 4:17).

B.      WHAT SIN DOES:

          1.       Eph. 2:1, 12.  No hope, cut off.

          2.       Isa. 59:1-2.  God doesn’t hear.

          3.       Matt. 5:14-16.  Impact on others – Influence (Matt. 18:6-7).

C.      CONSEQUENCE.

          1.       Physical consequence (Heb. 12:7-11).

          2.       Eternal consequence (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

II.     WHAT THEY LEARNED – THE GOSPEL, FREEDOM FROM SIN.

A.      GOD’S INTENTION FOR ALL MEN (Mark 16:15;  1 Tim. 2:3-4).

          1.       Why? (Rom. 1:16-17).

          2.       The truth makes us free (John 8:31-32).

          3.       Ignorance is a factor in sin (Rom. 1:28;  2 Tim. 3:13).

          4.       So Jesus invites the burdened (Matt. 11:28-30).  Learn of me.

B.      THE GOSPEL TELLS US ABOUT SIN ( John 16:8).

C.      IT TELLS WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT (Titus 2:11-12;  2 Tim. 3:16-17).

III.    WHAT DID THEY DO?  OBEYED FROM THE HEART.

A.      PROPER REACTION – IMMEDIATE (Acts 2:41;  8:36;  16:33).

B.      KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT ACTION FUTILE (James 1:22;  2:14-26).

C.      Heb. 5:8-9.

D.      FROM THE HEART (Matt. 15:7-8).

IV.   WHAT THEY RECEIVED – FREEDOM FROM SIN.

A.      ITS SERVITUDE (Rom. 6:4-13;  Heb. 2:14-15).

B.      ITS SHAME (1 Pet. 2:9).

C.      ITS PUNISHMENT (Rom. 6:20-23).

D.      ETERNAL LIFE (vs. 23).

E.      FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (2 Cor. 5:18-21;  1 John 1:6-7).

V.    WHAT THEY BECAME – SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

A.      JOY AWAITS US – WE DON’T HAVE TO GRAB ALL THE GUSTO!

B.      OUR LIVES CAN AMOUNT TO SOMETHING – NOT JUST DEAD!

C.      REDEEMED TO A PURPOSE (Titus 2:14;  3:1).

D.      AGAIN, THE RESULT? (Rom. 6:21-23).

CONCLUSION:

A.      HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE?

B.      HAVE YOU DIED TO SIN?

          1.       Legally, sin is gone and dead (Rom. 6:3-4).

          2.       We no longer serve sin (Rom. 6:1-2).