Empowered by Grace: Overcoming Sin in Christ
Summary
In the sermon titled "The Naughty List | Week 4 Sermon Only," the pastor explores the Christian's battle with sin and the transformative power of grace through Christ. The sermon draws from Romans 6:14-18, emphasizing that believers are not under the law but under grace, which empowers them to resist sin and become instruments of righteousness. The pastor uses the metaphor of sin as a gorilla, a separate entity within us that we must choose not to feed. By visualizing sin as distinct from our identity, we can better resist its temptations and live out our true identity in Christ.
The pastor discusses the concept of being dead to sin and alive to God, explaining that our relationship with sin changes when we enter into a relationship with God. Sin's consequences are highlighted, with the pastor urging listeners to embrace the truth that they are in Christ and therefore have eternal life, a present reality, not just a future promise. The pastor encourages the congregation to obsess over these truths and to remind themselves that sin does not have the final word.
The power of Christ's redemption is a central theme, with the pastor suggesting that believers should repeat the truth of their redemption to diminish sin's power. The importance of recognizing the bad news of sin is necessary to appreciate the good news of Christmas and Christ's power. The pastor acknowledges the struggle many face in realizing their freedom in Christ and the need to live in accordance with the truth that they are dead to sin and alive to God.
The pastor also addresses the temptation to engage in sinful behavior during heated conversations, reminding the audience that their identity is in Christ, not in sin. The struggle with sin is acknowledged, but the pastor emphasizes that believers have the power to resist sin and present themselves as instruments of righteousness to God.
The sermon concludes with practical applications, encouraging believers to present themselves as slaves to righteousness and sanctification. The pastor uses the analogy of invisible fences for dogs to illustrate how believers have been trained to stay within the boundaries of righteousness through the gospel. The sermon ends with instructions on participating in communion, a time for believers to reflect on Christ's sacrifice.
Key Takeaways:
- Believers have the power to choose righteousness over sin because they are under grace, not the law. This choice is a daily act of presenting oneself to God and resisting the internal "gorilla" of sin. The struggle is real, but so is the victory through Christ's redemption. [26:48]
- Sin should be visualized as an entity separate from our true selves, allowing us to combat it more effectively. By understanding that sin resides within us but is not who we are, we can better align our actions with our identity in Christ and live out the righteousness we are called to. [11:56]
- Eternal life through Christ is not just a future hope but a present reality for believers. This truth should be a constant reminder that sin's power is broken, and we are now part of God's family, which changes how we view and respond to sin's temptations. [37:55]
- The acknowledgment of sin's presence and the conscious decision not to feed it is crucial in diminishing its power. Repeating and believing the truth of our redemption in Christ weakens sin's hold on us and is a practice that requires time and dedication. [43:00]
- The freedom believers have in Christ is not just a theological concept but a practical reality that should manifest in behavior. Understanding that we are dead to sin and alive to God helps us to reckon with our new identity and live in the freedom that Christ has won for us. [05:14]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Romans 6:14-18 (ESV): "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 6:14-18, what are the two options for whom we can present ourselves as slaves? What are the outcomes of each option?
2. In the sermon, the pastor uses the metaphor of a gorilla to describe sin. How does this metaphor help us understand the nature of sin and its influence on us? [12:40]
3. What does the pastor mean when he says that sin has been rendered powerless because of the gospel? How does this relate to the concept of the "invisible fence"? [03:18]
4. How does the pastor describe the change in our relationship with sin once we are in Christ? [09:33]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does visualizing sin as a separate entity, like a gorilla, help believers in their daily struggle against sin? [12:40]
2. What does it mean to be "dead to sin and alive to God" as described in Romans 6:11? How should this truth impact a believer's daily life? [07:44]
3. The pastor mentions that believers should "obsess over the truths" of their redemption in Christ. How can this practice weaken sin's hold on us? [37:16]
4. How does the concept of being "slaves to righteousness" change the way we view our actions and decisions? [27:14]
#### Application Questions
1. The pastor talks about the importance of not feeding the "gorilla" of sin. What are some practical steps you can take to starve the gorilla in your life? [20:59]
2. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt tempted to sin. How could visualizing sin as a separate entity have helped you resist that temptation? [12:40]
3. The sermon emphasizes the present reality of eternal life in Christ. How can this truth change the way you respond to daily challenges and temptations? [36:07]
4. The pastor encourages believers to present themselves as instruments of righteousness. What specific actions can you take this week to present yourself to God in this way? [25:09]
5. Think about a time when you felt like sin had the final word in your life. How can you remind yourself of your true identity in Christ during similar future situations? [38:05]
6. The pastor mentions the struggle many face in realizing their freedom in Christ. What are some ways you can practically live out this freedom in your daily interactions? [04:48]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of "obsessing over the truths" of your redemption into your daily routine? What specific truths will you focus on? [37:16]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of the sermon, "The Naughty List | Week 4 Sermon Only," and apply the transformative power of grace through Christ in their daily lives.
Devotional
Day 1: Grace Empowers Righteous Choices
Grace is not a license to sin but the divine empowerment to choose righteousness daily. Under grace, one has the strength to resist the internal "gorilla" of sin, presenting oneself to God as an instrument of righteousness. This daily choice is a testament to the victory believers have through Christ's redemption. [26:48]
Titus 2:11-12 - "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
Reflection: How can you actively choose to live under God's grace today, turning away from temptations that confront you?
Day 2: Sin as the Alien Intruder
Sin, though present, is not the core of one's identity but an alien intruder that can be combated. Recognizing sin as separate from oneself enables a clearer path to align actions with the identity in Christ, living out the righteousness to which one is called. [11:56]
Romans 7:20 - "Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
Reflection: What steps can you take to reinforce the truth that you are not defined by sin, but by your identity in Christ?
Day 3: Eternal Life as a Present Reality
Eternal life in Christ is not a distant hope but a present reality that shapes how believers view and respond to sin. This transformative truth breaks the power of sin and integrates believers into God's family, changing their relationship with sin and its temptations. [37:55]
1 John 5:11-12 - "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."
Reflection: How does understanding eternal life as a current possession influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?
Day 4: Diminishing Sin's Power Through Truth
Acknowledging sin's presence and consciously choosing not to feed it diminishes its power. Repeating and believing in the truth of redemption in Christ weakens sin's hold, a practice that requires dedication and time. [43:00]
James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Reflection: What are some truths about your redemption in Christ that you can repeat to yourself today to weaken the temptation to sin?
Day 5: Living in Freedom Won by Christ
The freedom won by Christ is a practical reality that should manifest in behavior, showing that believers are dead to sin and alive to God. This understanding prompts a reckoning with one's new identity and living in the freedom Christ has secured. [05:14]
Galatians 5:1 - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Reflection: In what ways can you live out the freedom Christ has won for you, especially in areas where you've previously felt bound by sin?
Quotes
"The gorilla in you, it resides in you, has no roar. It doesn't get to cast the deciding vote. You don't have to let it win. You have the same relationship with sin that Christ does because you are now in him." [16:37] (Download)
"You can begin to identify as being in Christ and then what you can begin to do is you begin to see life is, it's not you against God, it's you and God against sin. This thing that dwells, that resides inside of you." [17:40] (Download)
"In your life, in my life, if we're ever going to defeat the gorilla in us, we have to stop feeding it. We have to stop giving it power. We have to stop giving it strength and energy. We have to starve the gorilla in us." [20:59] (Download)
"When we begin to identify sin as an entity, then we can begin to identify ourselves more as being in Christ than with sin. I'm not the gorilla, and the gorilla is not me." [24:05] (Download)
"Sin says, I want you to identify with all of those feelings so closely that you think that those feelings are you. Instead of seeing them as a temptation, you can say no to, because in reality, it has no power." [31:50] (Download)
"Because I am in Christ, because I am a new person, I no longer have to say yes to sin. I am new, the old is gone. The gorilla has lost its bite." [31:50] (Download)
"We can make practical what God has made actual. We can put into our daily lives what God says is true about us." [31:50] (Download)
"You are free to be the man, to be the woman that God has called you to be. You are free to break those habits, to break those chains, to walk in freedom when it comes to the power of sin in your life." [05:14] (Download)
"It's not a matter of believing it in order to make it true, it's that since this is true, I need to believe it. Since it's true that sin has been rendered powerless in my life, I need to live as though it is true, because it is in fact true for followers of Jesus." [08:30] (Download)
"In those moments when unrighteousness beckons, we can say, 'No, I don't have to do that. You have no power. I'm going to starve you right now and instead, I'm going to present myself to God because I am in Christ.'" [28:45] (Download)
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