Evaluating Life's Choices: Profit in God vs. Sin

 

Summary

In Romans 6:21, Paul poses a profound question to the Roman Christians: "What profit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?" This question serves as a spiritual audit, urging us to evaluate the fruits of our past actions and the ultimate outcomes of our choices. Life, much like a business, can result in either profit or loss, and the Bible acts as a guide to ensure we come out on the right side. The Apostle Paul contrasts two ways of living: serving sin or serving God. He emphasizes that there is no true freedom in this world; we are either slaves to sin or slaves to God. The critical question is, who or what controls our lives?

The life of sin, Paul argues, is ultimately a life of folly. It is akin to a business that appears busy but is actually making a loss. Sinful living is characterized by temporary pleasures that are ultimately empty and lead to shame and spiritual death. The Apostle urges us to think and reason, to keep spiritual accounts, and to recognize the inevitable consequences of a life lived apart from God. Sin may offer immediate gratification, but it is a fleeting froth that leaves us with nothing of lasting value.

In contrast, the life of God is one of true profit. It is a life that calls forth our highest faculties, offering joy, peace, and eternal satisfaction. This life is not only profitable in the present but also promises eternal life with God. The Apostle highlights the difference between the wages of sin, which is death, and the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ. This gift is freely offered, requiring only our belief and acceptance.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, the call is to conduct a spiritual audit, to recognize the futility of a life of sin, and to embrace the gift of eternal life offered by God. This is the ultimate profit, a life lived in the presence of God, free from shame and filled with eternal joy.

Key Takeaways:

- Life is a spiritual business where we must evaluate whether we are making a profit or a loss. The Bible serves as our guide, urging us to choose wisely between serving sin or serving God. The choice we make determines the ultimate outcome of our lives. [06:39]

- True freedom is not found in living for oneself but in serving God. We are always slaves to something, and the critical question is whether we are controlled by sin or by God. This choice has profound implications for our lives and our eternal destiny. [10:58]

- The life of sin is ultimately a life of folly, offering temporary pleasures that lead to shame and spiritual death. It is a life that exhausts and diminishes us, leaving us with nothing of lasting value. [28:27]

- In contrast, the life of God is one of true profit, offering joy, peace, and eternal satisfaction. It is a life that calls forth our highest faculties and promises eternal life with God. This life is a gift, freely offered by God through Jesus Christ. [46:28]

- As we enter a new year, we are called to conduct a spiritual audit, recognizing the futility of a life of sin and embracing the gift of eternal life offered by God. This is the ultimate profit, a life lived in the presence of God, free from shame and filled with eternal joy. [53:10]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Romans 6:21
- [01:14] - The Question of Profit and Loss
- [02:34] - Servants of Sin vs. Servants of God
- [03:32] - The Bible as a Book of Accountancy
- [06:10] - Two Ways of Living
- [08:50] - The Illusion of Freedom
- [11:32] - The Folly of Sinful Living
- [14:02] - The Call to Think and Reason
- [17:06] - The Worthlessness of Sin
- [22:39] - The Cost of Sinful Living
- [28:44] - The Shame of Sin
- [36:05] - The End of Sin is Death
- [42:05] - The Profit of Godly Living
- [50:01] - The Gift of Eternal Life

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Romans 6:21: "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death."

#### Observation Questions
1. What question does Paul pose to the Roman Christians in Romans 6:21, and why is it significant? [00:27]
2. How does the sermon describe the life of sin in terms of profit and loss? [05:51]
3. According to the sermon, what are the two ways of living that Paul contrasts? [08:50]
4. What does the sermon say about the consequences of living a life of sin? [36:05]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of a "spiritual audit" help believers evaluate their lives according to the sermon? [12:09]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the life of sin is ultimately unprofitable? [28:27]
3. How does the sermon explain the difference between being a "slave to sin" and a "slave to God"? [10:58]
4. What does the sermon imply about the nature of true freedom in the context of serving God? [10:09]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your past year. What "spiritual audit" can you conduct to evaluate your choices and their outcomes? How can this guide your decisions in the coming year? [12:09]
2. Identify an area in your life where you might be seeking temporary pleasures. How can you shift your focus to seek lasting joy and satisfaction in God? [19:58]
3. Consider the influences in your life. Are there areas where you feel more like a "slave to sin" than a "slave to God"? What steps can you take to change this? [10:58]
4. How can you embrace the "gift of eternal life" more fully in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to live in the presence of God? [50:01]
5. Think about a decision you are currently facing. How can you apply the principles of spiritual profit and loss to make a choice that aligns with serving God? [06:39]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt ashamed of a past action. How can you use that experience to grow spiritually and avoid similar choices in the future? [29:03]
7. What specific actions can you take this week to cultivate joy, peace, and eternal satisfaction in your life as described in the sermon? [46:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Life as a Spiritual Business
Life is a spiritual business where we must evaluate whether we are making a profit or a loss. The Bible serves as our guide, urging us to choose wisely between serving sin or serving God. The choice we make determines the ultimate outcome of our lives. Paul’s question in Romans 6:21 challenges us to conduct a spiritual audit, examining the fruits of our past actions and the ultimate outcomes of our choices. Just as a business can result in profit or loss, so can our lives. The Bible provides the wisdom and guidance needed to ensure we come out on the right side. [06:39]

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, ESV)

Reflection: What are the "profits" and "losses" in your spiritual life today, and how can you align your actions with God's guidance to ensure a life of spiritual profit?


Day 2: True Freedom in Serving God
True freedom is not found in living for oneself but in serving God. We are always slaves to something, and the critical question is whether we are controlled by sin or by God. This choice has profound implications for our lives and our eternal destiny. Paul emphasizes that there is no true freedom in this world; we are either slaves to sin or slaves to God. The illusion of freedom in serving oneself is a deception, leading to spiritual bondage. True freedom is found in serving God, where we experience liberation and purpose. [10:58]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways are you currently serving yourself rather than God, and how can you begin to shift your focus towards serving Him and others today?


Day 3: The Folly of Sinful Living
The life of sin is ultimately a life of folly, offering temporary pleasures that lead to shame and spiritual death. It is a life that exhausts and diminishes us, leaving us with nothing of lasting value. Sinful living is characterized by temporary pleasures that are ultimately empty and lead to shame and spiritual death. Paul urges us to think and reason, to keep spiritual accounts, and to recognize the inevitable consequences of a life lived apart from God. Sin may offer immediate gratification, but it is a fleeting froth that leaves us with nothing of lasting value. [28:27]

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a temporary pleasure in your life that may be leading you away from God. How can you begin to replace it with something that brings lasting spiritual value?


Day 4: The Profit of Godly Living
In contrast, the life of God is one of true profit, offering joy, peace, and eternal satisfaction. It is a life that calls forth our highest faculties and promises eternal life with God. This life is a gift, freely offered by God through Jesus Christ. The Apostle highlights the difference between the wages of sin, which is death, and the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ. This gift is freely offered, requiring only our belief and acceptance. [46:28]

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to embrace the gift of eternal life and live a life that reflects the joy and peace of Godly living?


Day 5: Embracing the Gift of Eternal Life
As we enter a new year, we are called to conduct a spiritual audit, recognizing the futility of a life of sin and embracing the gift of eternal life offered by God. This is the ultimate profit, a life lived in the presence of God, free from shame and filled with eternal joy. Standing at the threshold of a new year, the call is to recognize the futility of a life of sin and to embrace the gift of eternal life offered by God. This is the ultimate profit, a life lived in the presence of God, free from shame and filled with eternal joy. [53:10]

"And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life." (1 John 2:25, ESV)

Reflection: As you reflect on the past year, what changes can you make to ensure that you are living a life that embraces the gift of eternal life and reflects God's presence in your daily actions?

Quotes



The Apostle here you see puts a very vital and the most important question to these Roman Christians to whom he was writing though they had become Christians they were not clear about everything and they were still guilty of things of which no men should ever be guilty and they were in a certain amount of muddle with regard to the gospel itself and to its teaching with regard to the life that people ought to live in this world. [00:49:52]

The Bible can be looked at in this way, it's nothing but a great book of accountancy. It's a book that comes to us and says now look here in this whole business of life you can either make a profit or you can make a loss and The Business of the Bible is to instruct us how to make a profit how to come out on the right side. [00:06:25]

According to the Bible there is only there are only two ways in which a man can rarely live in this world they all come down to that it doesn't matter what the minor variations may be, there are ultimately only two ways and you'll find them everywhere in the Bible from beginning to end. [00:07:43]

I'm very anxious to impress that upon your minds and to stress it because that again is one of the first things that we must learn in life unless we are going to make a loss there is no such thing as freedom in this world well I know there are people who talk very aily about free will. [00:09:43]

The real trouble says the Bible with a man who's not a Christian is that he's a fool and when I say a fool I mean this I'm using it in the biblical sense he's a foolish person he's living that sort of Life simply because he doesn't think he's like a man running a business who says now look here I'm not interested in balance sheets. [00:15:52]

The Bible is a primary call to us to think and to reason and to meditate and to ponder and to strike a balance and to keep accounts and to keep our books in order and to call in the Auditors and the accountants and to know exactly where we stand now as you take your New Year's resolutions. [00:16:22]

The life of sin is ultimately a life of folly, offering temporary pleasures that lead to shame and spiritual death. It is a life that exhausts and diminishes us, leaving us with nothing of lasting value. What fruit had ye then while you were doing it while you were living that life what was your profit can you show anything says the Apostle. [00:28:00]

The sinful life always leads to shame it's inevitable it follows as the morning after inevitably follows the night before and you see we have reached this extraordinary position of refinement in sin I read an article in a newspaper by a medical correspondant at least they said he was they didn't give the name. [00:29:52]

The ultimate end of that life of sin is to spend eternity outside the life of God that's death this is life eternal that they might Know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent if that's life what's death the opposite it's not to know God it's to spend the whole of your etern it not knowing God. [00:36:47]

The Godly life by contrast my dear friend I've spent so much time on the other because I know this that no men will even consider The Godly life until he's being convicted of the other what of this life it's the exact opposite it's a good and a noble life in and of itself you see the other was worthless in and of itself. [00:41:40]

It's a life that calls out all our best and our highest and our noblest faculties may I put it simply like this consider the difference if you like without going any further consider the difference between the man who thinks it's wonderful to be drinking alcohol in some shape or form contrast him with you at this moment listening to this reasoned argument. [00:42:18]

The gift of God is eternal life let me put it to you then very simply like this I may have been talking to somebody who hither to has been living that worldly life and you've seen tonight how utterly worthless it is what a complete and what a dead loss it is and you say I've wasted my time I've wasted my energy. [00:50:40]

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Transcript
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