God's Salvation: Triumph Over Sin Through Christ
Summary
In Romans 8:3-4, Paul presents a profound declaration of the Gospel of Salvation, emphasizing what the law could not achieve and how God accomplished it through His Son. The law, though holy and righteous, was unable to enable us to fulfill its demands due to the weakness of our flesh. It could not impart life or righteousness, leaving us in bondage to sin. However, God intervened by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh, thereby fulfilling the righteousness of the law in us who walk according to the Spirit.
This passage underscores the transformative power of the Gospel, which not only justifies us but also imparts righteousness, enabling us to live a new life in Christ. The Apostle Paul refutes the notion that justification by faith leads to a life of sin, asserting instead that it results in a life of triumph over sin through the Spirit. The law, while revealing sin, could not change us or even create a desire to obey it. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we are empowered to live according to God's will.
The essence of salvation is entirely of God, from beginning to end. It is God's action, not man's, that secures our redemption. This assurance is rooted in the fact that God sent His own Son, not a created being, but the eternal Son, to accomplish what the law could not. This divine plan, conceived before the foundation of the world, guarantees our salvation and eternal security. The love of God is demonstrated in the sending of His own Son, providing us with the assurance that our salvation is as secure as the character and glory of God Himself.
Key Takeaways:
1. The law reveals sin but cannot impart righteousness or life due to the weakness of our flesh. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we are empowered to fulfill the righteousness of the law, living a new life in Christ. [02:22]
2. Justification by faith does not lead to a life of sin but to a life of triumph over sin. The Gospel imparts righteousness, enabling us to live according to the Spirit and bear fruit unto God. [05:32]
3. Salvation is entirely of God, from beginning to end. It is God's action, not man's, that secures our redemption. This assurance is rooted in the fact that God sent His own Son to accomplish what the law could not. [22:07]
4. The love of God is demonstrated in the sending of His own Son, providing us with the assurance that our salvation is as secure as the character and glory of God Himself. [34:53]
5. The eternal Son of God, not a created being, guarantees our salvation. This divine plan, conceived before the foundation of the world, ensures that our salvation is safe and secure for eternity. [37:02]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Romans 8:3-4
[01:06] - What the Law Could Not Do
[02:22] - Imparted vs. Imputed Righteousness
[03:43] - The Christian's New Life
[05:01] - Justification and Newness of Life
[06:22] - Delivered from the Law
[07:47] - Weakness Through the Flesh
[09:11] - Illustration of the Law's Weakness
[11:11] - The Law's Inability to Change Us
[13:34] - The Aggravation of Sin by the Law
[15:32] - Deliverance from Sin and the Law
[16:49] - God's Action in Salvation
[18:22] - The Sending of God's Own Son
[25:10] - Salvation Through Jesus Christ
[34:53] - The Love of God in Sending His Son
[37:02] - Assurance of Salvation Through the Son
[41:12] - Conclusion and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:3-4
- Romans 6:2, 6
- John 3:16
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "what the law could not do" in Romans 8:3? How does this relate to the weakness of the flesh? [00:30]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling the righteousness of the law in us? [06:59]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of God sending "His own Son" rather than a created being? [27:56]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of "imparted righteousness" as opposed to "imputed righteousness"? [02:36]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the law reveals sin but cannot change us? How does this understanding affect our view of the law? [11:38]
2. How does the sermon argue that justification by faith leads to a life of triumph over sin rather than a life of sin? [05:32]
3. What does the sermon imply about the assurance of salvation being rooted in God's action rather than human effort? [22:07]
4. How does the sermon describe the love of God as demonstrated through the sending of His Son? What impact does this have on our understanding of salvation? [34:53]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you tried to fulfill the law's demands through your own strength. How did that experience highlight the need for the Holy Spirit's empowerment in your life? [12:59]
2. The sermon emphasizes that justification by faith leads to a new life in Christ. What specific changes have you noticed in your life since embracing faith? How can you continue to grow in this new life? [05:32]
3. Consider the assurance of salvation as described in the sermon. How does knowing that salvation is entirely of God affect your daily walk with Him? [22:07]
4. The sermon highlights the love of God in sending His own Son. How can you demonstrate this love to others in your community this week? [34:53]
5. Think about the concept of imparted righteousness. What steps can you take to allow the Holy Spirit to work more fully in your life, enabling you to live according to God's will? [02:36]
6. How can you remind yourself daily of the security of your salvation in Christ, especially during times of doubt or struggle? [37:02]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel bound by sin. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you overcome this area and live in the freedom that Christ offers? [06:59]
Devotional
Day 1: The Law's Limitations and the Spirit's Empowerment
The law, though holy and righteous, reveals sin but cannot impart righteousness or life due to the weakness of our flesh. It serves as a mirror, showing us our shortcomings and our need for a Savior. However, it is only through the Holy Spirit that we are empowered to fulfill the righteousness of the law, living a new life in Christ. This transformative power of the Gospel enables us to live according to God's will, overcoming the limitations of the law and the weakness of our flesh. [02:22]
"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel bound by the limitations of your own strength? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to live according to God's will today?
Day 2: Justification Leads to Triumph Over Sin
Justification by faith does not lead to a life of sin but to a life of triumph over sin. The Gospel imparts righteousness, enabling us to live according to the Spirit and bear fruit unto God. This new life in Christ is marked by victory over sin, as we are no longer slaves to our sinful nature but are empowered by the Spirit to live in righteousness. The transformative power of the Gospel assures us that our faith leads to a life that glorifies God and reflects His character. [05:32]
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a specific sin or struggle in your life. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you overcome it and live in the victory that Christ has already won for you?
Day 3: Salvation is God's Work from Start to Finish
Salvation is entirely of God, from beginning to end. It is God's action, not man's, that secures our redemption. This assurance is rooted in the fact that God sent His own Son to accomplish what the law could not. Our salvation is not dependent on our efforts or merits but on God's sovereign plan and His grace. This divine plan, conceived before the foundation of the world, guarantees our salvation and eternal security, providing us with a firm foundation for our faith. [22:07]
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight." (Ephesians 1:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on the ways you might be trying to earn God's favor through your own efforts. How can you rest in the assurance that your salvation is secure in God's hands?
Day 4: The Love of God Demonstrated Through His Son
The love of God is demonstrated in the sending of His own Son, providing us with the assurance that our salvation is as secure as the character and glory of God Himself. This act of love is the ultimate expression of God's commitment to our redemption and His desire for us to be reconciled to Him. The sending of Jesus is a testament to the depth of God's love and the lengths He will go to ensure our salvation. This assurance of God's love gives us confidence in our relationship with Him and motivates us to live in response to His grace. [34:53]
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding the depth of God's love for you through Jesus impact the way you view your relationship with Him? How can you respond to this love in your daily life?
Day 5: The Eternal Son Guarantees Our Salvation
The eternal Son of God, not a created being, guarantees our salvation. This divine plan, conceived before the foundation of the world, ensures that our salvation is safe and secure for eternity. The fact that God sent His eternal Son, rather than a created being, underscores the significance and certainty of our redemption. This assurance of salvation is rooted in the character and glory of God, providing us with a steadfast hope and confidence in our eternal destiny. [37:02]
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." (Ephesians 1:11, ESV)
Reflection: Consider the security of your salvation in Christ. How does this assurance affect your perspective on life's challenges and your eternal future? How can you live with greater confidence in God's promises today?
Quotes
The law, though holy and righteous, was unable to enable us to fulfill its demands due to the weakness of our flesh. It could not impart life or righteousness, leaving us in bondage to sin. However, God intervened by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh, thereby fulfilling the righteousness of the law in us who walk according to the Spirit. [00:00:18]
The law cannot enable us to fulfill the righteousness of the law. In other words, the law cannot give us life. That is our interpretation of the statement what the law could not do. You remember that towards the end I was at pains to press this particular point, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us is the key to the understanding. [00:01:09]
The Christian is a man who should not serve sin and who does not serve sin. The whole object of his Redemption is that so that it seems to me to be very wrong to exclude that notion from the interpretation which we put to the phrase that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us. [00:04:47]
The moment we become Christians we are under this Rule and reign in the power of Grace. The moment we become Christians we are living this new life in Christ in the spirit. The moment we become Christians therefore this Mighty process of sanctification has begun the imparting of the righteousness of Christ as well as the imputing of it. [00:06:45]
Salvation is all together and entirely of God. It's what God has done, not men, but God. God sending his own son. It's his plan, it's his purpose. Man was completely helpless. Bibles full of that teaching, our hymns which we've been singing are full of that teaching when all was sin and shame. [00:18:07]
God was not taken by surprise when men sinned. Salvation was planned before men of the world were ever brought into being. And you notice how here as everywhere else the great Apostle brings the three persons of the Blessed Holy Trinity into it: God sending his own son and the end of the statement is we who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. [00:19:30]
The whole of the Apostles argument here and in the whole of this chapter rests on this point that I'm emphasizing at this moment. He starts off with a triumphant declaration there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus that grand absolute which looks back present and future and says we are safe forever and all eternity. [00:21:24]
If this salvation depended at any point upon us he could never have said that there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus because you see if it's left to us at any point we are certain to go out of it we'll fall out of it we'll sin out of it we'll go out of it in our minds. [00:22:24]
God not men you see men can't do anything even the law can't do anything because of men's weakness even the law of God can't do it because it was weak through the flesh our flesh so you see if God's salvation is again going to depend upon our flesh my faith my holding on my abiding or anything it's going to fail. [00:22:47]
The love of God is demonstrated in the sending of His own Son, providing us with the assurance that our salvation is as secure as the character and glory of God Himself. There's the measure of the love of God to you that he so loved you that he sent his own his only begotten son into the world for you. [00:34:53]
Our Salvation is guaranteed and safe and sure until we are finally glorified and without spot or wrinkle or any such thing because we are in Christ and Christ is God's own son the only begotten of the father eternally generated with God from all eternity Co equal and coeternal. [00:39:32]
There is no salvation apart from the Sun. People may talk about believing in God and serving God and not mention the Lord Jesus Christ they're only deluding themselves. There is no knowledge of God apart from him. There is no reconciliation with God except through him. It is all done through him. [00:25:10]
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