Living Boldly: Embracing the Gospel and Overcoming Sin
Summary
The sermon delivered by the pastor emphasizes the importance of courage and boldness in living out the Gospel. The pastor encourages the congregation to meditate on God's word and spend the upcoming week in obedience to it. The sermon also focuses on the good news of Jesus Christ, which has been the focus of a series of sermons. The pastor introduces the symbol given to represent the gospel and invites the congregation to turn to Romans chapter 6 and read the first seven verses.
The pastor addresses the topic of sin and its consequences, emphasizing the importance of taking action to remove anything in our lives that leads us to sin. The pastor encourages his congregation to put up barriers and guardrails to protect themselves from sin and to not view it as insignificant. Instead, they should follow their Savior, Jesus, rather than giving in to sin. The pastor acknowledges that this may be challenging and messy, but assures the listeners that it is not impossible because they have everything they need through Jesus.
The pastor emphasizes the support and encouragement that Jesus has provided through the church. He urges the congregation not to isolate themselves but to reach out for help and follow Jesus' invitation to be part of the church community. The pastor also highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, referencing Romans 8:11-13. The Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in believers and gives them the power to put sin to death and live in resurrection life.
The pastor focuses on the theme of gospel believing leading to gospel preaching and gospel living. He begins by referencing Romans chapter 6, which talks about how believers have died to sin and have been united with Christ through baptism. The pastor emphasizes that through this union with Christ, believers are set free from sin and should no longer be slaves to it. He then mentions that throughout the series, they have been exploring the good news of Jesus Christ and how by believing in it, believers should also preach and live out the gospel.
The pastor emphasizes the gospel as a demonstration of God's grace. He refers to 1 Corinthians 15, where the Apostle Paul explains that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and appeared in Resurrection form, all according to the scriptures. The pastor emphasizes that what we have been given by God, including forgiveness of sin, abundant life, and eternal life, has not been earned or deserved. It is solely through the completed and sufficient work of Jesus, which is all grace.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of courage and boldness in living out the Gospel. Believers are encouraged to meditate on God's word and spend their time in obedience to it. This obedience is not just a passive acceptance but an active living out of the Gospel in daily life. ([12:45])
- The pastor addresses the topic of sin and its consequences, emphasizing the importance of taking action to remove anything in our lives that leads us to sin. This includes putting up barriers and guardrails to protect ourselves from sin and not viewing it as insignificant. Instead, believers should follow Jesus, rather than giving in to sin. ([24:30])
- The pastor highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. The Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in believers and gives them the power to put sin to death and live in resurrection life. This power is not something that believers have to earn or achieve, but is a gift given freely by God. ([36:15])
- The pastor emphasizes that through the union with Christ, believers are set free from sin and should no longer be slaves to it. This freedom is not just a theoretical concept, but a practical reality that should be lived out in the daily lives of believers. ([48:00])
- The pastor emphasizes the gospel as a demonstration of God's grace. What believers have been given by God, including forgiveness of sin, abundant life, and eternal life, has not been earned or deserved. It is solely through the completed and sufficient work of Jesus, which is all grace. This grace is not a license to sin, but a call to live a life that reflects the love and mercy of God. ([59:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 6:1-7: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin."
2. 1 Corinthians 15: "Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
3. Matthew 5:29-30: "If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 6:1-7 say about the believer's relationship with sin?
2. According to 1 Corinthians 15, what are the key elements of the gospel?
3. What does Matthew 5:29-30 suggest about the seriousness of sin?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does being baptized into Christ's death, as mentioned in Romans 6:1-7, affect the believer's daily life?
2. What does it mean to "hold firmly to the word" as stated in 1 Corinthians 15, and how does it relate to the concept of salvation?
3. How can the drastic measures suggested in Matthew 5:29-30 be understood in the context of our modern lives?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your life. Are there any areas where you are still living as a slave to sin, contrary to what Romans 6:1-7 teaches? What steps can you take to break free from this?
2. How can you actively demonstrate your belief in the gospel, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15, in your interactions with others this week?
3. Considering Matthew 5:29-30, are there any "right eyes" or "right hands" in your life that are causing you to stumble? What practical steps can you take to remove these stumbling blocks?
Devotional
Day 1: Courage and Boldness in Gospel Living
Believers are encouraged to meditate on God's word and spend their time in obedience to it. This is not merely a call to hear the word, but to actively live it out in their daily lives. The importance of courage and boldness in living out the Gospel is emphasized, urging believers to not only understand the word of God but to apply it in their lives. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSkz1Iot56A&t=750s))
Bible Passage: Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate courage and boldness in living out the Gospel today? Can you identify one specific area in your life where you need to apply God's word more boldly?
Day 2: Overcoming Sin through Action
Believers are reminded that sin should not be taken lightly and that they have the power through Jesus to overcome it. They are urged to take action to remove anything in their lives that leads to sin, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in guarding against sin. ([22:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSkz1Iot56A&t=1335s))
Bible Passage: James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to remove anything in your life that leads to sin? How can you resist temptation more effectively?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit gives believers the power to put sin to death and live in resurrection life. This is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. ([34:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSkz1Iot56A&t=2040s))
Bible Passage: Romans 8:11 - "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
Reflection: How can you tap into the transformative power of the Holy Spirit today? Can you identify one area in your life where you need the Spirit's power to overcome sin?
Day 4: Gospel Believing, Preaching, and Living
Believers are called to not only believe in the gospel but to live it out in their lives and to spread the good news to others. This is a call to action for believers to reflect the gospel in their lives and to share the good news with others. ([45:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSkz1Iot56A&t=2735s))
Bible Passage: 1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: How can you live out the gospel in your life today? Can you think of one person with whom you can share the good news?
Day 5: The Gospel as a Demonstration of God's Grace
What we have been given by God, including forgiveness of sin, abundant life, and eternal life, has not been earned or deserved. It is solely through the completed and sufficient work of Jesus, which is all grace. This is a powerful reminder of the unmerited favor of God towards humanity. ([58:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSkz1Iot56A&t=3485s))
Bible Passage: Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Reflection: How can you better understand and appreciate the grace of God in your life today? Can you identify one way in which you have experienced God's grace recently?
Quotes
1. "Sin is serious, it requires repentance, and it should not rule the life of a Believer." [57:27]
2. "Jesus has provided you the church as support and encouragement...don't do it in isolation...reach out for help." [01:03:24]
3. "You've been given an invitation to follow Jesus, the church, and the Holy Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead...you can put sin to death and walk in Resurrection Life." [01:05:00]
4. "If your computer leads you to sin, do something about it. If your phone leads you to sin, do something about it. If the TV leads you to sin, do something about it. If idle time on the weekend leads you to sin, do something about it." [01:00:01]
5. "Removing these things from my life, changing the direction of my behavior or my family pattern, it's going to take a lot of work and it's going to upset a lot of things and make a mess. But that's the life to which followers of Jesus Christ have been called. It's not impossible because you have everything needed." [01:02:29]
6. "Your word would lead us to your will and that your word would be planted deep in our hearts." [37:51]
7. "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father we too may live a new life." [40:37]
8. "Gospel believing leads to gospel preaching and gospel living." [42:16]
9. "What we've been given by God has not been earned or deserved. We have forgiveness of sin, abundant life, and eternal life solely through the completed and sufficient work of Jesus. It's all grace." [45:05]
10. "Live your baptism. Remember that when you were baptized, you died to the old way of life and were raised to a new way of life, united with Jesus in his resurrection." [54:33]
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