Transforming Our Relationship with God's Law Through Jesus
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the concept of God's law and our relationship with it as believers. I emphasized that our interaction with God's rules and standards has changed because of Jesus. We no longer strive to measure up because Jesus has already done that for us. Instead, we are given His spirit to live in the way God has designed. I used the analogy of a voice memo recording our statements of "I always am..." or "I would never..." to illustrate that we often fail to live up to even our own standards, let alone God's. I then delved into the concept of our inability to live the way God has designed this world, highlighting that we don't need more or less rules, but a whole new relationship.
In the second part of the sermon, I used the analogy of my parents' marriage and my mother's subsequent remarriage to illustrate the concept of a relationship change. I emphasized that we have died to the law through the body of Christ so that we may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead. I concluded by stressing that misunderstanding the Bible could lead to misunderstanding who God is, and that it's crucial to understand that the law isn't needed, but Jesus is.
Key Takeaways:
- Our interaction with God's rules and standards has changed because of Jesus. We no longer strive to measure up because Jesus has already done that for us ([38:48]).
- We often fail to live up to even our own standards, let alone God's. We don't need more or less rules, but a whole new relationship ([20:01]).
- We have died to the law through the body of Christ so that we may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead ([20:38]).
- Misunderstanding the Bible could lead to misunderstanding who God is. It's crucial to understand that the law isn't needed, but Jesus is ([07:26]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans Chapter 7 #!!01:01!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What is the main theme of Romans Chapter 7?
2. How does the speaker relate the concept of education to Christianity?
3. What is the relationship change that Paul talks about in Romans 7?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Romans Chapter 7 help us understand our relationship with God's laws and standards?
2. What does it mean when the speaker says "Christianity is not about getting the grade, it's about learning who Jesus Christ is"?
3. How does the marriage analogy in Romans 7 illustrate the change in our relationship with God?
Application Questions:
1. In what ways have you approached Christianity like a school syllabus, doing the bare minimum to pass? How can you shift this mindset?
2. How can you apply the understanding that Jesus has already "gotten the grade" for us in your daily life?
3. Can you identify a time when you misunderstood God's law and how it applies to your life? How can you seek clarity?
4. How can you live out the understanding that Christianity is about learning who Jesus is and what he has done for us this week?
5. How can you use the understanding of our new relationship with God, as illustrated in Romans 7, to approach your interactions with God's rules and standards?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of God's Word
God's Word is not just a collection of stories and teachings, but a powerful tool that God uses to speak to us and transform our lives. It is through His Word that we come to understand His character, His love for us, and His plan for our lives. It is a source of wisdom, guidance, and comfort that can help us navigate the challenges of life and grow in our relationship with Him ([00:29]).
Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: How has God's Word spoken to you recently? What is one thing you learned from it that you can apply to your life this week?
Day 2: The Struggle with Sin
We all struggle with sin, and often, we find that when we try to root out one sin, we discover many more underneath. This struggle is not just external, but also internal, affecting our thoughts, attitudes, and desires. However, this struggle is not meant to discourage us, but to drive us to Jesus, who alone can deliver us from sin ([27:44]).
Romans 7:24-25 - "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Reflection: What sin are you struggling with right now? How can you turn to Jesus for help in overcoming this sin?
Day 3: The Law as a Diagnosis
The commands of Scripture are not meant to make us live a better life, but to expose our inability to do so on our own. They serve as an x-ray machine, revealing our sin problem and driving us to Jesus, the only one who can heal us. The law was never meant to heal our sin disease, but to hone in on it so that we would cry out for a Savior ([28:51]).
Galatians 3:24 - "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith."
Reflection: How has the law exposed your need for Jesus? How can you rely on Him more in your struggle against sin?
Day 4: The Change in Relationship Status
Our relationship with God changes when we accept Jesus as our Savior. We are no longer bound by the law, but are free to live in the way that God has designed. This change in relationship status is not just a change in our standing before God, but also a change in our hearts and lives ([20:38]).
Romans 6:14 - "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
Reflection: How has your relationship with God changed since you accepted Jesus as your Savior? How has this change affected your daily life?
Day 5: The Power of Prayer
Prayer is not just a religious ritual, but a powerful tool that God has given us to communicate with Him. Through prayer, we can express our needs, confess our sins, thank God for His blessings, and seek His guidance. It is through prayer that we can experience God's power in our lives ([38:48]).
James 5:16 - "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: How has prayer impacted your life? What is one thing you can start praying for regularly?
Quotes
1. "We believe God speaks through his word and God is the one that ultimately has the power to change you." - 01:39
2. "We misinterpret this book, we misread what it says, we misunderstand what the Bible teaches and guys perhaps this happens to the Apostle Paul more than any other author of scripture especially in the Book of Romans." - 04:07
3. "Sin goes way deeper than we think it does and here is the radical crazy thing that Paul is trying to point out guys that's the whole point of the law it's supposed to point that out it's supposed to reveal blind spots it's supposed to help us see where we are sinning." - 31:11
4. "We are incapable of living the way that God has designed this world we are incapable of holding up to God's moral standard every single one of us in this room fall underneath that we have the same problem." - 19:24
5. "When it comes to our failure when it comes to our sin when it comes to our inability to live the way that God has designed this world because we don't need more or less rules we need a whole new relationship." - 20:38
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