Understanding the Law: Sin, Repentance, and Grace
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church. Today, we transitioned from a joyful song of salvation to a moment of silent reflection, emphasizing that worship encompasses more than just singing; it involves preparing our hearts and minds to engage with God. We began with a confessional call to worship, acknowledging our sins and the forgiveness we receive through Jesus Christ. This forgiveness brings us peace with God and humbles us, reminding us of our dependence on Christ's obedience.
We then delved into Romans 7, continuing our series on "Putting the Pieces of Salvation Together." The book of Romans is unparalleled in its depth and clarity about God's plan for salvation, sanctification, and our relationship with Him. Today, we focused on the law and its role in our lives. Paul addresses the misconception that the law is sinful or problematic. Instead, he clarifies that the law reveals our sinfulness and God's holiness. The law is like a mirror, showing us our imperfections and our need for God's grace.
Paul uses the example of coveting to illustrate how the law brings awareness of sin. Before the law, sin was dormant, but the law brings it to light, making us aware of our shortcomings. This awareness is not to condemn us but to lead us to repentance and a closer relationship with God. The law itself is holy, righteous, and good; it is sin that perverts the law and brings death instead of life.
We must recognize that the problem is not the law but our sin. Sin takes advantage of the law to deceive us and lead us astray. Therefore, our response should be to realize God's expectations, recognize when sin is taking advantage of us, and return to God's expectations through repentance. This process is essential for our spiritual growth and sanctification.
### Key Takeaways
1. Worship Beyond Singing: Worship involves more than just singing; it includes preparing our hearts and minds to engage with God. This preparation allows us to confess our sins and receive forgiveness, which brings peace and humbles us before God. True worship is a holistic experience that encompasses every aspect of our relationship with God. [19:13]
2. The Role of the Law: The law serves as a mirror, revealing our sinfulness and God's holiness. It is not the law that is sinful, but our sin that perverts the law. The law's primary purpose is to make us aware of our personal sin and lead us to repentance. Understanding this helps us appreciate the law's role in our spiritual growth. [46:15]
3. Sin's Deception: Sin takes advantage of the law to deceive us and bring death instead of life. It twists and contorts the law, making us desire what is forbidden. Recognizing this deception is crucial for overcoming sin and living a life that pleases God. [53:14]
4. God's Expectations: God's expectations for us are not burdensome but are meant to guide us toward holiness and righteousness. We must study His Word to understand these expectations and allow them to illuminate our path. This understanding helps us navigate the challenges of life and grow in our faith. [47:15]
5. Repentance and Return: When we recognize that sin is taking advantage of us, we must repent and return to God's expectations. This involves seeking forgiveness, turning away from sin, and walking in obedience to God. This process is essential for maintaining a close relationship with God and experiencing His transformative power in our lives. [01:10:29]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:13] - Worship Beyond Singing
[19:56] - Confessional Call to Worship
[21:09] - The Gift of Forgiveness
[22:15] - Prayer and Reflection
[33:41] - Introduction to Romans 7
[34:20] - Importance of the Book of Romans
[35:40] - Dead to Sin, Alive to God
[36:23] - Problem of Being Married to the Law
[37:10] - The Mosaic Law and Its Burdens
[38:16] - Comprehensive Moral Law
[39:07] - The Law as a Terrible Marriage Partner
[40:00] - The Law Cannot Save
[41:05] - Sin as the Culprit
[43:39] - Sin Perverts the Law
[46:15] - The Law as a Mirror
[47:15] - God's Holiness and Righteousness
[53:14] - Sin's Deception
[55:44] - Sin is Dead Apart from the Law
[01:00:18] - Paul's Transformation
[01:01:20] - The Creation Account and Sin
[01:05:22] - The Law is Holy and Good
[01:10:29] - Christian Response to Sin
[01:17:07] - Call to Repentance
[01:23:34] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Romans 7:7-13
2. Genesis 2:15-17
3. Genesis 3:1-6
### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 7:7, what is the purpose of the law? How does Paul illustrate this with the example of coveting? [51:12]
2. In Genesis 2:15-17, what command did God give to Adam regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
3. How did the serpent deceive Eve in Genesis 3:1-6, and what was the result of her disobedience?
4. What does Paul mean when he says, "sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind" in Romans 7:8? [53:14]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the law function as a mirror to reveal our sinfulness and God's holiness according to the sermon? [46:15]
2. Why does Paul argue that the law is not sinful but rather that sin is the true culprit? How does this understanding affect our view of God's commandments? [47:45]
3. In what ways does sin take advantage of the law to deceive us and bring death instead of life? How does this concept help us understand our struggles with sin? [48:45]
4. How does the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 illustrate the perversion of God's command by sin? What lessons can we draw from their experience? [01:04:53]
### Application Questions
1. The sermon emphasized that worship involves more than just singing; it includes preparing our hearts and minds to engage with God. How can you better prepare your heart and mind for worship each week? [19:13]
2. Reflect on a time when you felt convicted by the law (God's commandments). How did that conviction lead you to repentance and a closer relationship with God? [51:12]
3. The sermon mentioned that sin takes advantage of the law to deceive us. Can you identify a specific area in your life where sin has twisted God's commandments? How can you address this deception? [53:14]
4. God's expectations are meant to guide us toward holiness and righteousness. What steps can you take this week to better understand and follow God's expectations for your life? [47:15]
5. When you recognize that sin is taking advantage of you, the sermon suggests repentance and returning to God's expectations. What practical steps can you take to repent and realign your life with God's will? [01:10:29]
6. The story of Adam and Eve shows how sin can make God's good commands seem burdensome. How can you shift your perspective to see God's commandments as life-giving rather than restrictive? [01:04:53]
7. The sermon highlighted the importance of not blaming the law for our struggles but recognizing our sin as the true problem. How can you take responsibility for your sin and seek God's help in overcoming it? [47:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as Heart Preparation
Worship involves more than just singing; it includes preparing our hearts and minds to engage with God. This preparation allows us to confess our sins and receive forgiveness, which brings peace and humbles us before God. True worship is a holistic experience that encompasses every aspect of our relationship with God. Worship is not confined to the songs we sing on Sunday mornings; it is a daily practice of aligning our hearts and minds with God's will. This means taking time to reflect, confess, and seek His presence in all that we do.
When we approach worship with a prepared heart, we open ourselves to a deeper connection with God. This involves acknowledging our sins and the forgiveness we receive through Jesus Christ. This forgiveness brings us peace with God and humbles us, reminding us of our dependence on Christ's obedience. By preparing our hearts, we create a space where God can work in us, transforming us and drawing us closer to Him. [19:13]
Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV): "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."
Reflection: How can you prepare your heart for worship today? What steps can you take to ensure that your worship is a true reflection of your relationship with God?
Day 2: The Law as a Mirror
The law serves as a mirror, revealing our sinfulness and God's holiness. It is not the law that is sinful, but our sin that perverts the law. The law's primary purpose is to make us aware of our personal sin and lead us to repentance. Understanding this helps us appreciate the law's role in our spiritual growth. The law is like a mirror that shows us our imperfections, making us aware of our need for God's grace.
Paul uses the example of coveting to illustrate how the law brings awareness of sin. Before the law, sin was dormant, but the law brings it to light, making us aware of our shortcomings. This awareness is not to condemn us but to lead us to repentance and a closer relationship with God. The law itself is holy, righteous, and good; it is sin that perverts the law and brings death instead of life. [46:15]
James 1:23-25 (ESV): "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: In what ways has the law revealed your own sinfulness? How can this awareness lead you to a deeper relationship with God?
Day 3: Recognizing Sin's Deception
Sin takes advantage of the law to deceive us and bring death instead of life. It twists and contorts the law, making us desire what is forbidden. Recognizing this deception is crucial for overcoming sin and living a life that pleases God. Sin is cunning and uses the law to create a false sense of righteousness or to lead us into rebellion. By understanding this, we can be more vigilant in our spiritual walk.
The law is not the problem; it is our sinful nature that distorts it. Sin uses the law to deceive us, making us think that we can achieve righteousness on our own or that we are beyond redemption. This deception leads to spiritual death, but recognizing it allows us to turn back to God and seek His grace. By being aware of sin's tactics, we can better guard our hearts and minds against its influence. [53:14]
Romans 7:11-13 (ESV): "For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure."
Reflection: Can you identify a time when sin deceived you by twisting God's law? How can you guard against this deception in the future?
Day 4: Embracing God's Expectations
God's expectations for us are not burdensome but are meant to guide us toward holiness and righteousness. We must study His Word to understand these expectations and allow them to illuminate our path. This understanding helps us navigate the challenges of life and grow in our faith. God's expectations are designed to lead us into a deeper relationship with Him and to reflect His character in our lives.
By embracing God's expectations, we align ourselves with His will and purpose. This involves studying the Bible, seeking His guidance, and applying His principles to our daily lives. God's expectations are not meant to be a heavy burden but a path to freedom and fulfillment. When we understand and follow His expectations, we experience the joy and peace that come from living in harmony with His will. [47:15]
1 John 5:3-4 (ESV): "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."
Reflection: How can you better understand and embrace God's expectations for your life? What steps can you take to align your daily actions with His will?
Day 5: The Power of Repentance and Return
When we recognize that sin is taking advantage of us, we must repent and return to God's expectations. This involves seeking forgiveness, turning away from sin, and walking in obedience to God. This process is essential for maintaining a close relationship with God and experiencing His transformative power in our lives. Repentance is not just a one-time event but a continual practice of turning back to God whenever we stray.
Repentance is a powerful tool for spiritual growth and renewal. It allows us to acknowledge our shortcomings, seek God's forgiveness, and realign our lives with His will. By repenting and returning to God, we open ourselves to His grace and transformation. This process helps us grow in our faith and become more like Christ. [01:10:29]
Acts 3:19-20 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus."
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to repent and return to God's expectations? How can you take the first step toward seeking His forgiveness and walking in obedience today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "There was a time when we were hopeless. There was a time when we would have been helpless were it not for Christ. Amen. Amen. But what he provided for us. Is an opportunity to be forgiven. An opportunity to have new life. And an opportunity to have a hope that transcends anything that you're going through today. And beloved, I hope that you've experienced that forgiveness." [21:09] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Listen, you can't even be saved if you don't confront your sin. If you don't acknowledge it. Because, listen to me, it's easy to say that the law's the problem. It's easy to say, well, look at all these rules. People sat in my office before and tell me, God expects too much of me. God thinks I can do things that I can't do. And the law, they don't call it the law, they call it the rules and the regulations that God gives us. That's just too much, I can't do it. Listen to me, what they're trying to do is to make the law the culprit. What I always have to point them back is the law's not the culprit, it's your sin! That's the problem. And it's got to be dealt with." [44:11] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The law is not the problem, beloved. The commandment of God is not the issue. It's when sin perverts the law of God. This is what the serpent did to Eve. Look at verse 4. The serpent's response he said to the woman you will surely not die. For God knows that in the day that you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God knowing good and evil. If you listen to me wave at me. What the serpent did was he set the contrast. Here's the command. The command is good. Adam knew it was good. He didn't question it. Eve didn't question it to begin with. In fact when the serpent first asked her Eve told the serpent point blank this is why we don't do it. But Satan didn't stop. He introduced another option." [01:03:50] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Beloved, listen to me. The problem is not the law which shows you your sin. The problem is your sin in the first place. It must be dealt with. It is the culprit and it must be dealt with. And so Paul begins to build that out in verses 9-11 of Romans chapter 7. Read this with me. He says, I too was once alive apart from the law but when the commandment came sin became alive and I died. It's the same principle. It's the very same principle. When the commandment came, sin became alive and I died. And this commandment which was to result in life proved to result in death for me. For sin taking an opportunity through the commandment deceived me and through it, it killed me." [59:16] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Beloved, there's some of you here today that you need to take those three things right there and you need to apply it to your life. The law is not your problem. The law is not your culprit. Sin is the culprit. Sin has always been the culprit. Sin will always be the culprit. What are you doing to put it to death? What are you doing to walk with Him faithfully? If you're here in just a moment, we're going to stop. Carol's going to come over here to the piano. Eric's going to come up here and get ready to sing our song of response. And there's some of you who are Christians that though you may be right with God with regards to your position, you're not walking with Him faithfully. You're letting sin take advantage of you just a little bit too much. You know what you need to do? You need to beg God to forgive you. He'll do it. Amen? Praise God. He'll do it. But you need to surrender that sin to Him. You need to give it up. Not just say, I'm sorry, and go out and do it again. You need to let it go. Amen? Christ has come to set you free indeed. You need to let Him do it. You need to quit letting sin control you. The presence will be there. The power of sin is not. Repent and return to God's expectations for you." [01:15:37] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Listen, there's no other book of the Bible, in my opinion, that shows us God's love in such rich depth. There's no other book of the Bible that will show us God's redemption plan for those whom he will save quite like the book of Romans. There's no other book that will go into depth about God's design and God's desire for us to grow and mature in the faith that he's given us than the book of Romans. It's important that we do our due diligence in going through it." [34:20] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The law is meant to make us aware of our personal sin. That's the primary purpose of the law. It's like a mirror. I told a couple of guys, I can't stand props on the pulpit. It just sort of takes away from the message. But I also almost pulled a mirror up here because I could look in the mirror and I could illustrate for you guys that when I look in the mirror, not only do I see everything about myself, I can't ignore the imperfections. I can turn sideways and here's a big imperfection. It shows me my imperfections. Well beloved, that's what the law does. The law will illustrate for you where you are doing good. The law will illustrate for you but it will equally illustrate for you where your imperfections are. Where your disobedience is. Where your self-righteousness shows up. That's the purpose of the law." [46:15] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Sin takes advantage of the law to bring sin alive to us. Now we're going to have to walk through the text to see this because it's a little bit confusing. But sort of begin to think of it this way. The law is like oxygen to sin. It's like oxygen to sin. Without it and without the awareness the law brings, sin is dead. If you don't know the law then how can you be held accountable to your sin? Sin is dormant. Sin is suppressed. You don't know it until all of a sudden there is a standard that is introduced to you and all of a sudden a light goes on and you realize that what you are doing is wrong and is contrary to God's will and all of a sudden sin is brought to life. That's why sin is always the culprit because sin is the problem. The law is not the problem. The law turns the flashlight on. That's the problem." [47:45] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The law was always meant to bring people closer to God. Amen? It was always meant to bring you closer to God. Listen. You're either following God's expectations well. You're doing what God expects you to. Either you're doing it well or the law was meant to illustrate and point out to you what you're not doing well so that you can repent get right and start doing it well. That's the purpose of the law. But sin twists that and contorts that and sin perverts the law and instead of allowing the law to bring life sin causes the law to bring death." [49:13] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Sinclair Ferguson had this comment I came across this week. I love it. He said while the presence of sin can never be abolished in this life. We agree with that right? Even though we're Christians we continue to wander. Prone to wander. Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. We still continue to do that right? While the presence of sin can never be abolished in this life the influence of sin can be altered and the dominion of sin must be destroyed if a man is to be a Christian. Amen. It means we've got some work to do beloved. It means when we look at the law we don't see the law as a hindrance or a stumbling block we see it as something that is beautiful and listen to me we don't follow it looking for salvation because salvation can never come from the law but listen to me we follow it after salvation because it leads us to holiness and righteousness. God's expectations aren't an enemy they're our friend when it comes to diminishing the influence of sin and destroying the dominion of sin and we can't keep it perfectly therefore we can't depend on it to save us but beloved we can allow it to guide us. Are you allowing the law of God to guide you?" [01:09:30] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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