Pastor A

It is fashionable today to laugh at sin and to ridicule those who fear it, hate it, and run from it. Television and movies have done a masterful job of destroying virtue by laughing at it. They have taken great pains to poke fun at holiness of life and hatred of evil. If you will notice, they will usually characterize an individual who hates sin in one of these ways: as an elderly person (making it appear old-fashioned and totally irrelevant); as a poor, simple, overzealous “fanatic” (making it appear unsophisticated and purely emotional); or as a mentally unbalanced person (making it appear a psychological fantasy).

And the feeling created by these grossly inaccurate caricatures is, “Sin? That is something for those kinds of people. Me, I’m OK I am relevant enough, sophisticated enough, and surely balanced enough to realize a little sin is all right, as long as I don’t let things get out of hand.”

God’s Word states clearly in Proverbs 14:9, “Fools make a mock at sin.“

There is little hatred of sin today. We laugh at it, wink at it, enjoy it, tolerate it. But the Bible says to hate it, run from it, avoid it. And for the Christian, God says, “Die to it.”

Romans 6 is our guidebook in understanding what God means by death to sin. In Romans 5, Paul writes about the work of Christ in providing grace and salvation for all men through His sacrificial death on Calvary. He paints a word picture of the results of Adam’s sin on the human race: death! However, the results of Christ’s work on the Cross: redemption! He writes much about the fact that God’s grace is so marvelous and abundant because sin was so terrible and universal. Then Paul asks an important question in Romans 6:1, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?“

Paul says, “Hey, if God’s grace is so wonderful and is always more than enough to forgive my sin, what does it matter if I keep on sinning? I will always be forgiven.” Sound familiar?

Listen to the reply in Romans 6:2, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?“

“Wait a minute, Paul! Dead to sin? But I’m not dead; at least not yet.” You are not? Better consider Romans 6:6-7

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.“

Tomorrow we will explain what this means for the Christian…

The Holy Spirit has a multi-faceted ministry in your life as a Christian. In fact, His work in you began before you became a Christian. Consider:

The Holy Spirit Convicts. Have you ever wondered what makes you aware of your sin? Your conscience? Maybe so. Often it can, but not always. The Bible says that the conscience can be seared to the point that it will not say “yes” or “no” to moral questions; in fact, it will not say anything? I Timothy 4:2, “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” What then reveals rightness or wrongness? The Scriptures clearly explain that the Holy Spirit convicts of “sin, righteousness and judgment.” He is the One Who speaks in the secret places of your heart and shows you your need of confession. Review yesterday’s passage found in John 16.

The Holy Spirit Indwells. At the very instant of spiritual birth, when an individual by faith receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that person is indwelled by the Holy Spirit. He takes up permanent residence in the believer. Romans 8:9-11, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:15-16, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:“

Galatians 4:6, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Ephesians 1:13-14, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.“

He does not come into one’s life on a temporary basis; there is no “probationary period.”