Sermon Tone Analysis

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SLIDE 3

Romans 6:15-

SLIDE 4

Romans 6:18-

SLIDE 5

INTRO:

Depending on who we are, and what we believe, and what philosophies we are loyal to, and what experiences we have gone through, and what things influence us...

… we will bring unique context to any given topic or statement.

This is very pronounced in politics.

This is very pronounced in hot social topics.

This is very pronounced in religion.

This is very pronounced in the media.

And this is very pronounced in geographical residence.

People who only listen to Fox News will bring a different context to a topic that people who only listen to CNN might bring.

People who live in NYC will bring a different context to a topic that people people who live in Missouri might bring.

People who have struggled with gender identity will bring a different context to a topic that people who have never struggled might bring.

People who have experienced discrimination will bring a different context to a topic that people who have not experienced discrimination might bring.

People who experience the benefits of capitalism will bring a different context to a topic that people who grew up in poverty might bring.

People who believe the Word of God is God-breathed and true, will bring a different context to a topic, that people who don’t believe God’s Word is true will bring.

Our bias, will often dictate our context.

The Apostle Paul has just made a statement about law and grace in verse 14…

Many different people, who bring unique bias to that statement, will also bring unique context.

Many will walk away thinking… - “I am free to do whatever I want.

There is no value in the law.

There is no need for law.

I can sin freely and God will forgive me freely.”

Every society has its anarchists.

Paul knew this… so he moved on, in vs. 15, to combat any context that might improperly interpret grace, in the life of the believer.

SLIDE 6

Some might think… if the rules are not dictating my behavior… then I can do whatever I want.

Paul is going to show us… where as this response might be true… yes, while you can do whatever you want… it IS NOT, AT ALL… beneficial, fruitful, or liberating.

There are many accounts where the term “under the law” is used… but here, there is no definite article.

And I know what you’re probably thinking… “who cares?”

Now, before we delve into this passage, I’d like to address a context that some of us might bring to this topic...

In the modern day, mostly American, church, people are very focused on themselves.

And they go to church, and they open their Bibles… looking for something that address them, individually.

- To the idea of Christianity, they respond with the question:

SLIDE 7

“What’s in it for me?”

And while, there is a lot in our Bibles that addresses our lives specifically… -We, as individuals, are not the main topic of the Bible.

I’ve told you many times… Christianity is not a self help program… and the Bible, is not a self help manual.

But, this is how many in the modern, consumer driven church think about it.

For this reason… many avoid the OT completely.

They feel like the teachings in the Law and the prophets, are not applicable to their daily lives.

The Law and the prophets, do not contribute to their goal of being happy and successful… so, they don’t read it.

And, as more and more churches cater to this mentality.... the law and the prophets get’s taught, less and less.

They say… -Jesus fulfilled the law… - we are not under the law… so now, since we are all about Jesus and grace, we don’t need to read the OT.

THE LEVEL TO WHICH THIS THINKING IS FLAWED… IS UNIMAGINABLE.

BUT… it plays to the context we as individuals might bring to verses 14 and 15.

I often ask people I meet about their church.

What do they like about it?

What brings them back?

What excites them?

More often than not… I’m given answers that focus on a community connection, or the band, or the excitement, or an emotional connection, or some program involvement.

Hey, I understand that we have the best church-coffee in town… but that is not why you come back here…

Often times, people bring self centered context to church.... and the idea is this: “Church, and christianity, is helping me live a happy and successful life.”

And yes… there are things in the Bible which will contribute to our happiness and to our success..

BUT AS I’VE ALREADY SAID… that is not the main thrust of what our lives as Christians are to be all about.

I don’t want to hear Christians bragging about their connection to the groups, or their excitement about the programs.. or how good their worship band is…

I want to hear Christians bragging about their connection to Jesus, and their excitement about Jesus.

-This is what we are really, supposed to be all about.

While, God might fix you in the process… God might heal you along the way… - That is not the purpose of your faith life.

SLIDE 8

THE MAIN PURPOSE IS JESUS.

HOW IS HE BEING FOLLOWED, HONORED AND EXALTED IN YOUR LIFE?

I honestly believe… in much of the church at large… Jesus is taking a back seat to psychology.

There is a place for psychology in Bible Study.

Psychology is the study of the human mind, and of human behavior.

THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH THAT KIND OF STUFF.

And we do cover it and make application....

But.... the primary goal of Bible study, is not self help.

It’s about God, and His work as it is played out in this world, in our lives, and throughout history.

The Bible speaks about an amazing Savior.

The Bible spans the depth of history to show us how incredible Jesus is.

Jesus is our goal.

So… if Jesus is our goal… We won’t avoid the law… No Way! we will want to go back to the law and the prophets.

Jesus has fulfilled them, -HE HAS FILLED IN THE BLANKS AND GIVEN A NEW UNDERSTANDING… - so now, we can go back and read them in light of what Jesus has done.

Jesus Himself said:

SLIDE 9

SLIDE 10

lk 24

The OT has great value for us, if indeed, we are a people who want to be excited about Jesus...

The Law bears witness of Jesus.

The Law and the Prophets… are full of things, which concern Jesus.

So, if we say, “We are not under the law”… this does not mean, that we avoid the law.

By no means… because of what Jesus has done… The law is now a treasure trove of information that declares the Gospel, and glorifies Jesus.

Here in vs. 14 and 15… Paul uses the term, “under law”…

There’s no definite article, so it’s declaring a general idea… - Our lives are not driven and dictated by a written rule or standard.

- We will find guidance by a law… but the real power that governs us… is grace.

In many other cases, Paul does include the definite article..

In he declared that he would be all things to all men, in order to win them to Christ… to the Jew, he became a Jew… to those under the law… he became as one under the law...

But then he went on the qualify.. “though not being myself under the law”

In , he said, if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

In , he bragged about how good he was as a zealot gaining righteousness under the law… but, for the sake of Christ, he counted that as loss.

IN , he said, ‘before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.’

To summarize what these verses are saying… according to and … some are still under the law and it’s referred to as a captivity.

And shows us, that those who are led by the Spirit are not under the law.. and shows us, that Paul gave up the law as a means of gaining righteousness.

We are not under the law.

That is… as a Christian, the law is not our master.

It is not the thing that leads us, EXCEPT… that it leads us Jesus.

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