Romans 7:7–25“Sanctifying Grace frees us to live for God”

Sin that leads to death

Salvation unto Righteousness

like Adam like Jesus Christ

I have been saved.

I am being saved.

I will be saved.

Justifying Grace (by Believing Faith)

Sanctifying Grace (through Action Faith)

Glorifying Grace (because of Faithfulness)

“Grace is NOT given to us so that we can keep on sinning without its Penalty.

Grace is granted so that we can choose NOT TO sin, not chained by its Power.”

God’s freedom does not nullify God’s command to baptize (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:37-38) nor His promise to bestow the Holy Spirit on the recipient of baptism (Acts 2:38).

Reasons for not coming forth for Baptism :

a) Opposition by their own non-Christian family

Reasons for not coming forth for Baptism :

a) Opposition by their own non-Christian family

b) Misguided theological belief.

Reasons for not coming forth for Baptism :

a) Opposition by their own non-Christian family

b) Misguided theological belief.

We go for baptism not because we are such a holy person. In fact, we are baptized so that we can receive God’s sanctifying grace to grow in holiness.

Romans 7:1-6

Verses 1 – 3

The law has authority over us as long as we live. The illustration of marriage is used.

4 And just like the widow who married again is not an adulteress, so we are no longer liable for the law’s penalty if we were in Christ when He died. The law cannot punish a man who has already paid for his crimes by death. But God then raises us up with Christ to bear fruit to Him.

5 – 6 In the past, our sinful nature, aroused by the law, caused us to sin. But now, having died with Christ to sin, we are SET FREE to serve God through the Spirit.

Why is it that though we have died to sin, yet we are still struggling with sin ?

Romans 7:7-25

Verses 12, 14

The Law is God’s holy tool

7 To show us what is sin 11, 13 To teach us that sin will lead us

to death 18 Tells us what are the right things

we ought to do 19 Tutors us on what is evil, which

we should avoid.

Romans 7:7-25

Verses 8, 9, 15, 17, 19, 21

BUT the Sin in us causes us to do evil

18, 19, 22 The Power of Sin prevents us from doing good

24 YET the law cannot save us, so who will save me from sin, from this body of death ?

25 Thanks be to God – Jesus Christ has saved me, through His death on the cross and giving me grace (Justifying and Sanctifying).

1. Baptism – Romans 6:4 (3-10)

2. Hearing and obeying God’s Word – Romans 6:17 (16-18)

3. Belonging to the Body of Christ – Romans 7:4

Acts of Faith / Means of Sanctifying Grace

Romans 6:17-18 – “But thanks be to God that, though you

used to be slaves, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching (from God’s Word) to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Just learning and not obeying is actually very foolish – it is like knowing the right decision to make and still make a wrong choice.

Learning and then obeying God’s Word will enable our spiritual man inside us to grow stronger and stronger, so that we can prevail over the sinful nature and sinful passions which exert its power upon us.

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Learning and then obeying God’s Word will enable our spiritual man inside us to grow stronger and stronger, so that we can prevail over the sinful nature and sinful passions which exert its power upon us.

1. Baptism – Romans 6:4 (3-10)

2. Hearing and obeying God’s Word – Romans 6:17 (16-18)

3. Belonging to the Body of Christ – Romans 7:4

Acts of Faith / Means of Sanctifying Grace

Romans 7:4 – “So, my brothers, you also died to the

law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.”

The Body of Christ =

Physical body of Christ who died on the Cross

OR

The People of God

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

1. From Our Sinful Nature

Where does the Power of Sin come from ?

Romans 7:17-18 “As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.”

1. From Our Sinful Nature

2. From the World

Where does the Power of Sin come from ?

1 John 5:19 “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”1 John 2:16 “For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world.”

The worldly belief systems that have been influenced by Satan and men’s sinful natures. It is the ungodly values and actions of sinful men – such as corruption, greed, survival of the fittest, domination of the powerful (rich) over the weak (poor).

The “World” in 1 John

Collective evil – somehow human group morality is strikingly less than individual morality.

Collective evil – somehow human group morality is strikingly less than individual morality.

It is the influence of the world which would enhance the sinful nature in a single person – so much so that under the influence of the world or even just a group, a person would commit more sins than what he or she would have done on her own.

It is the influence of the world which would enhance the sinful nature in a single person – so much so that under the influence of the world or even just a group, a person would commit more sins than what he or she would have done on her own.

In the Body of Christ, we would be influenced by God’s Word, and be encouraged by one another to do what is righteous.

Church Membership

Spiritual Discipline of Commitment

Rev John Wesley once taught – “there is no holiness except social holiness.”

Why be a Member of the Local Church ?

Membership is the means whereby the Christian disciple covenants together with God and with the members of the local church to keep their vows of discipleship :

1. To confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and pledge their allegiance to His kingdom.

2. To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

3. To promise according to the grace given them to live a Christian life and always remain faithful members of Christ’s holy church.

4. And to be loyal to the Church and uphold it by their prayers, presence, gifts and service.

Why be a Member of the Local Church ?

a)The church will take care of your spiritual/other needs : i. Conducts your Weddingii. Baptism of your childreniii. Methodist Primary Schools priorityiv. Hospitalization visitsv. Funeralvi. Special price for a columbarium

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Why be a Member of the Local Church ?

a)The church will take care of your spiritual/other needs

b)Only members are allowed to serve as a leader (LCEC members, or PCG leaders) in the church.

Why be a Member of the Local Church ?

1. Baptism – Romans 6:4 (3-10)

2. Hearing and obeying God’s Word – Romans 6:17 (16-18)

3. Belonging to the Body of Christ – Romans 7:4

• If we Belong and Build Relationships within the Body of Christ, we are able to fight off the effects of the Power of Sin.

Acts of Faith / Means of Sanctifying Grace

Romans 6:22 –

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

– Romans 6:22

Romans 7:7–25“Sanctifying Grace frees us to live for God”