True Freedom is ONLY Under Grace (Romans 6:15-19)

Main Idea: True Freedom under grace is summarized by these three true statements regarding the necessary transformation of those who are free in Christ and justified. 

1. Perceived freedom under the law is from man, leaves an impure heart undisturbed, & leads to death  
2. True freedom under grace is from God, purifies the heart, & leads to righteousness  
3. True Freedom under grace is delightful slavery to sanctification   

The Kingdom of God Starts Small…

Sermon by Rev. Tom Hawkes at Trinity's Organization Service

1. The Kingdom of God starts small
2. The Kingdom of God grows slowly and painfully
3. The Kingdom of God, in the end, has a big impact
   

Matthew 13:31-32
31 He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree,so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

No Longer Under Law: Getting Unstuck with Grace (Romans 6:12-14)

In v12-14, Paul concludes that before being united to Christ, we presented ourselves to sin because we were living as dead and under the law, now under grace, we are raised to life and are free to (and exhorted to) offer ourselves to righteousness.

1.  Before union w Christ: sin reigned and we obeyed [him] toward unrighteous purposes. Our position was dead to God, and our hope was in law.
2. After union w Christ: Christ reigns and we obey [him] toward righteous purposes. Our position is alive to God, and our hope is in grace.

Considering Our Union with Christ (Romans 6:5-11)

We must understand that union with Christ is how a believer enters into a new identity founded upon the most game-changing event in history- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1. Our Old Self is United to Christ- Dead
2. Our New Self is United to Christ - Alive
3. How Must a Believer Consider His or Herself?

Mis-Applying the Gospel? (Romans 6:1-4)

We must preach the gospel to ourselves and one another.

1. The Objection Stated: Grace Encourages Immorality? (v1-2).
   a. More Sin – works don’t matter
   b. More Grace – God gets to do his thing.
2. The Objection Answered on the Grounds of Justification:
   a. We died to sin
   b. We were baptized into his death
   c. We were buried with Him
3. Union with Christ is Our New Identity: We too walk in newness of life (v4)
   a. Jesus rose from the dead.
   b. The same glory of the Father is at work in us.

Virtual Justification (Romans 5:12-21)

In Romans 1-4, Paul shared that justification by faith alone is received by us freely by God's grace alone, accomplished entirely on account of the redemption which is in Jesus Christ, as God set Jesus forth as a propitiation.

After articulating his gospel centering on righteousness from God through justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone, Paul writes about the benefits of Justification in Chapter 5 and then in the second most important section of the letter, 5:12-21, he explains how justification is absolutely certain because God deals covenantally with his people. We began our study of Romans 5:12-21 last Sunday by contrasting the two Adams: Adam and Jesus, who are representatives of every human being. This week we examine how the covenant of grace is fulfilled in Christ.

The Fall & Rise of Adam, Part 1 (Romans 5:12-21)

Justification by faith is understood by examining the contrast of Adam as a type of Christ.

1. The 1st Adam brought sin, death, condemnation to all who are in him.
2. The 2nd Adam brought righteousness and life to all who are in him.
3. The Rise of the 2nd Adam far surpasses the Fall of the 1st Adam

Justified & Being Saved? (Romans 5:9-11)

For the Justified believer the gospel/good news just keeps getting better and better...Paul emphasizes not that you have been saved, but that you will be saved...we’ll have five points- four doctrinal, one application.

1. For a believer, “saved” is future and parallels justification. 9a
   
2. For a believer, we are “saved” by Him, not by us. 9b
3. For a believer, we are “saved” from the wrath of God.  9c
4. For a believer, “saved” is future & founded upon being reconciled. 10
5. For a believer, the saving is Jesus’ job, our principle “to-do” list is
   summed up as rejoicing in God. 11

Justified & Loved with God’s Surprising Love (Romans 5:6-8)

The Justified believer knows who how surprising it is that God the Father set His love upon him/her and he/she is one for whom did the Son die...four points:

1. He/she was the Powerless.
2. He/she was the Ungodly
3. He/she was the Unrighteous
4. He/she was the Sinner

Justified: Therefore We Have the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:3-5)

Those sinners who are justified by faith may suffer forward (rejoice in hope through it) because they have received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We’ll see three points from the text:

1. The Holy Spirit Was Poured out on the Church. Acts 2/ John 14-16.
2. The Love of God Has Been Poured into the Hearts of Believers. V5
3. The Believers will rejoice in sufferings given from God. V3-4