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Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

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  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

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BAC Sermons

Caterpillar or Butterfly

2010-10-24 Rom 7

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Rm 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (metamorphosized) by the renewing of your mind/values, that you may prove/demonstrate/manifest what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1. New Creation

Eph 4:21 as the truth is in Jesus: 22  that you put off  your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt acc to the deceitful  desires 23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind 24 you put on the new man created acc to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

2Cor 5:17 if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new [Gal 6:15 in Christ... a new creation. Eph 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works...that we should walk in them Ps 51:10 heart]
21 to be sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in union w/ Him. 7:1 plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain
1Jn 1:8 deceive ourselves, the truth is not in us 9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. Continue in sin?

Rm 6:1 so grace abound? 2  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3  Or do you not know...we were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4  even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2a. What died? 6:6  knowing our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin 7  For he who has died has been freed from sin11 reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord
What rules 12  do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 14  For sin shall not have dominion over you
Why obey? 17 you were slaves of sin, YET you obeyed Truth...delivered 18  having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness
How? 19  just as you yielded to uncleanness, lawlessness leading to more...so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness
22 But now having been set free from sin, and become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

2b. Gal 6:16 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (desire for temporal). 17 Spirit..flesh contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 24  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires

2c. Freedom and Intimacy Jn 8:31 who believed Him: If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.  he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as... Gal 5:7
2d. Dwell 1Co 3:16 2Co 6:16 you are temple of God Eph 3:17 Christ may dwell in your hearts Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Rm 8:9,11 HS 

3. Pre-conversion Paul

7:4 brethren...we should bear fruit to God 6 we should serve in the newness of the Spirit 9  I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15  For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16  If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17  But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. (cx Phil 2:13) 19  For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21  I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24  O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? n25  I thank God----through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

4. New Walk

8:1 now no condemnation to those who are in Christ, who do not walk acc to the flesh, but acc to the Spirit 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk acc to the flesh but acc to the Spirit 5 those who live acc to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 8 those who are in the flesh cannot please God 9 you are not in the flesh....if the Spirit dwells in you 13 if you live acc to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live 14 led by the Spirit...sons

5. Is it attainable?

2Pt 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied to you by epi-knowledge...Lord 3 called us to glory and virtue 5 giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue self-control perseverance godliness love 8 if these things are yours & abound...unfruitful...kingdom
Heb 12:1 let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 2 looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
   
5a. Paul commands blamelessness as for believers Phil 2:15 & elders Titus 1, then how could he be a slave of sin? Saint 62x in NT
Over 100 NT commands to sanctify yourself and be holy 1Pt 1:13-16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy" 22 Since you have purified your souls by obeying the truth thru the Spirit to a sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 
Js 4:8  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

5b. Jesus says: Rev 3:10 you have kept My command to persevere. 11 I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple 15 I know your works 16 you are lukewarm, I will vomit you 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, he with Me 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne
1Jn 5:3 love of God...obey 4 whatever is born of God overcomes the world (2:16) this is the victory that has overcome the world----our faith. 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

  1. Is God more glorified by a group of worms grovelling in His grace, or a bunch of beautiful butterflies praising His transforming grace?
  2. Should the Bride of Christ be: blameless spotless radiant strong, or: unclean weak helpless ashamed ? How is the Bride cleansed Eph 5:26-27
  3. Is our will/choice involved in holiness? Why don't we strive to be godly? What happens if we don't respond to the HS and purify ourselves?
  4. Why do people confuse justification with sanctification and glorification; our responsibility and God's; love and acceptance; grace and works?
  5. How does correctly understanding the sovereignty of God help us embrace our responsibility to obey His rules for our benefit and please Him?