Sermon Cloud

Intro:  Calvin & Hobbes cartoon.  This is our experience- we still do things that shock us.

Big Idea: Jesus restrains our disobedience through the work of the Spirit in us.

Context: Paul has defended the gospel from the distortions of the false teachers regarding circumcision & the law.  He now begins to explain how Christ works in us to change our lives.

I. Though we belong to Messiah, the power of sin still plagues us.  2 good things!

-         1^st, they “belong to Messiah” (vs. 24).  He has purchased us, redeemed us, for Himself.

-         2^nd, they live in, or by, the Spirit, by whom Christ dwells in us (vs. 25 & 2:20).  But…

-         We endure the desires, or lusts, of the flesh- “indwelling sin.”  Ill. Taliban

-         The flesh produces desire to sin (James 1).  We want wrong things, or too much.

-         The Spirit & the flesh are in constant conflict within- desiring a different path for us.

-         The Spirit resists the calls of the flesh, indwelling sin, to disobey God. Ill. Engine gov.

-         The flesh resists the calls of the Spirit to walk in obedience to God.  Who will lead us?

“We shall still experience (the desires of our old nature), but we shall not indulge them.”  John Stott

“The new life in the Spirit is lived out in the flesh, in bodily existence that bears marks of a past, subtle, but perpetual addiction to sin.”  Sinclair Ferguson

“Disobedience and rebellion against the Spirit of God pervade the whole nature of man.”  John Calvin

“Modern Christians tend to make satisfaction their religion.”  J.I. Packer

Transition: We live in a state of internal, spiritual conflict such that we often do what we hate.

II. Disobedience dishonors Messiah & destroys community.  Packer- people-centered religion.

-         Unchecked, the desires of the flesh will produce the “works of the flesh”.

-         Temptation will produce actions, sinful actions which dishonor Messiah.  Ill. Ted H.

-         They dishonor Jesus because we are supposed to imitate Him & He’s NOT like this.

-         Paul’s list is not exhaustive, but points out particular temptations to them, and us.

-         “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery” summarize all sexual disobedience.

-         Our culture gives free reign to these temptations.  We have them too!  Ill. Bestiality law

-         “idolatry and witchcraft”- summarize false approaches to religion & faith.

-         We are tempted to worship things that aren’t God & to manipulate spiritual powers.

-         “hatred, discord, … factions and envy”: sins that clearly facture relationships (James 4).

-         We don’t get our way at home or work.  We blow a gasket or gain allies.  Ill. counseling

-         “drunkenness, carousing( feast for Dionysus)”- out of control appetites.

-         Warning: those who “practice/live like this” won’t inherit the kingdom.

-         He refers to a pattern of behavior, not events.  Contrast: anger vs. angry man

Transition: Our disobedience, contrary to the gospel, dishonors Jesus & destroys His church.

III. Repentance rejects disobedience painfully & decisively.

-         Paul commands us to “walk in the Spirit” so we “may not gratify the desires of the flesh”.

-         Walk used metaphorically: a manner of life.  We have a responsibility as Cr works in us.

-         We “crucified the flesh” w/its passions & desires at conversion- defines us now.

-         Crucifixion was a painful way to die.  Sin kicks & screams.  Ill. displaced fracture

-         It is painful for us to kill something once so important to us. Like part of us is dying.

-         Crucifixion was a decisive way, unless rescued.  We sometimes rescue our sin.

-         When we gratify the desires of the flesh, we rescue our sin- granting it new life.

-         Mortification of sin recognizes but refuses to gratify the flesh’s desires.  Ill. Frog & Toad

-         We remember Jesus’ love & death, our new identity, and sin’s damage.  Ill. Galaxy Quest

-         Walk by the Spirit: follow His lead, treasure Jesus, rely on His power to say “no!”

-         The more you say ‘no’ the weaker that temptation ultimately becomes.

¹³ For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,  ¹⁴ because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  Romans 8 (NIV)

 “…the flesh is not something respectable to be treated with courtesy and deference, but something so evil that is deserves no better fate than to be crucified.”  John Stott

“Yet God does not overcome our sin apart from us, but rather by working in us.  And it is His working in us that makes our efforts successful.”  Wayne Mack

“Jesus died to slay the very lust that entangles you.”  Kris Lundgaard

“By Grabthar's hammer... by the Sons of Warvan... you shall be... avenged!”  Galaxy Quest

Conclusion:  Christ being formed in us is painful because it means bringing an end to sinful patterns in our lives.  We are not alone- Christ is present & powerfully works in us thru the Spirit.  Yet we are responsible to follow His lead so we won’t fulfill sinful desires.