Grace (Sanctification)
Sanctification – The process of becoming more like Christ.
Chapter 6
It took God one day to get Israel out of Egypt, but it took Israel 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel.
Justification is instantaneous, but sanctification is a lifelong process.
What is the source of your pain? How much of your pain is from circumstances completely out of your control? How much is from your own sinful choices? If you’re like me, probably more towards the latter.
v3. Should we go on sinning because we have grace?
v6. Death puts an end to sin for everyone. Does being born again put an end to sin? No, but it does mean that we are no longer “slaves to sin”.
v7. Freed from sin – We are no longer help captive to sin’s consequences.
v13. How can I be a slave to righteousness and not sin?
Present yourselves to God. (Rom 12:1)
v14. The works are for sanctification. (Eph 2:8-10)
Replace bad habits with good habits. You can’t serve 2 masters (gods). Get help; seek someone that will help you replace negative behavior with positive behaviors.
How do you weaken the pull of sin? Remain close to Christ – study, pray and fellowship.
As a goal, we shouldn’t try to not sin, but we should get close to Christ. Not sinning will come as a bonus.
v15. Justification by faith does not remove the sin nature.
v16. Sin is disobedience to God.
v17. Change of heart, not legalism.
v18. Not slaves, but bond-servants.
v21. Cost of Sin – leads to death.
v22-23. Benefit of Righteousness – leads to sanctification and eternal life.
Chapter 7
v1. Death releases you from the Law. (see v6)
v3. When the husband dies so does the title of wife.
v4. When we die to the Law (sin nature) we are born again so that we can be married (joined) to Christ.
v5. When we sin there are consequences. Sometimes they don’t show up until way off into the future.
Sins may have a short term benefit (attraction), but sin will have a long term cost (disaster).
The law can arouse (stimulate) sin. “Rules are made to be broken”. The moral law only makes the sinful nature stronger.
v6. We are delivered from the power of the Law which curses and condemns us for our sins. (Gal 3:13)
v7. If we are released from the Law, what good is it?
What is wrong with coveting if you never take it to action? (James 4:1-2) The Law showed Paul coveting was wrong. The thought always precedes the action.
v10. The Law revealed sin.
v11. It also provokes sin.
v12. So the Law is good because it shows that we need a Savior. It opens and searches the wound and so prepares it for healing.
Should Christians suffer? (2 Cor 12:7-10)
v17-20. The sin nature causes us to struggle.
Paul is often unable to control his sin nature. Does this ever happen to you?
If there is no struggle going on in you, then it may be a sign that the old (sin) nature is in control.
“Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is.” – C.S. Lewis
v24. We aren’t in control and we weren’t ever in control, not even when we thought we were.
The remainders of indwelling sin are a very grievous burden to a gracious soul.
v25. The closer we get to Christ, the more we realize that we need him.
Struggle in the Christian life is inevitable, lifelong and ultimately beneficial. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Chapter 8
Why are believers no longer condemned?
v1. We aren’t going to fix the sinful nature; we are just going to bury it with Christ.
v4. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.
We are not only forgiven of our sins, but given Christ’s righteousness.
Condemnation usually means the pronouncement of guilt, but in this case it is so much more. It is freedom from the power of sin and its consequences. (Gal 5:22-23) The fruit of the spirit is in harmony with the Law.
v5-6. What is having your mind set on the Spirit? Knowing God and making Him known. Be Salt & Light.
What is your mind set on? How much time do you spend studying, praying and fellowshipping? (Mt 7:19-22, Col 3:2)
We may not need to be called, since we already have the commandment to make Him known.
v11. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
This is our glorified body.
v14. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?
- God tells you everything you need to do. You pray about everything and wait for signs and hints from God.
- God gives you the moral framework or rules that you are supposed to stay inside of, and then you are free to decide what you are able to do inside those moral boundaries.
I lean toward the latter. This doesn’t mean God doesn’t operate in the former on occasion.
The will of God is never contrary to the Word of God. (1 John 4:1)
The purpose of the Bible is to tell you how you should live. (2 Tim 3:14-17)
v16-17. What do you get by being led by the Spirit? Inheritance of the Kingdom of God – Glorification.