Sermon Outline: Living in the Righteousness of God

Preached on Sunday, April 28, 2008:

Last Sunday, I picked up on your messages (Romans 1 - 3) but worked on Romans 8 and titled it, "Living in the Righteousness of God"
Attached is the outline. We had a long prayer and sharing time so I wasnt able to cover outline # 3 and #4 but jumped to #5 after 30 minutes of talk (it was 6pm).

What I emphasized, among others:

1. The promises of the glories of chapter 8 are applicable ONLY to those "who do not walk according to (the desires and values of) the flesh but (who walk) according to (the desires and values of) the Spirit" v. 1 and v. 4 repeated phrase.
2. We identified the walk that is according to the flesh vs. the walk that is according to the Spirit. I handed out the outline like I always do for most of my sermons. We focused on the 2-column list in page 2. We spent time here so that we could specifically identify the lifestyle, attitudes and behavior of one who walks according to either flesh or Spirit. Although many of the sins were obvious we emphasized on debauchery as excess (excessive TV, excessive Game Boy, excessive eating, excessive any indulgence, etc). We also clarified that idolatry which is the top list of God's condemnations is really anything that takes one's attention, devotion, energy away from God or the things of God, our work, our property, our house, our car, boyfriend, etc.  We also emphasized that our idols are those areas, people or things in our lives or schedules where we have a hard time inviting God to participate.  If we find such areas, we should get rid of them right away because these things drain away our life and energies away from God.  God should be involved 24X7 in our lives, in our work, in our school, in our homes, in our social activities, etc. Where we want God to cut down on His 24X7, those are idols in our lives.
3. We jumped to vs. 28-32 and 37-39 where we emphasized that Christians often claim this promises wrongly, for it is quite obvious that these promises are ONLY applicable to those who walk according to the Spirit, to those who are THE CALLED (often misquoted as simply "called" without the "the") according to His purpose.

Living in the Righteousness of God

Romans 8:1-17

Romans 8:28-30

Romans 8:32, 38-39

 

1. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (v.1-4)
1. “who do not walk…” is found in verses 1,4
2. We are freed from the power of indwelling sin (v.2)
3. Why? Because the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us (v.4)
4. Background - Law vs. Grace, Works vs. Faith, Proof of Faith

                                                              i.      Romans 3:21-31 – Righteousness of God comes by grace through faith

                                                            ii.      Ephesians 2:8-10 – Salvation comes by grace through faith.

                                                          iii.      1 John 1:5-7 – Living in the light makes the continuous cleansing from sin a real experience. The Christian who loves what Jesus loves and hates what Jesus hates has fellowship with Him.

2. Making clear who is carnal-minded vs. spiritually-minded (v.5-9)
1. Romans 8:5 – “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
2. Colossians 3:1-2 – “…, seek those things which are above, …. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
3. Discuss Table.
4. Matthew 6:19-21 – “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”
5. 1 John 5:6 – “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
6. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God (v.8)
7. It is the law of God that brings peace and harmony (v.6,7)
3. Being Spirit-Controlled (v.10,11)
1. You have to be dead to sin first before you can be free to be alive to the Spirit (Romans 6:3-14)
2. If you are a slave of sin, you are free from righteousness. If you are a slave of righteousness, you are free from sin (Rom 6:18,20)
4. Proof that we are children of God (v.12-17)
1. Leaving by the Spirit puts to death the deeds of the flesh (v.13)
2. The children of God are those who are LED by the Spirit of God. The ones who are not controlled by the Spirit of God cannot and must not claim sonship. (v.14)
3. Suffering with and for Christ marks the children of God. (v.17)
4. Knowing that one is a child of God is the Bible’s ONLY guarantee of the security of salvation. The guarantee is lost when one walks in the flesh. (Romans 11: 21)
5. Verses that are meant EXCLUSIVELY for the children of God (Those who are led and controlled by the Spirit of God)
1. Romans 8:28-30
2. Romans 8:32, 38-39

 

Things of the flesh, or earthly things:

Pre-occupied with things of this world

 

Galatians 5:19-21, 26

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Ephesians 4:25-31

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Colossians 3:8-10

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Matthew 6:25, 31-32

25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

 

Things of the spirit, or things above:

Pre-occupied with things of God

 

Galatians 5:19-22,25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:12-14

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Also, Read Romans chapters 12,13,14,15