Main Idea: Though we will wrestle with sin, it is no longer where we live. We are being transformed day by day with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Review:

• The Passover reminds us that the blood of the lamb released the Israelites from bondage.
• The Law helped us understand the penalty for sin is death. Christ fulfilled the payment needed to free us from judgement (Justification). It is a gift that we get to accept.
• Today we talk about our transformation as believers – Sin Undone

Lazarus Raised From the Dead – John 11

Romans 6:1-12 NLT

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.”

A few takeaways:

• Paul is helping remind us: we were saved by Christ and justification was made, once for all.
• Sin no longer controls us or has ultimate power over us as believers
• He shifts to help us understand an important aspect: who we were vs who we are now

We were:

Guilty and condemned.

Living in sin, under its power, a slave to sin

Dead to sin and deserving death.

We are now: 

Joined with Christ in death and resurrection.

Dead to sin, Alive to God

Being renewed day by day, wrestling against a sin nature

Romans 12:2–3 NLT

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

1 Corinthians 10:12–15 NLT

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.“

Exodus of the Israelites through the Red Sea

• God did many miracles to declare his power over a strong captor.
• He led the people by a pillar of fire and cloud toward the Red Sea
• He crossed them from one land to another.
• The Israelites kept looking back.

The symbolism is powerful:

• He did a miracle to free us from the power of our captor, sin.
• He leads us through His Holy Spirit
• He has taken us to a whole new land.
• We struggle to look back.

Philippians 3:12–14 NIV

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

For Small Group Discussion:

Opening Question: What was a time when you were “let off the hook” for an offense (like a traffic ticket, cheating, etc.)?

Main Point: As followers of Jesus, though we will wrestle with sin, it is no longer what defines us. We are being transformed day by day with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Main Scripture: Romans 6:1-12

Head Questions

• How have you experienced sin and temptation differently since becoming a follower of Jesus? How has it been similar?
• What is the difference between conviction and condemnation?

Heart Questions

• Which sphere of your life do you find it most difficult to ask for forgiveness? Home, church, work, world…
• Like the Israelites, we can look back at old sins with longing or with unbearable guilt and shame. How do you struggle with sins from your past?

Hands Questions

• Philippians 3:12-14 tells us to forget what is behind and strain towards what’s ahead. How do you move past your own sin once God has forgiven you?
• How can you allow God to use someone in your life to help you resist sin? Who can you be transparent and honest with?

Additional Scripture: Romans 3:9-12, 1 John 3:4-6, Romans 5:12-15, John 8:10-11

Tips and Resources: This could be a good week to do a breakout in your group.

To watch Jim and the Sermon Team on The Overtime Podcast, go to: https://bit.ly/RLOvertime

For more sermon resources, podcasts, and other tools go to:  https://realliferesources.org/current-series/