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Read Romans 6:1-14

DEAD TO SIN - ALIVE IN CHRIST

BEFORE - AFTER.

BEFORE WHAT? CHRIST? YES

JUSTIFICATION – THE TIPPING POINT IN YOUR LIFE

Try and read the story of Stephen Lungu. His testimony is amazing. He witnesses how God can change lives.

Form the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light

Read Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 1:13

There’s a tipping point; a pivot; a breaking point; a point of no return in your life

What has this got to do with the book of Romans? Last week Gill talked about Romans 5:1-11

What she was talking about was COVENANT AND JUSTIFICATION

• COVENANT IS WHEN A RELATIONSHIP HAS NO CONDITIONS. NOTHING WILL BREAK IT
• JUSTIFICATION It means PUT RIGHT WITH GOD --- JUST AS IF I HAD NEVER SINNED.
• SO, THEY ARE STRONGLY LINKED

THERE IS THIS BEFORE AND AFTER THING GOING ON.

God made it possible for us to be reconciled with Him

And because Jesus Lived, died was resurrected, everyone is able to come to the Father through the Son.

Everyone belongs to Jesus. Everyone. But still many don’t know it. They’re there, but they don’t know it.

What did we do?

WE SAID YES!!! And that was the tipping point. The BEGINNING OF REAL CHANGE. THE BEGINNING OF

WE’RE AT THE TIPPING POINT! THIS IS WHERE AND WHEN YOU REALISED THAT JESUS WAS REAL. AND YOU WANTED HIM. AND YOU KNEW THAT HE WANTED YOU

So, Roman’s 5:1-11 tells what is true of our lives. THIS IS ABOUT BEFORE

Because we have been justified and reconciled to God. The benefits are. Peace. Grace. Hope

The Glory of God shines through us

Romans 6:1-14 tells us about the AFTER

Read Ephesians 2:1-4; 8-9

Paul has shown us that we are all guilty before God. All of us are acquitted of guilt and reconciled to God.

But we keep blowing it!!!! We keep sinning and hurting each other and God. We seem to be in a vicious circle. DOES THISMEAN THAT WE HAVE GONE BACK TO THE “BEFORE” STATE?

NO IT DOESN’T. YOU CAN NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN

HAVE YOU HEARD THE OLD ARGUMENT ABOUT NATURE AND NURTURE?

One says we are born like this

The other says that – no –our environment made us like this

I RECKON IT IS BOTH

But the thing is that you/we cannot blame our past, our upbringing our personality, our social standing.

When we sin, we may doubt.

Did that change really happen?

DON’T GIVE UP! Don’t use the past as an excuse that the transition didn’t happen. TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!!!

Take courage. THE DIFFERENCE IS THIS. WE GO TO THE CROSS. WE VERBALLY SAY WE ARE SORRY. NOT JUST IN OUR HEADS BUT OUT LOUD. ADMIT THE MISTAKE AND CCEPT THE FORGIVENESS THAT IS FREELY OFFERED TO YOU!!

God can overcome your past

Judges 11:1. In those days you couldn’t have a worse start in life. But God used Jephthah, who became famous as the youngest governor in Israel. He’s listed with the heroes in Hebrews 11

Read Romans 6:4-5

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST HAS MADE A PERMANENT CHANGE IN YOU AND YOUR LIFE,

Justification is BEING MADE RIGHT WITH GOD

It is because of this justification that we can walk in the newness of life.

Living the resurrected life is living a transformed life.

Sin’s penalty paid for, sin’s chains broken, we have new life in Christ. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then your life is defined by and in the resurrection of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Living a resurrected life is a fruitful Christocentric life

WE CANNOT HAVE A RESURRECTION IF THERE IS NOT DEATH

AT THE TIPPING POINT YOU DIE

SO, when did this happen?

When was the tipping point in your life?

When was the turning point?

When was the point of departure for your new life?

you ARE living the Resurrected life

THE COVENANT IS REAL. YOU ARE DIFFERENT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruq8ztE4DUY