February 18

TOPIC: Our transformation from sinners to Saints.

TEXT: Romans 7, 8 & 9

KEY TEXT: Romans 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

DISCUSSION: like the words of a song  "there's a great change  since I'm Born again" when we are  saved we have a changed life,  a brand new nature a transformation takes place,  we get Divine strength to live above sin and Satan. Let's let's consider some subtopics:

The Characteristics of the sinful life
The sinful life will be identified by some of the following characteristics:

1) Dead works,  evidenced by the sinful practices. Romans 7:5,
2) Passionate desire for sin Romans 7:8
3) Carnality and slavery to sin and Satan. Romans 7:14-15
4) Weakness and unwillingness to do the will of God Romans 7:18
5) Sin and Satan controlled life Romans 7:20
6) Struggle and conflict against the will of God  subjecting sinner to slavery of sin Romans 7:23
7) Guilt, Wretchedness and hopelessness in sin Romans 7:24

The evidence of a transformation from sinful to Saintly living
1) No condemnation nor Guilt for past sins for they are settled by Christ's sacrifice  once we confess  them and believe on Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,

2) A new Lifestyle (walk) there is a change that happens the old sinful  lifestyle is gone all things are new,  a new walk in the spirit not after the flesh 2 corinthians 5:17 Romans 8:1 who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

3) A quickening of our body,  Making it conform to the will of God Romans 8:11  He (God) that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

4) Divine  Guidance,  and leading in the way of righteousness, Romans 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

5) Witness (Testimony) of the Spirit of God, that truly you are a child of God: Romans 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

6) Divine Strength in Prayer: Romans 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

7) Divine Shield: Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

8) Conviction and full assurance that God is able to keep us, no one can move us from him and we will not leave him: Romans 8:35, 37  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Our compassion for sinners
Having  been  saved from sin,  we are to help others out of the dungeon of sin,  we have already considered that they are weak and helpless,  but we having obtained  mercy are to reach out to them in love and compassion,  this was what Paul was talking about in Romans 9:2-4  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: He was passionate  about it he realized theirs ignorance to the blessings which God has reserved  for them:
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Salvation is by Grace,  and through faith in Christ Jesus. But the sinner must forsake his or her sins to obtain mercy, Proverbs 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. And  so God has promised Romans 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Therefore To obtain this mercy the sinner needs to  come in repentance and will obtain  this mercy from God.

We know that great glory awaits us as children of God,  but we are not to be selfish,  rather we should  shine our light, use the last of our resources  to beam the Gospel  light to all sinners.  Paul did it we will do it in Jesus name.

CHALLENGE : Are you saved? Congratulations if yes,  but what about your neighbor,  relatives   you don't mind to have them miss heaven?

PRAYER: Help me to stand in Christ to the end,  and be a soul winner,  bringing sinners to Christ.