Exodus 23-28. The promise-keeping God of justice and mercy

Exodus 23-28  (Read Exodus 23:20-25:22)

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On the 26th May 2018, just eight days ago, Ireland voted to remove the last remaining restriction they had against abortion. It was hailed as a great day, a day of rejoicing, a day for women’s rights, a day when women stood up and were counted. On Wednesday NRK celebrated 40 years of abortion in Norway praising Grete Irvoll, an Arbeiderpartiet politician, as a hero who stood up for women.

It was fascinating to read these articles with God’s laws ringing in my ears: the 10 commandments and then the book of the covenant in chapters 22 and 23. Because God’s laws protect the weak. Our abortion laws do not. Our abortion law does not protect women, but exposes them to abuse.

We are fooled by being shallow. The abortion campaign won by telling stories, personal stories, about women who had backroom abortions and how things went wrong and they nearly died and oh my goodness isn’t that terrible, we need to protect women from this.

And then you read the Bible and it’s all like Ex 22:16–17 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sex with her, he must pay the customary bride price and marry her. 17 But if her father refuses to let him marry her, the man must still pay him an amount equal to the bride price of a virgin.

Isn’t that terrible! Oppressive! Misogynistic! That’s what our gut reaction says. But is it? Look closer. Think. What kind of woman is it who would be seduced by the type of man that a father would forbid? A weak one. The strong can stand up for themselves, stand up against even their father. “No father, we’re in love”. But I regularly see in the news stories of women being fooled by a man seducing them, pretending to love them, and then making off with hundreds of thousands of kroners. Where was their protector? God’s laws protect the weak.

But the abortion laws protect the strong. The stories we hear are of the strong. Those who were strong enough to take that stance. Yes, things went wrong but then they made a big noise.
We don’t hear of those forced to kill their babies because it is an inconvenience to others. They are still silent in fear and in shame. “Why wasn’t I strong enough to save my baby?” “Why couldn’t I stand against my boyfriend or father or mother?”
No-one speaks for the babies, conscious of pain, being torn apart in the womb. They have no voice.
And very few speak up for the disabled who are quietly being eradicated. We are two-faced, celebrating the disabled with front page articles while supporting the laws which make sure we don’t have any more of their kind here because, really, that’s not a life worth living.

God’s laws protect the weak, those who can’t pay back. It is undeserved mercy. His laws are an expression of his heart. And that is fully seen in Jesus. He died on the cross for us in our weakness. He cries out Father forgive. He defends the cause of the fatherless and upholds the widow. He fulfils the law, and as Christians we are called to do the same. In fact, we are called to go beyond. Fulfilment and freedom. We are to act in love to protect the weak and to love the unlovable.

1. God will defend his people, so trust Him

2. God has mercy on his people, so draw near to Him

3. God is with his people, see Him

1. God will defend his people, so trust Him

20 “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.

Remember where we are in the story. The people of God are standing before the mountain of God. They have just experienced a miraculous rescue. Just a few weeks prior they were slaves in Egypt, being beaten and mercilessly worked. Then God stepped in. He rescued them through an incredible show of power. 10 plagues, ending in darkness and then death. Death of the first-born of everyone whose house was not marked by the blood of a lamb. It was a swap – the life of the lamb for the life of the firstborn. Everyone who believed God’s word, God’s way out, was saved!

And they were set free. Sent out with great rejoicing! And then Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them. And they were trapped between the army and the sea. Oh no! Many wanted to turn back: “let’s go back to Pharaoh, at least we were safe”. “Did God bring us out just to kill us?”

Of course we know what happened. God showed his power by parting the sea and they walked through as if on dry ground – and when Pharaoh’s army tried to follow them – bam! The waters flooded back and wiped them out. “Hooray!” said the Israelites.

And now Israel are facing the next task. To believe God’s word that the land promised to Abraham is theirs. God said to Abraham in Genesis 15:13-16 “400 years from now your descendants will march out to take the land”. And that is now.

For them then they were to trust the Lord that he would do what he said. Bring them to the promised land. Despite the significant challenges! They needed to remember that they were no longer slaves in Egypt. God had rescued them, had given them a new identity. They were not to be like everyone else around them. They were to be different. Holy. 24 You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Don’t compromise. Fight! V24 continues Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars.

For us now: we too were slaves, slaves to sin. We have been rescued. We have a new identity: God’s people. A holy nation. Our sins are wiped clean. We are righteous in his sight!
But like Israel when we are under pressure we are tempted to go back into the old life, into slavery. Blend in. Do what everyone else is doing. It’s easier. Take the old shortcuts. Tell a few lies. Cheat a bit. Go back to old sins. Open the browser to look at porn. Pick up the bottle. Grab the syringe. Old habits. Old sins. We know where that leads, and it does not lead to joy.

We need to keep our eyes on Jesus! Just practically, going to church – this – helps greatly. It is a means of grace. It is no surprise to me when people who have been away from church for a while are struggling. Relationships are difficult. Sin is easy. God seems far away. Use what He has given you. Keep your eyes on him. For we are not alone in this battle. In fact, we don’t even really fight the battle.

Because did you notice v27-30 that it is the Lord who will drive them out. V27 I will send my terror ahead of you v27 I will make them run v28 I will send my terror v30 I will drive them out. It wasn’t the Israelites who had to drive them out. Oh yes, they had to pick up the sword. But the battle was the Lords. Oh, they may swing the sword, but it is the Lord who brings victory. Remember Jericho, that huge walled city? They walked around it and shouted, and the walls fell! God was with them. And then they went off by themselves and tried to defeat the little village of Ai without God – and were soundly beaten.

That’s us. With the Lord, we are victorious. On our own, we are lost. So keep your eyes focussed on him in your fight against sin. Do what is right and trust him.

And when we look at what’s going on around us in the world, at the battlefield of our culture… it’s easy to despair. To feel weak. As we watch people celebrating their sin, mocking God. It can be daunting. Like a little tribe wandering in the desert going to do battle against this big and strong and powerful people!
But the Lord is with us!
We need to swing the sword by proclaiming the gospel. It seems so weak. We might feel like grasshoppers when we open our mouth at work to talk about Jesus. But God is with us! And people need him. They desperately need the gospel, Good News.

Like Israel, we need to remember what God has already done, and not disobey him, but trust Him.

God will defend his people, so trust Him.

2. God has mercy on his people, so draw near to Him

24:8 Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.” 9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. 10 There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. 11 And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!

So this is the actual covenant between God and the people. This why they have been brought here out of Egypt – to worship God. To be his people. Not just rescued from slavery, but to freedom. Likewise with us – we’re not just saved FROM sin, but saved TO righteousness.

So the Lord calls the leaders of Israel forward, and then Moses obeys God by doing what God has just been talking about. He builds an altar (with unhewn stones and no steps I would presume (20:24-26)). He substitutes dead animals for live people – because any unholy person who sees the Lord must die. So instead of the people dying, the oxen die in their place, and he splatters the blood on them symbolically. They are made holy through the sacrifice. The death they deserve has been taken by another.
And then he reads the book of the covenant – this is how you are to live as God’s holy people.

Great. But why? Why can they see God and not die? Why can Moses go and talk to God and not die? It’s not because he is righteous in himself. I mean, he was a murderer for goodness sake! So it can’t be his own righteousness.
And the elders and Aaron. In chapter 32 they show themselves to be completely unrighteous when they make a Golden calf to worship. So why can they see God and not be destroyed?

And why so much blood? And why does the blood work – I mean how can an ox take the place of a man?

We need to be asking these sorts of questions when we read the Bible.
For we are not worthy to see God. The people are afraid, at a distance, because of God’s holiness. They can only come near at his invitation. Without his invitation, they will die. It is like light and darkness – you turn on the light and the darkness is destroyed! It’s the way things are. God is a holy God and we are unholy. To meet him is to die – unless He makes us holy. So the blood. But how can ox blood make people holy?

Remember that the Old Testament speaks about Jesus. He’s the key to understanding. God’s mercy, God accepting sinners, and the blood sacrifices are all clues for us to see Christ.

God can forgive sinners because of Jesus’ death. All the sins of God’s people were poured out on Jesus on the Cross, including Moses and Aaron and the Israelites. They didn’t know how it worked – we do! They just had to trust God’s word that somehow the blood of the animal would be enough.

We trust God’s word that all who put their faith in Jesus will be saved. Our altar is the Cross. Our blood sacrifice is Jesus. He is our substitute, the one who dies in our place. And we are covered by his blood. This is what we remember in communion. This is what Jesus means when he says in John 6:53 “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.”
Just as they ate the sacrificial offerings and had the blood splattered on them – ew – so we too eat and drink in memory of what Jesus has done for us. We remind ourselves that we are unholy sinners. We cannot approach the holy God without dying. And then – o glorious truth – our death he has died, his life we have received – and so we remember his body and blood as we at the bread and drink the juice. We remember who we are.

And that means we have direct access to the Father. As Father. That was unthinkable for the Israelites. Even Moses did not experience what we experience now. They saw the Lord as King. They ate with him. Moses spoke with him in the glory cloud. But everything said “Danger! Danger!” v11 And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them.
V17 To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.

But we! We have access to the very throne room of heaven, not because the king extends his sceptre of mercy, but because he is our Dad! We run in to him and babble to him our prayers, and snuggle up to him, and say “Dad can you help me with this” and “Sorry Dad I was so rude” and all the other things children do. That is what Jesus did for us. We call him Abba, father. We have the same status as Jesus.

It is a swap. He took our status upon himself, and gave us his. 1 Jn 3:1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
I like the King James version here: 1 Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!

More than Moses even experienced. That’s what you and I have! Do you see how what we have in Christ fulfils and goes beyond anything we read about in the Old Testament? It is so familiar we don’t see it. But wow! Thank you Lord God, thank you Jesus for what you have done. Thank you Father that we can call you Father! Praise God! Praise you Holy Name! Praise you for your mercy! Amen!

God has mercy on his people, so draw near to Him

3. God is with his people, see Him

25:8 “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.
22 I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel

Wow. Again, we miss the significance of this. We are so used to God being with us that we forget what a privilege it is. That God, the Holy God, should live with his people. That’s crazy! Who are we?

Think about them then. You pitched your tent. That’s my tent. And that’s God’s tent. Over there. He is with us. What a symbol! God with his people. And you could go to his tent, and meet with him. Admittedly through a lot of sacrifices and blood spattering and the priests doing their thing – but you could meet with GOD!

That’s how amazing the Tabernacle is. And later the Temple – which was a Tabernacle made of bricks. That was a place where God and man could meet.

But we have something so much better. Because Christ is the fulfilment of the Tabernacle. He is the perfect meeting place between God and man. He is the blood sacrifice which opens the way. He is the great high priest who mediates between us and God. He is even the Word of God, a better Moses who doesn’t just bring us the law but fulfils the law. He is the law. Love personified. So we follow him, his way of love, not the letter of the law.

He is now our Tabernacle. Imagine if we had to go to a special place to talk to God. Travel to Mecca to touch a rock? To Jerusalem to wail at a wall. As Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well: John 4:23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
In Christ we meet God. Only in Christ. There are no holy places!

But be more amazed. Because not only is Jesus the Tabernacle/Temple, but then he declares us his Temple, and comes to live within us. Eph 2:20–21 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. When we come to church we don’t come to a holy building, but we see holy people. We are the Temple of God. Made holy by his mercy.

God will defend his people, so trust Him
God has mercy on his people, so draw near to Him
God is with his people, see Him

What does that mean then. How should this affect us? Let’s spend a few moments applying this passage.

Because I don’t know what you’re struggling with. But dear friends, God is with us! So whatever it is do what is right and trust the Lord.

Maybe it’s relationship issues?
You’re single and tempted to date a non-Christian. Trust the Lord. He’ll look after you. Don’t take shortcuts!
Maybe you’re married and struggling - starting to look away. Don’t! Love the one you’re with. Get your strength from God and decide to love them.
Maybe you seek refuge in porn because its easier than fixing your relationship (or starting one!). Flee from sexual sin. Trust that the Lord’s way is best.
Or maybe you run to a fantasy world of your perfect wife or husband. Don’t. Live the life you’ve been given. Trust the Lord.

If you need help - get help! Sin withers and dies when exposed. It’s the only way to kill sin. Sin hidden GROWS. We’re all here for you. Christian keeps me accountable. And Debby. I know I can speak to them about my sin and not be judged, not be crushed, but helped. Who can you speak to?
And remember that if someone confesses their sin to you – forgiveness and mercy. They already know its wrong! That’s why they’re confessing. We all need help, not judgement. For none of us are perfect.

Maybe your struggle is with money. You may be tempted not to give because “we don’t have enough”. Obey the Lord and trust him for the result.
You may want to lie or cheat to get yourself out of a situation. Tell the truth and trust the Lord.
You may be greedy! Spend less. And be happy. Things own us. They don’t provide happiness! See the glory of the Lord. The shiny things fade compared to his beauty!

Or ill health. Hard to trust the Lord when your body is failing. But look to him for strength. Ask him to show you how you can glorify him in your weakness.

Or time. Time for Bible study or church. It’s so easy to go naa. Trust the Lord. I have never regretted making church a priority. Since 1995 I have gone to church nearly every Sunday. It has kept me alive, growing. Do what is right, and trust the Lord!

Draw courage from the Israelites. They were small and weak. And they had to walk in faith through the desert and fight massive armies. And God was with them.
We walk in faith through life, and fight our own battles. But the Lord is with us. He is already victorious. So let’s live out the gospel and share it with people, so more can be saved and bring glory to God. Let this church be filled more and more with the praises of those who were lost but now am found. (Uncover)

Rom 8:1-16 The joy of the gospel!

Rom 8:1-16

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Rom 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

No condemnation. Why? Because we belong to Jesus. Law of Spirit (life) instead of law of sin and death. The law cannot condemn us, just like if you’re dead the police can’t come and arrest you and you can’t be convicted. We have died with Christ and so the law – God’s law – cannot convict us. We are dead to the law and alive to Christ! We are dead to sin because we live for Christ.

This is the message of Romans! No condemnation. We do not have to placate God. We do not have to worry about our “performance”. We do not have to live in fear of disappointing God so much that he throws us out. He is a good, good father. He loves us unconditionally. I don’t know what kind of parents you had. Some of you maybe did grow up in fear. Fear of disappointing them. Fear of upsetting them. But in Christ there is no fear. He has declared us to be in the right with him. He loves us and nothing can separate us from that love.

Nothing can separate us because his love is not based on our performance - we are weak because of sin and so we fail – his love is based on his performance, guaranteed by the cross and resurrection. God has done what the law could not because we are weak. V3 So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

His sacrifice means that we are in perfect relationship with him. With God. A relationship so perfect that we can call God “father”.

Lord grant us today that we will see the glory and the joy of the gospel. Open our eyes to your mercy. Let us feel it! Amen.

Ok. It’s been a while since we’ve been in Romans. And v1 starts off with the word therefore. If you see a therefore ask what the therefore is there for! Two good reasons to do a quick review of Romans so far.

So let me take us through what we have learned so far to bring us up to this most powerful statement: so there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans kicks off with something equally powerful: 1:16, our key verse: I am not ashamed of the gospel for IT is the POWER of God for salvation. The gospel is GOD’S power for salvation for ANYONE who believes.

Why? Why do we need the gospel? Why does the gospel need to be God’s power? Why can’t it be our power? 1:18 gives the answer: Ro 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
The gospel has to be something FROM God TO us (not us reaching out to God) because we are sinners and God is angry with us. How do we know this? Look around at the world. The mess we see around us is proof of God’s judgement. He gives us over, abandons us to our foolishness. He allows us to sin.

And chapter 2 says the way out isn’t being good – because the good person just condemns themselves! Lying is wrong, but we lie.
And being Jewish doesn’t help either. Because the Jew who is supposed to keep the law, doesn’t. So instead of the Law bringing salvation, it brings condemnation.

And so we end up with this sobering conclusion in 3:10 No-one is righteous, not even one. All our excuses are brought to nothing. How often have you done something despite the fact that you knew it was wrong? What about all those things in the moral “grey area”? Our own morals condemn us long before we even get to God. Ro 3:10 “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

And that is why we are not ashamed of the gospel! No we rejoice in the gospel! Because in it a righteousness FROM God is revealed. God’s power for salvation in Jesus Christ. Ro 3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
In the gospel God does what we can’t:
we break the law, so Jesus keeps the perfectly law for us. Justified.
We are slaves to sin, in bondage to sin, so Jesus never sins – a perfect sacrifice. He pays the price to set us free. Redeemed.
We face Gods just anger – so Jesus takes our sin upon himself, and satisfies God’s anger with his sacrifice on the cross. Propitiated.
We are justified, redeemed, propitiated.

Ro 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

But it’s not just our future which is secure, it is now. New life starts now. Not just saved FROM sin but saved FOR God. We have new life. Sin brings death, but faith in Jesus brings life.

As Christians we are the new humanity. Jesus is our new Adam. As human beings we are all sinners, because we are all born “of Adam”. His sin DNA is in us and we all confirm that we are sinners almost immediately. Just watch kids! No-one teaches them to sin but they do. This is why God must be sovereign over salvation. If we had any part to play in our salvation, then the unborn, the mentally challenged, and babies and small children all have no way to be saved. Because they are in Adam Ro 5:12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Therefore we are not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of…. GOD for salvation. Not us, praise God. So anyone can be saved. The unborn, the aborted, the mentally challenged, and you and me. The Spirit can wake anyone to life.
Adam’s one act brought death, but Jesus’ one act brought life - big enough and powerful enough to swallow up Adam’s act of death and reverse the curse. Amen!

Therefore, how should we live? Chapter 6 Like we belong to God! Ro 6:20–23 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

But, we say, I don’t FEEL like I’m dead to sin. In fact, sin feels very alive in me! I keep doing what I don’t want to do. Ro 7:23–8:1 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The answer when we are tempted to sin is to remember who we are. We belong to Christ. We have died to sin. Sin has no power over us. We don’t need to sin anymore!
Because what benefit does sin bring? When was the last time you sinned and thought “I’m so glad I did that”. Sin brings judgement and sin leads to eternal death. But now, in Christ, we can be righteous. For the first time we can choose not to sin!

So there are now two of me inside. The old man of sin and death, and the new man of Spirit and life. I am free now! I don’t have to listen to the old man anymore. I don’t have to follow the old way of life. Ro 8:2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

In Christ we are for the first time truly free. Free to see ourselves as we truly are – sinners. Full of selfishness and self-justification, and excuses for our behaviour and the painful awareness of “me” and how are people seeing me and what if they don’t like me. We’re set free from that self-obsession so that we can glorify and enjoy God – what we were made for.
We’re free to choose not to sin, and we have been given the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead. His power is sufficient!

Chapter 8 continues to remind us of the incredible truths of the gospel as Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes these words in v3, summing up what we’ve been learning from the previous chapters:

3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.

That’s what we just celebrated at Christmas. That God was born a man. Now that is astounding enough – that he became one of us to reveal himself to us. But that’s not all. V3 continues: And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Wow! The law was fully satisfied in Jesus. That’s why there’s now no condemnation. The law was fully satisfied. Why? Because Jesus perfectly kept the law - AND he then took the punishment that law-breakers like us deserve: Death. He died. His death freed us from the condemnation of the law. The fine has been paid, the prison sentence served, the death for the death penalty died, the firing squad has shot a guilty person. Our sins were transferred to Jesus on the cross – he became guilty for us and so our guilt and shame and sin is all gone. We are free! We are reborn!

We now follow a new law in ourselves. No longer a law of sin and death, but a law of the Spirit. A law of life.

That is something that comes from within. You cannot pretend to be a Christian. You must have the Spirit. Because the Spirit changes you from the inside out.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

You know, I have discovered that that is true. When I sin it leads to problems! Many problems. When I obey God it leads to life and peace. Maybe not instantly, sometimes it means going through difficulties – saying sorry, confessing a lie or a mistake – but it sets the relationship back on track. So many people live with homes full of strife – fighting and arguing and nastiness. Because they’re trying to protect themselves, and so no-one says sorry, no-one says I love you – because that would show I’m vulnerable. As Christians that is not how our homes should be. We should be quick to say sorry because we know we’re sinners. We should say “I love you” and risk being hurt because we’re already perfectly loved by God. And it’s amazing the change you will see. Ask those in the church who’ve become Christians about the change in their home life!

My Dad’s friend when he became a Christian said “I can’t sin properly anymore!” It’s true! There is a new nature within you.

7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

If you find it easy to sin, you are untroubled by sinning, or you find yourself dismissing or ignoring God’s commands – maybe you’re not a Christian. Maybe you don’t have God’s spirit in you and you’re trying to impress God with your own efforts. That is the law of sin and death and you will fail. In fact, as v7 says you are hostile to God.

Please, take the opportunity now to ask God to show you the truth and to repent.
If you’re worried about not belonging to Christ, if you’re worried that “oh no I keep sinning – do I belong to Christ” - the fact that you’re worried about it means you do belong! That desire in you to obey, to stop sinning. That crushing disappointment when you sin. That cry of despair in confession. That resolve to fight sin. All signs that you belong to Christ. For we are in bodies full of sin, but we are in our spirit righteous before God.

10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Isn’t that amazing? We don’t deserve that. But God takes our sinful rotten, dead selves, and makes us alive.
You know, if we saw ourselves in glory we would fall at our own feet in worship for we would be so glorious and amazing. That is what God I doing in us and will complete. He will turn us into a trophy of grace to the praise of his eternal glory.

Remember that. Remember his power works in you. The same power that raised Christ from the dead – is in you. You can resist sin!

There is deep eternal joy awaiting us. Let’s keep our eyes fixed ahead, for the glory and joy to come.

Debby and I were talking yesterday and I said to her that I wished I knew that she was in my future when I was younger. It would have been so much easier to keep myself from certain temptations and sins knowing that she was waiting for me. Why mess around with junk when gold is ahead?
And it struck me that that is exactly where we are. We know what is coming in our future! We have a glorious, joyful eternity ahead of us. Why mess around with “pleasures” that promise much but deliver only heartache. Fill your mind with him, with your future, and you will find the temptations of this world become quite dull.

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

Now I could end there. Choose life. Praise God and all that. But I want to end with a little encore. A little extra that will blow your mind. And it’s in the last few verses of today’s reading. When the Spirit opened your eyes and you believed in Jesus this is what happened: you became a child of God. Jesus our brother. God our Father. A new Spirit in us.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

We do not need to be afraid. We are not fearful slaves. We are beloved children. I don’t know how good or bad you parents were, but God is perfectly good. To be his child is amazing. We are adopted as his children and we can call him “Abba, father”.
Abba is a word in Aramaic meaning “Daddy” or “Dad”. It is an intimate and personal word. “Father” sounds quite formal – Abba is personal. And we can call him Abba.

But why does the Holy Spirit here use the phrase “Abba , father”? To show us something amazing! There are only three places in the Bible this phrase “Abba, father” is used. Once here, once in Galatians, making the same point as here – but it’s first used in Mark 14:36. Turn back there and read it and be amazed. “Abba” is the intimate word Jesus used to talk to his father. In deep distress the night before his crucifixion he calls out to God saying “Abba, father”. “You are my father, my Dad”, he says.

And this is what is mind-blowing: we can say the same thing. We have the same access to God as father, the same intimacy, the same rights as a son as Jesus. That is what he has given to us. Amazing grace indeed!

If you are in Christ, then you are a child of God. And God is your father. Isn’t that just astounding. Praise God. Praise him with great praise. What a gospel we have.

Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. No longer under law, free from sin, we have the Spirit and we are called sons and daughters of God.

O Lord fill us with joy and wonder at your mercy. Fill us with awe at what you have done. Capture our vision so that we are not tempted by the lesser distractions of this world, sin which drags us down – but let us look forward to the glorious future you have prepared for us in your mercy. And let us remember who we are. Child of God. A child of God. Daddy! We cry. Dad! My Dad in Heaven, I praise your name. our Dad in heaven, we love you.

If you don’t know him, get to know him now. If you need to make right with him, do that now during communion. Lord, move in mercy I pray. Amen.