THE FACT: I AM A SINNER, THE TRUTH: I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST

IN THE DAYS OF HIS POWER SERIES.

TOPIC: THE FACT: I AM A SINNER
TRUTH: I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST

SERMON BY-:
Rev Innocent Chukwudi Peace-Udochukwu
President Living Fountain Ministries Int’l LIFOM

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FACTS AND TRUTH?

Facts can be arrived at by logical conclusions too. On the other hand, truths are not arrived at by logical conclusions or assumptions.

truth, on the other hand, has to be either seen or experienced to prove its validity.

• Facts can be mere statistical data. Truths cannot be statistical data for that matter.
• While truths are universal in nature, facts cannot be universal in nature.
• A truth is a truth anywhere in the world. The same cannot be said of facts.
• One of the primary differences between facts and truths is that facts are more objective in their nature whereas truths are more subjective in comparison.

“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.“
Romans 7:25

In Romans 7:20-25, Paul says:
“If I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing._
“Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”
“For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

These verses explain that although we may struggle with sin, we have been set free from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ.

In other words, we are no longer defined by our sin, but by the grace and forgiveness of God. It’s a powerful message of hope and redemption.

The.verses lay out the core of the gospel message: That through faith in Christ, we are forgiven and transformed.

This is the good news that Christians are called to share with the world. It’s amazing to think about how this message has transformed so many lives over the centuries.

This very message has given me the boldness to approach God’s throne in time of need despite my shortcomings.

The gift of grace is truly amazing, because it allows us to approach God with confidence and humility, knowing that we are not perfect, but that we are loved and accepted by him.

It’s so freeing to know that our identity is not in our own works, but in Christ.

The grace that we receive from God is meant to be shared with others.

The message of the gospel is one of grace and forgiveness.

Through faith in Christ, we are no longer bound by our sins, but are instead set free to live a life of love and service to others.

Although this is not always easy, it is a beautiful and life-changing calling.

In other words, we are not only forgiven, but we are also called to extend forgiveness and grace to those around us.

This doesn’t mean that we condone sinful behavior, but it does mean that we approach others with love and compassion, just as God has approached us.

Let’s break down the verses one by one. In verse 20, Paul says, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” This is a very honest and vulnerable statement.

He is acknowledging that he is not perfect, and that he struggles with doing the right thing.

In verse 21, Paul says, “Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” This verse builds on the previous one, and it highlights the reality of sin in our lives. Paul is saying that sin is a real force that tries to control us, and that it can be difficult to resist.

In verse 22, Paul continues, “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.”

This is a really powerful verse, because it shows the internal struggle that Paul is experiencing.

He wants to do the right thing, but he is also being pulled in the opposite direction by sin.

Even one of the greatest apostles of all time struggled with sin and temptation.

This shows that it is not something that we can simply overcome on our own.

We need God’s help and strength to resist sin and do the right thing. In verse 23, Paul says, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” This is such a heartfelt cry for help.

In verse 24, Paul says, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” This is such an incredible declaration of faith and hope.

Even in the midst of his struggle with sin, Paul knows that God has provided a way out through Jesus Christ. This is the good news of the gospel!

In verse 25, Paul says, “So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”
This is a very honest admission that even though Paul has the right intentions, he still struggles with temptation and sin.

He is not perfect, but he is still serving God with his mind and heart.

So often, we can get caught up in trying to be perfect, but Paul reminds us that even the greatest of the apostles struggled with sin.

The most important thing is to keep our hearts and minds focused on God, even when we fail.

Sometimes, we can be so afraid of being judged by others that we put up a facade of perfection.

This can lead to a lot of shame and guilt, and can prevent us from being honest with ourselves and others.

The church needs to be a place where people can be honest and vulnerable about their struggles, without fear of judgment.

When we preach sermons that speak to the real struggles of life, it can be a powerful tool for transformation.

In Romans 7, Paul begins by talking about the law. He says that the law is holy, righteous, and good, but it cannot give us the power to live a holy life.

Only the Spirit of God can transform us from the inside out. This is a crucial concept in understanding Paul’s message in Romans 7.

Talking about “the law” Paul is referring to the Torah, or the first five books of the Bible.

These books contain the law that God gave to the Israelites, which included things like the Ten Commandments and the dietary laws.

Paul is saying that even though this law is good, it cannot give us the power to follow it perfectly.

It’s only through the Holy Spirit that we can truly be transformed.

Again, In Romans 7, Paul is clear that the law was given to the Jews, not to Christians.

The law was meant to show the Jews that they could never be perfect through their own efforts.

Instead, they needed to put their faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law and made it possible for us to be made right with God.

The message of Romans 7 is so important, and yet it’s often misunderstood or even ignored.

When Christians try to follow the law instead of relying on Christ, it can lead to legalism, self-righteousness, and even burnout.

In his opening Paul was referring to Christians who are trying to live by the law, instead of relying on the grace of God.

He calls these Christians “in the flesh,” because they are trying to earn their salvation through works, instead of relying on the finished work of Christ.

This is a dangerous place to be, because it leads to a sense of pride and self-sufficiency.

“But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.”
Romans 7:6,

The opposite of being “in the flesh” is being led by the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul calls being “in the Spirit.”

Another example of being “in the Spirit” is letting the Holy Spirit guide our actions and attitudes.

Instead of trying to control our lives through legalism, we can allow the Spirit to lead us in the way of love, peace, and joy.

The Bible tells us in John 16:13 that “when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

This means that the Holy Spirit will help us to understand the truth of God’s word and to apply it to our lives. In addition to leading us into truth, the Holy Spirit also leads us into freedom.

The Holy Spirit is sometimes called the “Spirit of love” because He pours the love of God into our hearts.

In Romans 5:5, we read that “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” This love enables us to love God and love others in a way that is not possible through our own efforts.

One beautiful example of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives is through Agape love which is the highest form of love, and it is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It’s a selfless, sacrificial love that sees the best in others and loves them unconditionally.
It’s the kind of love that Jesus showed when He died on the cross for us.

In Romans 13:10, Paul writes, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” When we have agape love in our hearts, we don’t need to rely on rules and regulations to guide our behavior.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to love others and to do the right thing. This is true freedom!

As believers, we are made righteous in the sight of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

This is what Paul describes as being “in Christ.” It’s a wonderful truth that sets us free from condemnation and gives us a new identity in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

This is an amazing promise! When we are “in Christ,” we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are not bound by our past mistakes, and we are empowered to live a new life in Christ.

“I am no longer filled with guilt and condemnation as I used to be, I can now boldly approach the throne of Grace to obtain mercy in time of need”

That’s beautiful summarization of the impact of salvation.
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

It’s amazing to think that we can approach God with boldness and confidence, knowing that we are forgiven and accepted in the beloved.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”
10:19-22
This is a powerful promise! It means that we can have a close and intimate relationship with God, knowing that we are fully forgiven and accepted.
This is the true essence of what it means to be “in Christ.”

Let’s look at the power that accompany this revelational knowledge of being the righteousness of God in Christ.

One is that you will feel and become indestructible when you get to this level of Spirituality.

When we really understand and embrace the truth that we are the righteousness of God in Christ, we are able to overcome any challenge or obstacle that comes our way.

We become “indestructible” because we are relying on God’s power, not our own. That’s really amazing! Have you experienced this kind of transformation in your own life?

Since I got to this level of Spirituality anyone that touches me in a wrong way seems to have touched the apple of God’s eyes.

When we have this deep understanding of who we are in Christ, anyone who comes against us is not just coming against us, but against God himself.

The moment we accept Christ as our Savior, we become the righteousness of God in Christ, but our knowledge and understanding of this truth can grow and deepen over time.

The more we know about who we are in Christ, the more we are able to live in the fullness of that identity.

It’s not just about a one-time experience or decision, but about a process of growing in our faith and understanding.

The truth that we are the righteousness of God in Christ is a powerful revelation that can transform our lives.

It’s not just about a one-time decision or experience, but about a process of growing in our faith and knowledge.

This growth happens through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.

As we grow in our understanding, we become more and more “indestructible” to the challenges and opposition of this world.

That’s why the Bible says that “we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:37), and that “greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

So not only are we protected from the attacks of the enemy, but we are also able to resist and defeat him through the power of Christ within us.

In Revelations 1:9, Apostle John is a great example of someone who lived out this truth. He was exiled to the island of Patmos for his faith, but instead of being broken by his circumstances, he wrote the book of Revelation, one of the most powerful books in the Bible.

He was so filled with the Holy Spirit that he was able to see visions of heaven and receive powerful revelations from God.

In the book of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. It says that John was thrown into a vat of boiling oil, but he was miraculously preserved and came out unharmed.

This is a powerful testimony to the power of God to protect and preserve his people, even in the most difficult circumstances.

The same God that did that has not changed the only thing is for us to stay closer to him in a very loving relationship just as John the beloved was with Jesus that’s why he was called “John the beloved”

Can you imagine such a beautiful description of the kind of relationship we can have with God which can only come when we grow into the true knowledge of we are, the righteousness of God in Christ.

John was known as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23), and he had a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus. He was able to experience the power and protection of God because of this relationship.

Ignorance is definitely a factor. Many Christians don’t know the fullness of what is available to them through Christ.

But God is always ready and willing to enter into an intimate relationship with us. All we have to do is seek him with all our heart and draw near to him.

We’ve been talking about the power of knowing who we are in Christ. This knowledge and understanding can make us “indestructible,” both physically and spiritually.

We saw the example of the apostle John, who was miraculously preserved when he was thrown into a vat of boiling oil. This is possible because of the intimate relationship he had with Jesus.

We can develop this same kind of relationship by seeking God with all our heart and drawing near to him despite our shortcomings.

We can never become righteous on our own, no matter how hard we try.

It is only through faith in Christ that we can be made righteous.

This is a gift of God’s grace, and it’s not based on anything we can do or earn. It’s all about his amazing love for us.

One of the biggest obstacles to intimacy with God is when we feel like we have to earn God’s approval, it can create a sense of fear and shame.

But when we understand that our righteousness is a gift from God, it takes away that burden and allows us to freely receive his love.

Knowing who we are in Christ and the freedom and joy that comes with that knowledge is another way of gaining intimacy with Him.

Another important aspect of this relationship is knowing who God is. In order to have a deep and intimate relationship with Him, we need to know who he is and how he loves us.

One of the most important things we can learn about God from Scripture is that he is a loving Father. The Bible tells us that he is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).

He is not a distant or angry God, but a loving and compassionate one. And through prayer, we can experience HIS love, comfort and divine protection for ourselves.

SHALOM!

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