January 23, 2000 Baptism - Can We "Live The Life?" Rom. 6

By The Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

Did you hear about the man that decided to buy a chainsaw? A logging foreman sold him a used one that he guaranteed would cut down 100 trees in a single day. A week later, a very unhappy man came back to report that the saw must be faulty because he could only cut down 8 trees per day.

The logger looked at the carburetor. He checked the gas and the spark plug. He commented that he couldn't find anything wrong. He then grabbed the saw, pulled on the starter cord, and the chain saw promptly went "BZZZZZZZZZZ." The man who had bought the saw jumped and cried out, "What's that noise!"

Have you let loose the power of serving the only living God? Obey Him and he will fill you with the power.

The Purpose of this sermon is to answer the question Can we live the life? The answer is yes. So then, how can we?

Scripture Text: Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

  1. We can live by dying to self - a new beginning to life. The proprietor of a dry-cleaning and dyeing business hung this quaint sign in his window: "We dye to live, we live to dye; the more we dye, the more we live; and the more we live, the more we dye." For the child of God, it is also true that the more he dies, the more he lives!
  2. We can live by raising with Him - a new right to live. raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father Turn on the power of the resurrection in your life.
  3. We can live by walking in newness of life (with Him) - a new Spirit and power to live. What if someone questioned me about if electricity can light a 60 watt bulb. I try to convince him ... Let's consider the source! This bulb is in the lamp socket plugged into the outlet - the outlet goes to the fuse box - to the transformer - to the Power station - to the Power plant which lights this part of the county. At the Power Plant the energy is generated from the dam or nuclear power station. The source provides billions of units of energy. The bulb is at the smallest end of the big source of power! LIKEWISE Someone may say, "How can I keep victorious and not lose my salvation? Consider the source! The Pastor says 'divine power.' He got the message from God's Word, the Bible. It is inspired of the Holy Spirit who is God. God is the author; He is all powerful. He made the Universe and all in it. He is the source of all power! Do you think God is big enough to take care of you?
  4. We can live by believing. - a new faith to live. Rom. 1:17 says that the just shall live by faith. The power to live a new life comes through the faith of the one who believes and receives him as their Lord and Savior. John 1:12

Can you Live the Life? Will you?