Living Positively
Series: The Ultimate Lifestyle
March 30, 2008 Pastor Bill Bump
John 10:10(NCV)
Jesus said: “I came to give life---life in all its fullness.”
Key phrase found in Romans 8: In Christ
AS A CHRIST FOLLOWER IT IS POSSIBLE TO LIVE...
1. A LIFE WITHOUT CONDEMNATION
Romans 8:1(NIV)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
FACT: God is not angry with us, nor will He reject us, if we are “in Christ”.
John 3:17(NLT)
“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”
2. A LIFE WITHOUT DOMINATION
Romans 8:2(NIV)
Through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of Life has set me free from the law of sin and death.
FACT: I don't have to be controlled by anything anymore. I am set free.
Romans 8:6(GN)
To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace.
3. A LIFE WITHOUT DESPERATION
Romans 8:18(NIV)
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
FACT: I have a hope to hold on to even in my problems, even with things going wrong, even when things fall apart.
Two things give us hope:
A. We will be given a new body
Romans 8:23(NLT)
...we, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as His children, including the new bodies He has promised us.
B. The Holy Spirit prays for us when times are difficult.
Romans 8:26(NLT)
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
4. A LIFE WITHOUT MISCALCULATION
Romans 8:28(NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
FACT: God has a purpose for us and can work all things together for good.
5. A LIFE WITHOUT INTIMIDATION
Romans 8:31(NIV)
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Hebrews 13:6(NIV)
So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Romans 8:37(NIV)
...in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
FACT: I don't have to fear anything.
6. A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITATION
Romans 8:32(LB)
Since He did not spare even His own Son for us, but gave Him up for us all, won't He also surely give us everything else?
FACT: God meets all our needs.
Philippians 4:19(NIV)
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION:
Ephesians 4:1(LB)
...live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these.
1 John 5:11 - 12(Ph)
REAL LIFE is to be found only in God's Son...Anyone who has Christ has this life; but if he doesn't have Christ, then he does not possess this life at all.
