Exposing the Villain
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression who is the figure of Him that is to come.
I. Sin was an Intruder
A. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world…
B. Existed by had no access until allowed in by man
II. “Sin” is singular
A. Does not refer to acts or deeds
B. Refers to the sin nature
III. Every Christian has the Potential for Sin
A. Power placed in a believer to not sin is greater than the power in the believer to sin
B. Nature of the flesh is the potential by which the believer can sin
IV. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin…
The Greek word for “by” is “dia”
“dia” means “through”
A. Through one man sin entered into the world
B. Through one man death entered into the world
V. Death
A. Waiting to claim Adam and Eve
B. Needed a doorway into Adam and Eve
C. Nature of the flesh was the doorway
VI. A Curse Moved into the Earth when Adam and Eve Sinned
A. Dust of the ground was cursed
B. All animals were cursed
C. All plant life was cursed
D. All of nature was cursed
E. Curse entered man’s body
VII. Types of Death
Genesis 2:17In the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die.
…surely die: Is “die die” in the Hebrew
Hebrew says: In the day that you eat thereof, dying (present tense), you shall die. (future tense)
A. First Death: Spiritual death
B. Second Death: Physical death which was a result of spiritual death
VIII. God Reversed the Curse
A. Curse entered man from the outside in
B. Redemption begins in man from the inside out
IX. Problem with Born Again Believers
A. Not in believer’s spirit
B. Is in the believer’s body
1. Resurrection body in the future
2. Mortal will put on immortality
X. The Flesh/”Body of Sin”
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin…
A. Sin is located in the body
B. Conflict is between the flesh and the spirit
1. Man’s flesh wants to sin
2. Man’s spirit always wants to serve God
C. Must mortify the flesh
XI. Potential for Living in Victory
A. Christians always have the potential for living in victory
B. Sinners never have the potential for living in victory
1. Do not have power of the Holy Spirit resident in them
2. Human spirit is dead
3. Body is possessed by the nature of the flesh
4. Death is working in their body
XII. Free From the Law of Sin and Death
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you (can make you) free from the law of sin and death.
A. Body cannot dominate when controlled by the Holy Spirit
B. I John 2:1These things we write unto you that you sin not, but if you do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1. Must confess sin to be cleansed
2. Sin causes flesh to dominate
XIII. War in Our Members
Romans 5:21-23 For I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
James 4:1 From whence comes wars and fightings among you? Come they not from hence, even from your lusts which war in your members?
A. Flesh is warring against the inward man
B. Man cannot overcome the flesh by human strength/will
C. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, man can win the war between the flesh and the spirit
XIV. The Law
Romans 5:13-14 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned…
A. Sin was not imputed until the law
B. Death reigned but people did not know why it reigned until the law
C. People did not realize that the sin nature was behind death until the law
D. Purpose was to expose sin
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered…
entered: Greek term for actors; means a minor actor who walks on stage long enough to do duty and then leaves the stage; an actor who walks on stage for a moment and then walks off
XX. “Actors”
A. Minor actor
1. The Law: was never a major actor
2. Purpose: to expose the villain which is sin/the nature of the flesh
B. Major actor
1. Grace
2. Only God’s grace can give us power over the nature of the flesh
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,
Galatians 3:19 What purpose then does the law serve?
21. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
24. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
XXI. Characteristics of the Law
A. Holy, just and good
B. Cannot save a person; if it could, it would have been unnecessary for Jesus to come into this world
C. Two Sections
1. The Law: exposed the problem
Romans 3:20 …by the law is the knowledge of sin
2. The Sacrifice: exposed the answer
XXII. Working for Salvation
A. Many try to earn their way to Heaven
1. “I go to church”
2. “I attend Sunday school”
3. “I’ve given money in the offering”
4. “I’ve taken communion”
B. Man’s works should expose the fact that man is the problem and Christ is the answer
