The meeting of Grace Christian Church. We meet in person and stream services every Sunday at 10:30 AM EST in Manalapan, New Jersey.
The text is the 4th message in the "Finished Work of the Cross" series, focusing on Romans 7:1-6. It highlights spiritual truths from Christ's death and resurrection, ushering in the New Covenant of Grace.
- 5th message in "Finished Work of the Cross" series. Explains spiritual truths from Christ's death and resurrection. Humans born spiritually dead, self-dependent due to fall; belief restores God-dependence.
- Core Process: Tearing down self-dependence, building Christ-dependence. Culminates in submission (Matt 26:39). Live by faith (Rom 1:16-17). Abide in Christ for fruit (John 15:5).
- Paul's Struggle: Self-effort fails to overcome sin (Rom 7:15,18-19). Rule-keeping and flesh produce no spiritual fruit. Victory in Rom 8 (next message).
- Finished Work Truths Recap: Believers stand in grace, reconciled, co-crucified/resurrected, died to sin/law, joined to Christ, serve in Spirit.
- Three Key Truths (Rom 7:7-25):
- Know Law, But Don't Live by It: Law defines sin, increases sin if kept (Rom 7:7-8,12,14a). Purpose: Lead unsaved to Christ (Gal 3:24-25). Believers died to law; apart from law, sin dead.
- Know New Self, But Don't Live from Self: New self in Christ; live from Christ, not self-effort (Rom 7:15,18-19). Self fails to do good, does evil.
- Sin in Us, But Doesn't Define Us: Sin dwells in members as patterns (Rom 7:17,20,23). Believers are saints, not sinners; overcome in Rom 8.
- Conclusion: Wretched from sin's body; freedom through Christ (Rom 7:24-25a). Sin patterns persist but don't define saints.
