LIVING THE SURRENDERED LIFE

MAIN IDEA: God calls us to live a surrendered life.

BIBLE BACKGROUND

ROMANS

Author: Paul is the author of Romans.

Time Frame: Romans was probably written from Corinth in the winter of AD 56–57.

Purpose: Since the church in Rome had not received comprehensive theological teaching on salvation and other implications of following Christ, Paul wrote Romans to ensure a good understanding of these things. In addition, since many Jewish Christians were rejecting some of the new Gentile converts, it was essential that a level playing field be given to all believers. This is what Paul was advocating for in Romans.

LUKE

Author: Luke was a doctor, a Gentile Christian, and a companion of Paul.

Time Frame: The Gospel of Luke was written around AD 60.

Purpose: Luke is the only Gentile writer of the Bible. His entire purpose was to write an accurate account of the life of Jesus and present Jesus as Savior, fully God and fully man. It is one of the synoptic Gospels, having much in common with the Gospels of Matthew and Mark.

OPENING ILLUSTRATION

Imagine you’re going on a trip for two days. But somehow, you are packing as if you’re moving away forever. You’ve packed 12 outfits, “just in case”; three pairs of shoes; four hoodies; enough snacks to feed a small army; a hairdryer; a gaming console; and five books in case you get bored. You’re having to rearrange your suitcase, rezip it, and maybe even sit on it just to make it close! As you head to the airport, you’re dragging around this ginormous suitcase that barely
zips. It’s overflowing and things are falling out of it. At the airport, you struggle to reach the check-in, and you throw your suitcase on the scale to see if your bag is ready to fly. After all this, the person at the desk tells you that your bag it is too heavy – you need to unpack some things.

Often, our lives are a lot like that suitcase. We try to bring so much of this world along with us in that rather than enhancing our life, it ends up weighing us down. Ask yourself a couple of questions this morning before getting started. What are some things in your life you need to unpack? In what areas do you need to deny yourself in order to allow the Lord into your life?

SERMON RECAP

As we learned yesterday, when we have faith in Jesus and trust in Him as Lord and Savior, we can become unidentified from sin and reidentify with His grace.

JUMP IN

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is telling His disciples what it takes to be a faithful follower of Christ, including how they’re supposed to live in their new identities that Jesus has given them.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” —Luke 9:23–25

According to Bible commentaries, the image of cross-carrying was startling – a march of humility and shame. Roman criminals were forced to carry their own crossbeams to the execution site. As Christ followers – we must be prepared to bear the world’s reproach, just as Jesus did.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “DENY YOURSELF AND TAKE UP YOUR CROSS”?

To deny yourself means choosing not to put yourself first. It’s valuing others above your own desires and setting aside personal preferences in order to serve God. Instead of making yourself the center of your life, your focus becomes following Jesus and living for Him.

WHY DO YOU THINK JESUS WOULD SAY THAT DENYING YOURSELF IS NECESSARY TO FOLLOW HIM?

Jesus also teaches something that seems backward: If you try to hold on to your life and live for yourself, you’ll lose what truly matters. But if you give your life to Him, you will find real life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. —Romans 6:5–11

Paul explains that following Jesus means being completely joined with Him. This includes not only sharing in His life, but also identifying with His death. When Jesus died, He broke the power of sin. And when you place your faith in Him, your old identity, your sinful self, is no longer in control.

HOW DOES KNOWING THAT YOUR “OLD SELF” IS NO LONGER IN CONTROL CHANGE THE WAY YOU VIEW YOUR STRUGGLE?

To be “dead to sin” means we must no longer obey sinful desires. To be alive with God means we now can pursue what honors Him. This is a daily choice. Even though your identity has changed, you still must pursue what honors Him.

Dying to yourself isn’t just an idea – it shows up in everyday decisions:

• Choosing humility instead of pride
• Serving others instead of focusing on yourself
• Obeying God even when it is difficult
• Letting go of something you want in order to follow Him

WHAT IS ONE SPECIFIC AREA OF YOUR LIFE IN WHICH YOU NEED TO DENY YOURSELF RIGHT NOW?

PRAY

Spend this morning reflecting on your walk with Jesus and the things you need to deny in order to follow Him wholeheartedly. Ask Him what you need to surrender and what has been holding you back. Thank Him for how He is moving in your life this week and what things you need to give up when you go home.