Communion Message
(Romans)
September 23, 2001
Pastor Leighton Sheley

The book of Romans gives us these insights: Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Sprit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father".

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectations for the sons of God to be revealed. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to this present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope that all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

And who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all of these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Congregation applauds)

Amen. May the Lord bless the reading of His Scripture. Truly, as the words to the song say, nothing compares to the promise that we find in Jesus Christ. When we gather together around these elements the Scriptures tell us that we should, before we partake, examine ourselves; and so I'm going to invite you to join with me now as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior, and do as the Scriptures tell us.

Lord we, in these brief moments, have done as Your word tells us to do. We have examined ourselves. We've examined our lives. We've examined our hearts. We examined our thoughts and our words and our deeds. Lord we confess to You this day that we are sinners, that we have sinned, that we are greatly in need of Your salvation, Your forgiveness, and Your cleansing. Lord thank you for Your word. It says if we confess our sins You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord we earnestly desire this day to be forgiven and cleansed in heart and mind, in every way, that we might be acceptable to You as shining testimonies of Your graciousness and Your goodness to this world in which You've placed us. Thank you Lord for Your promises. Thank you Lord for paying the wages of our sin at Calvary's cross.

Lord as we now partake, we do so in remembrance of You. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord for not giving up on us. Thank you Lord for being faithful to us, even when we are so often unfaithful to You. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Lord as we gather together at this time, in addition to acknowledging our sin as individuals we also, Lord, acknowledge our sins as a nation. Lord we don't deserve Your mercy or Your graciousness towards us as a nation, but this day we pray, we cry out to You, Lord, we ask You to forgive us our sins, and to bless us, and to protect us. And may we as a nation come back to You and be a testimony to the world in which we live here that You are great, greatly to be praised. Forgive us Lord we pray. Give us wisdom. Give our leaders wisdom, Lord, for the decisions that they make are beyond the ability of human capacity. We need Your guidance Lord, Your wisdom, Your protection. Thank you Lord for hearing our prayer, in Jesus' name, amen. Let's stand and let's greet our neighbor.