Wanted Dead or Alive

6-28-26

Hoonah-Hadley

Romans 6:12-23

Call to Worship Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18

Daily Verse Romans 6:23

Wanted, Dead or Alive

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” At first glance the title may be clever, catchy, tongue in cheek, but in truth, there is one who wants us dead, and One who wants us alive. One is a wage we pay that costs us our life, the other is a free gift to eternal life. The one we pay, the other one God paid. One is a lie, the other Truth. One has a price, the other sacrifice. One is deceit, the other mercy. One is dark, the other light. Deut. 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses, therefore choose life…” Choices and voices. Not only does God give us choices, He tells us which one to choose. It seems real simple, obvious, eternal life or no water, no light, and no rest forever. Just try going without sleep, water or light for 24 hours, not a minute, a drop or a sliver. In the gospel of Luke 16 there is a rich man and a beggar. The rich man has no name, the beggars name is Lazarus. They both die, the nameless one goes to hell, Lazarus to heaven. The dead rich guy looks up and asks Lazarus for a drop of water, nope, not a drop. Matthew 8:12 “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into utter darkness.” No light for those boys. Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked.” No peace, no rest. Ephesians 2:1-4 cliff notes, “And you He made alive, who were dead in…sins…according to the…spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…were by nature children of wrath. But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love…made us alive…with Christ.”

-2-

Dead to sin, alive to God. Vs.10 “…but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The apostle Paul uses a lot of “they”, “us”, “you”, “them”, “Jews”, “Gentiles” in what is considered his most comprehensive, fullest, grandest statement of the gospel. God is sovereign, Jesus is Lord, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we are at the center of God’s plan and purpose. It’s been that way since the beginning, He rescues us over and over again, provides and eternal dwelling, a place free from pain, suffering and sorrow. Streets of gold, walls adorned with precious jewels, a place where we are in His presence and will worship Him forever. Does God love us? With a perfect love that cast out fear. But let us never lose sight of who the real hero is in all of it. “But alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In Christ, by Christ, for Christ. Listen to some highlights from Paul’s opening remarks to this epistle. “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ…separated to the gospel…concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord…declared to be the Son of God with power…Through Him…for His name…you also are the called of Jesus Christ.” The devil has an “i” in his name, his lie and deceit puts us on the podium. You hear it in the world, “be true to yourself”, “you got to look out for number one”, “I’m humble and proud of it”, “you deserve better”. What we deserve is hell. Jesus has “us” in His name, we are at the heart of His ministry, but without His name, without His mercy, without His love, without His forgiveness, without His blood, without His word, without His breath, without His sacrifice, we are hopeless, lost, broken, cast into to utter darkness, eternal damnation, separated from God forever. The devil says you got to earn it, God’s gift is free, paid in full, He ransomed us, saved us, delivered us, cleansed us, by, in, and through Jesus.

-3-

Vs. 12 “Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey it in its lusts.” Do we need a show of hands? Is it time for confession? This verse is a mouth full. Perhaps we might pause for a moment and let it settle in that it might do its work. This is not the first “do not” in the bible. Exodus 20:1-17 “Do not murder…do not steal…do not bear false witness…” The Mosaic Law in Leviticus 19 “do not lie…do not deceive one another…” Deuteronomy, Numbers, Proverbs, the Gospels, the red letters, epistles, Revelation, likely over 1000 “do not” commands. They are central to understanding God’s will and living in accordance with His economy. Anybody here ever steal anything? Lie? Bear false witness? Should we show the video of the two little boys covered in paint? When the mother asked whose idea it was they pointed at each other. What does a kid do when you tell them not to do a thing? They do it. What do we say, “if you can’t beat them, might as well join them.” “Everybody is doing it.” What does God say? “Do not”! This is Gods proverbial warning sign along the highway, “Bridge Out Ahead!” According to James 1:15, sin begins with desire, lust, and when that sin is fully grown, it inevitably leads to death encompassing spiritual, relational, physical, and eternal consequences. Has anybody here ever been arrested? Is there a price associated with that behavior? Does it cost anything? Vs. 12 has sin and lust in the same sentence. Galatians 5:16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” You can go on there and read the list of the “works of the flesh”, it’s painful, but worse yet is the conclusion of the matter in vs. 21 “…but those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” You think that speeding ticket was costly? Sin is a liar. James 1:15 “…when desire is conceived it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is fully grown, brings forth death.” Choose life.

-4-

Vs. 14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace.” The controlling principle in the life of a believer is the reign of grace that sets free from the reign of sin (5:21) and transforms into the likeness of Christ. The idea that we are not under the law but under grace might appear to provide a license for moral carelessness, this Paul denies. Essentially, we go from slave to slave, being a slave to the law, to being a slave to God. Paul calls himself, among other things, a “bondservant”, an “apostle”, a “prisoner”, and a “slave” of Christ’s. Galatians 2:20 may steal the show here, a crowning jewel in the New Testament. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Oh, the overwhelming, never ending reckless love of God! When we come to the place in our walk with Christ that we are awakened, truly saved, not under the law but under grace, that God loves us and gave His Son a ransom for us, there is little left to do but get on our knees, with tears and humility, give thanks, and become a prisoner, a servant, a slave to Christ. He died for us that we might live for Him. Vs. 22 “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” You are no longer a slave to sin, you are a child of God. When folks confess “I am this or that” referring to their denomination, the church has missed the mark and its members go from Sunday to Sunday in ignorance. Christ was none of that. In Him, by Him, through Him, you are a child of God. Vs. 23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus...” The very thing that sin destroys, God restores. You are Wanted, Dead or Alive. Don’t negotiate with sin. Receive the gift, choose life. Amen!