Ephesians 5:17-18 – “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (also reads, do not be controlled by wine, but by the Spirit)

Romans 8:13-14 – “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

Today’s message is about giving up control.  It’s a relatively new idea that one can accept Christ’s salvation without submitting to His will as Lord.  The reason that it is new is that you have to throw the Bible completely out the window to be able to believe such a fallacy.  When Christ calls you to Himself, He calls you to die.  This is the core of the gospel.  Before one can receive salvation, one must recognize they are a sinner, therefore under the wrath of God, and in need of salvation.  That salvation comes through Christ alone.  It is a free gift, but it is not without cost.  The cost is your flesh’s desires.  You put those to death to seek a greater treasure in Christ.  The good news of the gospel isn’t merely that you get out of hell.  God’s plans for you are infinitely greater than merely where you exist.  No, God has freed you from sin through the cross, so that you can no longer live for yourself – leading to death, but live for God leading to eternal life and peace. 

This new life that we have in Christ should be marked by a continual dying to ourselves, to gain more of Christ in us.  This was Paul’s proclamation about His own life from Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Paul had completely given up control of His own life, to where he no longer gave Himself any credit, but all glory was given to Christ in Him.  That is more than a statement of position through salvation, but a description of how Paul lived daily. 

I don’t think any of us truly understands the depth of our own depravity (sinful nature – to break down the Christianese).  It’s not merely that we act sinful, or do sinful things, but it’s who we are from birth.  We see this throughout scripture:

Genesis 6:5 – “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Romans 3:10-12 –“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
We do not merely sin, we are sinners.  When we are saved, we are not merely forgiven, we are a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). It’s important to see that the “control” we perceive ourselves to have is illusory.  From birth we are controlled by sin and our fleshly desires.  The truth is, we are slaves.  We are either slaves to our sin, or we are slaves to Christ. (Rom 6:16)  Whatever we are obedient to evidences our allegiance.  Therefore, my exhortation is to submit yourselves to God daily.  Through Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we have freedom to pursue joy in God, a joy that lasts eternally.  Prayerfully ask God to kill all fleshly desires within you, and replace them with Himself.  The God you meet in those prayers will give rest to your soul, and is gracious and merciful. 

In the end, I could make a pile of every bad thing in my life, and every good thing in my life, and I would leave them both behind and take Christ.  There is a right way, and a wrong way to live your life, but there is a more excellent way still, and His name is Jesus Christ.  Leave your own life behind, and follow Him. 

Grace and Peace,
Adam