IN
A sermon delivered by Rev. Peter T. Atkinson
September 23, 2018
at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Zuni, Virginia
Romans 8: 1-17
Psalm 130
Let us pray,
Help us to see despite our eyes
Help us to think outside of our minds
Help us to be more than our lives
For your eyes show the way
Your mind knows the truth
Your being is the life.
Amen.
I want to start this morning, where we will,
as promised take a look at Romans 8, with the Old Testament. There are many
great Psalms, but this I believe is my favorite. I’ve always been drawn to the
Pit, writings. I believe the Pit metaphor is important for us because I believe
our character is often not defined on our best days but on our worst, not when
the sun is shining, but when the rain is falling, not when the world is at our
feet, but when the sky seems to be falling, when the wind is blowing, when the
earthquake shakes the foundations of our lives, when the fire is burning, when
all is turmoil, that is when I wonder, can we hear that still small voice, can
we rise above, can we fully rely on God. We often hear the psalmist crying out
from the Pit, we can picture in our minds the prayer of Jonah in the Belly of
the fish, we can think of the penitent David, humbled by his Sin with
Bathsheba, on his knees asking for forgiveness he knows he does not deserve,
and cannot earn, but somehow it is that steadfast love of the God he serves
that shows up, every time, from our knees we call, from the belly of the fish,
we cry, yea even from the valley of the shadow of death we seek him, and
everytime we find him there. So this Psalm 130 is one of my favorite, because
this is the voice of someone who has struggled with their faith, not just a
newly fledged, pliable soul, who has let the wind blow them away, but one in
the whirlwind finding someway to hang on. Listen to Psalm 130. . .
Psalm
130
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Discuss this psalm
The depths
I cry
Hear my voice
Ears attentive
Cries for mercy
Record of sins – who
could stand
Forgiveness
Reverence,
Serve you – look at
how forgiveness keeps the relationship going forward
Wait – whole being
waits
Hope
I wait for the Lord,
more than watchmen wait for the morning
Watchmen wait for the morning – the end of the watch, time ticks
slow in that last hour of duty
One time I waited up all night wondering when the night would
end, and it wouldn’t end, and it wouldn’t end, and I waited, and I waited, and
right when I though the answer would never come, it dawned on me. . . .
And then it is repeated
Israel – put your hope – spread to other
Unfailing love, full redemption,
He himself, personal, will redeem Israel
from all their sins
Look at this statement, look at this promise, look at this hope,
and remember where it comes from, out of the depths is the cry. . .
Now let’s enter into Romans 8. . . if you are in the depths
listen to the waves that this still small voice makes resounding in your
longing ears. . .
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the
Spirit who gives life has set you] free from the law of
sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it
was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c]And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be
fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the
Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what
the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have
their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind
governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not
submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot
please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in
the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject
to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 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 because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is
not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will
die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the
body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children
of God.15 The Spirit you received does not make you
slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received
brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our
spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of
God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in
order that we may also share in his glory.
I know I took a much longer piece of this out
for this morning, and I do want to go through it piece by piece because I think
that is truly the only way to really get at my question for today, because it
is certainly central to this text, and this text is certainly central to our
faith.
That is simply, what does it mean to be “In”
Christ?
Now I know there is an easy Sunday School
definition, and to be honest it’s probably enough, to give us the peace we are
after,
To be “In Christ” is to know Christ, to
believe in Christ, to put your faith in Christ, and therefore to be saved from
condemnation, from death, from all the sin that our flesh is heir to. . .
And of course this is the root of it, but I
want to go a little deeper
Because this notion of being “In” Christ is an
interesting way of putting it, and by it I mean the conclusion that we all jump
to when talking about Jesus. . . but today I want us to not jump so fast, but
rather to be watchers of the morning, patiently waiting, and wading through the
steps, through the waters, through those depths first. . .
In Christ, has always puzzled me. . . those
who are in Christ. . .
Taking it literal, which is always our demand,
but rarely our practice when it comes to the Bible, unless its simple, if its
difficult we prefer the figurative,
It’s like give it to me Concrete. . . and then
you do. . . and people then prefer the abstract. . .
Students- Muhammad – The edges – its amazing
when you are really concrete people accuse you of being abstract. . . because
its so harsh
Faith doesn’t change metaphysics. . . it
either is or it isn’t . . .
But that has gone a little afar from the mark.
. .
How would you take In Christ literally?
It would have to be physically dwelling with
in him . . . right? How would that work?
Ok, or maybe still a little literal, but
starting to enter the world of abstraction . . . in Christ’s club, group,
family? There is something there. . .
But it would also make more sense to us, and we
often say it. . . that we have Christ in us, in our hearts, on our minds, in
our souls. . .
Or sometimes we are connected and grafted
together. . . like the true vine. . .
But here we have in Christ. . .
Sometimes we have faith “In Christ” that make
sense to us. . .
But when we talk about faith sometimes you
hear it, believe “on” him
AS if you are laying your faith on. . . not
in. . . interesting right, what that difference might just be
But perhaps we are splittling hairs a little
too thin. . . its ok though we can eject at anytime, and refer back to our easy
definition
Let’s follow Paul’s words, because actually
what we find, is that it seem Paul refers to the same idea, this idea of “IN”
Christ in a bunch of different ways. . . let’s see if they are synonymous with
each other? Won’t we:
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus,
That’s our starting point, but look where he goes next. . .
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the
Spirit who gives life has set you] free from the law of
sin and death.
We’ve gone from “In” and now we are talking about “Through”
So IN Christ means the Law of the Spirit. . . gives life. .
. set free from sin and death
Sounds much the same right, so “in” and “through” and “law
of the Spirit” all give life
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it
was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c]And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be
fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the
Spirit.
So look here, about this “In” business – righteous
requirement, sacrifice language. . . living according to the Spirit instead of
the Flesh. . .
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what
the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have
their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
So being in Christ has something to do with where your mind
is set. . . . in this case On the spirit rather than the flesh . . .
Look at what the mind can do here, if it is “IN Christ”
6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind
governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not
submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
Huck Finn is my expert here let’s look at how he sees it
After supper she got out
her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers, and I was in a sweat to
find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a
considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I
don't take no stock in dead people.
Now she had got a start,
and she went on and told me all about the good place. She said all a body would
have to do there was to go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever
and ever. So I didn't think much of it. But I never said so. I asked her if she
reckoned Tom Sawyer would go there, and she said not by a considerable sight. I
was glad about that, because I wanted him and me to be together.
Miss Watson she took me in
the closet and prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray every day,
and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn't so. I tried it. Once I
got a fish-line, but no hooks. It warn't any good to me without hooks. I tried
for the hooks three or four times, but somehow I couldn't make it work. By and
by, one day, I asked Miss Watson to try for me, but she said I was a fool. She
never told me why, and I couldn't make it out no way.
And Miss Watson says he needs to pray for Spiritual things. . .
8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
What what Huck think about this realm business.. . .
But it is more “IN” language right. . . “in the realm” but not of
flesh, but of spirit
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in
the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
Uh Oh. . . now we get the can’t—if you are not in the realm ---
but in the realm of the spirit, then
Spirit of God lives in you. . . now we’ve got God in us. . .
But if you don’t then no “having” the Spirit of Christ, and no
belonging to Christ. . .
Listen at all these different relational terms Paul is using . . .
do you have a tally going “In, Through, Spirit, Flesh, dwelling in the Realm,
in us, having, belonging. . wish I could tell you it gets easier.
10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is
subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness.
Because before it was God in us, now it’s Christ, now He’s
got Christ in us and we in him. . . I’m supposed to be confused. . . but for
some reason I’m not, what about you. . . maybe I’m like the watcher and
something has dawned on me. . .
11 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 because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
Life to our mortal bodies. . . Spirit living in us. . . I
think we’ve got the full trinity now don’t we, God, Christ, Spirit. . . all
living in us. . . and we with them. . . we might have a problem with that
literally, and concretely, but here in the figurative and in the abstract. . .
we’re feeling pretty good. . . .
But Paul’s gonna get us back on that concrete wagon. . .
lest we float around in heaven too long playing harps. . .
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is
not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you
will die;
Living according to the flesh equals death --- is that back to the
condemnation?
but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the
body, you will live.
Whew back safe again – just have to put to death the
misdeeds of the body. .
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children
of God.
Look at this new relational language – Led by Spirit of God – are
the children of God
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you
live in fear again;
Slaves live in fear --- wow fear is on the wrong side of this
fence --- and its linked to slavery. . . hmmm really fear. . . ever been a
slave to fear? Ever had fear make you do things that probably aren’t in line
with being “in Christ”
But look at the opposite of slave and fear --- adoption to
sonship!
Now we can cry out to the Father, daddy, just like Christ
does. . . and another relational word in the list. . . this time By. . . any
body got the list at full, maybe we’ll run it down again at the end. . more to
come
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are
God’s children.
The spirit testifies with our spirit. . . whoa, what does that
look like. . . speaks with, for, truthful, putting on the stand,? Witness?
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and
co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that
we may also share in his glory.
Finally, here
“Heirs” of God and with Christ. . . sharing sufferings and glory, whew
Let’s run down the list like we said we would. . .
In Christ is paired with and linked to – In, Through, Spirit,
flesh, dwelling in the realm, God in us, Having, Belonging, Christ in you,
subject to, Spirit living in, led by the spirit, children of God, Live not in
fear, adoption, sonship, crying Abba, by Christ, Testifies with, God’s
children, heirs, coheirs, sharing in suffering and glory.
IN Christ, through Christ, dwelling in Christs Realm,
Having Christ, Belonging to Christ, Having Christ in You, Subject to Christ,
Led by Christ, Testify with Christ, Heirs with Christ, Sharing with Christ
Suffering and Glory
That is Beautiful. . . powerful. . . life changing. . . boy
am I glad I didn’t just jump through it. . . so much more deep. . . than the
easy exit Jump
What if Miss Watson would have told Huck that. . . instead
of using the Sunday School Jargon. . . invited him in, rather than thinking
he’s too dumb to know no better
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