TEXT:  Rom. 6:4

INTRODUCTION:

A.      OUR LIFE IS FULL OF BLESSING, BUT HAS OBLIGATIONS AS WELL

B.      WE ARE RAISED TO WALK IN A NEW LIFE.

          1.       Baptism is a burial AND a resurrection.

          2.       We will discuss this life in our lesson.

I.      A LIFE OF FAITH AND TRUST.

A.      FAITH IS ESSENTIAL TO PLEASE GOD( Heb. 11:6 ). WHAT IS FAITH?

          1.       Belief that He is - The God of the Bible.

          2.       Trust in the promise of God. "That he is the rewarder.

          3.       How does this faith work( Jas. 2:21-23; Heb. 11:17-19; Gal. 5:6 ).

B.      FAITH JUSTIFIES( Rom. 5:1-2 ).

II.     A LIFE IS ONE OF BLESSING AND PRIVILEGE.

A.      BEST SEEN IN RELATION TO GOD AS HIS CHILDREN( Rom. 8:16-17 )

B.      WE MAY APPROACH GOD AS A LOVING FATHER( Mat. 6:9; 7:7-11 ).

C.      WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF HIS CONTINUED CARE & PRESENCE

          ( Phil. 4:6-7;  1 Pet. 5:6-7 ).

III.    A LIFE OF HOLINESS AND RIGHT CONDUCT.

A.      THE CHILD OF GOD IS AN IMITATOR OF GOD( Eph. 5:1 ).

          1.       We imitate God by imitating Jesus( John 1:18; 1 Pet. 2:21 ).

          2.       Mat. 5:48;  1 Pet. 1:15;  1 John 3:3.

B.      WE ARE SANCTIFIED, SET APART, HOLY - hagios( 1 Pet. 1:2 ).

          1.       Obedience - belief, obedience( man's part ).

          2.       Sprinkling of the blood - grace and mercy( God's part ).

          3.       From the sin in the world( Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 6:17-18 ).

IV.   SUCH IS ATTAINED BY A CRUCIFIXION OF THE FLESH.

A.      BORN AGAIN - NEW CREATURES( John 3:3-5; 2 Cor. 5:17 ).

B.      BRING THE FLESH UNDER CONTROL( Col. 3:5-11 ).

C.      CRUCIFYING THE OLD MAN IS ESSENTIAL( Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 4:1-2 ).

V.    EMPHASIS MUST BE ON THE HEART - THE INNER MAN.

A.      IN ALL JESUS SEEKS CONDUCT FROM THE HEART( Luke 6:43-45 )

B.      A GOOD HEART WILL OBEY( John 14:15;  Mat. 7:21-27 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      SUCH A DISPOSITION IS NOT DEVELOPED IN A DAY, OR A MONTH.

B.      CONTINUAL GROWTH, PRUNING, DEVELOPING, SHAPING.

C.      IT IS A NARROW, DIFFICULT ROAD WE TRAVEL( Mat. 7:13-14 ).

D.      IT IS WORTH IT!