3rd May 2025

3rd May 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 7v19-25)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Did you know that there are churches who would prefer no mention of sin? I’m not exaggerating. I know of fellowships who genuinely believe that the concept of sin isn’t one for polite discussion. But what are we doing if the message of the church is that everything is fine? Is it really a sermon if we tell people they are good and Jesus wants to make them even better?


Christ Jesus came to save sinners and I believe this is truly good news. Why? Because, just like Paul, we are all the chief of sinners. I don’t sin the odd time, I don’t just fall into sin at the weekend and I don’t go for months at a time without sin. I am a sinner, conceived in sin, born in sin and walking in sin. I need a Saviour not a message that tells me not to worry.


I am not able to keep God’s commandments in this life. I can’t do it on my own and I will never progress to a point in my Christian walk when I am without sin. Instead I am a law breaker who breaks God’s law everyday in my thoughts, words and deeds. Paul summed this up wonderfully in Romans 7 where he stated “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” You and I know what God requires and yet we do the opposite. We are Christians who know that the Lord is not pleased with our gossip but we do it anyway.


As Paul considered this reality he cried out “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (v24) We know the answer don’t we? Christ Jesus is the saviour and friend of sinners and He is the one who will rescue us from our miserable condition. The Gospel is extraordinarily good news for men and women who know their wretchedness. It is honey on the lips and it is balm to the soul.


Here is my condition - I am a sinner who breaks God’s law on a daily basis. Here is my hope - by faith in Christ I am forgiven and saved. We started this walk through the commandments by considering the words of Gresham Machen. Do you remember? As he was dying he telegrammed his friend to say that he was so thankful for the active obedience of Christ for there was no hope without it. Me too brothers and sisters and hopefully you too.


We’ll leave the commandments here but I trust you and I will respond rightly to them. Let us root and ground ourselves in the perfect obedience of Christ. As we daily see our guilt may it cause us to run to the grace of God. Finally, may we respond to the Lord’s awesome work with gratitude. We are unprofitable servants but nevertheless may our daily cry be SOLI DEO GLORIA!


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q74 What is required in the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.