June 22, 2010
Romans 6
Pastor Jason Yon
I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home, with parents that brought me to church every Sunday and Wednesday night. Through that time, I learned many different things about my relationship with God. During my teenage years, I came to understand that my relationship with God did not hinge on works.
Early in life, I believed that God was only happy with me when I was making ‘A’s’ in school or my parents were pleased with my obedience. I believed that God was not happy when I wasn’t perfect. As a teenager, I realized that God loves me - no matter what I do. His main desire is that I have relationship with Him and am doing my best to live for Him.
During that time, I began to dig into the Word myself, and participated in many different Bible studies. I even led a Bible Study group at my high school. Yet one of the things that really challenged me is the theological concept that Paul addressed in Romans 6.
I had a hard time grasping why it even made a difference if I sinned, because I knew that God would just forgive me if I prayed and asked for forgiveness. What was the big deal if I cheated on a test, used bad language or forged my parent’s name on a progress report? I could just ask for forgiveness and everything would be cool, right?
In Romans 6, Paul tells us that God will continue to forgive us, but He expects more - a heart of obedience. That’s about dying to the old life of sin and living for Him. He expects a changed heart, so that we would want to live for Him and not just excuse ourselves with “So what if I do it? God will forgive me anyway.”
He asks for a loving relationship with you and me. That means that we wouldn’t want to sin, since we know that it would disappoint the God Whom we love.
Did you know? In this season of life, Pastor Jason’s idea of a great vacation would be a Disney cruise with his family.
