Romans 31 How to be Sanctified

Romans 7:17-8:17

The sermon presents a clear, theologically grounded framework for Christian sanctification rooted in Romans 6–8, emphasizing that believers are fundamentally new creations in Christ, dead to the sin nature and alive to God. Central to this message is the distinction between living by performance (the law, which only stirs sin) and living by dependence on the Spirit (grace, which produces righteousness), with the daily practice of 'knowing, believing, and presenting oneself to God' as the essential posture of the believer. The preacher underscores that while the sin nature remains in the flesh, the believer's identity is no longer defined by it but by union with Christ, and true spiritual growth comes not through self-effort but through the Spirit's work, especially by setting one's mind on God's Word. The sermon also addresses key interpretive issues, including the translation of 'baptism' and 'sin' in Greek, explaining why translators preserve traditional terms to maintain continuity and avoid theological bias, while affirming that the Spirit's indwelling empowers believers for life, hope, and future glorification.