Resolutions

A completely unobvious or obvious statement, not unobvious.

Obvious statement is we have no idea what 2012 is going to bring us.

! 2012 might bring movies that change the way we think.

It might bring music that will question or challenge what we believe.

It might bring loss in our lives that will question our convictions.

And it might bring gain that will challenge our fortitude and our faith.

Do we believe, do we need God, in other words?

2012 could also be a year where we find contentment no matter our situation.

It could be a year where we have victory over a specific sin that has haunted us

and we've struggled with so much for such a long time.

It could be a year where we find strength in our weakest moments.

It could be a year where we gain complete trust in our Savior alone.

We don't know what 2012 will bring.

We don't know what God has planned within this year.

It would be futile and pointless to say we do.

To say we know who's going to win the World Series.

To say we know what God's going to do.

To say any of these things.

But, we know God's Word.

We know what He's promised.

We know what we are to do through the year.

And that's kind of where I want to take us this morning.

The typical version of New Year's resolutions are doomed to fail from the beginning.

And all of us have experienced some resolution where it didn't last a week, maybe a day, maybe a couple hours, whatever it is.

I know what mine would be.

If I resolved to not eat sugar, it would last maybe 20 minutes.

That's a magnetic hole for me, two sugar.

But, they tend to not work.

They're pretty much doomed to fail because they're all about ourselves.

They're all rooted in what we want, what we think we need, our abilities.

And the problem is that we're going to fail.

There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

We are going to fail.

We are fallible.

And the outcome is going to be we're going to fall short.

Now, of course, there's some resolutions and some people who are strong-willed and can just fight through that.

And, you know, as we say a lot, illustrations fall short somewhere.

So, I understand that.

However, most of the things aren't going to work.

Besides being rooted in ourselves, there are also surface level.

For example, I want to lose weight so that I look better.

It's very surface level.

There's no meat to that.

I want to read more so that I know more.

Again, that's a good thing, but it's just surface level.

I want to talk to people so that I can then become more popular.

Again, very surface level.

Now, of course, not all our motives are surface level.

But what if our New Year's resolutions, what if we made resolutions that were centered on our relationship with Jesus?

Were Christ-centered, Christ-focused resolutions?

What if we made resolutions that were founded in eternal truth?

If we did that, then the outcome could be health.

Our outcome could be spiritual health and physical health.

Our outcome could be knowledge.

Knowledge of who God is and our Savior.

Our outcome could be people.

We could become popular or hated, but we'd have people in our lives.

We would gain a kingdom view and we would share the gospel with people.

Of course, I want to be clear.

I'm not dismissing resolutions, New Year's resolutions or self-examination, because those things can be healthy.

But the way we've been taught to do them are usually rooted in what we want, what we desire, and they're doomed to fail.

Jonathan Edwards, seven pages printed out of his resolutions.

They're ridiculous.

I was going to read a couple of them, and I just was under conviction not to do that, because they're pretty convicting.

But he made resolutions.

He made things that he was going to try to do.

So there's nothing wrong with that.

So with all that said, I've come up with three resolutions or encouragements for us for this year, 2012.

Three things that I think can help us as we move forward as a church, but also individually, mainly individually, as followers of Christ.

Resolution number one.

Be the person God has made you into.

Be the person that God has made you into.

Turn to Romans chapter 6.

Romans 6 · chapter mention

And resolution number one, I kind of cheated, because if you've been around, you know that I just got finished preaching through Romans chapter 6.

Romans 6 · chapter mention

So it's fresh on my mind.

Don't hate me.

All right.

Romans chapter 6.

Romans 6 · chapter mention

Now we're going to read two verses.

When I say be the person God has made you into, I'm not saying this mystical, spiritual pep talk thing.

Go and be that person that you can be.

I'm not talking about that.

I'm talking about the person that God has made you as a Christian, who you are before God.

So resolution number one, be the person God has made you into.

Romans chapter 6.

Romans 6 · chapter mention

We're going to read verse 6 and 7.

It says,

We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing,

so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Let me read verse 8.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we also live with Him.

The beginning of verse 6.

We know that our old self, if we've got an old self, then we surely have a new self.

If we're putting off or if our old self has died, then we're left with something new.

In 2 Corinthians 5, 16 and 17.

You guys know 17, I'm sure.

But verse 16 says,

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.

Or Romans 6, old self.

But we regard him thus no longer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away.

Behold, the new has come.

So we are a new creation.

As Christians, because of the blood of Christ, because of His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead,

we are no longer in bondage to sin.

So we're a new creation where sin, verse 6, is brought to nothing.

Sin has no value, no worth, no ability over us.

Sin no longer has control over us.

And I know we've gone over this several times going through Romans chapter 6,

Romans 6 · chapter mention

but we constantly have to be reminded over and over and over that sin has no power over us.

Christ has defeated sin.

His resurrection has ended the reign of sin in your life if you are a Christian.

A new creation.

A new creation also where we're no longer enslaved to sin.

We're no longer enslaved to sin.

We're set free from sin.

Sin no longer has control or power over you.

And one of the things I struggled with when we preached in Romans chapter 6 was,

Romans 6 · chapter mention

how can I come up with an illustration that communicates this clearly?

How can I let you know that we're set free from sin?

We're no longer in bondage to sin.

And I still can't do it.

The truth is, though, that we are free.

That we are free from the burden of sin and the power of sin in our lives.

So we can no longer say, and we should no longer say, well, that's just who I am.

I just struggle with that sin, right?

That's just, you know, those are the cards I've been dealt and I just, you know, struggle with it.

Onward I go.

We can no longer say, I just can't do anymore.

I've done everything I can.

You are free from sin because of Jesus.

And this is who you are.

This is where you stand.

Stop wallowing in your sin.

Stop thinking that you can't do anymore.

That this is just who you are because that's not the case.

You and I, if you are a Christian, I'm a Christian.

We are set free from sin.

It no longer has control.

Romans 6.11 says,

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin.

So our old self, dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Be dead to sin and alive to God.

This is who we are.

This is a good resolution to be the person God has made you into.

We are at war.

War.

The language following in verses 12-15 tell us, use war language.

We are at war.

And I'm afraid, I'm afraid that a lot of us are laying down in the front lines.

We are laying down without our swords, without our guns.

We are being trampled.

We are being taken captive.

We are being tortured.

And all the while, not fighting.

Is there a fight in you?

Are you fighting against sin?

Is there a fight in you to not give in to the sin that is stronger than you think?

I'm afraid that there's no fight in a lot of us.

I'm afraid that there's no fight in you and sometimes in me.

The question is, though, how can there be no fight?

If we're reading what we're reading, we have been set free from sin.

We are no longer a soldier of sin being used by sin, being abused by sin.

We are soldiers of God to serve God alone.

Being set free from sin.

We must fight.

We must fight against lust.

Fight against pride.

Fight against gossip.

Fight against discontentment.

Make war against these things.

Against sin.

Because if we don't, we're going to be conquered.

If we don't, we're not going to have a life of joy and a life that is God-honoring.

Stop laying down and saying, that's just who I am.

Those are my struggles.

You have been set free in order to fight.

And in fighting, bring glory to God.

This is who we are.

Be the person God has made you into.

No longer a slave to sin, but a slave to righteousness.

This is who you are.

Resolution number two.

Be about the Lord's work.

Be about the Lord's work.

Turn to 1 Corinthians 15.

I like to say a lot of obvious statements.

And of course, this is an obvious statement.

Be about the Lord's work.

Well, you're a Christian, so do God's work.

Of course.

Yes, I agree.

So out of who we are then, we have been set free.

We have been, the chains of sin is broken.

Sin no longer has control over us.

We are now slaves to righteousness, which is a good thing, not a bad thing.

We are now servants of the Lord.

So out of that, then, we do the Lord's work.

We are about the Lord's work.

1 Corinthians chapter 15.

1 Corinthians 15 · chapter mention

One of my favorite chapters in all of Scripture.

Paul starts off the chapter and he makes the case for the resurrection of Christ.

And he says things like, verse 3,

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received,

that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with Scriptures.

If that's not enough, and that He appeared to Cephas, and then to the twelve,

and then appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time,

more of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Last of all, Paul says,

He also appeared to me, and why I am the most unworthy to be appeared to.

He makes this case about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He proves it here just by the witness of these men that he has listed.

Well, then he goes on to say that if Jesus was not resurrected,

then we are most to be pitied because we should just go on and live life.

In fact, he uses, in verse 32,

What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I thought would be said,

Ephesus, if the dead are not raised, let us eat, drink, for tomorrow we die.

Let us just forget about this Christian life and go on.

If Jesus was not resurrected, if the dead was not resurrected.

So then we come, and he talks about it later on in the chapter,

verse 42.

So is it with the resurrection of the dead, what is sown is perishable,

what is raised is imperishable?

Verse 43.

It is sown in dishonor, and it is raised in glory.

It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

It is sown in natural body, it is raised in spiritual body.

For there is natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Jesus is better.

He's making the case that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is important.

So we come now, and we get to the end, where because of Jesus, we have,

the end of the chapter, because of Jesus, we have victory over sin, victory over death.

What we believe is true, because Jesus was resurrected.

And then where our English language kind of falls short a little bit.

Verse 56 says,

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Then verse 57.

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So he closes this up by saying, in our English language,

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And I'm pretty certain that there's a little more intensity to that statement.

He closes it by saying,

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 58.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, brothers and sisters,

Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,

knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

So resolution number two is be about the Lord's work.

The first here in verse 58,

It's the main verse I want to look at.

It says,

Be steadfast.

Another meaning for that is to sit,

or to stay.

Another one is to soak.

To be steadfast.

To not move.

Now,

some people would say that Spurgeon is as anointed as some of these other writers.

He's not.

Some people quote him as often to think that he's part of Scripture,

but he's not.

But he's got a good thing here,

talking about Scripture and preaching.

And I want to kind of read it to you,

because what he says,

he kind of gives light to some of these words,

some of these verbs.

He says,

One thing more, and it is this.

Let us, dear brethren,

try to get saturated with the Gospel,

to soak in the Gospel.

I always find that I can preach best

when I can manage to lie a soak in my text.

I like to get a text and find out its meaning and bearings and so on.

And then, after I have bathed in it,

I delight to lie down in it

and let it soak into me.

It softens me,

or hardens me,

or does whatever it ought to do to me.

And then, I can talk about it.

You need not be very particular about the words and phrases

if the spirit of the text has filled you.

Thoughts will leap out and find raiment for themselves.

Become saturated with spices,

and you will smell of them.

A sweet perfume will distill from you

and spread itself in every direction.

We call it unction.

Do you not love to listen to a brother

who abides in fellowship with the Lord Jesus?

Even a few minutes of such a man is refreshing.

For like his master,

his paths drop fatness.

Dwell in the truth,

and let the truth dwell in you.

Be baptized into its spirit and influence

that you may impart thereof to others.

If you do not believe the gospel,

do not preach it,

for you lack an essential qualification.

But even if you do believe it,

do not preach it until you have taken it up into yourself

as the wick takes up the oil.

So only can you be a burning and shining light.

Soak in the Word of God.

Now, he's speaking to students.

This is out of his lectures to my students.

He's teaching the guys who are going to be preachers.

But you and me,

and all of us in this room,

can take the truth that he says,

soak in his Word.

Soak in the Word of God.

To sit in the Word of God.

To know the Word of God.

To stand in the Word of God.

To stay in the Word of God.

In 1989,

I can remember,

and almost be horrified by the pictures,

of the protests in Tiananmen Square.

There was,

if you go to YouTube,

there's a lot of videos of this,

and I don't know why you would watch it,

but there's,

one of the famous scenes is,

is the young Chinese man

who stands in front of a tank,

and he will not move.

And protesters laying in street,

in the street in front of tanks,

they will not move,

because they believe,

they stay in what they are,

in what they believe in.

They're sitting in what they believe in.

Likewise for us,

we must sit and stay in the Word of God.

Know the Word of God.

Soak in the Word of God.

Be willing to die for the Word of God

and the truth of God's teaching.

We must be steadfast

in our faith,

in who Jesus is,

and who we are because of Jesus.

We have been set free.

We cannot waver,

cannot waver in the Gospel.

The protester did not waver.

We must not waver

for the truth that is greater

than what he was fighting for.

The next word it says is,

immovable.

Immovable.

Like the protester who was immovable,

did not move.

Firmly persistent.

When we fight,

we never give up.

We never give ground.

We stay the course.

We don't give up ground.

We don't give up an inch.

We can be undefeatable if we fight.

We can be undefeatable if we fight with Christ,

if we stand with Him.

But we so often just lay down

and say,

this is who I am.

These are the cards I've been dealt.

This is my situation,

and this is my struggle,

and this is,

some of us use,

this is my thorn.

This is the thorn in my side

that I'm going to struggle with.

No,

you can have victory over that sin.

You can have victory

over that struggle

that you think

has got you.

We can be,

we have to be immovable.

Be about the Lord's work.

We have to be immovable

against false teaching.

Be immovable about it.

Not give an inch.

Not say,

oh, well, you know, maybe.

No, immovable.

Immmovable against sin.

Immmovable against mediocrity in your life

as a child of God.

Positive.

Be immovable in kingdom work.

Immmovable about the gospel

and sharing the gospel.

Immmovable about loving others

no matter what they look like

or who they are.

We must be immovable.

And then finally,

in this verse,

it says,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord.

Our lives should overflow

in the work of the Lord.

It's not a,

it's not, you know,

you fill your glass up

and you get to the top

and you stop.

Because if we have that mentality,

then we work

and we serve the Lord

until we've done enough

and then we're done.

Until that cup is full,

we're finished.

No,

abounding here

is an overflow.

You keep pouring into that cup

and it keeps overflowing

and overflowing

and overflowing.

Abounding in the work

of the Lord.

Acquaintances in your life

should know

that you're a Christian.

Friends should know

where you stand

in issues.

See,

if what is written

here by Paul

is true

and if the scriptures

are true,

then there is no other response,

no other appropriate response

in our lives

than to do

the work

of the Lord.

We do the work

of the Lord

because

of the work

that He's already done

for us.

He's already done

in our lives.

So,

resolution number one

was be the man

God has made you

or made you into.

Resolution number two,

be about the Lord's work.

And then resolution number three,

be the person

you say you are.

Be the person

you say you are.

Now,

this came to me

this week.

Conviction of the Holy Spirit

and words from my wife.

Husbands,

you probably think

they're both the same.

Sometimes I do too,

but they're not.

Wives and Holy Spirits

are a little different.

I,

yeah,

does my life

away from teaching

and preaching,

does my life

away from being

in front of people

line up with what I'm saying?

Am I the same person?

Is there consistency?

You know,

this,

this last couple weeks

has been,

has been tough

for,

for me personally

and I allowed

my circumstances

to affect

my emotions

and,

and how I acted.

For you,

does your life,

does what you communicate

here on Sunday morning,

or what you communicate

to your family,

or what you communicate

to friends

about being a Christian,

does it line up

with how you act

every other moment

of your day,

every other moment

of your week?

Are you consistent?

Does your life

line up?

Or do you allow

circumstances

to affect you?

Be the person

you say you are.

In chapter 15,

in 1 Corinthians,

where we are,

the church at Corinth

was having,

was having an identity

crisis.

They were,

they were messing

everything up.

Like every truth

that,

that Paul had taught

them,

they had completely

messed it up.

They were,

they were a messed

up bunch.

Messed up enough

that Paul had to

write two letters

to them.

They didn't get it

the first time.

And when,

what they had done

was they,

they had twisted

truths,

they had forgotten

the gospel

that,

that,

that God

and that Paul

had taught

them.

And so at the

beginning of,

of chapter 15,

after,

of course,

Paul wasn't

writing in

chapters,

but he says

in verse 1,

Now,

I would remind you

brothers,

of the gospel

I preach to you,

which you received,

in which you stand,

and by which you

are being saved,

if you hold fast

to the word I

preach to you,

unless you believe

in vain.

And he goes on

to,

as I read earlier,

to communicate

the gospel that,

that Christ died

for our sins,

that he was buried,

that he was

resurrected,

all as the

scriptures had

said.

So,

in verse 1 and 2,

this is who you

are in Christ.

You have received

the gospel in which

you stand.

Because of Christ,

you are able to

stand in this

truth.

Now,

stop being

distracted from

that truth

and forgetting

the gospel.

He has to remind

them the gospel.

For us,

you know,

it's one thing

to have moments

of disbelief

or moments

of inconsistency

and,

and of course,

we repent

and ask forgiveness

and we,

and we,

um,

try not to do it

again.

But it's a whole

other thing

to have a life

of that unbelief

and that inconsistency.

It's another thing

to,

to have a life

that is

mastered

by sin.

We have moments,

but we cannot

have a life

mastered by sin

and I would

question the

salvation of

anyone who

has mastered

by sin

because you

have been set

free from sin.

You have been

justified.

You have been

made right

before God

because of the

life,

death,

and resurrection

of Jesus Christ.

You cannot.

So,

for you

and for me,

are you being

the person

you say you are?

Does your life

line up with

what you're teaching?

Does your life

line up with

what you're saying,

what you're

communicating?

Does your life

line up?

Does how you

spend your money

line up with

the conviction

that you say you have?

does it all

line up with

scripture?

And that's the

trunk card.

Be the person

you say you are

and ultimately

be the person

that scripture

tells you to be.

So,

resolutions then.

Be,

or act

as the person

that God

has made you into.

Be about

the Lord's work

and be the person

you say you are.

if we do

these three,

if we can do

these three,

then all the

other things

that we can

think of as

resolutions

become secondary

to these.

And by God's

grace,

those secondary

things might

get done as

well.

We do things

to the glory

and honor of

God.

We may eat

differently.

We may act

differently.

We may speak

differently.

We may

yearn

and long

to know God

more and gain

that knowledge.

By God's

grace,

we'll share

the gospel

and we'll

learn about

people and

get to know

people.

We can do

these three

and everything

else is

secondary.

our lives

bring God

glory when

we love

Jesus,

when we

worship

Jesus,

and when

we honor

Jesus.

And I

believe that

these three

resolutions lead

us to do

just that.

Honor

Jesus,

love

Jesus,

worship

Jesus.

and of

course,

all of

this is

done

because of

Jesus.

We cannot

do any

of this

apart from

Christ.

So as we

live together,

as we

gather

together on

Sundays and

on Wednesdays

and on Thursday

nights and on

any other night

we get

together,

let us

resolve

to be the

person God

has made us

into,

to be about

the Lord's

work,

and to be

the person

that we

say we

are,

to be

consistent,

to not be

hypocrites,

to be lovers

of Jesus

with our

word and

deed.