Following Failure is When You Fail to Follow the Father - 12/28/25 - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to Meadows Baptist Church of

Walnut Cove, North Carolina. We're so

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Now, let's join Pastor Charlie Branch

with a word from God.

looking forward to the new year here at

the church and uh just excited about

what the Lord's going to do for us and

uh

been trying to follow the leadership of

the Lord best that I can for Sunday

school and preaching and uh feel like my

series have been so scattered. I

normally like to stay in something until

I get done with it, but but I didn't

finish Daniel and I didn't finish the

parables, Matthew 13 either. And so the

Lord knows what we need better than

anything. And I just untied that and

it's tied up again. Let's let's just uh

put that in our pocket and move on.

Romans chapter 6. I want to read just a

Romans 6 · chapter mention

couple of verses here. And uh

I'm thankful I have been able to finish

some studies. We've been through here at

the church. We we did make it all the

way through uh the epistles of the

Thessalonians and then all the way

through uh the book of First John and

done some other smaller series here at

the church. And I want to the beginning

of the year try to uh maybe get back on

track where we was at and finish out

where we was going. But I've just been

trying to mind the Lord best I can and

uh read read and study and share where

he speaks to me from. And uh Bible uh

teaches us we got to operate in the

fullness of this thing. Dad told me a

long time ago, he said, "You got to

operate out of the overflow." And so if

God's not putting it in, I can't give it

out. And so I got to go where he's

putting it in. And so uh he he knows

what we need. Amen. Let's look Romans 6.

I want to read down through about verse

number nine. Romans chapter 6 verse

Romans 6 · chapter mention

number one. The Bible says, "What shall

we say then? Shall we continue in sin

that grace may abound? God forbid. How

shall we that are dead to sin live any

longer therein? Know ye not that so many

of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ

were baptized into his death? Therefore,

we are buried with him by baptism into

death. That like as Christ was raised up

from the dead by the glory of the

father, even so we also should walk in

newness of life. For if we have been

planted together in the likeness of his

death, we shall be also in the likeness

of his resurrection. Knowing this, that

our old man is crucified with him, that

the body of sin might be destroyed, that

henceforth we should not serve sin. For

he that is dead is freed from sin. Now

if we be dead with Christ, we believe

that we shall also live with him. Verse

nine, knowing that Christ being raised

from the dead dieth no more, death hath

no more dominion over him. Notice verse

10 and 11. For in that he died, he died

unto sin once, but in that he liveth, he

liveth unto God. Likewise reckon, notice

that word, likewise, reckon ye also

yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,

but alive unto God through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Okay, let's look at this text

here this morning. And uh I was

considering when I was studying this and

uh titles help me remember what I say.

And so I always try to give my text a

title. But really when you look at

chapter 6 and verse number one, the

Bible says, "What shall we say then?

Shall we continue in sin that grace may

abound?" And I this thought just jumped

off the page at me there out of verse

number one. And uh there's a possibility

of following failure in our lives. You

say, 'What do you mean by that?' Well,

if you notice this truth here in this in

verse number one, he says, "Shall we

continue in sin?" I would say, when you

notice that phrase, what does that tell

us? Well, number one, it's possible to

continue in sin, isn't it? Notice verse

12 of chapter 6. Let not sin therefore

reign in your mortal body that you

should obey it in the lust thereof. So,

if you have to let it not, that means it

is possible for it to happen. And so,

what is this? Well, when we continue in

sin, what are we doing? We're following

failure,

>> right?

>> Every sin is a failure. And you say,

"What is that?" Well, I this little

statement I and this it ain't much, but

it's just what the Lord gave me to

introduce this lesson this morning.

Following failure is what you do when

you fail to follow the father.

You see, anything outside of God, no

matter how successful or how big of a

failure it is in our eyes, anything

outside of the will and work of God is a

failure. You're

>> right.

>> One writer said it this way. He said,

"I'm afraid that if I go outside the

will of God, in essence," this is what

he said. He said, "I'm afraid that I'll

fail." He said, "I'm afraid that I might

succeed greater than I fail."

>> You're right.

>> I think the greatest failure in the

Christian's life is to succeed at doing

something that does not bring glory to

God.

>> Amen. And so in this text when I

consider the thought here in verse

number one, shall we continue in sin?

Now there's a lot of avenues that we

could take with this this morning. But

the truth that he is trying to relay to

us is what he has just said in chapter

number five. We preached on this a few

weeks ago here at the church concerning

the thought of this grace that's given

abundant grace for a hurting world. And

the Bible says in verse 21 of chapter 5

that as sin hath reigned unto death. You

remember we talked about that? That sin

hath reigned. It means it's in control.

Sin has had control over the human race,

influencing us and sending us all to one

event and that event is death. And he

said, "As sin hath reigned under death,

even so might grace reign through

righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus

Christ our Lord." And so on the on the

other side of this now, what he's saying

to us is now that grace reigns in our

life. If you're born again, you know

what? Grace reigns.

>> Grace is in control of your life. Grace

is what brought you salvation. Grace is

what keeps you your salvation. And now

grace is is the is the function of the

Christian life. We are to operate in the

grace of God. Because if we operate

outside of that, we have no fruit.

There's no uh there's nothing that will

abound to our account. And so when he

says in verse number one, shall we,

there's the the people that he's

mentioning. Shall we continue in sin

that grace may abound? And I would say

number one, it's possible. But I would

say this, number two, it's prohibited.

You say, "What do you mean?" Well,

notice verse two. What's them first two

words? God forbid. How shall we that are

dead to sin live any longer therein? We

would all agree it's possible to to to

sin after we have received grace. But as

long as we continue in sin, the sin will

bar us from the grace that we could

receive from God for our sin. You say,

"What do you mean by that?" Well, it's

illustrated in what David said. If I

regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord

will not hear me. And so, as long as we

continue willfully and unrepentant of

sin, we are barring ourselves from the

grace of God. We are limiting God's work

in our life. As long as we continue in

unrepentance and unbelief and

disobedience to God, we are barring

ourselves from the grace of God. And

when he says, "Shall we continue in sin

that grace may abound," we know that he

just said in chapter number five that

where sin abounded, grace did much more

abound. Ain't that right? Verse 20,

"Where sin abounded, grace did much more

abound." We rejoice in that because his

grace is greater than our sin. But the

truth is when we choose to willfully

sin, we are barring the grace of God

from working in our life. And and see

this is the thing in our life, the thing

many people can't come to grips with.

It's always one ditch or the other.

Either either man is got control of God.

We've got God by the coattails and he

does what we want him to do. Or a

Calvinist says God's got man by the

coattails and he's going to throw him

off into hell if he chooses to. He's

going to save him if he chooses to. But

you know what the truth is? That ain't

the way it works.

>> Right?

>> God has given us free will. Yes, God's

in control. He's sovereign.

>> But he has given us the choice to

choose.

>> And in this text, he says, "Shall we

continue in sin?" It's possible, but it

is prohibited. But we do know even

though it's possible if we do continue

in sin, grace is still greater than our

sin. But the effects of grace may not be

available to us if we are willfully

walking in sin. You're

>> right.

>> And so I noticed this. We we'll get into

this here a little more. Verse number

two, notice what he says. God forbid.

How shall we that are dead to sin live

any longer therein? So I would say first

of all when Paul says God forbid here in

verse number one, he's saying that it's

wrong to continue in sin. That's

supported by verse number 12 and 13.

Notice it again, verse 12 and 13. Let

not sin therefore reign in your m mortal

body that you should obey it in the lust

thereof, neither yield ye your members

as uninstruments of unrighteousness unto

sin. So it's possible, we'll say more

about that in a minute. And so he's

telling us here that God would forbid

number one, that we would continue to

sin, but God would also forbid for us to

count on grace when we are in willful

sin. You say, "What do you mean,

preacher?" Well, it's using grace or

salvation as a license to sin.

>> Because I'm saved. Because I belong to

God. Because I believe I can do what I

want to and God will forgive me. Well,

that that's not necessarily true.

>> Right?

>> You say, "Preacher, but I'm saved. God

has to forgive me of my sins." And to

some extent, you're right. But you know

what? Your sin's going to have

consequences.

>> You're right.

>> I'll tell you this. A saved person is

not going to say that. Number one. Amen.

They're not going to operate like that.

If they do, God will take them out.

>> You will be punished for your sin.

>> You say, "Preacher, Jesus took my

punishment." Well, here's the thing

about that. Punishment's not just over

there. It's here now, too. You're

>> right.

>> The choices that we make have

consequences.

>> And he says, God forbid, number one,

that we're to continue in sin, but we're

also, God forbid, that we're to count on

grace when we are living in willful sin.

And then he says, "How shall we that are

dead to sin live any longer therein?" I

made a statement in the sermon I

preached here several weeks ago about

grace. And I made the statement that in

death we have become dead to death. And

that's what he is talking about here in

this text. He says, "How shall we that

are dead to sin live any longer

therein?" Now, death in the scriptures

is always a type of sin. Ephesians

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2 says Paul said he told the

fees church and you hath he quickened

who were dead in trespasses and sins.

And so this death he says how shall we

that are dead to sin live any longer

therein at the moment of salvation we

become the old man becomes dead and he

begins in this text to describe to us

this death that takes place. So I would

say this this this truth here in our

text. Sin is prohibited to the believer

because of the death that we have died

in Christ. Notice the text again. How

shall we that are dead to sin live any

longer therein? So if we're dead to

something, that means that there's no

life that can be taken in that sin

anymore. The reason why a lost person

can enjoy their sin is because they feel

life in that. You're

>> right. But the reason a saved person

cannot enjoy their sin is because

they're dead to it.

>> There's no life in it. Sin, the Bible

says it brings it's pleasureful for for

a little season.

>> And I'll be honest with you, I really

don't know if that's just for the lost

people. I don't think sin's pleasureful

at all for a believer.

>> Right?

>> Notice this verse number three. He says,

"Know ye not that so many of us as were

baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized

into his death?" And so sin is

prohibited to for the believer because

of death. Sin brought death to the soul.

The savior has brought us death to sin.

Sin brought death to the soul. The

savior brought death to sin. Notice not

only the possibility, the prohibition,

but know the process in verse three.

Know ye not that so many of us as were

baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized

into his death. So here's the beginning

work of salvation. We know salvation is

repentance and faith. It is man

repenting of his sins and turning to God

in faith and trusting him for his

salvation. In the moment of salvation

here that's emphasized what he talked

about in chapter number five. Therefore

being justified by faith at the same

moment that we are justified by faith.

That very same moment the the the carnal

man dies. Notice it again. Know ye not

that so many of us as were baptized into

notice that into Jesus Christ? You say,

"Preacher, what is that baptized? Is

that talking about a a water baptism?"

Well, not specifically.

You say, "What's that talking about?"

Well, that word baptized means this. I

love this definition. It puts it so

clearly. That word baptized means the

introduction

or placing of a person or thing into a

new environment or into union with

someone else so as to alter its

condition or its relationship to its

previous environment or condition. Let

me read that again. It is the

introduction. All right, baptism. This

word baptize is the introduction or

placing of a person or thing into a new

environment or into union with someone

else so as to alter its condition or its

relationship to its previous environment

or condition. The imagery is like this.

You take a smith. This is the

illustration that I saw. There are

several different illustrations that you

can use for this, but this one works

really well. You take a smith after he

has took that iron and you know what

he's done? He's put it in the fire and

that thing's glowing red hot. You know

what he does to make that thing hard? He

takes it out and as that thing's glowing

red hot, what does he do? He dips it in

the water. What does that do? It hardens

it.

>> And what does it do? It makes it more

resistant

for use.

>> Right?

>> And so the illustration here, he says,

"Know you not that so many of us as

we're baptized into Jesus Christ, it

means we've been united. We have been

put in, okay, to Christ. We were

baptized into his death. So, we talk

about baptism. It's an image. It's an

image of a of the the death. Amen. It's

an image of the burial. We we go down

the the burial is underneath the water

and then the coming forth of the water

is resurrection. And so, that's the

picture of baptism. But this baptism

here he's talking about is the literal

baptism. When you get saved, you become

united with Christ. In marriage, when

you when you say the vows, two become

one. And that is the same emphasis that

is in this text. He says you were

baptized into his death. Now this uh

Kenneth Whis says this. He says, "This

refers to the act of God introducing a

believing sinner into vital union with

Jesus Christ in order that the believer

might have the power of his sinful

nature broken and the divine nature

implanted through his identification

with Christ in his death, burial, and

resurrection." Now, you're not going to

hear any better description of that

verse than that right there. It is the

divine working of Jesus Christ where we

are planted with him in likeness of his

death. What is that? Well, the Bible

says that Jesus came, he was made in the

likeness of sinful flesh. Ain't that

what the Bible says? And in his physical

death, all right, he presented to us the

spiritual death that we would have to

die. This carnal man must die.

>> Right?

>> You say, "How is that, preacher?" Well,

Paul described it this way in Galatians

Galatians 2:20

2:20. He said, "For I'm crucified with

Christ." Amen. That's a death. Ain't

that right? He said, "For I'm crucified

with Christ. Nevertheless, I live. Yet

not I, but Christ liveth in me in the

life that I now live in the flesh. I

live by the faith of the son of God who

loved me and gave himself for me." So

Scott Codle said it this way. I like the

way he said. He said, "If you're going

to live, you're going to have to die."

>> Amen.

>> So he begins with this death. We are

united with him in death. As Christ was

raised from the dead, we are to be

raised from our sin. And remember that

death is a type of sin. We are to be

raised from our sin to walk, notice what

he says in verse four, to walk in

newness of life. Look what he says.

Therefore, we are buried with him by

baptism into death. That that burying

there, that means we are completely

immersed. Don't you think about this?

This is what I love about this book.

Amen. It's just perfect. When you get

saved, all of you get saved,

>> right?

>> And when you go into Christ, you're not

half in, half out.

>> Look what he says. We are buried with

him by baptism into death. When you get

saved, you die. That carnal man dies

completely. He's dead. You say,

"Preacher, why do I still sin?" Hold on.

I'll get there in just a minute. Look

what he says. That like as Christ was

raised up from the dead by the glory of

the father, even so we also should walk

in the in newness of life. So basically

if we have died in Christ and with

Christ we also will live in Christ and

with Christ.

>> Amen.

>> You say what do you mean by that? Well

Bible talks about the mystery Colossians

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1 Christ in you the hope of

glory that mystery if we have we have

died in him if we have took part in

salvation in him that death has taken

place to the old man we also too will be

resurrected. And he says in verse five,

notice the terminology, for if we have

been planted together in the likeness of

his death, we shall be also in the

likeness of his resurrection. That word

planted and the word baptized in verse

number three pretty much mean exactly

the same thing. That planted we've been

united together in his death. Now death

is an unpleasant thing. We would all

agree with that, wouldn't we? But I'll

say this, for a child of God, this is

what makes it possible for us to live

the Christian life.

>> You see, a lost man has no victory over

sin,

>> right?

>> He has no ability to overcome.

>> And and this text reveals to us here

what makes it possible for us to live

and walk in fellowship with Jesus. So if

we've been planted together in the

likeness of his death, this is gives us

a hope knowing that we shall also be

also in the likeness of his resurrection

that we will walk in new life just like

he did. Notice verse six.

So we consider the possibility, the

prohibition, the process. But now notice

the purpose. Verse number six. Knowing

this, that our old man is crucified with

him. Look what your Bible says. that the

body of sin might be destroyed and

henceforth we should not serve sin. Now

this right here is not literally talking

about a physical body. You probably

could make an application there in verse

number six to say that this body will be

destroyed. We know that this fleshly

body will go back to the ground will

receive a new body. But that's not the

primary interpretation of this text. He

says in verse six that there's a

crucifixion. Our old man that is the old

nature the sinful man who we are before

we get saved is crucified with him in

salvation in trusting Christ by grace

through faith crucifixion takes place

inevitably

when there is repentance and faith the

old man dies

>> right

>> and the Bible says that out of that

crucifixion there is a collapse notice

what he says in verse six that the body

of sin might be destroyed this flesh has

to be eradicated,

>> right?

>> It has to be eradicated. You know, when

we talk about we we talk about

practically, we talk about positionally,

we talked about progressively,

sanctification, all of that type of

stuff. But what he is saying here in

this text that the body of sin might be

destroyed, he's talking about that the

power, the influence of sin, our life.

What did Dave say? Behold, I was shapen

in iniquity. This body is a body of sin.

You're

>> right.

>> But it's within us. That's what with

what what is within us is the true body

of sin. This flesh can't sin on its own.

You're

>> right.

>> Amen. This is just a a figure is all

this is. We're a tabernacle. The soul,

that sinful part of man is what sins.

And that is this body of sin. It is the

embodiment. The heart is deceitful above

all things and desperately wicked. That

is the body of sin. Might be destroyed.

That henceforth that we should not serve

sin. So there is the crucifixion.

There's the collapse. that body is going

to be destroyed and then there is the

chain that is loosed. Notice verse six

in the last part that henceforth we

should not serve sin. So there's the

implication there that we are servants

to sin. Well Paul talks about that all

through the book of Romans that we are

servants we are in bondage to sin.

Notice we said verse seven for he that

is dead is freed from sin. You know what

a dead man when he dies them men when

they go in the electric chair you know

what happens to them? Their sentence is

over with. You're

>> right.

>> When you die and salvation, you know

what? When you die to your flesh, you

know what? Your sentence is over with.

>> You have no death has no control over

you any longer. For he that is dead is

freed from sin. So there's freedom out

of this death. But then there's

fellowship out of this death. Notice

verse eight. Now if we be dead with

Christ, we believe that we shall also

live with him. out of this death. If

we're planted in the likeness of his

death, we're also going to be raised in

the likeness of his resurrection.

There's a promise of that. And so,

that's a promise of uh to come for the

future. Of course, we know that has to

do with the resurrection under life

eternal. 1 Corinthians 15, there's

bodies terrestrial and bodies celestial

and and there's bodies mortal and bodies

immortal. And we're going to be raised.

Amen. One of these days, we'll put on

immortality and we'll be given a new

body. Of course, that's future. But you

understand he's talking what he's

talking about in verse number eight is a

new life.

>> Right?

>> When Christ was raised again, what

happened to him? He was resto life was

restored unto him. You know what happens

when you get saved? You get life

restored unto you. The same life that

Adam had.

>> Real life, new life,

>> right?

>> And so there is the fellowship in verse

number eight. I'm moving quickly here.

We'll be done just a minute. Note, not

only the fellowship in verse number

eight, but consider the future in verse

number nine. I already hit on this a

little bit. Look what he says. Knowing

that Christ being raised from the dead

dieth no more. Death hath no more

dominion over him. And this is a place

where we can stop and rejoice. Okay? You

know, we talk about we die. Paul said,

"I die daily." That's a biblical

principle. Okay? But the truth is when

you get saved, the old man died,

>> right?

>> He's dead. You said, "Well, why does he

rear up his ugly head?" All right. Now,

let's just notice the verse here. We we

consider our future because Christ, he

raised from the dead. He dies no more.

You understand? Our flesh is done with

you. Think about this. One of these days

we're going to put it off,

>> right?

>> And the truth is there's nothing that

can stop us.

>> Amen.

>> From getting to that place. You realize

that?

>> You're right.

>> It does not matter if you are born

again. Let me just stay stay time out

right there for just and hang on that

for a minute. If you are born again,

there is nothing that can keep you from

victory,

>> right?

>> Over self.

>> You can have it now, but I'll tell you

this. If you don't have it at all in

this lifetime, you're going to have it

at the end of the way. Amen. It's like

one preacher said, "Everything that

revival don't fix, the rapture is going

to take care of." Amen.

>> And so, the truth is, our future is

settled. Amen. Christ being raised from

the dead dieth no more. Death hath no

dominion over him. Why is that? Because

grace reigns and he reigns. Notice verse

10. For in that he died, he died unto

sin once, but in that he liveth, he

liveth unto God. Now, I pointed out this

phrase in verse number 11. This is the

key to this text. Ver that little word

in verse number 11, reckon. Now, we've

considered these thoughts. The

possibility, the prohibition, the

process, the purpose. Now, consider the

plan here. The plan. What is the plan?

Well, he tells us in verse number 10, he

died. He only died once. Verse 9 tells

us that he's going to die no more

because death has no dominion over him.

But in verse number 10 reveals to us the

singularity of his death. He only died

one time. That's why you can only get

saved once. Somebody say amen right

there. He died once. I only have to die

once. Okay, look what he says. But in

that he liveth, he liveth unto God. And

so his his purposes his purpose was in

his resurrection that he was to glorify

the father. We get off on this so much

and I and we're all like this. Okay. We

think that Jesus he came to this earth.

He died, was buried, and got up again

the third day, and he's in heaven now so

he could save us.

>> You're right.

>> But you know what? That wasn't the

primary purpose.

>> That's right. Amen.

>> What was the primary purpose, church?

It's to glorify him.

>> Right.

>> Look at your text again. He says, "But

in that he liveth,

he liveth for me." No,

>> he liveth unto God.

>> And so the truth is here, he's died

once. He's now alive, living unto God.

The man Christ Jesus. Verse 11, what's

that first word? Likewise.

Death is a one-time thing.

>> Right?

>> You say, "Preacher, well, the Bible says

we're to die daily." Hold on. Okay, I'm

going to get there. All right. Look what

he says. Verse 11. Likewise, reckon ye

also yourselves to be dead indeed unto

sin, but alive unto God through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Now, here's where this

this truth comes in about the death of

the old man. When you get saved, the old

man is dead.

>> Right?

>> He cannot be raised back to life again.

>> Right? regardless of what we say and

what I've even said from this pulpit

that the old man rears up his ugly head.

And he does. It seems, you know, he

does. He rears up his ugly head. But you

know what? He's still dead. That's

>> right. Amen.

>> He's still dead. And so what does what

does that tell us? Well, if he's dead

and he's rearing up his ugly head, you

know what we're doing? We're dragging

him up.

>> You're right.

>> Amen.

>> We're dragging him up. We're pulling him

up. Notice this in the text. Now, you

say, "What do you mean we're pulling him

up?" Well, that word reckon there means

this. The same way that you pull up the

old man, the same effort that you use to

bring up that old life is the same

effort that Paul says in verse number 11

that you're to put him to death. You're

>> right.

>> That word reckon means this. All right?

Reckon means to count, to consider, to

estimate, to compute, or to calculate.

And when he says, "Reckon ye yourselves

to be dead." What is he saying? He's

saying, "Count yourself dead."

You say, "Preacher, I thought you said I

was dead." You are, but it's up to you

whether you really realize that.

>> See, here's here's the thing about it's

on both sides of the aisle. All right?

In dealing with the old man, you have to

count him dead. You have to choose to

let him be dead.

>> Right.

I hope that I'm explaining this clearly

enough.

>> And in salvation, to live the Christian

life, you have to choose

to feed the spiritual man.

>> You're right.

>> And so when he says, "Reckon ye

yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin."

He's not saying that you're not dead,

but you need to count yourselves dead.

What he is saying is this. He says, "The

old man is dead." He's already proved

that, hasn't he? But when he says you're

to reckon yourselves to be dead, he said

the problem is not that he's not dead.

The problem is you don't believe he's

dead.

>> That's right.

>> Amen.

>> That's the problem. In your estimation,

you do not count him dead.

>> Right?

>> You say, "Preacher, where is it that I

make this decision?" Well, every time

temptation rears its head, this is what

you have to remember. There's got to be

a reckoning that takes place, right?

>> That temptation shows itself. You look

at that and you say, "I'm dead." Yep.

You ever seen a dog that plays possum?

They're faced with something that scare

you. Ever seen a fainting goat? It's the

imagery. All right. When temptation

comes, you know what? You remember? I'm

dead.

Lester Olaf and Bobby Robertson were

having a conversation. Sis, you probably

heard this. Miss Vicki, you probably

heard this before, but Lester and

Brother Bobby were having a

conversation, and Bobby said something.

I don't remember exactly what it was,

but it was something to do along the

dietary lines of Dr. Roloff. You know,

he didn't eat anything. He drunk carrot

juice and eat vegetables. That's all

that he all it lived off of that. And uh

said ham was was a sin and and all of

that. And and uh man, I'm telling you,

it just hurt me when I figured that out

after listening to him preach.

But Bob, him, brother Bobby and brother

Lester were having a conversation and

Bobby said something to him and not

thinking he turned around and said to

him, "Brother," he said, "I hope that

didn't offend you." And Lester looked at

him and said, "You can't offend a dead

man."

>> You're right. Amen.

>> The truth is, all right, it's not that

when somebody when somebody's saved,

they're dead. We've already laid that,

okay? The old man is dead. But what

happens is we forget to remember

that we are. Amen.

>> Right.

>> He says, "Likewise, reckon yourself

count in your estimation." Remember,

look what he says. Likewise, reckon you

also yourselves to be dead indeed unto

sin. Dead truly, dead in the reality,

you are dead unto sin, but alive unto

God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And

so, there is accounting that must take

place. So, the plan is this. It's a

choice. Everything I preach comes back

to this. The Christian life is a choice.

>> Right?

>> Salvation is a choice. The Christian

life is a choice. And the Holy Ghost

gives you the option.

>> Right?

>> I believe his Adrian Rogers said this.

He said, "You are free to choose." He

said, "But you're not free not to

choose." You're

>> right.

>> Amen.

>> And when he says that in verse number

11, he says that you need to reckon

yourselves dead. What what do we what

gives us that truth? Well, we remember

that Christ died.

>> And as he died, we've died with him.

>> Yeah.

>> When temptation shows up in your life,

you remember that he died.

>> So, you're dead also,

>> right?

>> But because he lives, we have life. We

don't need that stuff anymore,

>> right?

>> Death has no more dominion over us. And

so, I'll end with this.

Following failure is what you do when

you fail to follow the father.

When you fail to reckon your flesh dead,

to count it dead. All right?

Unto sin, what's going to happen is

you're going to fall. Bible says, "Let

any man that take heed thank he standeth

take heed lest he fall." Romans 12.

Father, thank you for this time this

morning. And God, I pray that you would

help us,

Lord, to remember just because we're

saved, that does not give us a free

ticket to sin.

Does not give us reason to do whatever

we want to do. But Lord, it all it ought

to encourage us to strive to do what you

want us to do. Lord, help us not to

follow failure. Lord, help us not to

even follow success outside the will of

God. But Lord, let us follow your

sovereign will for our life and be

obedient to you. And God, I pray that

you'll help us today. Bless the

services, but I pray that you will help

us as we preach. Pray for all those that

are sick this morning, that you be with

them, touch them, their lives, their

families, and we'll be sure to thank you

for what you do. Save that one nearest

hell today. And we give you praise. We

ask it in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Amen.

Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988

Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more

information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.