Who am I in Christ Jesus? To Be a
Dedicated Debtor
by Sister Irene
What
is a debt?
If
you owe someone money – that’s a debt.
Debtor
– one who owes something.
When
we talk about debts, we usually talk about money. For some Chinese, it is a tradition
that loans must be settled before the new year so that the new year bring prosperity
and less debts.
But
the sermon for this morning looks at being a debtor to God as a child of God.
What does the Bible has to say about us being a debtor to God?
Romans
5:15-18
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
When
we were slave to sin, we cannot be a good debtor because we were blind. But
now, through Jesus, we are free to serve a living God. And we must remember to
do things that lead to eternal life.
So
what does it mean to be a dedicated debtor?
It
means we now owe our lives to God.
What
are these debts we are to pay? (Our Christian obligation)
1. Our debt to a lost world
Romans 1:13 - 17
13 I do not want you to
be unaware, brothers and sisters,[a] that I planned many times to come to you
(but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a
harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the
foolish. 15
That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in
Rome.
16 For
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings
salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
17 For in the gospel the
righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to
last,[b] just as it is written: “The righteous will
live by faith.”[c]
We are to preach the gospel.
The righteous will live by faith. We are our brother’s
keeper as long as within our power to do so. Need to encourage one another to
share Christ with others. We owe them the debt of this free gift of salvation.
2. Our debt to the Holy
Spirit
12 Therefore, brothers
and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live
according to it. 13 For
if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put
to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For
those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
We are obligated to live holy lives according to the
Holy Spirit.
a. Devoting ourselves to
things important to the Holy Spirit – John 16:13 – 15 i.e. to glorify God and
obey Him.
b. Taking good care of our
physical body. 2 Cor 6:14 – 17, 2 Cor 7:1 – our body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit.
c. Taking good care of the
corporate body/ church
d. Spending time to read the
bible and meditate on His Word. 2 Tim 2:16 – so we can be transformed to be
more and more like Jesus.
5. Our debt to the Jewish people