The Challenge of the Church, June 24 2018

Preacher: Nathan Lattimore

The “Challenge of the Church” carries with it two ideas.
Not only is the Church being challenged by the rapid changes taking place in our society, making life challenging for God’s people, but also, the existence of the Church is and of itself a challenge to the world.
In fact, Jesus said we are “salt and light” to the world. In this series, we’ll be exploring how the Church is both challenged, and called to be a challenge, in today’s world. And what that means for our lives individually and for the ministry and mission of Hobart Baptist Church.

Using the Bible reading: Romans 7:22-8:4 (TPT)

22 Truly, deep within my true identity, I love to do what pleases God. 23 But I discern another power operating in my humanity, waging a war against the moral principles of my conscience and bringing me into captivity as a prisoner to the “law” of sin—this unwelcome intruder in my humanity. 24 What an agonizing situation I am in! So who has the power to rescue this miserable man from the unwelcome intruder of sin and death? 25 I give all my thanks to God, for his mighty power has finally provided a way out through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! So if left to myself, the flesh is aligned with the law of sin, but now my renewed mind is fixed on and submitted to God’s righteous principles.

Living by the Power of the Holy Spirit

So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One.For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus has liberated us from the “law” of sin and death. For God achieved what the law was unable to accomplish, because the law was limited by the weakness of human nature.

Yet God sent us his Son in human form to identify with human weakness. Clothed with humanity, God’s Son gave his body to be the sin-offering so that God could once and for all condemn the guilt and power of sin. So now every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through the Anointed One living his life in us. And we are free to live, not according to our flesh, but by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit!