Peter Barnes | Romans 14:7-9
SERMON NOTES
LIVING AND DYING TO THE LORD
(Romans 14:7-9)
– moves from the particular to the general, which is unusual.
1. A Christian does not live to himself.
– 14:7; none of the modern emphasis on ‘the most important person is you’ or ‘fulfil yourself as a person’; contrast between Arthur Stace and Martin Sharp on eternity.
2. A Christian lives and dies to the Lord.
– 14:8; 2 Cor.5:14-15; Gal. 2:19-20; hence John 21:19; Richard Baxter:
Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give.
– William Tennent Snr to George Whitefield:
Young man, your business is to preach the gospel and not to be concerned as to when you are going to die. You should not even be interested in it. You should just go on serving the Lord, preaching this glorious gospel, enjoying this privilege, and you should leave this other question entirely to Him. What right have you to say, “I wish I were there!” How do you know what He wants you to do? What right have you to insinuate your own desires into the mind and the thinking of the Lord?
– Phil.1:23-26.
3. Christ’s death and resurrection gain His Lordship over the Christian.
– 14:9; more than John 1:3