(Sermon Quote) Living The Christian Life Through Jesus
Carter Conlon teaches that living the Christian life is not about knowledge alone but about surrendering to Jesus Christ who empowers transformation from within.
This sermon emphasizes that despite having knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, true transformation and living out the Christian life requires a surrendered heart to God. Using Paul's struggles in Romans 7 as an example, it delves into the internal conflict between knowing what is right and yet struggling to do it, leading to a sense of despair. The key message is the need to acknowledge our inability to live out the Christian life on our own and to surrender to Jesus Christ, allowing His life, ways, and purpose to become ours.
Full Transcript
Paul is most likely the most brilliant theologian of the New Testament. And yet with all that knowledge, he knew that knowledge alone was not enough to bring him to the place that God desired for his life. And many people feel that if I study, if I read, now that's good that you study and read, and you should memorize scripture.
We should know these books as the back of our hand. We should have this knowledge of the word of God, but knowledge itself, knowledge itself without a surrendered heart only pops a person up, only makes a person proud. Romans 7, Paul says it this way.
Let me paraphrase Paul's for time's sake. I know what to do, Paul says. I know what to do.
And I actually delight in doing it in my inner man. But there's a war inside of me, Paul says. There's another force inside of me that is constantly dragging me in another direction.
So that the things I know to do, I'm not doing. And the things I don't want to do, I find myself doing. Does it sound familiar to anybody today? And Paul says, who will deliver me from the body of this death? All of his knowledge could not deliver him.
Everything he knew to do, he couldn't do. And it can become a source of despair in the Christian life when we read the scriptures and we say, well, I should be kind, I should be loving. I should be loving my wife as Christ loves the church.
I should be honoring and respecting my husband. I should be an example to my children. I should be the best employee on my job.
I should be honest in all my day. And we see it and say, God, I can't do it. I can't do it.
Even knowing that I can't do it. There's a law at work inside of me that keeps drawing me down into a behavior and speaking and doing things that I don't want to do. And Paul says, who will deliver me from the body of this death? I feel like a walking dead man, Paul says.
I have such an ability to change in and of myself. Who will deliver me? And then in the last verse, he says, oh, thanks be to God through Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God that when I finally acknowledge that I can't do this, it's not possible for me to live the Christian life on my own.
I'm not called to chart my own course. I'm not called to create my own destiny and ask God to bless it. I'm called to follow him.
I'm called to give up the rights to my life and walk with the Holy Savior. I'm called to let his mind be formed in me. His life become my life.
His ways become my ways. His purpose become my purpose. His plan become my plan.
And then the power of God will come upon me.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Paul as a brilliant theologian with deep knowledge
- Knowledge alone is insufficient for spiritual victory
- The inner conflict described by Paul in Romans 7
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II
- The struggle between knowing what is right and doing it
- The law at work inside that drags believers down
- The despair that can arise from this internal battle
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III
- The question: Who will deliver me from this body of death?
- Acknowledging inability to live the Christian life alone
- The answer: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ
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IV
- The call to surrender and follow Jesus fully
- Allowing Christ’s mind, life, and purpose to form us
- Receiving God’s power to live transformed lives
Key Quotes
“Knowledge itself without a surrendered heart only pops a person up, only makes a person proud.” — Carter Conlon
“Who will deliver me from the body of this death? All of his knowledge could not deliver him.” — Carter Conlon
“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ that when I finally acknowledge that I can't do this, it's not possible for me to live the Christian life on my own.” — Carter Conlon
Application Points
- Recognize that knowledge of Scripture must be accompanied by a surrendered heart to be effective.
- Acknowledge your own limitations and the need for Jesus’ power to overcome sin.
- Commit daily to follow Jesus, allowing His mind and purpose to shape your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is knowledge alone not enough to live the Christian life?
Because knowledge without a surrendered heart can lead to pride and does not empower transformation or obedience.
What does Paul describe as the inner struggle in Romans 7?
Paul describes a war inside between wanting to do good and the sinful nature that leads to doing what he hates.
How can believers overcome the struggle to live righteously?
By surrendering to Jesus Christ and allowing His life and power to work within them.
What does it mean to follow Jesus in this context?
It means giving up personal rights and plans to let Christ’s mind and purpose become our own.
What is the source of power for living the Christian life?
The power of God through Jesus Christ enables believers to live transformed lives.