I’LL JUST TAKE MY CHANCES!

Romans 7:14-19 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.

Romans 7:20-25 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!

1. Death is simply a transition into another life.

2. You will live forever either in heaven or in hell.

1. Death is simply a transition into another life. 2. You will live forever either in heaven or in hell. 3. Nearly everyone wants to go to heaven.

The Bible points out to us two possible ways: The Old Testament Way & The New Testament Way!

I. The Old Testament Way

A. How most people think about getting to heaven. I. The Old Testament Way

A. How most people think about getting to heaven. 1. There are good guys & bad guys. I. The Old Testament Way

A. How most people think about getting to heaven. 1. There are good guys & bad guys. 2. Good guys go to heaven - bad guys go to hell. I. The Old Testament Way

A. How most people think about getting to heaven. 1. There are good guys & bad guys. 2. Good guys go to heaven - bad guys go to hell. 3. Most people will get in. I. The Old Testament Way

A. How most people think about getting to heaven. B. What’s the standard for deter- mining what category you fit in? I. The Old Testament Way

B. What’s the standard for deter- mining what gategory you fit in? 1. Good guy: not a criminal & treat other people okay. I. The Old Testament Way

B. What’s the standard for deter- mining what gategory you fit in? 1. Good guy: not a criminal & treat other people okay. 2. Bad guy: murderers & terrorists. I. The Old Testament Way

B. What’s the standard for deter- mining what gategory you fit in? 1. Good guy: not a criminal & treat other people okay. 2. Bad guy: murderers & terrorists. Who decides? I. The Old Testament Way

B. What’s the standard for deter- mining what gategory you fit in? 1. Good guy: not a criminal & treat other people okay. 2. Bad guy: murderers & terrorists. You do, right? I. The Old Testament Way

C. The Law of Moses uses this type of thinking! I. The Old Testament Way

C. The Law of Moses uses this type of thinking! The Good News Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. - v7-8 I. The Old Testament Way

C. The Law of Moses uses this type of thinking! The Bad News Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the command- ment put me to death. - v9-11 I. The Old Testament Way

C. The Law of Moses uses this type of thinking! The Bad News James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law & yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it! I. The Old Testament Way

D. What happens when you try it this way? You aren’t going to make it! I. The Old Testament Way

D. What happens when you try it this way? 1. The minimum standard for heaven is perfection! I. The Old Testament Way

D. What happens when you try it this way? 1. The minimum standard for heaven is perfection! 2. Only Lord Jesus ever did it! I. The Old Testament Way

D. What happens when you try it this way? Romans 3:10 - There is no one righteous, not even one. I. The Old Testament Way

D. What happens when you try it this way? Romans 3:10 - There is no one righteous, not even one. Romans 3:23 - All have sinned & fall short of the glory of God. I. The Old Testament Way

D. What happens when you try it this way? Romans 3:10 - There is no one righteous, not even one. Romans 3:23 - All have sinned & fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death. I. The Old Testament Way

II. The New Testament Way

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one & Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. II. The New Testament Way

A. How did Jesus do it? II. The New Testament Way

A. How did Jesus do it? 1. He paid the price. Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death. II. The New Testament Way

A. How did Jesus do it? 1. He paid the price. Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death. II. The New Testament Way

A. How did Jesus do it? 1. He paid the price. Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death. 2. He took your place on the cross! II. The New Testament Way

B. How do you respond to this? II. The New Testament Way

B. How do you respond to this? 1. Surrender your life to His lordship. II. The New Testament Way

B. How do you respond to this? 1. Surrender your life to His lordship. 2. Trust Him to save you. II. The New Testament Way

B. How do you respond to this? 1. Surrender your life to His lordship. 2. Trust Him to save you. 3. Love Him & live for Him. II. The New Testament Way

The Old Testament Way Obey the rules perfectly & I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Exodus 6:7 They flunked!

The New Testament Way Lord Jesus paid your debt for you so you could go to heaven forever. Identify with Him! Trust Him! Appreciate Him! You win!