playnext.fm

Sermons - Cornerstone Church of Ames

Romans 8:12-17

·34 min·3 clips
Why trusting the world's promises is like stepping onto a rickety rope bridge that will collapse under you.
The episode is a sermon delivered at Cornerstone Church of Ames, continuing a three-week series called 'Gospel Promises' based on Romans chapter 8. The speaker begins by recapping last week's message from Mark about not building life on the world's shaky promises but on the solid promises of Romans 8, using an Indiana Jones rope bridge analogy. He states the goal is to examine a second promise in Romans 8: the Spirit of God living in believers guarantees life. The sermon is structured into three parts: the promise of life (verses 12-13), the proof of that life (verse 13), and the power to fight for it (verses 14-17). The speaker defines life as the future resurrection, referencing Romans 8:11 about the Spirit raising believers as Christ was raised. He emphasizes this is a future promise with present implications, comparing it to tasting burnt ends now while awaiting the full brisket later, using a personal story about waiting in line at Franklin's Barbecue in Austin. For proof, he explains that putting to death the deeds of the body through the Spirit shows believers have life, sharing a story of a student who hated her sin, which indicated salvation. He argues salvation is proven by war against sin, not its absence. For power, he details how the Spirit enables fighting sin from sonship, not slavery, contrasting fear of condemnation with freedom in the Father's love, referencing Jesus' baptism and temptation. He uses personal anecdotes about preaching for his father and a boss affirming an employee. He then explains fighting with hope, as the Spirit reminds believers they are heirs destined for glory, using his wife eating Jolly Ranchers to feel their baby kick as an analogy for reading Scripture to remember identity. He concludes by urging believers to groan for heaven, reminding them that Christ's death provides righteousness and the Spirit compels killing sin.

As heard by us

A direct sermon on how the Spirit grounds Christian identity in the fight against sin.

Romans 8 is presented as a steady foundation for Christian life under pressure, set against promises that cannot hold up under hardship, challenge, and suffering.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get Romans 8, a rickety rope bridge, and a direct question about whether you are making war on sin.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on
Apple PodcastsSpotify
Play clips from this episodeMore from Sermons - Cornerstone Church of Ames