Romans 6:18-19 (NKJV) And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness
Before we received Christ into our lives, we used to have a sin nature thus were slaves to sin. Our master was the devil who influenced our minds, our thinking, our principles and attitudes. We allowed bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice, envy, strife and divisions to rule our lives hence the result was a chaotic life. We lived carnal lives that wanted to be independent of God as evidenced by adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions and heresies. We presented ourselves to be slaves of impurity and disorder.
The moment we believe in God with our hearts, we are delivered from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light and we are no longer slaves to sin because Jesus has made us new creations in His image. God liberated the spirit of man from sin by making him into a new creation. Whenever we are tempted to sin or to make a choice, the Holy Spirit will prompt us and show us the right direction. When we make the correct decision, then we walk in holiness and righteousness. We are able to make the right choice because we have become the slaves of righteousness and have a different nature than before. Our minds are renewed.
Ephesians 4:23 -24 (NKJV) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
We should be walking in a completely different lifestyle after we have accepted Christ in our lives. We need to be conscious of the righteousness and the holiness that we have in Christ and walk out the daily life of holiness through the help of the Holy Spirit. Our spirit is created in true righteousness and holiness because of our position in Christ. The Word instructs us to walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. We should not allow the devil to control our lives, the Bible says in James 4:7 (NKJV) Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Who does the resisting? We do!
We are able to bear the fruit of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control because we have crucified our passions and desires of the flesh on the Cross. We are a new creation with a renewed mind in Christ!
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Sermon Series: Holiness
在基督里新造的人
罗马书6：18-19你们既从罪里得了释放、就作了义的奴仆。我因你们肉体的软弱、就照人的常话对你们说、你们从前怎样将肢体献给不洁不法作奴仆、以至于不法．现今也要照样将肢体献给义作奴仆、以至于成圣．
在我们接受基督进入我们的生命之前，我们有过罪的本性，因此是罪的奴役。我们的主人是影响我们头脑，思想，原则和态度的魔鬼。我们让苦毒，恼恨，愤怒，嚷闹、毁谤，恶毒，嫉妒，冲突和分裂统治着我们的生命，结果导致了我们的生活一塌糊涂。我们过着肉欲的生活，通过通奸，不洁，淫荡，崇拜偶像，巫术，仇恨，争执，嫉妒，愤怒，自私，纠纷和异端等手段证明我们想要独立于上帝，我们所呈现出的自己是不洁与混乱的奴隶。
我们一心相信上帝的那一刻，我们就从黑暗的王国中解脱出来，进入了祂的奇妙光明，我们不再是罪的奴隶，因为耶稣已经使我们照着祂的形象成为新造的人。上帝通过使人成为新造的人，让我们的精神从罪中解放出来。每当我们被犯罪诱惑或需要做出选择时，圣灵就会提示我们并向我们展示正确的方向。当我们做出正确的决定时，我们就会走在圣洁与公义的道路上。我们能够做出正确的选择，因为我们已经成为公义的奴仆，并且拥有与以往不同的天性，我们的心意得到了更新。
以弗所书4:23 -24又要将你们的心志改换一新，并且穿上新人．这新人是照着 神的形像造的、有真理的仁义、和圣洁。
当我们接受基督进入我们生命之后，我们将行走出完全不同的生活方式。我们需要意识到我们在基督里所拥有的圣洁和正义，并在圣灵的帮助下行走出圣洁的日常生活。因着我们在基督里的地位，我们的灵是按照真正的公义和圣洁而造。圣经指示我们在圣灵中行走，这样我们就不会听从肉体的欲望。我们不应该任由魔鬼控制我们的生命。 圣经在雅各书4：7中说，务要抵挡魔鬼、魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了。谁在抵抗？是我们！
我们能够结出圣灵的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制, 因为我们已将自己对肉体的激情和渴望钉在了十字架上。我们是在基督里心意更新而新造的人！
以弗所书4：31-32 一切苦毒、恼恨、忿怒、嚷闹、毁谤、并一切的恶毒、〔或作阴毒〕都当从你们中间除掉。并要以恩慈相待、存怜悯的心、彼此饶恕、正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。
讲道系列：圣洁