No Condemnation Series

INTRODUCTION

• As we have been going through the life-changing book of Romans, there has been a lot of slavery language used thus far.

• We have studied slavery to sin and being a slave to God. The idea of slavery implies no freedom. Last week in our text we saw that Paul used the illustration of slavery to convey the idea of our bondage to sin before we are immersed into Jesus and the idea that once we give our lives to Christ, that we should joyfully want to serve Him.

• When you give your life to Jesus, you are not a chained up, whipped slave for God, but you are really free from the bondage you once lived in. You are also free to enjoy many of the great benefits that belong to adopted children of God.

• Over the next few weeks, we are going to look at some of the freedoms we enjoy as a result of belonging to Jesus.

• This week we are going to begin with a freedom that many people struggle with. It is one that is difficult for many of us to accept because we just cannot believe that God could forgive us for what we have done in the past.

• When you give your life to Jesus, one of the freedoms we are able to enjoy is a freedom from condemnation.

• I believe that many Christians really never get off the ground with their faith because they do not grasp the significance of this freedom. Our hearts want us to hold on to the past transgressions because we feel like we deserve to be condemned for what we have done.

• Many people feel paralyzed by feeling condemned because of guilt.

• I hope as we look at this freedom you will have a greater appreciation for this wonderful freedom that God wants us all to enjoy. Today we will look at what it means to have no condemnation in Christ, why we can experience this great freedom and how we come to be able to enjoy it!

• Are you struggling with feeling condemned? I pray that today’s message will bring you some encouragement.

SERMON

I. THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST JESUS (1)

Read verse 1

• Chapter eight has been called the triumphant hymn of hope. Most of us understand the concept of doing the time for the crime, but in Christ, the time has been removed for the crime.

• Condemnation is punishment handed out when one is found guilty and sentenced. In the context condemnation is punishment handed out when the one found guilty of sin was sentenced by God.

• In this verse we are told there in NO condemnation for those who are in Christ.

• When we are immersed into Christ, all the transgressions of the past are wiped clean. The eternal consequences are removed from our lives. The sentence of condemnation to sin and death has been repealed or cancelled for all who are in Christ.

• This would be like a person who was found guilty by the judge and sentenced to death. Then the judge turns to the guilty one and declares the sentence repealed. That once guilty person could no longer be punished for that crime!

• There are not too many things that feel worse than feeling condemned.

• If you have been forgiven through Jesus, then who are we to not forgive ourselves or other people?

• I want us not to look at the reason the Christian will suffer no condemnation.

II. THE REASON THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST (2)

READ VERSE 2

• In verse two we have a reason why verse one is true.

• We see that the law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death.

• The term “law of Spirit of life” is a reference to the Holy Spirit. It is one of over 40 names for the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.

• When we are immersed into Christ, we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. One of the things the Spirit does in our lives is to set us free from the law of sin and death.

• We always need to be aware there is two competing orders, the law of sin and death and the law of the Spirit. The governing rule of sin and death has been run out of town and a new sheriff has come, the law of the Spirit of life, the Holy Spirit!

• Where ever sin rules, death results. Because of sin, we have both physical and spiritual death.

• The seventh chapter of Romans deals with Paul’s struggles with the law of sin and death and the law of the spirit. Paul was describing his struggle with sin when he was a Jew. The Law could not help him with his struggle. The Gospel can.