Liberated

Title: “Liberated” Scripture: Romans 8:1-8

Type: Series Where: GNBC 5-30-21

Intro: On June 22, 1940, the French capitol of Paris began being occupied by the German Army. For the next four years it would remain occupied by the Germans and their puppet government. On Aug. 19, 1944, members of the Free French resistance, hearing reports of the coming of the French 2nd Armored Division and US Third Army, commanded by Gen. George Patton, rose up in battle. This band of men and women fought the German garrison for five days and suffering heavy casualties before the arrival of the French and American armor. In an act of valor, German General Dietrich Von Choltitz, the commander of Nazi forces in Paris, deliberately disobeyed Hitler’s direct orders to blow up and burn the city. The end result is that on Aug. 25, 1944, Choltitz, the German military governor of Paris, surrendered the garrison. Paris was a liberated city. Parisians were a liberated people. The liberation of Paris is an example of one of the great liberations in history. However, there is an even greater liberation spoken of in Romans 8:1-8. There are important truths for the liberated Christian to realize in Rom. 8:108.

Prop: Examining Romans 8:1-8 we ‘ll notice 2 fundamental truths all believers enjoy.

BG: 1. Romans 8 is the “highpoint” of the book. Lloyd-Jones/Godet even called in the “greatest chapter in the Bible.” 2. In Rom. 8 we see God is committed to rescuing us from the consequences of our sin. 3. Is a great chapter on sanctification. It is also a great chapter on Divine sovereignty.

Prop: Exam. Rom. 8:1-11 we’ll notice 2 fundamental truths all believers enjoy.

I. The Believer’s Liberation. Vv. 1-4

*The believer’s liberation is seen in 2 great privileges.

A. 1st Privilege: Salvation - “No Condemnation” v. 1

1. A Wonderful Assertion is Made by the Apostle.

a. “Therefore/Now” – We see in the use of the word “Therefore”, that the apostle is summing up his argument. However, don’t think that this is just a carry over from chapter 7. I believe this is the summation of the entire first 7 chapters of the book of Romans. For months as we worked through the hard statements of the first several chapters in Romans I told you: “Just wait, it’s gonna get a whole lot better!” Well, guess what? It just has! “Now” - refers to the great change that came about in salvation history when God sent His own Son to bear our sins on the cross. Now that Christ has come, we no longer need to bring the blood of sacrificial animals over and over again to atone for our sins. Once for all, Jesus offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice (Heb. 10:1-18)

b. Illust: On May 10, 1940, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister. When he met his Cabinet on May 13 he told them that “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” He repeated that phrase later in the day when he asked the House of Commons for a vote of confidence in his new all-party government. For the first time, the people had hope but Churchill commented to General Ismay: “Poor people, poor people. They trust me, and I can give them nothing but disaster for quite a long time.” I beg to move, That this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion.” Five years later, on May 8, 1945, VE Day (European Liberation and Defeat of Germany) became the reality. The war had ended. Hostilities had ceased. Those years of conflict made the celebration of VE Day all the sweeter. Seeing our condition in the first 7 chapters of Romans makes the grand pronouncement of Liberation in chapter 8 all the sweeter for the believer.

2. The Believer’s Experience: “No Condemnation in Christ”!

a. “condemnation” – katarima. The first privilege of salvation is NO CONDEMNATION! This is essentially the same as “justification”. (Compare Rom. 5:1 w/ Rom. 8:1) The first chapters of Romans have declared us guilty under the Moral Law of God. We have sinned. The wages of that sin is death. We have no inherit righteousness. We have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. Yet, in Christ, all is forgiven, all is forgotten. You and I are freed from the curse of condemnation!

b. All too many Christians live defeated lives. They live under the heavy yoke of condemnation from past failures: broken relationships, immorality, addiction, lies of the enemy. If the devil can’t keep you from coming to Christ, he wants to keep you living in your prison on “Condemnation Row”. Let me encourage you, believer: “Change your address!” Illust: Think of the guilt and condemnation the author of this great epistle must have had! He had despised Christ. He had arrested and persecuted the Church. He was a witness and participant in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54ff). He arrested, imprisoned, and oversaw the murder of Christians. Consider the weight of guilt he must have carried! He was a heinously guilty sinner. I cannot imagine the joy with which he wrote: “There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus.”