INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Today we remember those who have died for our freedoms. We honor them and we thank them for paying the ultimate price for their country.
• One of the great things about living in America is our ability to live free! I pray we NEVER let that slip away from us as we become increasingly more dependent upon government.
• God created us to live as free people with freewill. God does not want us enslaved to the things the world has to offer.
• Many of the things people choose to do with their lives actual keep them enslaved to that which they think they are free to do.
• 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.
• Satan tries to keep our past in the forefront of our thoughts.
• 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.
• Are you struggling with feeling condemned? I pray that today’s message will bring you some encouragement.
• Let us start with verse 1 of Romans 8
• SLIDE #2
• Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. The reality of freedom from condemnation.
• 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?
• The reality of the freedom from condemnation is explained a bit in verse 2.
• SLIDE #4
• Romans 8:2 (ESV) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
• 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 are 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.
• The indwelling of the Holy Spirit helps us control the desires that Satan excites within us.
• Where ever the Spirit rules, the result is life.
• Galatians 6:8 reminds us…
• SLIDE #5
• Galatians 6:8 (ESV) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
• Let us turn to verses 3-4 to see WHY we can enjoy freedom from condemnation.
• SLIDE #6
• Romans 8:3–4 (ESV) 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
• SLIDE #7
We can enjoy freedom from condemnation because…
II. God opened the path.
• Verse three says the Law could not free us because it was weak. The inner man was sold into slavery and controlled by his fleshly body whose desires were excited by various temptations.
• Even when we wanted to do right, we still could not control ourselves. The Law of Moses gave no help.
• The LAW only told us what was right and wrong; there was nothing in the Law to help us to follow it perfectly.
• Laws in general give us no help in fighting the temptation.
• God has a big part in why we have no condemnation in Christ. God part is threefold.
• SLIDE #8
1. God sent His Son.
• God sent Jesus in the flesh. The word “likeness” in this passage means “an expressed reality.” It does not imply that Jesus did not really come in the flesh.
• Jesus was an offering for sin. The ministry of Jesus was about dealing with the problem of sin. He did this by dying for us and by being raised on the third day.
• SLIDE #9
2. God condemned sin in the flesh.
• By sending Jesus, God broke our slavery to sin. Sin is removed from its rule on the flesh.
• God condemned our sin in the flesh of Jesus. This is how God has set us free from the law of sin and death (8:2) in reference to its penalty, namely, through Jesus taking our punishment and reconciling us to the Father.
• SLIDE #10
3. Jesus fulfilled the Law for us!
• The law pointed out our problems. It told us what we should and should not do.
• God’s goal for our life is for us to live a holy life. This is what God had in mind when He condemned sin in the flesh. He wanted to make it possible for people to live the kind of holy life which the Law all along revealed as pleasing to God.
• Because of the fact sin was condemned in the flesh of Jesus, the requirement of the law (a holy life) can be fulfilled in each of us!
• The only way we can life righteously is to live our life in Christ.
• Now we need to understand that we too have a part to play in being free from condemnation.
• SLIDE #11
III. We are called to follow the path opened to us.
• This next part of the process is very important. There are many theologians who say that salvation is TOTALLY in the hands of God.
• We are told we are a passive lamb in the process. It stands to reason if that is true, then we would also have nothing to do in our living for Him either.
• This is not true. God has His part in the process of salvation and in the process of making sure there is no condemnation in our lives.
• The other thing we need to know is that we have a part to play also!
• First let us look at verse 4 again.
• SLIDE #12
• Romans 8:4 (ESV) 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
• Part of following the path means…
• SLIDE #13
1. We must walk according to the Spirit.
• In verse 4 we are told we are to walk in the Spirit. To “walk” means “behavior” or “course of life.”
• The Law will only be fulfilled in those who WALK or LIVE according to the Spirit and not the flesh. In Christ you have the freedom to do either. If you chose flesh, there will be a consequence for that.
• Christian holiness is not about following a bunch or rules, but instead following the leading of the Spirit in our lives and accepting His help in our live.
• Verse five gives us more insight.
• SLIDE #14
• Romans 8:5 (ESV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
• Next we see that…
• SLIDE #15
2. Walking according to the Spirit requires a new mindset.
• When we walk according to the flesh, we have our minds SET on the things of the flesh. If we are walking according to the Spirit, we have our minds set on the tings of the Spirit. (5)
• This only makes sense. If your mind is not interested in the things of the Spirit, does it make sense to think you would walk according to the Spirit?
• To “set” your mind means to; “think, feel, direct one’s mind to a thing, to seek, strive for.” I think you get the idea.
• This is one of the reasons verses like 1 CORINTHIANS1:18 and 1 Corinthians 2:14 ring so true.
• SLIDE #16
• 1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
• SLIDE #17
• 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
• WE also need to see…
• SLIDE #18
3. The mindset we chose has consequences.
• Look at verses 6-8 with me.
• SLIDE #19
• Romans 8:6–8 (ESV) 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
• In verse 6 we are given the results of following each path of life. Flesh=death. Spirit=life and peace.
• Death is both physical and spiritual death.
• Life is eternal life. Peace is a holy calm breathed over the soul by the Holy Spirit pouring forth God’s love on the heart. We know we are right with God and this also gives us peace with in our spirit.
• Verses 7-8 explain why the mind set on the flesh leads to death.
• We are told the mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God. We see this in everyday life. We see so many people who are hostile towards God. The hostility is a result of the continual walking according to the flesh.
• Paul is writing to Christians. For a Christian to continue to walk in the flesh, they must develop a certain animosity, dislike or a hostile attitude towards God. The hostility takes place because that person is not willing to subject themselves to God.
• Failure to subject one’s self to God in a continual matter will lead us down the wrong path. The word “subject” is a voluntary submission that benefits the person submitting. If will continually fail to submit ourselves to God, we will hurt ourselves.
• Verse 8 says those who are in the flesh cannot please God! Why? No one can serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other. Matthew 6:24
• Let us finish by looking at verses 9-11
• SLIDE #20
• Romans 8:9–11 (ESV) 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
• We finish by seeing that…
• SLIDE #21
4. Walking by the Spirit has special blessings.
• In verses 9-11 we see how the person who walks in the Spirit reaps life and peace.
• We are given a way to determine if we are in the spirit or the flesh. In verse 9 Paul says IF the Spirit of God dwells within you. He is not judging them, but showing them how to judge themselves.
• SLIDE #22
• 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
• WE are to allow the Spirit of God to dwell in us!
• To dwell means more than living in, it involves the Spirit’s influence, guidance and direction in one’s life.
• When the heart and mind fixes on the Spirit’s prompting, the resulting behavior will be pleasing to God.
• When we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us according to verse 9 we…
A. We belong to God.
• Are we walking as the indwelling Holy Spirit prompt us to?
• The Christian’s being successfully under control of his inward man is conditional, the condition being that the Holy Spirit dwells within him to help.
B. Our Spirit is made alive in Christ.
• Verse 10 reminds us the body will die because of Adam’s sin, but the spirit is alive because of God’s way of saving man (righteousness).
• When we are in Christ, our spirit is made alive because the bondage of sin is broken!
• Verse 11 gives us this blessing!
C. Our bodies will be made alive in Christ.
• When Jesus returns we will all be raised! WE will either enter into eternal life or eternal separation from God.
CONCLUSION
• The purpose of the gospel is not to make men happy but to make them holy. As the Beatitudes make clear, genuine happiness comes to those who belong to Christ and are obedient to His will. But true happiness comes only from holiness. God promises happiness, but He demands holiness, without which “no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). (John McAurthur Jr. Romans Commentary)
• When you are in Christ, there is no condemnation. God has paved the way for us to enjoy that.
• Are you walking according to the flesh, which will end in death or are you walking according to the Spirit?
• DO you want life and peace, do you want to know you are forgiven. Give your life to Christ and walk according to the Spirit. We have much freedom in Christ, one of them is freedom from condemnation!
