Liberty from Sin is real Freedom
Romans 6:1-14
Introduction
- When it comes to celebrating Freedom, we can usually agree we like it
-- We all enjoy a BBQ, some fireworks, and maybe even pool/lake day
-- But, what about every other day of the year? What about non-BBQ days?
- For example, do we celebrate the freedom we have in Jesus?
-- FACT: One of the biggest challenges for the church is relying on Him
- When it comes to freedom, the ultimate example we have is Jesus
-- Yes, we have national freedom, guaranteed by our founding documents
-- But we also have biblical freedom, given to us by Christ alone
-- He provided the way, demonstrated how to receive/live, and invites us all in
- Today we are going to dive into this critical lesson (discipleship encouragement)
-- Maybe when we leave here, we’ll have a deeper appreciation of how free we are
- Read Romans 6:1-14
Setup this passage and give context of where Paul is coming from:
- God declares the sinner righteous in His eyes once they have come to Jesus
-- But what we see in Chapters 6-8 is that this is a process; a life’s work to do
- The process Paul defines is called “sanctification”
-- Define: “the action or process of being freed from sin or purified”
-- Being transformed into the likeness of Christ happens one day/step at time
- The deeper our sin is, the more we need to receive God’s grace
-- Simply stated: The more we sin – the more work God needs to do in us
- FACT: We are a work in process; we’ve not automatically arrived as perfect
-- And we cannot get frustrated because we aren’t magically fixed
-- Our lives are a work in progress, one in which we have to role to play
Point 1 – Freedom means the power of sin no longer controls us
- Ch 6 begins with a rhetorical question; not really expecting an answer (v1)
-- As if to say: Since we are forgiven, we get to live like we want, right?
-- Of course, not … and Paul clearly answers this for those who are thinking it
- However, there is something else going on: a lesson for today (deeper thought)
-- Consider the worldly argument to this … the human says: “If sin brings grace, and lots of sin brings lots more grace, shouldn’t we sin as much as possible in order to keep the grace flowing from Heaven?”
-- APP: With just a slight twist of the wording, we create an argument against God’s grace and why it was given to us
- This is what we must be on the lookout for; it is why Paul leaves no doubt (v2)
-- “Of course not!” = “May it never be” = “Absolutely not!”
- Then, he closes the door on interpretation by reminding us of who we are
-- Have you forgotten the sacrament of Baptism, following Christ into death? (v3)
-- Another way: “Weren’t you and I joined TO Jesus when followed Him?”
- When believers are identified with Christ; we are grafted into a relationship
-- GR: baptizo; HEB: mikveh means “to submerge or to immerse”
-- When we are baptized, it’s an outward sign of inward results
- This identification allows you and I to have a part in everything that is God’s
-- It’s (loosely said) ultimate back stage pass, it is the key to unlocking all doors
- APP: Without identification, we cannot be called Children of God
-- Now, watch the full revelation of Paul’s teaching here for us to stand on ….
-- IF we have been united with Him in death (full surrender) (v4)
-- THEN we will be united with Him in His resurrection (given life) (v5)
- TR: When we are His, sin no longer controls us and …
Point 2 – Freedom in Jesus is because of His work
- v7 begins FOR WHEN; conjunction; word that joins in verses 1-6
-- It is its own IF statement, which means it only applies if we accepted it
-- However, once we have – then we are under the command of Christ (v8)
- In order to understand full impact of v7-10 … turn to Hebrews 9
-- Read Hebrews 9:11-14
-- APP: Christ died once for all – it is His blood that brings us life (freedom)
- When Jesus entered the holiest of tabernacles, He made the final sacrifice for you
-- And because of who He is, we stand justified before God as immersed; cleansed
-- BIG: He brings us sanctification through our identification with His work
- But … there’s more!
-- More than just His death; His Spirit now lives in us and guides us daily
-- 1 John 3:24, “Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit, he gave us lives in us.”
- It is because of the Spirit the Lord gives us; that we must strive to live
-- But before you can live with the Spirit, you must have the Spirit in you
-- This means coming to a place of repentance, and surrendering our ways to Him
-- APP: In order to follow Jesus, we must listen to what Paul is teaching us
- TR: Paul commands several things for us to pay attention too in order to live
Point 3 – Freedom from death is because we identify with Christ
- Let’s look at what Paul commands us to do through Christ …
- Verse 11 – “consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God”
-- Imperative command: He’s pleading to live up to the representation of baptism
-- This is a MUST DO; it is Paul begging with us to no longer follow our wants
- Verse 12 – “don’t let sin control the way you live”
-- Prohibitive command – Depart from sin; don’t be slave to it
-- When we turn (repent) from sin; it no longer has a hold on us; we’re free!
- Verse 13 – “do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil”
-- Prohibitive command – stop offering up your mind/body for sin
-- Re-said: Stop allowing yourself to be duped into sin that you know is wrong
- Verse 13 – “give yourselves completely to God”
-- Action command – Without hesitation, live because of what He’s given you
-- APP: Live a life that reflects who Christ is to you (so others can see)
-- Discipleship: No one will want what you have if you’re not excited about it!
-- Verse 13 – “use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right”
-- Imperative command – ask God to USE us for His Glory and His use
-- This is really where our faith turns into action, where we must get out of the pew
-- Romans 12:1, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him”
- All of this leads us to our key verse today, re-read verse 14 ….
-- What shall we do with this information now that we know it; live or die?
- If we are freed by the blood of Christ, to continue sinning ignores His sacrifice
-- Get this: It is an act of rebellion to continue to live unholy before God
- Jesus died once to save us … and so if He is Lord, repentance is our only option!
-- If we repent of our sins, He is faithful to forgive us (1 John 1:9 – ON SCREEN)
-- But the next step is ours – we have to repent and come to Him!
Conclusion
- Get this: This is what REAL freedom looks like!
-- We’ve got to stop thinking about rules and regulations; focus on relationship
-- Focus on what He has done; follow in His work; see it for what it is
- Check this out: Look at it as what we’ve been given, and wanting to EARN it
-- Earn it by proving it wasn’t worthless
-- Earn it by graciously desiring to live for Him
-- Earn it by giving of yourself to obey His desires and not your own!
- True, we live in a country that gives us rights and freedoms to celebrate
-- But are we celebrating the freedom of God’s forgiveness as our testimony?
- Pray
