Welcome to another Sunday service my beloved family in Christ. As we gather here today, in this sacred space, we find ourselves on the precipice of a profound illumination. We are about to embark on an understanding of a divine truth that promises to set us free and fill our hearts with a renewed sense of purpose and joy.
[Title; Freed from the Law]
Our directional guide for today's sermon is found in Romans 7:1-6, a passage that beautifully encapsulates the transformation we undergo as followers of Christ. The Apostle Paul writes:
Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.
So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Romans 7:1-6
This passage, my dear brothers, and sisters, gently guides us towards a deeper understanding of our relationship with the law, our liberation through Christ's sacrifice, and the grace we now bask in as followers of Jesus. It's a message of freedom, of transformation, and of a love so profound that it breaks the chains of law and invites us into a life of grace.
So that we are clear, although Paul was speaking of the old Hebrew laws, this passage has application for us: first to know that the Hebrew laws were nailed to the cross with Jesus; secondly, it pertains to us in the present day regarding the law of sin that limits and constrains us. So, although I will use the word throughout, it is relating to both some of the Hebrew laws we want to hold on to as well as the sin we want to hold on to.
In the words of the great Charles Spurgeon, "The law condemns the best of us; but grace saves the worst of us." Isn't it a beautiful truth? That no matter how entangled we may feel in the law's demands, there is a grace that saves, a love that liberates, and a Savior who invites us into a life of freedom and joy.
Bearing the Burden of the Law
In the realm of the law, we find ourselves bound by its demands and expectations. It's like a heavy yoke upon our shoulders, a burden we carry day in and day out. The law, as Paul points out, has authority over us as long as we live. It's a constant presence, a constant reminder of our shortcomings and failures. It's like a mirror that reflects our imperfections, our inability to meet its standards.
Yet, it's not just about the burden of the law. It's also about the power it holds over us. The law, in its essence, is a set of rules and regulations that govern our actions and behaviors. It dictates what is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable and what is not. It's a system that, in many ways, controls our lives. It's a system that, in many ways, confines us. As we live today, we see how society is working to change the laws so that sin becomes the good, while living a life for Christ becomes the bad.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
But the law, as Paul reminds us, also arouses sinful passions within us. It's a catalyst for our sinful nature, a trigger for our inherent tendency to rebel and resist. It's a paradox of sorts - the very thing that is meant to guide us and keep us on the right path often leads us astray. It's a struggle, a battle within us, a war between our flesh and our spirit.
Amid this struggle, we often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and defeated. We feel the weight of the law, the guilt and shame of our failures. We feel the sting of our sinful passions, the consequences of our actions. We feel the despair of our situation, the hopelessness of our condition. It's a heavy burden, a crushing load, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.
Yet, amid this burden, there is a glimmer of hope. There is a promise of liberation, a promise of freedom. There is a promise of a new life, a new way of living. There is a promise of grace, a promise of love. There is a promise of a Savior, a promise of Jesus Christ.
In the body of Christ, we find our liberation. We find our freedom from the law, our release from its demands and expectations. We find our freedom from our sinful passions, our release from their power and control. We find our freedom from our guilt and shame, our release from their weight and burden. We find our freedom from our despair and hopelessness, our release from their grip and hold.
In the body of Christ, we also find our new identity. We are no longer bound by the law, but we belong to another. We belong to Him who was raised from the dead to Him who conquered sin and death, to Him who offers us a new life, a new hope, a new way of living. We belong to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.
In the body of Christ, we also find our new purpose. We are called to bear fruit for God, to live a life that is pleasing to Him, to live a life that reflects His love and grace. We are called to serve in the new way of the Spirit, to live by the Spirit, to walk in the Spirit. We are called to be a light in the world, to be a beacon of hope, to be a testament of God's love and grace.
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Philippians 2:14-15
In the body of Christ, we also find our new joy. We find a joy that is not dependent on our circumstances, a joy that is not affected by our failures, a joy that is not diminished by our struggles. We find a joy that is rooted in our relationship with Christ, a joy that is fueled by His love, a joy that is sustained by His grace. We find a joy that is deep, a joy that is real, a joy that is lasting.
In the body of Christ, we find our new freedom. We are no longer slaves to the law, but we are free. We are free to live, free to love, free to serve, free to rejoice. We are free to be who God created us to be, free to be who we are in Christ. We are free to be children of God, free to be heirs of His kingdom, free to be partakers of His divine nature.
In the body of Christ, we find our new life. A life that is not defined by the law, but a life that is defined by grace. A life that is not marked by sin, but a life that is marked by righteousness. A life that is not characterized by despair, but a life that is characterized by hope. A life that is not bound by the past, but a life that is free to embrace the future. A life that is not lived in the flesh, but a life that is lived in the Spirit. A life that is not about us, but a life that is all about Christ.
Breaking Free through Christ's Sacrifice
As we continue to navigate the depths of Romans 7:1-6, we find ourselves standing at the foot of a monumental truth. The Apostle Paul, in his divine wisdom, presents us with a vivid image of our transformation through Christ's sacrifice. He paints a picture of a life no longer bound by the law, but one that has been set free through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paul uses the analogy of a married woman who, according to the law, is bound to her husband as long as he lives. However, if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. Paul uses this analogy to illustrate our relationship with the law and Christ. Just as the woman is released from the law of marriage upon the death of her husband, we too are released from the law through the death of Christ. His sacrifice on the cross served as the ultimate act of liberation, freeing us from the chains of the law and inviting us into a life of grace.
This liberation, however, is not a license to sin. On the contrary, it is an invitation to live a life that is pleasing to God. Paul makes it clear that while we are no longer under the law, we are called to live in the Spirit. This means that our actions, our decisions, and our lives should be guided by the Holy Spirit. We are called to bear fruit for God, not out of obligation to the law, but out of love for Him who has set us free.
In the original Greek text, the word used for 'released' in verse 6 is '?at????ta?' (katergetai), which means to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative; to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency; to deprive of force, influence, or power. This term is also used in Romans 6:6, where Paul writes:
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
As we further reflect on the power of Christ's sacrifice, we see that it not only frees us from the law but also empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to God. This is not a life lived in fear of punishment, but a life lived in the freedom of God's grace. It is a life that is guided by the Holy Spirit, a life that bears fruit for God.
Moreover, this life is not a solitary journey. As followers of Christ, we belong to a community of believers. We are part of the body of Christ, each one of us playing a unique role in furthering God's kingdom. Our liberation through Christ's sacrifice is not just for our individual benefit, but for the benefit of the entire body of Christ. We are called to use our freedom to serve one another in love, to build each other up, and to spur one another on towards love and good deeds. In Christ we all have a purpose.
The Apostle Paul's words in Romans 7:1-6 serve as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. Through His death and resurrection, we are freed from the law and invited into a life of grace. This is a life lived in the Spirit, a life that bears fruit for God, and a life that contributes to the building up of the body of Christ. Let us therefore embrace this life with joy and gratitude, knowing that in Christ, we are truly free.
Basking in the Grace of Jesus
As we immerse ourselves in the grace of Jesus, we find ourselves in a realm where the law no longer binds us. This is the gift of Jesus' grace, a gift that offers us freedom from the law and invites us to live in the light of His love.
The first aspect we must understand about this grace is its liberating nature. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, writes:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1
This freedom is not a license to sin, but a release from the bondage of the law, a release that allows us to live in the freedom of God's grace. This grace, this unmerited favor, is not something we earn or deserve, but a gift freely given through the love of Jesus Christ. It is a grace that covers our sins, a grace that empowers us to live a life pleasing to God, a grace that transforms us from the inside out.
In the words of the renowned Christian author, Philip Yancey, "Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more—no amount of spiritual calisthenics and renunciations, no amount of knowledge gained from seminaries and divinity schools, no amount of crusading on behalf of righteous causes." This quote beautifully encapsulates the essence of God's grace—it is not dependent on our works, our knowledge, or our righteousness, but solely on the love of God.
The second aspect of this grace is its transformative power. This is not a superficial change, but a deep, inward transformation that affects every aspect of our lives. It is a change that begins in our hearts and radiates outward, influencing our thoughts, our actions, our relationships, and our worldview. This transformation is not a result of our own efforts, but the work of the Holy Spirit in us, molding us, shaping us, and conforming us to the image of Christ. If you remember the book of Genesis, we were created in the image of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but sin came into the world and corrupted that image.
As we bask in the grace of Jesus, we are not only set free from the law, but we are also empowered to live a life that reflects the love and character of Christ. This is the beauty of God's grace—it not only saves us, but it also changes us. It brings back the shine of the image of God.
The third aspect of this grace is its enduring nature. Unlike the fleeting pleasures and temporary satisfactions of this world, God's grace is everlasting. It is a grace that does not fade or diminish, but remains constant and steadfast, regardless of our circumstances or our failures. This enduring grace is a testament to the unchanging nature of God, a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The fourth and final aspect of this grace is its inclusive nature. The grace of Jesus is not exclusive to a select few, but available to all who believe in Him. It is a grace that transcends all barriers—racial, cultural, social, and economic—and invites everyone into the family of God. This inclusive grace reflects the heart of God, a God who desires that none should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth.
As we reflect on these aspects of God's grace, let us not merely be hearers of the word, but doers also. Let us strive to live in the freedom of God's grace, to allow His grace to transform us, to rest in His enduring grace, and to extend His inclusive grace to others. Let us, in the words of the Apostle Paul, "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Philippians 2:12-13).
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
As we close today, let's take a moment to let this truth sink deep into our hearts. We're no longer bound by the law, but we're free in Christ. We're not held captive by our past mistakes, our failures, or our shortcomings. Instead, we're embraced by a love so profound, so unconditional, that it breaks every chain and sets us free.
This is the goodness of our God. This is the heart of our Savior. This is the grace that we're invited into. It's a grace that doesn't just cover our sins, but it transforms us from the inside out. It's a love that doesn't just accept us as we are, but it makes us more like Jesus every day.
So, as we go from here, let's walk in this freedom. Let's live in this grace. Let's love with this kind of love. Because this is who we are. We're not just followers of Christ, we're children of God. We're not just believers, we're beloved. We're not just saved, we're set free.
