Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a beautiful day, a day filled with promise and potential. A day that our gracious Lord has made, and we are here, gathered in His name, to rejoice and be glad in it. You see, each day is a gift, an opportunity to draw closer to our Creator, to know Him more, and to live in the freedom He has so graciously provided for us through His son, Jesus Christ.

We are here today, not by accident, but by divine appointment. Our hearts are open, our spirits are expectant, and we are ready to receive the life-giving word that God has prepared for us. We are here to face the facts of sin, to find freedom in Christ, and to bear the fruit of justification by grace.

Facing the Facts of Sin

A. The theme that we are focusing on today is an essential one. It's about understanding the reality of our human condition. It's about acknowledging our shortcomings and recognizing our need for a Savior. It's about understanding that we are not perfect, that we have fallen short of God's glory, and that we are in desperate need of God's grace. The scripture speaks to the heart of our human condition. It's a scripture that reveals the truth about our sin and our need for a Savior. It's a scripture that points us to the grace of God and the freedom that we can find in Christ.

Example #1 – In John 8:31-36, Jesus speaks to the Jews who had believed in Him. He tells them that if they abide in His word, they are truly His disciples. He tells them that they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free. But they don't understand. They claim that they are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. They don't see their need for freedom. They don't see their need for a Savior.

But Jesus doesn't back down. He tells them the truth about their condition. He tells them that everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. He tells them that the slave does not remain in the house forever, but the son remains forever. He tells them that if the Son sets them free, they will be free indeed.

B. In this passage, Jesus is revealing the truth about sin. He is showing us that sin is not just a list of wrongdoings. Sin is a condition. It's a state of being. It's a state of being enslaved to our own desires, our own passions, our own selfish ambitions. It's a state of being separated from God, the source of all life and goodness.

C. But Jesus doesn't just reveal the problem. He also reveals the solution. He tells us that if we abide in His word, if we become His disciples, we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. He tells us that if the Son sets us free, we will be free indeed.

D. The freedom that Jesus offers is not just freedom from the consequences of our sins. It's not just freedom from guilt and shame. It's freedom from the power of sin. It's freedom to live a new life, a life that is pleasing to God, a life that is filled with joy and peace and love.

Example # 2 – In Romans 3:19-28, Paul also speaks about the reality of our sin. He tells us that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. He tells us that by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

E. Paul is showing us that the law is not a means to earn our salvation. The law is a mirror. It's a tool that God uses to reveal our sin, to show us our need for a Savior. The law shows us that we have fallen short of God's glory, that we are in desperate need of God's grace.

But Paul, too, doesn't just reveal the problem. He also reveals the solution. He tells us that the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law. He tells us that this righteousness is through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. He tells us that we are justified by God's grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Freedom Found in Christ

As we turn our attention to the profound words of Jesus in John 8:31-36, we find a powerful declaration of freedom ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO