"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"
Freedom From Sin (8:1-25)
INTRODUCTION
1. How seriously do we take the problem of sin...?
a. The guilt of sin?
b. The power of sin?
c. The corruption of sin?
2. Do we really appreciate the freedom from sin...?
a. That we can experience now in our lives?
b. That we can look forward to in the future?
[In Ro 8:1-25, Paul writes about the freedom from sin that one finds in
Christ. To appreciate more fully the blessings we have in Christ,
consider that there is first...]
I. FREEDOM FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN (1-4)
A. THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN...
1. Everyone is guilty of sin - Ro 3:23; 1Jn 1:8
2. Even if one committed just one sin (if such were possible!)
- Jm 2:10-11
3. Unforgiven sin separates us from God - Isa 59:1-2
4. The ultimate condemnation is death (esp. the 'second' death)
- Ro 6:23; cf. Re 21:8
-- That all are guilty of sin is the main point of Romans 1-3
B. THERE IS FREEDOM....
1. From condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus - Ro 8:1;
cf. Ga 3:27
a. For in Christ there is propitiation, redemption,
justification - Ro 3:24-26
b. For in baptism there is death to sin, newness of life - Ro 6:3-8
2. Who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit - Ro 8:1,4
a. Explained more fully later in the chapter (and in this
lesson)
b. Also in Paul's epistle to the Galatians - cf. Ga 5:16-26
3. Made possible by:
a. The law (principle) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
- Ro 8:2
1) Which sets one free from the law of sin and death - cf.
Tit 3:4-7
2) The law of sin and death which enslaves, mentioned in Ro 7:21-25
b. The death of Christ - Ro 8:3-4
1) Doing what the Law of Moses could not do
2) Condemning sin in the flesh
3) Fulfilling the righteous requirement of the Law for us
-- That justification (no condemnation) is found in Christ is the
theme of Romans 4-7
[Thus the freedom from sin that we enjoy in Christ involves freedom from
the condemnation of sin. But there is more! There is also...]
II. FREEDOM FROM THE POWER OF SIN (5-17)
A. THE POWER OF SIN...
1. The problem of sin is not limited to guilt
a. As if the guilt of sin weren't bad enough!
b. Sin also has power to enslave a person so they can't do what
they want to do!
2. Jesus described the power of sin - Jn 8:31-34
a. The freedom under consideration is freedom from the slavery
of sin!
b. When one commits sin, they become a slave of sin!
3. Paul vividly depicted his life under the bondage of sin - Ro 7:14-24
a. He was "sold under sin"
b. He could not do what he wanted, and what he did not wish to
do, he did
c. He found that "sin dwells in me"
d. Though he desired to do good, "how to perform what is good I
do not find"
e. He was brought "into captivity to the law of sin which is in
my members"
f. It made him "wretched", crying out for deliverance from
"this body of death"
-- Sin has the power to enslave, and mankind needs deliverance!
B. THERE IS FREEDOM...
1. For those who live according to the Spirit, not the flesh - Ro 8:5-8
a. By setting their minds on the things of the Spirit, not the
things of the flesh
b. Whereby they can enjoy life and peace, not death
c. Whereby they can submit to God and please Him, while those
in the flesh cannot
2. For those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit - Ro 8:9-11
a. A blessing for those who belong to Christ - cf. Jn 7:37-39;
Ac 2:38; Tit 3:4-7
b. Providing life to our mortal bodies that were dead because
of sin - cf. Ro 6:12-14
3. For those who by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body
- Ro 8:12-13
a. Who are no longer indebted to live according to the flesh
- cf. Ro 6:16-19
b. But can now live according to the Spirit - cf. Ga 5:25; Ep 3:16
4. For those who are children of God, joint-heirs with Christ - Ro 8:14-17
a. Led by the Spirit of God, by Whom they cry, "Abba, Father"
- cf. Ga 4:6
b. Heirs of glory with Christ, if willing to suffer with Him
-- With help from the Holy Spirit, we can break free from the
bondage of sin!
[Freedom from the condemnation of sin and the power of sin! What more
could we ask for? How about...]
III. FREEDOM FROM THE CORRUPTION OF SIN (18-25)
A. THE CORRUPTION OF SIN...
1. Because of sin, mankind experiences physical death - cf. 1Co 15:22a; Gen 3:22-24
a. Adam and Eve were cast from the Garden of Eden
b. Access to the tree of life was lost, thus physical death
ensued
2. Because of sin, even the creation was placed under a curse
- cf. Gen 3:17
a. Subjected to futility - Ro 8:20
b. In bondage to corruption - Ro 8:21
c. Groaning and laboring with birth pangs - Ro 8:22; cf. Isa 24:4-6
-- The effects of sin has permeated all of creation!
B. THERE WILL BE FREEDOM...
1. The glorious liberty of the children of God! - Ro 8:18-22
a. To be revealed one day - cf. Col 3:4; 2Th 2:10; 2Pe 1:13
b. Making any present suffering unworthy to be compared
c. Even the creation will be delivered from the bondage of
corruption
1) Note that Paul does not say that the creation will be
delivered into its own liberty
2) But into the glorious liberty of the children of God
3) The present heavens and earth will "pass away", and there
will be new heavens and a new earth - cf. 2Pe 3:10-14;
Re 21:1-7
2. Involving our own resurrection, for which we hope - Ro 8:23-25
a. The redemption of our body, which we eagerly await - cf. Ac 23:6
b. Saved for this very hope, for which we wait with
perseverance - cf. Ac 24:15-16
-- With the resurrection of the dead, the creation of a new heaven
and new earth, the corruption of sin will be no more!
CONCLUSION
1. The freedom from sin that is available in Christ involves...
a. Freedom from the condemnation of sin
b. Freedom from the power of sin
c. Freedom from the corruption of sin
2. Unless we receive the freedom from sin found only in Christ...
a. We remain guilty of sin
b. We remain enslaved to sin
c. We remain under the corruptive influences of sin
But by responding to the gospel of Christ with an obedient faith,
freedom from the devastating effects of sin can be ours, with a hope of
glorious liberty when Christ returns...!
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