Freedom to Live Unto God

Intro: On March 23rd 1775 Patrick Henry delivered an epic speech on the rights of the colonies before the Virginia Assembly, the title of that great speech was “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death.” This became the cry of the revolutionary war. But ironically liberty came through death, the death of 25,354 American Patriots.

But there is a greater freedom than what Patrick Henry spoke of, its the Liberty Christ purchased with His death and the life He imparts to us through His Resurrection! It is freedom the eternal bondage of sin and the unbearable bondage of the Law.

Context: 2:1-21

CPS: Freedom freedom from sin and Law enables us to Live unto God (19 c ).

I.We Are Freed From Sin

A. Free From The Penalty of Sin

Man’s Sin

We are a forsaken People. Ro. 3:20, 23, 6:23

2. God’s Salvation

Jesus died a God forsaken death. “He loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gave (vb) paradidōmi to give over. He gave His Son as a Sacrifice.

By grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone we are now free from the Penalty of sin! Romans 5:8-9

B. Free From the Power of Sin

1. Man’s Problem

The Penalty of sin has passed from us, but we still have a problem with the Power of sin. Ro 7:14c Sold/slave (NLT). Sin still reigns, and though saved we find ourselves doing the things we don’t want to do (sin) and not doing the things we don’t want to do (not sin).

Examples.... Lust, greed, slander, lies

2. God’s Solution

“I am crucified with Christ.” I am crucified (vb) systauroō (sus styr row). 5x N.T. (3x in the Gospels {Mt 27:44, Mk 15:32, Jn 19:32} [in Context: Identify with Christ] Paul uses it 2x, here and Ro. 6:6. By G thru F When Jesus died for us He bought from the slave market of sin. We now have a new Master (Paradox) but one whom we serve out of love! Since we died with Christ (also Ro 6:2-3) we are SET FREE FROM THE POWER OF SIN! (Ro. 6:7)

ILL: A story is told of Dr. R.G. Lee, the first time he went to the Holy Land, they came to the place called Carvery, and as the guide was giving a lecture, he asked, “How many of you have ever been here before?” Dr. Lee lifted his hand. The guide asked, “When were you here?” Dr. Lee said, “two thousand years ago. You see, when Jesus died for me, I died with Him.”

Have you been to Calvary? (Characteristics of a crucified man/woman) A man on a cross is facing only one direction; he is not going back; and he has no further plans of his own.”

App: Index Card on my desk… “J.C. Keep your flesh on the cross and your Savior on the throne!!!!

The Penalty of Sin has past us and the Power of sin has lost its grip on us! We are free indeed John 8:36

II. We Are Freed From the Law

A. The Resurrection Life (20 b)

Christ Resurrection

When Jesus died He not only died for sin but He also fulfilled all the Law having died according to it. (Lev. 17:11, Heb. 9:22) But He did not stay dead..... He overcame, on Easter morning the tomb was empty and Jesus was alive.

ILL: I read a story about little Phillip, born with Down’s syndrome, he attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought Leggs pantyhose containers, the kind that look like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one in surprise fashion. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table. Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh. Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, That’s stupid. That’s not fair. Somebody didn’t do their assignment.” Philip spoke up, “That’s mine.” “Philip, you don’t ever do things right!” the student retorted. “There’s nothing there!” I did so do it,” Philip insisted. “I did do it. It’s empty. The tomb was empty!” Silence followed. He died not long afterward from an infection most normal children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday school teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.... What a remembrance to a great truth! When I see the Cross I call to remembrance the empty tomb because that is our Hope!

2. Our Resurrection

Just as we have died with Jesus we have been resurrected with Jesus! “NEVERTHELESS I Live!" Live (vb)(4x) zaō In context: 1st 2 uses..... Resurrection life. (Ro 6:5,8) By G thru F, we identify with His Life and have been a born again Christian and a New Creature.... All This.... By Grace and not Law.

B. The Faith Life (20 c)

The Law became a way of life in The OT, but The Law does not save its purpose is to identify sin. It has no power to save and its impossible to keep!

The Law says “do” but Grace says “done!” Through the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus “It is Finished” (Jn 19:30). The judizers taught differently (Expalin) but Paul says otherwise, He even confronted Peter to his face when he set forth a bad example (Gal. 2: 12-14). Why? Ro 7:4-6!

We are saved by the Grace of God who loved us and freed us from the Law now we must live free from it! Some of us are still striving when we ought to be abiding! “The Life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” zaō, in context… behave, how one conducts themselves. We are saved through faith now we must live by faith, beleive to complete trust! Live in complete trust!

APP: There was a tightrope walker, who did incredible aerial feats. All over Paris, he would walk the tightrope at tremendously scary heights. blindfolded and pushing a wheelbarrow. A promoter here in the U.S. read about him in the papers and wrote a letter to the him, saying, “Tightrope, I don’t believe you can do it, but I’m willing to make you an offer. For a very substantial sum of money, plus all your transportation fees, I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls.” Tightrope wrote back, “Sir, although I’ve never been to America and seen the Falls, I’d love to come.”

Well, after a lot of promotion and setting the whole thing up, many people came to see the event. Tightrope was to start on the Canadian side and come to the American side.

With drums rolling, he walks across the rope which is suspended over the most treacherous part of the falls—blindfolded!! He makes it across easily. The crowds go wild, and he comes to the promoter and says, “Well, Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?” “Well of course I do. I mean, I just saw you do it.” “No,” said Tightrope, “do you really believe I can do it?” “Well of course I do, you just did it.” “No, no, no,” said Tightrope, “do you believe I can do it?” “Yes,” said the Promoter, “I believe you can do it.” “Good,” said Tightrope, “then you get in the wheelbarrow.”

The life of faith is living in the wheelbarrow! Trusting not a tight rope walker but Christ Jesus who loves you and gave His life for you!

Conclusion: Jesus died and arose for us, freeing us from the bondage of sin and law so that we can be free to live for Him! Again.... you have liberty to live for God so keep your flesh on the cross and your Savior on the throne!