Spiritual Freedom

intro

Recently, i started training for a new race which has me doing a lot of rowing lately. Have you ever went out onto the water in a canoe and tried to row?

It can be difficult; effortful, and sometimes futile. if currents are high and strong enough it can be hard to actually make progress.

Each year there is an Atlantic Rowing Race from the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa to the Caribbean, approximately 3,000 miles. The race is brutal. It is physically and mentally demanding.

Most people are impressed by the accomplishment of those who complete the row across the ocean.

Peter Marsh is not one of those people. Peter is journalist, blogger and sailer, who writes about boating and sailing.[1]In one of his blogs, he points out the ridiculous nature of rowing across an ocean. “Ocean rowing or Ocean blowing?” he asks in the blog and then proceeds to provide maps of trade winds and currents and argues the rowers aren’t really doing much but putting themselves in danger. Instead of calling it ocean rowing, he says he would call it,

“ocean crossing with prevailing winds and oars.” He argues, if someone wants to cross the ocean, they should raise a sail.

Are you rowing in your faith journey or sailing?

Romans 8:1–4 NIV

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

In Romans 8, Paul creates a contrast between the law of sin and the law of the Spirit….but aren’t they the same law? Why diff descriptions?

One leads to life and one leads to death.

The other day I was in my kitchen, and I set Isaiah down on the counter for a moment. He wanted some strawberries, so I set him down, turn around to grab them out the fridge. And as I turn back around he is holding a knife.

Knifes can be useful tools; or deadly weapons. What dictates how a knife is used is WHOs hands it is in.

The same is true of God’s Law.

Romans 8:2 NIV

2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Law & Flesh

Romans 8:1, “Therefore”

Romans 1-7. Summary

Romans 1:18 NIV

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Romans 2:15 NIV

15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

Romans 3:23 NIV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 NIV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 7:9 NIV

9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

So is paul teaching that the law is bad? Certianly it leads to death….

and then doesn’t he say we are freed from the law? Well, yes

Romans 8:2 NIV

2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Jesus frees us from the law of sin and death.

But is the law inherently bad? NO Reiterate Isaiah story - it’s who’s hands the law is in.

The Law in the hands of sin is deadly

Romans 7:8 NIV

8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.

The nature of sin is to long for that which is forbidden.

In Gen 3, adam and eve partook of the forbidden, without sin, now sin bends our heart to long for that which is forbidden.

There was a law in the garden of eden. But there wasn’t a proclivity to sin in the garden.

So the law, in the hands of sin is deadly, but the law in the hands of the Spirit leads to life

Law & Spirit

Romans 8:2 NIV

2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Example of law & life:

Garden of Eden - had they obeyed the law they would have only known life. 1-physical life and 2. Spiritual life

John 17:3 NIV

3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

2. The same is true in our life - whether it’s lying, whether its what we look at, whether its, what we say - i can either demonlish someone’s self esteem with what I say or i can build it life and death result from obedience or diobedience to God’s word.

So here’s the reality: we are either walking by the desires of our flesh or by the spirit.

When we began I asked: are you rowing or are you sailing?

How do you know if you’re rowing or sailing?

Rowing is to live in the flesh

Sailing is to live in the spirit

Rowing is the way of religion

Sailing is the way of relationship

And it is this issue of religion vs relationship that is so distinguishing in our current culture. We live in a spiritual culture but not a religious culture.

Here’s the reality, God want’s us to live a spiritual life:

Romans 7:14 NIV

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

Sin actual mutes our spiritual vitality.

If we want to experience the life Jesus has for us it is only through His Spirit we will exp it.

Paul goes on to say:

Romans 8:3–4 NIV

3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

It is because of the gospel we have freedom from the death resulting from the law

AND it is because of the gospel we are empowered to fulfill the law

So let me summarize the diff for you:

Law of Flesh = OBEY —> Reward

Law of Spirit = Reward —> OBEY

The law of the flesh is the way of religion

the law of the spirit is the way of relationship

| Living by the Law (Alone) | Living by the Spirit |

|---------------------------|-------—————————-—|

| Tries harder | Trusts deeper |

| Fueled by guilt | Fueled by grace |

| Driven by fear | Led by love |

| Self-centered effort | Christ-centered surrender |

| Ends in burnout | Grows in freedom |

ASK: HS what area in my life am i rowing? Where do i need to be lead by your spirit?

A month of so ago, a ministry I am a part of made a post on social media that went viral and has over XX views, ## shares, etc.

But the reason is because culture publicly disapproved in a very explicit manner.

The Word Condemn means:

Express complete disapproval of, typically in public, to censure

So to some extent, my friend was being condemned.

However, the word condemn, also means to

2. Sentence someone to a particular punishment, especially death.

The condemnation we deserve is the latter - death.

Rom 3:23.

The condemnation we often experience is the former - but where does that come from? Often the demonic realm or ourselves.

I have good news for you tonight:

Romans 8:1 NIV

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:1–4 NIV

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.