Freedom

Introduction

Good-morning Church, My name is Freddy Lopez and I am the family ministries pastor here at NEC. Every week here at NEC, we give out a bottom line and a bottom line is the main point of the message today. so todays bottom line is : BECAUSE OF JESUS, I AM FREE.

Hook

At a wildlife sanctuary in Africa, a group of lions had been rescued from a life of captivity. For years, they had been held in tiny metal cages—barely enough room to turn around, fed on a strict schedule, never allowed to run, hunt, or roam free.

Eventually, a team of conservationists worked hard to rehabilitate them. After months of preparation, the sanctuary opened the gate to a massive open reserve—acres of wild land with trees, streams, and freedom.

But something strange happened.

When the cages were opened, most of the lions just stayed put. They looked at the open door, sniffed the air… but didn’t move. One of the trainers said, “They’ve been in the cage so long, they’ve forgotten what it means to be free.”

you see the lions had the instincts of royalty—but the mindset of captivity.

church, how many of us feel like the lions today? you see we have bought by Jesus at a huge price and he tells us that we are set free but maybe those secret sins makes us feel like we are stuck, that we’re held captive by this secret addiction. Maybe its the people in our lives that remind us of our old self, that we will never change. So today, i hope that all of us in the room can walk out confidently knowing that because of Jesus, I am free.

Background

If you have your bible today or use the bible app, open it up to Romans chapter 6 beginning on verse 1. before we move forward lets get a little background history of whats going on here. The apostle paul is said to be on his third missionary journey while in the city of corinth. Paul’s life mission was to bring the gospel to all the different parts of the roman empire and especially, bring it to rome. One day Paul hears about a church in Rome that has been started and begins writing the letter that we see here today. But this church had an identity crisis going on. the Jewish christians in Rome were being rejected by the growing number of gentile christians. Gentile is anyone who isn't a jew. probably most of us in the room would be considered gentile. So these Jewish christians even though saved, still felt constrained to practice their dietary restrictions, sacred days, and whatever traditions they grew up while they were practicing judaism. they were still holding on to these practices as if these practices had influence on their salvation. So what does Paul do? He writes this letter laying out the simple, basic gospel - God’s plan of salvation and how both jew and gentile are made right in His eyes.

Point #1

Lets look at what he says here in Romans 6:1-4

Romans 6:1–4 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

The first point that we are going to be highlighting this morning is BECAUSE OF JESUS, I AM NEW.

Do we have any social media influencers in the room? During the pandemic it seemed like everyone was trying to become an influencer, people were bored all day so what did everyone start doing? posting videos of goofy dances, the food they ate, or whatever prank was trendy at the time. one of these trendy reels were these Glow - Up videos. Basically it was people showing how they once looked (usually horrendous) and now as this stunning model. And some peoples transformations were really dramatic, men losing over 100 pounds and now flaunting a six pack, women with jacked up teeth and now smiling and showing off their pearly white teeth. They look like a brand new person.

Church this morning i want to remind you, that is how God sees you. He doesn't see the old drug addict, the party girl, or the person that cant control their anger. He sees someone NEW. At the moment when you decided to submit your life to Jesus, you were baptized into Christ Jesus. Now this baptism that im talking about is different from the water baptism that we saw last week. The original term for baptism, BAPTIZO, means to be immersed. usually used in the context of when cloth is dipped into dye, we see the cloth taking on whatever color it is being dipped into symbolizing a union . So what Paul is reminding us here is that you are immersed with Jesus and our spirit is united with Him. Jesus has given us this spiritual glow -up. where the old person of who we once were, is not the person he sees now.

Throughout the entire bible we see God make these transformations in peoples lives. with these transformations, he even gave people a new name, Abram became Abraham, Jacob into Israel and Simon into Peter. Symbolizing that they have a new identity. God gave each of these men a new name, a new purpose, and a new heart that had a desire to Please God. And He has done the same for you.

However, Paul warns us about this toxic relationship that we have with our old self and this new person. He says

English Standard Version Chapter 6

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Has anyone here ever heard of the term stockholm syndrome? In 1973 there was bank robbery in stockholm sweden. And during this crime several bank employees were held hostage in the bank vault for a total of 5 days! during these 5 days something strange happned, the victims became emotionally attached to their captors. so attached that when the government finally reached them the victims desired to remain with their captors instead of being free. These victims even defended the captors and their motives in court! these people were crazy! your probably sitting there like these people are dumb, they need some help. I dont know anyone that will actually do that.

But, here we have paul asking how can those have been free from sin still desire to live in its captivity. How can we say that we are dead to it but were choosing to live in it still.

Paul is saying that we are dead to our old self. Our new life shouldn't resemble what it once looked like. Just because God’s grace is poured over us, it doesn't give us a license to sin. Im not saying that we are going to be perfect we’re going to mess up plenty of times but the desire to still live the life you once had should eradicated. That desire should be gone. What once held you captive, you are set by Jesus. Jesus sees you as new. and in that newness of life comes with freedom from sin.

Point #2

Lets continue with the text, starting on verse 5.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Second point of today’s message, BECAUSE OF JESUS, SIN DOESN’T RULE ME.

For nearly three decades, the Berlin Wall stood as a physical and symbolic divider between East and West Germany—between oppression and freedom.

On the East side, people lived under Communist rule: constant surveillance, restricted travel, and limited access to the outside world. They heard rumors of freedom just across the wall—family, jobs, opportunities—but most couldn't imagine ever experiencing it. They were cut off. Controlled.

Then came November 9, 1989.

In a moment that no one expected, the East German government announced that citizens would be free to cross the border. Crowds rushed the wall. Some climbed it. Others brought hammers and began chipping it down with their bare hands. Families reunited. Strangers embraced. And the world watched as oppression crumbled in real time.

But here’s what’s striking—the wall didn’t fall because the people overpowered it. It fell because its authority was stripped away. The system that once ruled them was now powerless.

Sin is like that wall—it once divided us, controlled us, oppressed us. But when Jesus died, the authority of sin collapsed. Its grip was broken. You no longer have to live on the wrong side of freedom.

Some of us are still staring at rubble, forgetting that the wall’s already down. Still living in the mindset of captivity. But Romans 6 reminds us: sin’s power has been destroyed. You don’t have to climb your way into grace—you’ve been invited in. The eternal consequence of sin is not reserved for you. And you have to step into this freedom. Our hearts that were once ruled by sin are now ruled by Jesus.

Have you ever noticed how when you fall into your temptations and mess up, that sin feels dirty? its not as fun as it used to be. maybe you hide it more because you know now that its wrong. Thats the reign of Jesus in your heart. Romans 2:15 reminds us that God has written the law in our hearts. Thats why now doing the things you once did, doesn't feel the same. Not only has Jesus made you new, but he has given us a new heart. and that newness can only come if we allow jesus to rule our heart.

Point #3

Verse 12 says

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 6

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires, 13 and do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin will not be master over you, because you are not under law, but under grace.

The last point of today’s message is BECAUSE OF JESUS, I AN INSTRUMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Church, we are new, sin has no reign over us. But that internal conflict in our heart with allowing Jesus to rule and giving into our desires becomes to hard to withstand and we fall. And we backslide, sometimes we backslide so far that it looks like jesus was never in our lives. so what do we have to do to fix that or prevent that from happening? For all the action oriented individuals, yall are going to love this last point. You need to get active faith. you need to become an instrument of rightousness, no more benchwarming, its time to get on the field.

The word instrument that we see in our bibles can be interchangeable for the word “weapon” what paul is saying here is stop being a weapon for sin and become a weapon for God. Jesus once said that if you not with me, than you are against me. whether you like it not, we are caught up in a spiritual war.

In 2006, two high school football teams in Texas—Marshall High and Dallas South Oak Cliff—faced off in a heated playoff game. From the start, it was clear that South Oak Cliff was the superior team. They dominated the field, running up the score. Marshall fell further and further behind, and with every quarter, their frustration grew.

But instead of rallying or showing sportsmanship, some of the Marshall players gave in to their anger. They started throwing late hits. Fights broke out. One player was even caught stomping on another player who was already on the ground.

The refs called the game early. It didn’t end in victory or even defeat—it ended in chaos. Marshall didn’t just lose the scoreboard—they lost their identity. And in the process, they tried to drag the other team down with them.

That’s exactly what Satan does.

The Bible is clear: at the cross, Jesus didn’t just forgive us—He defeated the enemy. Sin was crushed. Death was disarmed. The outcome is already settled. The devil knows he’s lost… so now he plays dirty.

He’s not trying to win—he’s trying to wound. He’s not fighting for victory—he’s fighting out of bitterness. He’s already judged, so he wants to pull as many souls down with him as he can.

That’s why sin can feel so intense at times—it’s the desperation of a losing enemy doing everything possible to confuse, distract, and destroy.

Thats why it is vital for us to get active bring as many as we can to eternity with Jesus as we can. Thats why the great commision was imparted to us. “Go out and make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the father, the son and the Holy spirit, teaching them to observe all that i have commanded you.” Jesus didnt reserve this command to only the leaders of the church. this command was for you as well. showing us that you are capable of making disciples, you have the authority to baptize others, that you can show others what it means follow Jesus. Freedom is found in living out the purpose of God for your life. Join a team, theres kids ministry, student ministry….. kids ministry. im joking, but there is a team here where you can become this instrument of righteousness and make an impact.

Not only do we see that being an instrument of rightousness was given through the great commision but its also the daily victories we have in our lives. Its saying, maybe i shouldn't be following those instagram accounts because they make me feel some type of way, maybe i shouldn't hangout with my girlfriend alone because things might escalate, maybe i should be careful hanging out with my old friends because things get wild pretty quickly. Church we play an active part in letting sin creep in. Sin can diverted. Notice how Paul says “ Therefore do not let sin reign” we have to stop sin in its tracks. Its the renewing of our mind, the desires that God has, will become desires of our heart. And when we step into this role as instrument of righteousness, God sees us as New, we have allowed Jesus to rule our heart and we experience what true freedom looks like.

The Invitation

You might be saying in your seat right now, freddy I want that freedom but this sin has a grip on me and i cant stop. then can i remind you that our God is not only after His lost children but He is just as active as drawing you closer him. You already belong to him. And He desires to use you and to see you step into your purpose.

If Youre new today, i know we spoke a lot of christianese. But i know you know addiction feels like. you know what sin does in your life. you know what the feeling is like before you go to sleep saying “if i can just stop doing this, my life will be better, or if just do this instead then i will be finally happy.” the truth is what you are chasing is called freedom. and that can only be offered through Jesus. And if thats you today and you want Jesus to rule your heart and finally set free……