Set Free - to Fight On
Notes
Transcript
Great escapes - the intense longing for freedom
Alcatraz - several stories
Underground Railroad
BIBLE - Peter in jail; Paul and Silas in jail
The exodus! The empty tomb…!
(Continuation from Chapter 6 - no real need for a break there)
But Paul wants to make sure we understand.
The Law, and sin, weighed heavily on him (so, too it must on others…)
Paul understands physical confinement, imprisonment
Funny, though, after he’s saved, ends up in prison, the physical confinement is not concerning to him
(Eph, Phil, Col all written from prison!)
Frustration with sin - the concept
If sin does not frustrate you (your sin), what did you get saved from? Did you?
The bondage, the slavery - very real
Only One way of escape, only One to set you free
So you’ve changed your master from sin to righteousness…
Sin is gone, never to deal with it again…right? If only it were that simple
Final foundational words on the Law, Sin, Salvation
1) Permanency of Relationship
1) Permanency of Relationship
Example of Marriage
Context - Paul is reciting the Law of Moses- specifically concerning widows
(Also context - contrasting the legalistic Law, with Grace through Faith)
Again, Law’s purpose was to expose sin and point to Messiah
"Dead to the Law":This refers to the idea that Christians are no longer bound by the ceremonial and legalistic aspects of the Mosaic Law, particularly those related to the priesthood, sacrifices, and dietary restrictions
There are still surviving Christian, guiding principles - stealing, lying, etc. -
Foundational - Biblical marriage
Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24 are good foundational texts
God’s design and intent
One man, one woman, becoming One flesh - new union, working together to keep one union alive (“In the beginning”)
LOTS of things the Bible does NOT tell us about marriage, divorce, re-marriage
AND….the application here is the situation of a death of one of the participants, freeing one from the covenant
The example - Death of the husband - (hopefully she didn’t kill him…)
Freeing her to re-marry
APPLICATION: The lost person, finally dies to self - formerly “married” to sin and death
(the connection of old self to sin dies) - “death of one of the participants” (the old self)
NOW - free to be part of the bride of Christ - “married” in that sense, free to be born again
POINT - you cannot be the bride of Christ if you are still connected to sin as your master!
You can ONLY be born again when you die to self - otherwise …
James even uses the “adulteress” term - in James 4:4
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Can’t be married to two people and be devoted to both
Can’t be devoted to the LORD if you are trying to be devoted to the world and its values
2) So, Why Do I Still Sin?
2) So, Why Do I Still Sin?
Good question, glad you asked
ILLUST: Ever feel like doing something just because you are told not to? That’s sin and the law
Paul said knowing he could not covet made him want to!
Law/Works/Self is the husband to which the believer was once married
The believer had died to the Law, Works, Self
Christ’s death became our death
The purpose of that death is so we might belong to a new husband - the bridegroom - Christ!
And since He was raised from the dead, so to are we!
Free to serve our new master
The lost cannot keep the Law, doesn’t care to - self is god, self-preservation
The believer still struggles with sin
ASIDE - Paul asks rhetorically if the Law is sin - NO, the Law was good
Divinely given, reflects His nature, holy (made His people set apart)
Intended the best for His people
But the Law was just a vehicle to make people aware of the need to be connected to Yahweh, to Messiah - And the Law was fulfilled in Christ
So the Fight rages on
Slaves to righteousness battle against the master of sin
Satan has been defeated, yet he continues to deceive while he can
3) Unity Among Saved Sinners
3) Unity Among Saved Sinners
Unity is clearly implied
ILLUST: Gardening tips - in order to get fruit/produce
Planting corn in multiple rows
Honey crisp apple tress need companion
Purpose of the Church - THE purpose, two fold
1 - Reach the lost
2 - Edify the saints
Together - making disciples, to bear fruit, to be productive
Commonalities among us
Sinners
Saved by Grace
Pointing others to Christ
Growing in Sanctification
Suffering growing pains - sin struggles
The Christian life is demanding, it is not easy
Actually, much easier to keep a set of Laws and rules, hopefully be a good person
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
There is an ongoing conflict between the flesh and spirit
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
Paul’s struggles with sin
IDK, never told
Not even going to guess, because it doesn’t matter
What matters? My sin, my struggles. Yours, too
I could focus on yours, but He wants me to focus on mine
You could focus on mine, but He demands you focus on yours
Let me ask you - where do you face the toughest struggle with sin?
My guess is someone else here has that same struggle
You are not alone with that
Paul, PAUL, frustrated with the battle - so when you are, you have good company
Don’t let that cause you to brush it off - use it, and grow from it
The perfect person - there was ONE
And He is the best example
The rest of us: See James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
We pray for much - mostly people sick and hurting
How about praying for each other to fight through sin habits and challenges?
Not calling for an open confession - but acknowledge the struggles to each other, then pray for each other.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
HATE INTENSELY what is evil
Sin is evil, (defined - anything contradicting God’s character)
What would the Christian life look like if we actually hated our sin, hated evil?
Plenty on display in the world - much I can do little about
I can, however, with the Helper (H.S.), act on the hatred toward my sin
PRAYER TODAY - Hate your sin - YOURS
Let that drive you to your knees, asking God for forgiveness
Let that hatred fuel your drive to a closer walk with the LORD
Maybe you’ve spent a lot of time loving the world, loving sin
It’s time to love the Lord
It’s time to be set free! Who will do that for me?
Jesus is the great escape - V. 24 - 25 (READ)
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
When you do this, it leaves little time and energy to love sin
Love God, hate sin
Simple - not easy
