Bound to be Free

Whats up inverted??

Who remembers last weeks message?

Title: “Use the Playbook”

Content Summary: the importance of scripture for breaking chains

Today is the last message in series

has everyone been enjoying prison break?

Introduction

we already talked about the bad prisons

We need to be in the right prison: *explain concept*;

Jesus has authority over us

His yolk is easy, burden is light

“so now that we’ve seen how to break out of the prisons we are shackled to, we must now go into a new prison”

Romans 6:15–23 CSB

What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not! Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life! For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lets pray

1. Because He First. (Loved Us)

I want to start Simple

Romans 6:15 CSB

What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not!

So what does this mean?;

God’s grace is one of his greatest gifts

It’s not about legalism, its about his love

what do you do when someone loves you, and you are aware of that love towards you?

you want to do better and listen to what they have to say

you trust them

in the same way, we choose to walk away from our prisons because of his grace.

Lets say you have a sibling that tries to tell you to do something, what do you do? *probably nothing*

this is why its important to learn how much God loves us.

Does everyone know how much God truly loves you? I ask for you to learn about it.

In the chapter before this one that we are in, Romans 5:8 says something so beautiful

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This means that died for us;

even when we didnt care about him

even when we cursed him out

even when we loved everything else and hated him.

So for the fact he still died for us knowing that we may not even acknowledge him, it breaks my heart.

it breaks my heart to think that he gave everything including his own life, even for me when I have chosen in the past to ignore him.

If you ever walked away or left him behind, he still is there waiting. He is still there hoping you come to him and choose for yourself to love him

thats why we have the free will to choose him, it wouldnt be right if we were forced to worship him.

So because he loved us, we need to let go of our old masters, our old prisons, and walk towards him.

*which leads me to my second point*

2. New Master, New Me

So as each week passed, we explored how to break free from our prisons, but like i mentioned in the beginning of this message;

we have to go back to a new kind of prison

Its a paradox of freedom

Romans 6:16–19 CSB

Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?

The point is:

anything that captures your attention becomes your prison

you become slaves to those things

Lust, Pride, Greed, etc.

Scripture is painting a truth claim to us:

we are slaves to the things that we obey

What is being a slave?

Someone who is under the domination of another person, habit, or influence.

This is why when you cant leave a sin behind, you become a slave to it.

it controls you if you give it access

Ultimaley being a slave is unavoidable in live;

The problem isn’t being a slave itself, it’s whether you’re a slave to the right thing. “let me explain”

A.W. Tozer was an american pastor and he taught himself and got 2 Doctorates, he was a smart man, he said this quote:

The man who surrenders to Christ exchanges a cruel slave driver for a kind and gentle Master whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.2

A. W. Tozer

I love the fact that he used the example of the Yoke;

“A yoke connects two animals so they pull together. Jesus wants you yoked with him—moving together in sync. The word “easy” means well-fitting, like an ox-yoke is adjusted so it doesn’t hurt the animal’s neck. Jesus is saying: “The life I give you fits you perfectly—it’s made to measure for your needs and abilities.”

So when you’re walking with Christ, we are told to be Holy like God, and thats heavy task, and ultimately we will never get it down perfect;

but God has and gives grace

God love’s unconditionally

Let’s go back to Romans 6:

Romans 6:16–19 CSB

But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.

So here’s the deal guys:

dont be slaves to sin, be slaves to righteousness

in order words: let righteousness and the things of God get your attention, not the sin and things of this world.

When we become slaves to righteousness, we get sanctified; “which means...”

God sets us apart for a sacred purpose

It changes you from the inside-out, no matter where you are

You become more like Jesus and you become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit trying to speak to you.

3. Death Wages, Life Wages

This is where we see the payment we receive from our master, whether our master is sin, or Jesus.

Romans 6:21–23 CSB

So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life! For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Verse 23 teaches us that the wage for sin is death, and if you know the story of the cross really well its incredible to see the connection

but for those of you who are here and havent heard this explanation, let me show you why its important to understand what the wage for sin is.

Adam and eve sin

out of shame they covered themselves

God clothed them in skins

A life needed to cover for Adam and Eve’s life

Abraham receives a command from God to sacrifice his son Isaac

Abraham tried to sacrifice his son in obedience, but knowing God will provide

at the last second God provides a lamb for sacrifice

we see the idea of sacrificing a spotless lamb in place of us.

God cant just forget our sins, because he’s a perfect God, he MUST go through with the wage of sin

so instead of a partial payment for our lives, God provided for us Jesus just like he did to Abraham and Isaac

Ultimately sin leads to death, and death is the payment required for sin, But God didnt just leave us with that.

Romans 6:22 CSB

But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!

So because of his love for us, he made a way for imperfect people to be able to live in perfection with God.

when you fully make Jesus your master instead of sin, verse 23 tells us:

you are free from sin

you bare fruit

you begin santification

Recap and Closing

*talk about what God has done in this sermon series*

we started with how we can break free from our prisons, and we ended with how we can go back to a better kind of prison.

again: we are all slaves to something no matter who or what

It’s because he loves us that we we should trust him

we should give our all to him because he did the same for us

Jesus is the most gracious, loving master we could ever have

he helps us when we are in need, he comforts us

everything has a price;

sin requires our life

Jesus requires our life

which one would we choose?

“we are only truly free when we are bound to God’s promises.”

to truly be free we were meant to be bound so that we can be free.

some of you are still bound to old masters

some are still living in prison cells that are still open

let me make this clear for you guys if i havent already

all of us are bound to something;

is that to the things of this world and sin?

or is it Jesus?

which would we rather give our life to:

temporary satisfaction

Jesus

“you will only recieve true freedom when you pick the right master of your life. so are you guys prepared to do that?”

Altar Call

*bow heads and close eyes*

tonight is the night you walk out of your prisons.

tonight is the night to choose a better master of our life

tonight is the night you walk in freedom

“You are meant to be bound to true freedom, dont hesitate and accept it before its too late”

Pray for Kids Seeking Freedom

*connor plays worship music of my choosing*