Romans 8:1-17

(ESV)

If “life” is the ruling idea in vv. 1–13, being “sons” (v. 14; cf. “sonship/adoption” in v. 15) or “children” (vv. 16, 17) of God dominates vv. 14–17.

Title: 3 Freedoms “In Christ”

Moo, D. J. (1996). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 496). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

PRAY

I. The Grace That We Experience

A. There Is No Condemnation for Sin

INTRODUCTION

I am so excited that we have reached this point in Romans, because herein lies 3 truths that Christ followers MUST comprehend, in order to live as Christ calls you.

If you are sitting here this morning and you are in Christ, you can relate to what I am about to say: easy to be excited as a new Christian, but things begin to creep into life that can stir your heart to shift from delight to doubt: (1) Our past memories of how we lived can haunt us; (2) others will notice (and point out) our inconsistencies; (3) personal dysfunctions such as shame, low self esteem, or compulsions will trip us up; (4) the perfection of the law will show how imperfect we are; (5) we can allow Christ’s perfect example to discourage our efforts rather than encourage our trust; (6) unhealthy comparisons with other believers will make us feel inadequate. But this need not be if you are in Christ.

• Our own conscience reminds us of guilt.

• Non-Christian friends will notice (and point out) our inconsistencies.

• Past memories of how we lived can haunt us.

• Personal dysfunctions such as shame, low self esteem, or compulsions will trip us up.

Paul shares with us 3 freedoms that you have “in Christ” that will revolutionize your faith, OR make you realize your fate.

• The perfection of the law will show how imperfect we are.

• We can allow Christ’s perfect example to discourage our efforts rather than encourage our trust.

• Unhealthy comparisons with other believers will make us feel inadequate.

The “no condemnation” that heads this paragraph is grounded in the reality of the believer’s transfer from death to life. In vv. 2–4, this transfer emanates from “the Spirit of life,” who applies to the believer the benefits won by Christ on the cross, thereby enabling the fulfillment of the law’s just demand

B. There Is No Control By Sin

BODY

I. Free From Condemnation (1-4)

A. The Spirit Has Set You Free (1-2)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

B. No Control by Sin (2-3)

C. There Need Be No Continuance In Sin

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

B. The Son Met The Requirements of the Law For You (3-4)

B. The Son Met The Requirements of the Law For You (3-4)

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

C. No Continuance in Sin (4)

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

We feel condemned because we focus on past guilt and present failures to make us question what Christ has done for us.

An old Indian, after living many years in sin, was led to Christ by a missionary. Friends asked him to explain the change in his life. Reaching down, he picked up a little worm and placed it on a pile of leaves. Then, touching a match to the leaves, he watched them smolder and burst into flames. As the flames worked their way up to the center where the worm lay, the old chief suddenly plunged his hand into the center of the burning pile and snatched out the worm. Holding the worm gently in his hand, he gave this testimony to the grace of God: “Me. . . that worm.”

An old Indian, after living many years in sin, was led to Christ by a missionary. Friends asked him to explain the change in his life. Reaching down, he picked up a little worm and placed it on a pile of leaves. Then, touching a match to the leaves, he watched them smolder and burst into flames. As the flames worked their way up to the center where the worm lay, the old chief suddenly plunged his hand into the center of the burning pile and snatched out the worm. Holding the worm gently in his hand, he gave this testimony to the grace of God: “Me. . . that worm.”

Our assurance must be focused on Christ, not our performance.

An old Indian, after living many years in sin, was led to Christ by a missionary. Friends asked him to explain the change in his life. Reaching down, he picked up a little worm and placed it on a pile of leaves. Then, touching a match to the leaves, he watched them smolder and burst into flames. As the flames worked their way up to the center where the worm lay, the old chief suddenly plunged his hand into the center of the burning pile and snatched out the worm. Holding the worm gently in his hand, he gave this testimony to the grace of God: “Me. . . that worm.”

And the life that the Spirit gives is by no means ended by the grave, for the presence of the Spirit guarantees that the bodies of believers will be raised from physical death (vv. 10–11)

We feel condemned because Satan uses past guilt and present failures to make us question what Christ has done for us. Our assurance must be focused on Christ, not our performance.

• Non-Christian friends will notice (and point out) our inconsistencies.

• Past memories of how we lived can haunt us.

• Personal dysfunctions such as shame, low self esteem, or compulsions will trip us up.

• The perfection of the law will show how imperfect we are.

• We can allow Christ’s perfect example to discourage our efforts rather than encourage our trust.

• Unhealthy comparisons with other believers will make us feel inadequate.

II. Free From The Control of Sin (5-14)

A man from a remote mission field, after living many years in sin, was led to Christ by a missionary. Friends asked him to explain the change in his life. Reaching down, he picked up a little worm and placed it on a pile of leaves. Then, touching a match to the leaves, he watched them smolder and burst into flames. As the flames worked their way up to the center where the worm lay, the old chief suddenly plunged his hand into the center of the burning pile and snatched out the worm. Holding the worm gently in his hand, he gave this testimony to the grace of God: “Me. . . that worm.”

When did Christ snatch you out of the fire?

TRANSITION: “In Christ” you are free from condemnation, that you may be free from the control of sin.

II. Free From The Control of Sin (5-14)

Paul reminds his readers that the life-giving power of God’s Spirit is finally effective only in those who continue to let the Spirit change their lives.

Moo, D. J. (1996). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 485). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

A. Control by the Spirit Leads to Life and Peace (5-8)

A. Control by the Spirit Leads to Life and Peace (5-8)

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

B. Control by the Spirit Leads to the Resurrection (9-11)

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit [positional vs. behavioral], if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

III. Verses 12–13 cap off this proclamation of life in Christ by reminding us that God’s gift of eternal life does not cancel the complementary truth that only by progressing in holiness will that eternal life be attained.

Moo, D. J. (1996). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 472). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

C. Control by the Spirit Means Adoption (12-14)

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

While 1-13 is about life, 14-17 is about sonship.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

While you have been removed from the power of sin in Christ, you have not yet been removed from the presence of sin.

DR. Office sent a group text message: “yes” if agree, “no” to stop receiving these messages.

Sin will send you a text message everyday saying, “Hey, you want to come hang out and spend the day together?”

If you are in Christ you have the power to text back “no,” but if you are consistently texting back and saying, “yes,” then you are still under control of sin and should be fearful.

Do you respond “yes” or “no” to sin’s group text message?

III. Free from Fear of Abandonment (15-17)

A. We Have Been Adopted (15-16)

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

B. We Are Heirs With Christ (17)

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

A little boy had a part in the school play that read, “It is I; be not afraid.” He came out on stage and said, “It’s me and I’m scared.”

You need not be afraid of being abandoned by God, PROVIDED you follow Christ’s own road to glory!

Are you fearful of abandonment, or adopted as faithful?

CONCLUSION

Those who are “in Christ,” are

(1) free from condemnation,

(2) free from the control of sin, and

(3) free from the fear of abandonment by God.

Jesus said, “I will never leave you, or forsake you.”

If you are not “in Christ,” however, you do have cause of concern.

Let’s bow in prayer. Heads are bowed, and eyes are closed.

Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. If you’d like to be saved today and be a child of God, let me help you to do it right now. Even while heads are bowed in this place, just forget that anybody else is here but you and the Lord, and I’m your friend here to help you to pray, and if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life, to give you life, to glorify Jesus, and to guarantee your legacy, would you pray a prayer like this: “Dear God, I need you so much. I know that you love me. I know that you want to save me. I confess that I’m a sinner. I confess that I’m spiritually dead, but I need life. I need to be born again. I need to be saved. Jesus, you died on the cross to pay for my sin. You died to save me. You promised to save me, if I would trust you. I do trust you, Jesus.” Would you tell Him that, from your heart: “Oh, Lord Jesus, I commit my life to you. I receive you now as my personal Savior and Lord. Come into my heart through your Holy Spirit. Change me right now. Come in. I don’t ask for a feeling. I just accept it by faith. I receive you by faith now as my Lord, and as my Savior, and as my Friend. Thank you, Lord, for saving me, and begin now to make me the person that you want me to be, and help me to live for you and never to be ashamed of you. In your name I pray. Amen.

Are you in Adam or are you in Christ? Do you know if you died right now, you’re absolutely certain you’d go to heaven? Friend, if you have repented of your sin and received Christ, if you are in Christ, there’s no more condemnation for sin. There’s no more control by sin. There need be no more fear of being abandoned by God because of that grace that you experienced.

Now, if you’d like to be saved right now, you can be saved right where you are. You don’t have to come down to the front of the church to be saved. You don’t have to join a church to be saved. You don’t have to be baptized to be saved. You don’t have to keep the Ten Commandments to be saved. You don’t have to obey the Golden Rule to be saved. Salvation is a gift. You can be saved right where you are, right this moment. You must recognize that you’re a sinner. You must repent of your sin. You must believe that Christ died for your sins and by faith receive what he has done for you on the cross. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.” ()

“Pray like this”

Did you ask Him to save you? Did you? Then, thank Him for it. Here’s where the faith comes in. You ask Him. You meant it. Then, by faith, pray this way: “Thank you for saving me, Jesus. I don’t deserve it. I could never earn it, but I receive it now. You promised, and you cannot lie, so I receive it now, Lord Jesus. I receive your grace. I receive you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving my sin. Thank you for saving me. I receive it by faith like a little child, and that settles it, Jesus. Praise your holy name.” Now, speak to Him this way: “You are my Lord, my God, my Savior, and my friend forever. Praise your holy name.”

“Come see me after the service to make it public”

Rogers, A. (2017). The Agony and the Ecstasy. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (). Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust.