Jesus' Passion for us gives freedom from condemnation
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Introduction
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1780 The Hymn “America”
One bleak day in February 1832, a young theological student sat in his room at Andover Seminary. Samuel Francis Smith was going over a sheaf of German songs for children, given him by a friend, the composer Lowell Mason. Sunset shadows crept into the room and Smith was tired from a strenuous day of study. He was relieved to spend a few relaxed moments going over his friend’s music.
As he hummed over one after another, one struck his fancy. He glanced at the words at the bottom of the page and his knowledge of German told him that the words were patriotic, but they did not appeal to him. He decided to write his own words. He searched around on his desk until he found a scrap of paper, about five or six inches long and two-and-one-half inches wide. On this, as he tapped out the rhythm of the music, he began to write,
My country, tis of thee
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring.
—America
Let me ask a question, Could you find freedom in being condemned? Another words, could you ultimate find joy in someone casting judgement on you? Can you have a sense of freedom if there “freedom” you have this moment stripped away?
Let me ask a question, Could you find freedom in being condemned? Another words, could you ultimate find joy in someone casting judgement on you? Can you have a sense of freedom if there “freedom” you have this moment stripped away?
Let me ask a question, Could you find freedom in being condemned? Another words, could you ultimate find joy in someone casting judgement on you? Can you have a sense of freedom if there “freedom” you have this moment stripped away?
If we stopped to think about that for just a moment, we have some serious reservations. We probably answer those questions in such a way as wondering what freedom or freedoms we may lose.
May challenge for all of us to answer all those questions in the affirmative. Yes we can experience freedom in anything that may come our way in this life. We can especially have freedom when they very thought of loosing our freedom. I realize that very thought may sound weird but I want to challenge you to hang with me through this message.
Jesus’ Passion for us gives freedom from condemnation.
Describe freedom.
It is interesting how questions are asked and then answered by Paul in our following verse. It almost seems like the many questions that we ask under the pressures that come our way in life. The answer to each questions is a God element.
It is interesting how questions are asked and then answered by Paul. It almost seems like the many questions that we ask under the pressures that come our way in life. The answer to each questions is a God element.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Describe the Big and Ugly Principle from SLU 101)
The same principle is true when dealing with this aspect of condemnation. When we understand the worst of the worst then all this others stuff doesn’t compare to it.
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Most people in our world may say that death is really what they fear. While I absolutely do not disagree with such a belief, death is not the end. Hebrews is very clear that judgement is what awaits each and every one of us.
(Story of the TV show “This is Us” with the Judges comments to the man who was guilty.) (Relate to our God. He ultimately judges).
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Romans 8:
God chose us for salvation.
(recognize the challenges in bible believing churches and even within Baptist churches of the debate over words such as “elect”. Yet, we can’t back away from them... because they are in the Bible. God chose Abraham (from Ur, ancient Iraq) to be the father of the Hebrew people. God chose Hebrew people who later become the people of Israel (Jewish people) to bless the rest of the world in . God chose the line of a shepherd “nobody” to be King of all Israel and promised their will always be one of King David’s heirs on the throne for forever . Even when it seems God was silent and not there for His people and His creation, God chose Mary, a virgin, to become pregnant by Holy Spirit and give birth to a baby boy in a stable in a little town of Bethlehem with her betrothed husband, Joseph, by her side according to . Our God is not a God of haphazardness. He is a God with intentionality. So, it is through Jesus that he chose us. According to , for all who believe. It is by His design for us to believe in salvation through Jesus.)
(refer back to , it is God who justifies.)
Who really compares to God? The person on facebook from the privacy of their home criticizing those who believe in Jesus. How does he or she compare to God? (come up with generic people and organization illustrations that my “abuse” Christians) How do they compare to God? You may think that it is crazy, but is it really?!?
We have our almighty, world creating, Salvation giving God, looking at us as justified. By God’s opinion and degree, we are right.
Jesus’ Passion for us gives us freedom f
God chose us for salvation.
Attacks from others and the way we are attacked.
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
God is for us. So, who really compares to God.
God chose us for salvation.
We are God’s elect. Carefully define and recognize controversy of the idea of election.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Romans 8:
2. We are never condemned because of Jesus’ Passion.
“Condemn” κρίνω is
ⓑ esp. pass an unfavorable judgment upon, criticize, find fault with, condemn
(Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 567). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.)
③ to make a judgment based on taking various factors into account, judge, think, consider, look upon
While, we did briefly talked about God’s judgement in how we all face it. We can face people and situation that can pass judgement on us through their words and actions when all we are trying to do is live out God’s truth in boldness, love, and with respect to others.
Yet, let us be honest with one another. Not many of us like criticism of any type, but especially hateful criticism and condemnation from others. So when it happens, it can bring a range of emotions and responses from us: anger, sadness, feel defeated, no value, and depression to name a few.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Romans
Who can really condemn? Who really has authority? Yes we can be accused. Yes we can be put down. Yes we can be mocked for our faith. Yes we can even have financial hardship. Now, I realize this is not fun to think about. Will it happen? I do not know. Here is what I do know about following God. It will not be easy. People will do evil things against one another but especially against followers of Jesus. But it will be so worth it.
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.
28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’
31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine
37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
Notice that the man on the cross recognized condemnation that was due to him and the other criminal. Due they still face dying on the cross but only one comes out the other side in a place much better than anything the world has to offer. His condemnation wasn't permanent. The other condemnation was permanent.
(Paint the picture of how individuals felt during this story in . But focus on the freedom that the criminal on the cross must have felt. While he was condemned by the Roman officials but He ultimate wasn’t.)
24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Acts 16:
Why is that they were signing Hymns? I do not know many people that would be singing while in prison. Why did they do it? Because they were ultimately free in Christ. No one could take away the freedom that they have in Jesus.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:
3. Since Christ has conquered the worst of the worst that we could place, we have freedom in God’s love.
How do we live now knowing there isn’t any condemnation that God can’t overcome?
32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Benefit of God disciplining us so that we will avoid judgement. In addition, it will to help us live holy lives. I know someone only want to come to church or churches in order for them to feel good. Now, I recognize that we do like to feel good and feel better. But, we want to make sure that we feel better for the right reasons. Yet, it is ok to hear a Sermon or be part of the a Bible study that doesn't make us feel so good. In fact, the message may make us frustrated and even question how we are living our life. As long as it is Biblical instruction, that is ok. It is God's way of convicting us to reveal that we are no living the life that He has given us in a way that is honoring to Him. I recognize I maybe weird, but I really do enjoy painting. I enjoy trimming and painting walls. Yet get this. I can pick the your favorite color. Yet, if the wall has issues with it (wall has mold on it, maybe it was damaged to some degree in a small fire, it has holes in it caused by door not having a stopper or just normal wear and tear on the wall) If it has any of these issue, the new color will not last. In some ways it will lose it affect. Instead, what needs to happen is the wall needs to be repaired and the issue that cause the damage to the wall repaired then the new color added. This is what is talking about. God repairs us from the inside out and makes new each and every day. We just have to allow him to heal us.
Conclusion
Fourth verse of Samuel Francis Smith’s of America : My Country, ‘Tis of Thee:
Our Father’s God, to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing: Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light; Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!