2021.02.14 No Freedom to Sin

No Freedom to Sin

What do they need to know? Accepting Christ doesn’t give us license to sin

Why do they need to know it? Your sin will find you out

What do they need to do? Confess; Go and sin no more

Why do they need to do it? Wrath to come

How can I help them remember?

Me

Have you ever taught someone to drive? Isaiah started learning to drive a little while back.

My dad taught me to drive. He was super picky … turn signals, speed limit. He saw everything and expected me to follow ALL of the rules of the road.

He may not appreciate this story if he watches online, but I remember the day he picked me up from school to go take the road test to get my license.

He drove me down a neighborhood street at 55mph in a 35. He didn’t use a turn signal the entire trip. We went 15 miles in-town in about 10 minutes.

When I teased Dad about it, he acted like it wasn’t any big deal. To this day, he rarely uses a turn signal. (Sorry, Dad, but you know it’s true.)

I remember thinking, “Well, I guess once you have the license it doesn’t matter how you drive.” [pause] Then, I got my first ticket. It would not be my last.

We

Have you ever met someone who says one thing, but does something else. Boss – sets impossible standards for others, but doesn’t follow those standards himself

Spouses expect things of each other that we don’t do - all the time

Wouldn’t it be great if God gave us some instructions to help us not be like that?

God

John 8:1–11 NASB

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

No Freedom to Sin

Jesus preached about love … TRUE … but only half the truth

The other half is that Jesus preached about holiness

When Jesus taught about the law, he elevated the standard from the letter of the law to the spirit of the law … from behavior to motive

“You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48

John 14 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word”

And he tells this adulterer, “I do not condemn you … Go … sin no more”

Salvation brings us freedom, but salvation does NOT bring freedom to do as we please.

Paul tells us that we were called to freedom, but in the same breath he warns us not to allow our freedom to become an opportunity to indulge the flesh.

Peter cautions us not to use our liberty as a cover-up for evil

You

One of my brothers and I have had a lot of conversations about faith, and I know one of the reasons he doesn’t listen to me the same way he may listen to someone else. He knows me. He knows my flaws … he knows I fail to do what I say I believe to be true sometimes.

Do you know who else knows my flaws and has a problem with them? Jesus does. Years ago he told me, “Go ... sin no more.” I’ve fallen short of that, but I can’t simply continue sinning just because I’m forgiven.

If you love me, he says, you will keep my commandments.

If anyone loves me, he will keep my word

Go ... sin no more

We

Where have you found God’s forgiveness in your life?

Where have you wallowed in his grace and mercy?

It’s awesome isn’t it? But there’s a second half...

Where have you turned a deaf ear to his charge to “go ... sin no more”?

Sit in that for a moment.

Maybe today’s a good day to start addressing your deafness and mine.