Freedom from Sin and Shame

Introduction:

One of the hardest things for a christian to do is living in freedom from sin. We have everything working against us. We are corrupted people living in a corrupted world ran by fallen corrupted angels. But yet in the midst of all this brokenness we are to live righteous holy lives before and with our heavenly Father.

So what’s the secrete? What the magic formula that causes a person to live in righteousness instead of ruin? How does a sinful being escape the clutches of sin and live in the freedom, power, and Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What we’ve learned from the Christian community and even clergy is most people are faking it. They portray a life of holiness and promote freedom from sin only for the rest of the world to discover they were living another life all together.

Others take extraordinary measures to not sin against themselves or God. One of the Church fathers, Origen in the mid 200’s, castrated himself to curve is appetite for women. I guess he read Matthew 5:30 where Jesus said, “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” but he must have not read when Jesus said, “everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Sin never begins with your hands, but always in the heart.

James 1:14–15 ESV

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Desire of the heart

Conceived in the will

Birthed in the flesh

Biblical Truth:

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Freedom is dying to live.

Romans 6:5–7 ESV

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

The death of Christ has secured our freedom.

Our death in Christ set us free from sin.

Freedom is a state of mind and not just a state of being.

Romans 6:8–11 ESV

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

“You will only achieve what your mind will believe.”

Your current reality is shaped by the projection of your mind.

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...

You must think differently if you are going to be different.

Your perception of yourself is your greatest reality.

My Father-in-law trapping a raccoon.

Freedom is a choice to yield your members to the Spirit in righteousness.

Romans 6:12–14 KJV 1900

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Next Steps:

Receive the work of Christ on the Cross to free you from sin.

Forgiveness breeds justification, and justification breeds freedom.

Change your status from a sinner to a son of the most high God.

Change the desires of your heart

Colossians 3:1–3 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Declare all out war on your sin.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.