Is Freedom Found In Jesus Alone?

Is Freedom Found In Jesus Alone?

Text: Romans 5:12-21

Introduction

It is a sad reality that by a recent pole among professed Christians, 60% don’t believe that salvation is Sola Gratia; by grace alone & Sola Christas; in Christ alone

I submit to you that the New Testament church must be held responsible for its lack of evangelism and discipleship. If we fail to share the greatest message of grace, we have greatly failed the ONE who gifted us soul freedom through His grace.

I want us to consider what the scriptures say regarding the truth about the working of Divine grace. Let us all leave today with the understanding that not only is salvation by Christ alone must be believed, it must also be shared!!!

There is no greater failure of the church than to hide the truth of saving grace from a world that will go to hell without it.

First, note the repetition of the little word one. It is used eleven times. The key idea here is our identification with Adam and with Christ. Second, note the repetition of the word reign which is used five times. Paul saw two men—Adam and Christ—each of them reigning over a kingdom. Finally, note that the phrase much more is repeated five times. This means that in Jesus Christ we have gained much more than we ever lost in Adam! Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 528.

1) In You Alone There Is Guilt

A. The totality of death imprisons your body and soul

When we look back toward the Garden and examine the first man; Adam, we see something that dramatically changes; outside and inside.

Sin is committed and death enters in.

He broke God’s commandment; GUILTY.

Our history proves we too have broken God’s law; GUILTY.

God’s law has been given, therefore, judgement is pronounced; GUILTY.

Through Adam we have a sin nature and due to our own volitional breaking of God’s holy law, WE TOO ARE UNDER GOD’S FUTURE WRATH!!!

Notice verse 14

2) In Christ Alone There Is Freedom

A. You are in need of something far different than what you have naturally; GRACE; JESUS

So, just how different is Jesus Christ?

(V15) speaks of the grace of God and a particular gift that is provided through his grace.

“…and the gift (freedom; salvation) by grace...”

“grace” = God’s goodwill

We also have a testimony in this verse about many Who have received that gift.

ONE MAN; Jesus Christ!!!!

Jesus goes beyond the physical “much more.”

He gives eternal life.

John 10:10 “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

(V16) The initial claim of this verse is that the gift of God’s grace positions man’s soul in a completely different standing before God.

We bring condemnation, but Jesus brings justification.

justification (legal) n. — a legal decision (in a criminal case) stating that an accused person is in full accordance with the requirements of the law.

Jesus is the free gift.

(v17) Death reigned due to a mortal man’s sin.

grace (outworking) n. — the resulting activity that is a necessary consequence of genuine, beneficent goodwill; especially used of the outworking of God’s goodwill.

In Christ alone we receive the gift of righteousness and the abundance of God‘s graces

Notice who is doing the reigning here; BELIEVERS.

(v18) Righteousness (the free gift) came only by one; Jesus Christ.

This gift came to ALL MEN.

This gift performs a unique work in your soul; JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE.

justifying n. — the act of declaring a verdict that someone is in full accordance with the requirements of the law (of God).

...our justification is the result of a living union with Christ. And this union ought to result in a new kind of life, a righteous life of obedience to God. Our union with Adam made us sinners; our union with Christ enables us to “reign in life.” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 529.

(v19) There was a perfect obedience lived out by ONE. It would be only by that ONE MANY would be MADE righteous.

This righteousness you and I most desperately need must be placed within us.

righteous person n. — a person characterized by righteous actions and morals.

NOT YOURS but those of JESUS CHRIST!!!

(v20) “Abound” = To become more and more, so as to be in abundance

The law made the already active offenses become more and more evident. Sin was abounding.

“…grace did much more abound.”

There has never been a collection of sin that grace could not exceed!!! EVEN YOUR SIN!

(v21) Sin reigns as a king until the end of life; a life that has expired without Christ.

The righteousness you can receive only through Jesus is the throne of which grace sits upon.

It is that reigning grace provided through Jesus that imparts eternal life to the soul.

Christ not only undid all the damage that Adam’s sin effected, but He accomplished “much more” by making us the very sons of God. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 528.

Conclusion

If you will choose today to be honest with God’s very own words, you can’t overlook the most life changing truth known to humanity; Eternal soul salvation comes only through Jesus Christ ALONE.

Let us look back for a moment at the beginning of this chapter for a concluding thought; VERSE 2 — Christ has provided but your faith gives you access!!! Faith is something we all have, but the question is, WILL YOU USE IT WISELY TODAY? PUT YOUR FAITH IN JESUS!!!