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Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
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THE BELIEVER’S
FREEDOM FROM SIN (Rom 8:1-4) 2/10/08 Pastor I. THE BELIEVER IS FREE FROM
CONDEMNATION (1) A. In the letter to the
church at 1. Justification
(5:1) 2. Access to Grace (5:2) 3. Saved from Wrath (5:9) 4. Victory Over Sin (6:14) 5. Released from the Law (7:6) B. Chapter 7 ended with the
believer’s personal struggle with sin (7:14-25). But
in spite of this struggle, Chapter 8 begins with the conclusion (“therefore”
ára - consequently) that
because of the believer’s position in Christ, he will not receive
condemnation. It is one of Paul’s most remarkable statements in Scripture
concerning the believer’s benefits. C. In fact, the Greek sentence begins with
the negative oudèn, which
emphatically means “not even one.” The believer will not even be condemned
for one sin. D. The reason that believer will not receive
condemnation is because his new position is “in Christ” (8:1 cp. 2Co 5:17)
and because Christ took his condemnation for him (8:3; cp. 2Co 5:21). E. The great theme of this epistle is,
“Justification by Faith.” Justification is not only the fact that the
believer will not receive condemnation but that Christ’s righteousness has
been imputed to him (4:22-25). F. The reason that unbelievers will receive
condemnation (katákrima - a legal
technical term for the result of judging, including both the sentence and its
execution, lit. to bring down judgment. Used only 3 times in NT, all in Romans), is because of their position in the first Adam
(Rom 5:18), their own sin and unrighteousness (Rom 3:10, 23; 6:23), and God’s
wrath against sin (Rom 5:9). II. THE BELIEVER IS FREE FROM
THE PRINCIPLE OF SIN AND DEATH (2) A. However, Paul not only has
the believer’s justification in mind, but also his sanctification.
Justification and sanctification go hand in hand. B. Paul goes on to explain (“for” gàr - for this reason) that it was
through the ministry of the Holy Spirit that the believer was set free from
the law of sin and death. Freedom from judgment and sin was accomplished on the basis of Christ’s death (vs. 3). But,
it is the Holy Spirit who applies that freedom to the believer. C. It is through the law (or principle) of
the Spirit of life, that has set the believer free. There have been several
laws (nómos) or principles mentioned
in the book of Romans: the principle of . . . faith (3:27), sin (7:21, 23,
25; 8:2), the mind (7:23, 25), and the Spirit of life (8:2). D. The principle (or law) of the Spirit of
life is the divine operation of the Holy Spirit that gives the believer
victory in the midst of his struggle with the flesh. E. Some have suggested that “spirit” is the
new nature that the believer receives. However, it is not
the believer’s new nature that sets him free from the law of sin. It
is the Holy Spirit. This is explained later in this chapter (8:4-6, 9-11,
13). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is mentioned some 17 times in this chapter.
Note that the law of the Spirit of life is a positional truth “in Christ”
Jesus. F. The believer was “set free” (eleutheróō - to be released from
slavery or restraint cp. 6:18, 22; Gal 5:1) by the Spirit from the
principle of sin and death. The law (or principle) of sin and death is the
domination of the sin principle in the flesh and its consequence of spiritual
death. Therefore, the believer has been set free (aorist tense) from the
domination of the sin principle in his flesh and the consequence of spiritual
death. The believer will still struggle with the flesh but the Holy Spirit
provides victory over the flesh. III. THE BELIEVER IS FREE FROM
THE POWERLESS LAW (3) A. A conclusion is given to
the previous theme of Ch. 7, namely that the Law was insufficient to produce
righteousness. But God was sufficient when He sent
his Son to be a substitutionary atonement to condemn sin in the flesh.
Furthermore, Christ’s righteousness is imputed (Justification) to those who
trust in Christ. B. The Law could not (adúnatos
- unable, powerless) produce righteousness because it was weak (asthenéō - feeble) through the
flesh. There was nothing wrong with the Law. The inability was inherent in
sinful man. C. God solved man’s dilemma by sending his
Son. In sending his Son, three objectives are stated: 1. Christ
was made in the likeness (homoíōma
- likeness in appearance) of sinful flesh. Christ was similar to sinful
humanity in that he was human (Phil 2:7) but without a sinful nature (Heb
4:15). 2. The purpose for which Christ took on
humanity was lit. “concerning sin” (perì hamartías).
The LXX frequently used this phrase to refer to a
“sin offering” (Lev 5:6; 16:3; 23:19). Christ would take care of sin by
becoming an offering for sin (Rom 5:6, 8:32). 3. In becoming a sin offering, Christ took
care of sin by condemning sin in the flesh. God’s wrath, judgment, and
condemnation was fully poured out on Christ, who became the ultimate sin
offering (2Co 5:21; Isa 53:5). D. The atoning work that
Christ accomplished on the cross would also have practical ramifications for
the believer (Rom 8:4). The believer would now be able to produce
righteousness through the enabling power of the indwelling Hoy Spirit. IV. THE BELIEVER IS FREE
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT (4) A. The purpose (so that - hína - purpose or result) of the
Spirit in setting the believer free was also to produce righteousness in the
believer. Righteousness has four aspects in the book of Romans. They are: 1. God’s
impeccable righteousness (Rom 3:5). 2. Man’s
impoverished righteousness (Rom 3:10). 3. Christ’s imputed
righteousness (Rom 3:22; 4:3, 24). 4. Spirit’s imparted righteousness (Rom
8:4). B. The righteousness (dikaíōma - ordinance, requirements)
that is produced in the believer is God’s standard
of righteousness, which is revealed in the Law. This is not attempting to
live righteously by the Law in order to gain salvation. This is conditional
(practical) righteousness imparted to the believer by the Holy Spirit. C. The believer is dead to the Law (nómos) as a meritorious system for salvation
(Rom 7:1-4 cp. Rom 10:4; D. It is the sanctifying work of the Spirit
that causes the believer to grow in righteousness. The goal is that this
righteousness might be fulfilled (plerōthê
- aor. subj. - fill or bring to completion) in
the believer. E. Verse 4 also teaches that the believer is
to cooperate with the Spirit’s work in his life. The believer cooperates with
the Spirit by walking (peripatéō)
according to the Spirit. To walk according to the Spirit is to be led by the
Holy Spirit (Gal 5:18). F. The Holy Spirit is influencing and
enabling the believer to follow the Spirit’s direction. When the believer
yields to the Holy Spirit, he is filled with the Spirit and under the
Spirit’s control (Eph 5:18). G. Furthermore, the believer is commanded to
walk by the Spirit (peripateíte -
pres. act. imper. - Gal 5:16) and as he
continually walks (peropatou/sin - pres. act. part. - Rom 8:4) according to the Spirit he will not
fulfill the lust of the flesh. H. In conclusion, by understanding Christ’s
work, the believer can have freedom from guilt knowing he will not receive condemnation.
By understanding the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the believer has victory
over sin and can experience victory over sin by yielding and walking by the
Holy Spirit. V. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS A. Take comfort in the fact
that even in the midst of the struggle with sin, there is no condemnation in
Christ. B. Take encouragement from the fact that even
in the midst of the struggle with sin, there is victory over sin through the
Holy Spirit. C. Take motivation from the fact that even
though the believer does not experience complete conditional righteousness,
he grows in it fuller and fuller as he walks by the Spirit. |
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