Sermon Tone Analysis

2008-09-14 (pm) Romans 8:1-17 Forever Forgiven.

Because we have been saved from our bodies of death, “therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).

Now, what does it mean to be free from condemnation, and what does it not mean?

Let’s look at what it does not mean.

This is an area of misinterpretation, for some people.

Some believe that being no longer condemned means that they can live consequence free.

That is to say, that they can live any old way they want, and do whatever it is they want, and to not worry about it.

They’re no longer condemned, so therefore, all will be beds of roses.

But is that true?

If I murder someone, will I not suffer the consequences?

I will be arrested.

I will be charged with murder.

I will be tried and judged by a jury of my peers in a court of law.

I will be sentenced and I will have to serve the time of my sentence.

Being not condemned in Christ will not prevent those things from happening to me.

So, why should I believe that because I am not condemned, that I can then live any old way I want?

In our passage this evening, Paul tells us that it is in fact impossible to live such a way.

If we truly are in Christ, then we will not live our lives any old way we want, but we will instead live them in as pleasing a way as possible, for Christ.

So, even though we are no longer condemned, it does not mean that we are no longer accused.

We are.

Satan comes along, people come along and accuse us of being proud, arrogant, mean, ugly, all kinds of things.

What being condemnation free does mean is that all of those accusations will be thrown out.

In the end, it doesn’t matter how imperfect we are.

It doesn’t matter that we’ve sinned and yes, have been guilty of all those things.

We’re not trying to stand on our righteousness, if we were, then there would be condemnation.

As it is, we stand on Christ, and He clothes us in His righteousness, thereby squashing the accusations.

So, let us go back to committing murder.

Satan would come up to us and say, “Ha!  You’re a murderer!

You will always be a murderer.

You do not deserve God’s grace and mercy, because you have desecrated a precious life.

Don’t you know that the Holy Spirit breathes life?

And you treated the Spirit’s work like garbage, you treated life like filth.

But a person, even someone guilty of murder, who claims Christ’s precious blood and righteousness, who confesses everything, who finds absolutely no strength in herself, no accusation, no matter how factual, can stick to the person.

Though she might be spending the rest of her life here on earth in prison, in her heart, she is already eternally set free.

She’s forever forgiven.

Nor does Paul say that since there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, that suddenly we’re perfect, that there’s nothing in us that deserves condemnation.

Just because we’re declared to be condemnation free, it doesn’t mean that we’re suddenly free of anything that deserves condemnation.

It is not as though we’ve suddenly gone from being a murderer one minute, then all of a sudden we’re not a murderer then next.

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, does not finally remove all our desire to sin.

Nor does it make us perfect in that moment.

No, sin still lingers.

Those who are perfectly honest with themselves and with God confess their sins, and they own them.

They say to themselves, I am a murderer.

I declared my hatred for my brother by giving false testimony against him.

They admit their guilt.

They weep and are exceedingly frustrated that they fell into sin.

They condemn themselves for sinning.

They say to themselves, “You ignorant blockhead!

You should have known better!

Why did you go and do that!

You’d better smarten up next time.”

But they also realise that that episode of sin does not lead to death.

They realise that Christ has made them free from sin.

Therefore, they don’t get too worked up by it.

They own it, confess it, and claim Christ’s righteousness for their own!

Nor does Paul try to indicate that because there is no condemnation that all of life is smooth sailing!

He doesn’t say that at all, and besides, Romans 7 hardly describes a pleasant, happy, smooth life.

The reality is that we will yet deal with the cross.

We have to come to terms with the cross.

The cross is the reminder of the curse.

It is a reminder of Christ’s suffering.

It is a reminder of the extent to which Christ loves us.

Someone once asked me, “Do you know how much Jesus loves you?”

I responded, “Very much.”

A smile came across his face, and he said, “He loves you this much.”

The cross is a permanent fixture in the Christian’s life.

It is not a removable fixture.

The cross is also personal.

A person bears their own cross.

One person’s cross might be having the right attitude in suffering.

Another person’s cross might be to have the right attitude in wealth.

Nor does Paul indicate in any way that Christians are suddenly affliction free.

Jesus does not promise earthly health and wealth.

John Piper has the following words written above his office door, so that whenever he leaves his office, he reads them.

This is what it says, “Remember the Rich Young Man.”

That man loved his possessions more than he loved Christ.

Jesus might test our love for him by taking our possessions away.

Jesus might test our love, our faithfulness by afflicting us.

God tested Abraham, to see if Abraham treasured God more than he treasured Isaac.

Abraham passed the test.

Would you?  Would I?

          Consider these passages: Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Colossians 1:24 “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Revelation 2:9 “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!

I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”

Now that is just a sampling of verses.

I could have quoted more.

Christ does not promise earthly wealth.

He does not guarantee earthly wealth.

But he does promise heavenly, or spiritual health, I’d say, if you’re going to live forever, you’re probably pretty healthy.

Spiritually, our treasure is out of this world!

In this life, we’d better be prepared to suffer.

Jesus Christ suffered, are the disciples greater than the master is?  Will we not be tempted?

Will the evil one not attack us?

Will we not endure trials?

But not all afflictions are from the world.

Sometimes we’re afflicted in order for us to see something.

It might be necessary for us, sent by God to us, so that we may realise that we’re not perfectly right with God.

That there’s an area in our lives that we need to give over to him.

Oftentimes, in those cases, it is pretty obvious in how we’re sinning, so that we can acknowledge it and confess it and repent.