Freedom from the Law.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Welcome to Village Church. If this is your first time here, my name is Steve. I’m one of the pastors [0:04] here at Village Church and I’m grateful to see each and every one of you this morning. [0:08] Just a couple of announcements that we have. If you are new here this morning, we want you to do [0:13] us a favor. First, in your handout there’s a little thing called a Connect Card in there. [0:17] If you could fill that out and put it in the offering basket a little bit later in the service, [0:21] we would love to get in touch with you. We would love to have the opportunity to pray for you

[0:25] and we’d love to answer any questions that you might have about our church. Also, [0:29] for about five minutes after the service, right over here, we have something called Intro to the [0:33] Village. One of the leaders of the church will be there after the service to answer any questions [0:38] you may have this morning. Maybe they’ll tell you a little bit about the history of our church, [0:41] a little bit about what our mission as a church is, why we exist as a church, and we’d love to [0:47] meet you right up here after the service. Now, I want to do something a little bit different

[0:51] this morning because in just a few days we’re sending a team down to Oaxaca, Mexico [0:57] to serve on a missions trip. Now, this is a missions trip where they’re not just going [1:01] with no purpose, but instead we have one of our members, Christi Willis, that’s currently [1:06] serving down there for a few years, and we’re going to go aid her and support her as well as [1:11] the other missionaries that she’s down there with, but also help them do a day camp in one [1:16] of the villages that they’re ministering to. And so what I want to do this morning is I want

[1:20] to commission that team out. I want to pray for them and I also want to put them in front of you [1:24] because in your handout you’ve got a little card with their names on it so you can keep them in [1:28] prayer. So I want to ask them to go ahead and come up here this morning. Anytime that people [1:33] sacrifice for the mission of Jesus, we’re thankful. But anytime that people make sacrifices to live [1:39] the mission of Jesus and take a step of faith like this to go to a place that they don’t know [1:45] anything about and live among a people for a few days that they’ve never met before and eat food

[1:50] they’re probably uncomfortable with, it takes a lot of toll on them. And so what I need you to do [1:56] is I need you to partner with me and the rest of the church for the next couple of weeks and pray [2:01] for these people. That the Holy Spirit would strengthen them. That they would feel encouraged [2:07] because they know that they’ve got their church behind them. But I also want you to pray that [2:13] relationships would be started down there that would lead to redemption through faith in Jesus [2:18] for these people. It may be for some of them the first time they’ve ever heard the gospel of Jesus

[2:24] Christ because they’re going to be down there in a part of Mexico that’s currently unreached. That [2:29] means that no one that preaches the gospel, no believer really lives among these people to give [2:36] them access to the gospel of Jesus Christ the way you have access to the gospel of Jesus Christ on a [2:42] daily basis. So I just want you as a church, if you want to reach out your hand that would be great. [2:47] If you just want to pray for them silently in your seat. But I want you to join me right now [2:51] in praying for this great group of faithful stewards of God’s mission. Our Father,

[2:59] I’m so thankful that you’ve given me the privilege to pastor among the people [3:06] who are passionate for your mission. So passionate that they’re going to sacrifice financially, [3:14] sacrificing vacation days, sacrificing time with their family to go to a place that [3:21] doesn’t hear the gospel as much as we do Lord. And we take that for granted.

[3:27] Lord, I pray that you would embolden these people, fill them Holy Spirit. [3:32] Lord, calm the nerves that they currently have as they anticipate the travel. Lord, calm the nerves [3:38] that they may have right now as they’re anticipating, maybe having conversations that [3:43] they don’t feel like they’re equipped to have. But God, you’ve promised that if we trust you, [3:50] if we have faith in your Son Jesus Christ, that you’ll give us your Spirit, [3:55] and you’ll remind us of all that you’ve taught. Lord, give them boldness to share the gospel

[4:01] without fear. Lord, I do pray that you’d keep them safe. Lord, I pray that when they go down [4:08] the missionaries, Lord, I pray they would be an encouragement to them. Lord, the times may be [4:13] tough. We don’t know what’s going on in their lives. We don’t know what’s going on in their [4:16] minds. But my prayer is that the people of Village Church will be an encouragement to aid them in [4:21] enduring and living your mission in a different country. And Lord, my prayer is that you would [4:28] have divine appointments for every single person on this team. That you would use them to start

[4:34] conversations to give your gospel to people verbally. And I pray that they would win souls [4:43] to the gospel of Jesus. Lord, I pray also that you would help them to plant seeds, [4:50] that the missionaries will continue to water, that they will be able to start relationships, [4:55] that the missionaries will continue into discipleship long after they’re gone. [5:00] Lord, we know and we believe that you’re going to work all things to your glory. [5:04] I pray that you would give this team that confidence. Lord, use them for good. Use them

[5:10] for your gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen. If you have your Bibles, go ahead [5:17] and open them to Romans chapter 7 this morning. But before we get there, I do want to let you know [5:22] one quick announcement. And that is on Sunday morning, June 28th, we’re going to be changing [5:27] the service up a little bit. We’re going to start things at 10.30 that morning. But that’s because [5:32] by God’s grace, the weather will be great and we’ll be outside. We’re going to have our annual [5:37] church picnic that day, our 67th annual National Celebration of Life Festival

[5:44] of America, the year of our Lord 2015. You may ask, church hasn’t existed that long. Oh, [5:51] that doesn’t matter, friend. We’ve been doing this long before the church ever came into existence. [5:58] We’ve been doing this longer than I’ve even been alive because I’m not 67 years old. [6:05] You may think I am. I know I’m not aging that well. But grandpappy used to tell me stories.

[6:13] He would say, little Steve, he was a very large man, so he could call me little.

[6:21] He said, little Steve, years of old, we would bring all of our bagels and all of our butters.

[6:29] And all of the water that we could purify because they didn’t have tap water, nay.

[6:37] They would gather the outhouses, build a few, dig some trenches, downwind, of course.

[6:46] They would celebrate all that the Lord had done in the harvest. [6:51] Now, friends, we’re not farmers. We don’t know what harvest really means. [6:55] So we’re just going to come together in hamburgers and hot dogs and maybe some barbecue. [6:59] And we’re basically just going to do it because, well, by God’s grace, we can enjoy it. [7:03] And we’re going to celebrate all that God has done over the last year. And every year, [7:08] we like to come together when the weather’s nice and just enjoy grace for a day, enjoy company

[7:13] for a day, and just fellowship with each other over some good food with good friends and have [7:18] some good times. And so on June 28th, we’re going to do that. We’re going to start things at 1030. [7:23] It’ll probably go until about 1 30. We’re going to have games and bounce houses and all sorts [7:28] of things for the kids. And we’re going to have a good time for the adults as well, [7:32] just celebrating what God has done. And frankly, we’re going to learn how to worship [7:37] that day through being in the community that God has put us in and just having a good time

[7:42] with each other. So please come out that day and enjoy God’s grace with us as a church. [7:49] Now, in Romans chapter seven, we’re going to transition into a new chapter where God is [7:55] going to begin to lay some framework for us to begin to understand what it is that God’s intention [8:03] was through the law of God, but also through the grace of Jesus Christ so that we will not just [8:11] simply become people that do things, but more so that we will become people who understand that [8:17] what it is that we’re doing under the power of the Holy Spirit is furthering the mission of Jesus

[8:23] through our everyday life. You know, the scripture promises us that God will make all things new, [8:33] that on the day that Christ rose from the dead, that was a declaration of victory over sin. That [8:38] was a declaration of victory over death. And what our purpose is, is to further the gospel of the [8:46] news of that victory throughout this world so that as many people as possible will experience [8:53] the life-changing transformation that the gospel of Jesus Christ gives. And we believe there is [9:00] coming a day where we will enter into the kingdom of God. We will see Jesus face to face and we will

[9:08] worship Him forever. And that is what God wants to do through your life. That is what God desires [9:16] to prepare you for in your everyday. No matter where life has you right now, no matter what you’re [9:23] enduring right now, God has made a promise that because Jesus became a man, because He died for [9:31] your sin, because He rose from the dead, that He is going to use whatever you’re going through [9:36] in your life for His glory and for your good. Sometimes that is one of the hardest promises [9:44] to believe. But we can. Why? Because Jesus has the power to rise from the dead. Therefore,

[9:53] we believe that He also has the ability and the power to keep His promises for now as well as [10:01] those promises that we will not experience until the future when we see Him face to face. [10:06] And what’s tempting to do when we’re going through a book like Romans or when we’re going through [10:11] the Word of God or when we’re thinking about faith or thinking about the kingdom of God [10:15] is to begin to have the mindset of this person that I know or this person is going through this. [10:21] They really need that right now. They really need to believe this. They need to have their life

[10:26] changed by this. But I want you to understand that my intention this morning is for you to not have [10:32] that mentality today. But instead, I want you to understand that all things new promises that God [10:39] makes, that the strength of giving you the Spirit that He makes, that those promises are for you [10:45] first. That our culture too often attempts to externalize these things into the lives of others [10:53] because we kind of put ourselves over other people sometimes. And we all do it. I’m trying [10:57] to guilt you. I did it five minutes ago when I came in. I saw some of you.

[11:04] But what we need to understand is that the gospel primarily needs to begin with me before it can go out into the life of someone else. [11:14] And so if I desire to be used by God in the life of someone else, then what first needs to take place? [11:24] The gospel needs to change me. You see, God desires for you personally to grow in His gospel. [11:37] But He also desires to do something in your life. He desires to change your life. How much does He [11:44] want to change your life? Well, how long of a life do you have? Because God desires to make [11:49] changes for the rest of your life. And sometimes what is tempting is for us to settle into kind of a stagnant reality

[11:58] where we think we’ve got enough change. Where it’s like, well, I’ve changed enough. Well, I’ve reached an age [12:02] where I’m kind of good where I am. But that’s not the end of your story because the last step of [12:08] following Jesus is stepping into glory. And until that day, God has more repentance for you. [12:16] Until that day, God has more change for you. And that’s true if you’re five, and that’s also [12:22] true if you’re 85. God has changed for you. And change is something that we don’t really like, [12:29] and oftentimes change is the hardest thing to believe God for. But what God is talking about

[12:34] today in the beginning of Romans 7 is specifically about the change that life in Him makes to your [12:42] relationship to God as well as to the demands that God has made in your life. So go in Romans [12:49] chapter 7 starting in verse 1. It says, or do you not know, brothers? And he says this a lot through [12:56] the book of Romans. And when ever Paul says that, understand that he’s not really asking you a [13:00] question that he wants to answer. It’s more rhetorical. Paul’s being a little facetious here. [13:05] When Paul says that in the book of Romans, what he means by that is, is I know you don’t know.

[13:10] So I’m going to tell you what you need to know. This is for I am speaking to those who know the [13:16] law. That the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives. For a married woman is bound by [13:24] law to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of [13:30] marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while [13:35] her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. And if she marries [13:41] another man, she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through

[13:48] the body of Christ so that you may belong to another. To him who has been raised from the dead. [13:56] In order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful [14:02] passions aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are [14:10] released from the law having died to that which held us captive. So that we serve in the new way [14:19] of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. He’s changing things. What once [14:27] you were under, what once you used to be held captive by, you’re no longer held captive by that,

[14:32] but you believe that you have a new ability in order to move on to something else. [14:37] And what Paul is doing here is he’s using the law of God for you to understand your life in the [14:43] Holy Spirit. And this is kind of a complex issue that we struggle to understand. And again, one of [14:49] those questions that sometimes comes into our minds is, is I’m a follower of Jesus. What is my [14:53] relationship to the Old Testament law? Specifically, let’s get it really focused in. What is my [15:00] relationship to the Ten Commandments? There’s more than ten. Six hundred and thirty-nine.

[15:07] But if we just focus on those ten, it’s like, well, what’s the point if I’m saved in Jesus [15:11] Christ, if my sins are washed away, if I’ve been forgiven forever of all sin, past, present, and [15:17] future, then what is the point of all that? Can I just disregard it? Can I just do whatever I want [15:23] to? More than that, what if I disobey them? Do I then lose the Spirit of God in me? Does God cast [15:33] me away? Do I just kind of get a new second chance in Jesus? And if I blow that second chance, [15:39] does everything fall away? Do I fall from grace, some would say. You know, that secondary thing,

[15:48] understand number one this morning, is that you can’t be condemned by a law that you are [15:52] no longer bound to. You can’t be condemned by a law that you are no longer bound to. [15:59] Note what he says there in verse one. He says, the law is binding on a person only as long as [16:06] he lives. Well, that sounds pretty indefinite because I’m still alive. So if I just think [16:13] about the natural sense, then maybe I’m still condemned to the law because I’m still alive. [16:19] But what did he spend all of chapter six breaking down if you were therefore with us?

[16:25] He says that you have died with Christ if you believe in him and have risen to a new life. [16:33] And so Paul is answering a statement that could be asked about what happened in chapter six [16:39] because at the end of chapter six he told us straight up. He said the wages of sin is death, [16:43] but what’s the gift of God? It’s eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [16:48] So that begs the question, what’s the point of the law? Well, Paul comes in and he says, [16:52] oh, do you want to be bound to the law? Well, it’s binding so long as you’re alive.

[16:57] But if you have faith in Jesus, well, then you can no longer be condemned by the law.

[17:04] Paul’s been asking about our relationship with sin. He’s been dealing with how is our sin dealt [17:10] with. And what Paul wants to do is he wants to put a period at the end of the story about sin [17:16] in Jesus Christ and your life. He wants you to understand that on the day that Jesus Christ died, [17:25] if you trust in him, the penalty for your sin is over. It will no longer be held against you [17:34] because Jesus met all of the requirements of the law and then he took all of the penalty of the law [17:41] that you deserve on to him. But that’s also why the law of God is binding. It’s binding

[17:51] because of the life of sin. So understand that if you do not have faith in Jesus Christ, [17:59] you are bound to the law of the Old Testament, all of it. Every jot, every tittle, it’s coming [18:07] full force at you. And trust me, you haven’t obeyed it. I mean, there’s some stuff in there [18:13] that’s really difficult, especially in our culture, and it’s over. You can’t hope to keep it.

[18:20] But most of us believe in the easiest part. I mean, I probably lied for the first time when [18:25] I was three. I blew it really young. I mean, I have a two-year-old and she has a really strange [18:31] relationship with the truth. All I have to get out of my mouth is, did you?

[18:40] Yeah, I was in the room. I saw it happen. So at two, it’s already over. There’s already enough [18:51] evidence to convict. We don’t even need to go further because the book of James tells us that [18:56] you’ve broken one, it’s as if you’ve broken them all. So we have no hope in that law. [19:05] The most moral person among us. I mean, you drive exactly the speed limit. [19:12] We don’t even know how you do that. You do not meet all of the righteous requirements of the law. [19:21] You don’t. You’re hopeless. Your pursuit of proving your worth by how good you are

[19:29] is futile. It’s hopeless because you will fall short in some way, and I promise you, [19:39] you already have, most likely even this morning.

[19:46] But Paul uses a very interesting analogy for us to understand how in Christ [19:52] the law is no longer binding to us. The law can no longer condemn us. He uses the example of [19:59] marriage. Now, I want to caution you on this analogy. Paul is not giving an in-depth dealing [20:05] with the theology of marriage, nor is he giving you an in-depth dealing with the theology of divorce. [20:11] He’s only giving you as much of an analogy as is needed to prove his point about the gospel [20:18] of Jesus Christ. So it’s not a total theology here. If you want something like that, we have

[20:23] more about stuff like that on our website. We did a whole night on the doctrine of divorce and remarriage, [20:28] so you can go listen to that. But the only thing that I’m really going to delve into this morning [20:33] is the specific analogy that Paul gives us here in Romans 7. And he gives us the analogy of a [20:39] spouse, specifically a wife, whose husband passes away, and he asks the question, [20:45] is she still bound by her covenant with her dead husband? If she remarries, is she in adultery? [20:57] And of course the answer is, well, no. Because the binding relationship and the covenant of

[21:03] marriage between a husband and a wife, it can’t last any longer than your life. [21:08] So Paul says, therefore, since that’s true, once her husband dies, she’s been freed from that [21:14] covenant. Death ends the covenant that she had with her husband. So if she goes and she remarries,

[21:22] well, she’s not committing adultery. Note what the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7.39. He [21:27] says, a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, [21:33] she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. So understand

[21:43] that the day you might be waiting for, it could come. They could die.

[21:48] But if you’re waiting for that, we’ve got some resources. We’ve got some counseling. We want [21:54] to give you some help because you need to have a lot more joy in your marriage than just anticipation [21:58] for that. It costs some real problems. So what Paul’s saying here is that if you have [22:08] faith in Jesus, the penalty for your sin against the law of God has been paid. Like he said in [22:16] Romans chapter 6, you have died with Christ. So your sin is dead. Therefore, by this analogy, [22:29] you’re alive to something higher. You’re alive to something different. You’re alive in Christ.

[22:36] You are not bound by the law of the Old Testament. Death severs your relationship to the law and [22:44] gives you a different one. Why? Because Jesus fulfilled all of the demands of the law. He didn’t [22:52] abolish them. He fulfilled them. Jesus met those demands for you. And that’s what verse 4 is about, [23:01] point number 2, that Christ has forever fulfilled the law of God for those who trust in him. [23:08] So let me explain to you what’s not happening here.

[23:12] Paul is not saying you can just toss the law to the side. You cannot worry about that law. It’s [23:18] just pointless. Don’t read the Old Testament anymore. Rip that one out. Throw it away. It’s [23:23] useless, too. That’s not at all what Paul is saying here. Paul is actually elevating Christ [23:29] and explaining to you how the law can go from something that’s condemning, something that is [23:36] giving to something that is joyous. To something like the psalmist said in Psalm 119 when he says, [23:45] your word is a light into my feet. It’s joyous. I love your law. Jesus wants to give you that

[23:55] type of relationship with the law. And Jesus himself said, he said, I have not come to abolish [24:00] the law, because I have come to fulfill the law. How does he do that? He obeyed it fully.

[24:09] He obeyed every minute detail. And scripture tells us that he did that as a substitute for you. [24:17] Therefore, in the life of Jesus, he releases you from the covenant of works. And Paul is still [24:27] helping us in Romans chapter 7 understand the glory of justification by faith. In Jesus’ life, [24:34] he was completely obedient to the law. And then in taking the penalty of your disobedience to the [24:41] law on the cross, he exchanges his fulfillment of the law as well as his bearing the penalty of the [24:52] law for you and then pays it directly into your life’s account as if you did that.

[24:58] As if you obeyed the law fully. And then as if the penalty for the price against your sin has [25:05] also already been paid. Jesus is your substitute both in his life as well as in his death. [25:15] You see, you cannot go so deep into the gospel that there’s not more glory to uncover. [25:22] When you think that understanding the power of the gospel for your life can get any deeper, [25:26] Paul unveils another level for you to understand. He’s taking it deeper and deeper so that you can [25:33] have a fully informed faith of why Jesus is so great. Why Jesus is so glorious and why God is

[25:45] just but also why God is completely merciful in applying that justice to your life through Jesus [25:53] in such a way that the punishment for sin becomes something that you actually take joy in.

[26:03] Because God the Punisher laid the punishment down on his very own son so that you would [26:09] have to feel the sting of the wrath of God. Here Paul explains to us that the law isn’t done away [26:19] with. Freedom from the law doesn’t mean it’s tossed aside. Why do we know that? Because [26:26] frankly the law was never the problem. We were the problem. Our breaking the law was the problem. [26:36] And here Paul refers to the potential of a new covenant of marriage for the widow in verse 3. [26:44] And using that he is speaking to the reality of a new covenant in Jesus for the Christian.

[26:52] It is a covenant in which the law is no longer around your neck as a hangman’s noose. [26:59] Instead it is a joyous picture of the righteousness that Jesus has fulfilled for you. [27:07] You know if you want real freedom in your life it can only be found in one place. [27:14] And that is a life of living in light of already having met the demands of the law.

[27:25] I mean just think about the glory. When you trust Jesus you are no longer bound to the law [27:31] and the reason being it has been fulfilled. Look at the way Galatians chapter 3 [27:37] starting in verse 10 explains it. He says for all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse. [27:44] For it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law [27:49] and do them. So you can’t just know it. You have to also do it. Now it is evident that no one [27:56] is justified before God by the law. You see Paul tells us something should be obvious that quite

[28:03] frankly sometimes we act as though it is not obvious. I mean think about your life. What do [28:11] you find your identity in? I mean really. What are you finding your identity in? What are you [28:16] finding your hope in? What is it that if you got it today or you completed the task today you think [28:23] your life would be great? Your life would be glorious? Do you realize that is a way of living [28:30] under the law? That is a way of trying to prove your worth. That is a way of putting yourself [28:37] under something that can actually bring a burden onto you because what if you don’t get it?

[28:45] What if you never complete that task? What if you never get that job? What if you never finish that [28:51] degree? What if you never get that money? What if your kids don’t turn out the way that you want [28:58] them to? Kids all your parents are looking at you right now. What if that situation in your life [29:07] that needs to work out what if it doesn’t work out? You see those things those are all laws [29:15] but imagine a life in which you can actually walk every day with your head held high taking full joy [29:25] of everything in the world that comes to you because you have no more demands to meet.

[29:34] There’s nothing else that can happen in your life that can ruin it. There’s nothing that can take [29:40] goodness out of your life because you already have it. It’s been given to you by someone that [29:46] promises he’ll never leave you or forsake you and that’s what Jesus promises you

[29:53] and he does it because he lived a life in which he met every demand which he was able to put [29:59] every burden on his shoulder and walk fully in obedience to it and it never took him down [30:05] and then through faith he says you can have that you can have your guilt put away you can have your [30:16] penalty completely pardoned the victory is only in Jesus but the truth that Paul wants you to [30:24] understand in this passage is that if you walk in faith in Jesus that no matter what comes in your [30:31] life whether it be pain whether it be loss it cannot strip you of your joy because you will never

[30:39] face the wrath of God you will never face a judgment in which the end of it isn’t enter in [30:48] to complete joy in the presence of your God and King [30:54] and Paul’s telling us that’s freedom that’s what it looks like then he goes on he says the righteous [31:01] will live by faith but the law is not a faith it’s not rather the one who does them shall live by them [31:11] and then verse 13 needs to be the banner over your life this morning he says Christ redeemed us [31:18] from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us think about the great love of God in that

[31:30] man that God is so loving we deserved for him to lay his penalty his wrath full on us and he says [31:40] instead I will take it I will take it for it is written cursed is everyone who’s hanged on a tree [31:49] see in Galatians chapter 3 he’s expounding on what he’s talking about in Romans chapter 7 [31:56] this is you have died to the law in verse 4 through what through the body of Christ that’s [32:02] why it’s of faith because Jesus did it for you therefore you have to believe in him you have to [32:11] trust in him it’s the only way it’s ever going to liberate you as the only way you’ll ever find your

[32:19] in anything outside of you as the only way the burden of achievement the burden of doing things [32:27] the burden of earning the burden of getting the burden of making the burden of being will ever be [32:36] released from you and I ask you think right now what is the burden of those things that is laying [32:42] on your shoulders right now what is it that’s keeping you from sleep [32:49] what is it that you’re striving so hard for forsaking all other things

[32:57] the scripture will lead us in faith to understand that the only way you’re ever [33:04] going to feel relief from the pain that this life will bring you and it will

[33:11] is to walk fully every day in faith that Jesus has met every demand that can ever be made of you [33:18] if I fail it’s okay

[33:25] if I don’t make the money it’s okay if I don’t get that achievement [33:33] it’s okay

[33:37] if I get a terminal illness it’s okay if someone else forsakes me

[33:47] it’s okay this is not denial of real pain but what it is is it’s giving you something legitimate [33:55] and objective to face the pain of life with and find a joyous identity that will never be taken [34:03] away from you not in this life and not in the next life but so long as you put yourself under [34:12] those laws that is what you will always answer to and Jesus means to take those burdens directly [34:19] off of your shoulders and place them onto his shoulders in faith that he took them onto the [34:26] cross with him friends to take joy in that and I want you to take joy in that you must realize

[34:36] that the law is a curse to you because of you see that’s why this morning I started by saying don’t [34:45] think about who else needs this think about how you need this no one else broke the law for you [34:51] you did it the law wasn’t the problem you were I was but then think and this is what wells up [35:03] worship in you because sometimes I think that we struggle we’re not feeling anything in worship [35:07] we don’t think that living the mission can happen because I’m not feeling anything my emotions [35:13] aren’t in it but just think about the life you could live if you know that you’ve already measured

[35:18] up perfect righteousness with no penalty ever coming forever is yours

[35:28] friends that is exactly what Jesus offers if you submit your life to him he’s that good [35:37] and friends he’s that gracious to you he has forever fulfilled the law of God for you

[35:53] see Jesus he faced the end of his life

[35:59] he faced the cross and we see this great story in the garden of gethsemane [36:04] where Jesus goes and it’s a burden I mean imagine eternally existing and never knowing sin

[36:13] imagine eternally existing creating a world under your own power I mean power unimaginable to us

[36:21] and then the day is coming and you’ve got to bear that sin you’ve got to bear that rebellion that [36:27] rebellion against you in your perfect holiness you got to bear it Jesus doesn’t just walk like a [36:33] robot who’s emotionless Jesus doesn’t walk like a robot with no feeling Jesus was burdened to the [36:39] point where his tears and his sweat became blood God the son is in enough anguish where he looks [36:46] to the father and he says Lord if there be any other way let this cup pass from me I mean he’s [36:52] facing real pain that’s why you can face real pain and not feel ashamed for any it hurts

[37:04] but then in that last phrase of his prayer he gives me so much hope that could last me for [37:11] eternity because the answer for his pain that he was really feeling

[37:20] was found in the phrase not my will but yours be done

[37:30] the only way that you can feel and you can express and you can actually believe such a statement that if we’re really honest there are some days where that statement seems pretty preposterous [37:43] not my will what are you talking about that’s the most important thing

[37:52] because Jesus knew that the burden would be lifted when he endured the pain in trust that something better was on the other side

[38:08] you see when we trust in Jesus to remove the burden of the law that doesn’t mean that you’re [38:16] ever going to have the temptation well up inside of you that doesn’t mean that you’re never going to feel guilt for something that you know you’ve been forgiven of something even maybe from 25 years ago

[38:31] but what it means is that you can face it and you can say I don’t want to go through it God please take it away from me but I trust you enough [38:42] that if it’s what I need to get to the other side of your joy I’ll do it because you’ll be holding my hand as I am

[38:49] that’s faith that’s the gospel that’s the trust that it gives you that’s the hope that you need

[39:00] but that’s the life that God will give you in his holy spirit through grace [39:06] number three this morning understand that new life leads to the freedom to obey the spirit [39:13] see I heard an analogy one time

[39:17] someone explained that the law of God is like train tracks [39:23] really do the direction that God is and we are like a locomotive on those train tracks [39:31] but the law is frustrating because we have no power in our engine we have no way of moving forward we have no way of getting anywhere so we sit there motionless and all that the train tracks do is remind us that we’re never getting anywhere [39:51] it’s like I can see they’re up there but I can also see that I’m not getting there

[39:58] see when verse six says this but now we are released from the law having died to that which held us captive [40:13] so that we serve in the new way of the spirit and not in the old way of the written code he’s beginning a train of thought in you to understand that God when he releases you from the burden of the law he promises that he’s going to come into your life like the holy spirit and he’s going to move you [40:36] because there’s a way of looking at the gospel that doesn’t move you and it’s not really believing the gospel [40:43] so when you think of the gospels that you just get to live and you’re free from sin so that you can sin

[40:51] you never really go anywhere with the mission of Jesus you’re just sitting on those train tracks with no power the law is still condemning

[41:00] what he’s saying is that God wants to give you the holy spirit so that you can have power so that you can move [41:10] see sin condemns you because you don’t have the ability to obey it [41:16] you don’t but the holy spirit comes in through the power of God and actually gives you the ability it changes you from bearing the fruit of death verse five tells us

[41:30] and to actually living bearing the fruit of life with an ability to actually obey God in worship [41:41] that’s what your life is missing that’s why you don’t feel the power of the spirit that’s why you don’t see God doing anything in your life [41:51] because what are your intentions what are you striving for what are you moving after what do you want [41:57] so because after explaining that Christ redeems us from the curse of the law here’s what Paul says in Galatians 3 14 he says so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith

[42:16] that’s exactly what Jesus himself told us about what life being free from the law does it doesn’t just toss the law aside it doesn’t say well thank goodness I don’t have to obey God in anything

[42:29] what it actually does is it sees what God demands and it says well thank God that I now have the ability to obey look at what Jesus said in John 14

[42:40] Jesus looks to his disciples and he says if you love me you’ll obey my commandments that should shatter some of the notions that some of you have of what love actually is

[42:52] if you love me you’ll obey my commandments and if you don’t have Jesus there’s no hope in that text because you can’t

[43:04] you’ll just get frustrated because you don’t have the power but note what he says he says and I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever [43:17] you see Jesus gives a command and then he gives a promise for the command he says if you love me you’ll obey my commandments and by the way I’m going to ask the Father and he’s going to give you somebody to help you [43:27] then down in verse 26 he explains more fully he says but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you

[43:45] see promises he never gives us a command without the promise of how the command will be fulfilled in my life [43:56] see the law of the Old Testament where’s the promise there? Jesus [44:00] Jesus has forever fulfilled them in my relationship with Christ as I live under the power of the Holy Spirit seeking to obey Christ I will never have the law held over me in condemnation ever

[44:14] not in my successes not in my failures because my successes are never my personal own successes to brag about instead I have to look to the Holy Spirit because he empowered me to do it and my failures are all covered in the blood of Jesus Christ

[44:30] never to be held against me ever again the Spirit though actually gives us the ability to obey God because Jesus knew you couldn’t obey him under your own strength [44:41] I mean imagine eternally of course Jesus can see everything so he knows what you’re thinking right now about lunch he knows what’s going on in your life every day of the week [44:52] but then imagine God the Son Jesus Christ on earth with twelve stooges

[45:01] they’ve got Jesus the Son of God the one who said exist the one who breathed life with them and they still can’t get it right [45:10] so by John 14 if Jesus was like me and I’m thankful he’s not Jesus is like you guys are on your own I’m going home then I’m burning this whole place down [45:23] I got to start over

[45:27] but in his love in his omniscience in his glory Jesus says guys you don’t really love me the way you think you do because if you did you’d obey me [45:44] but I’m going to make it possible for you to love me I’m going to give you that ability I’m going to die for you I’m going to rise for you and then I’m going to send the third part of the Trinity to live in you

[46:03] that’s the promise of the Holy Spirit that we can live in but he tells us at the end of verse 6 he says if you try to obey the law you’ll only have the fruit of death [46:17] but if you believe in Jesus it will bear the fruit of life just like the resurrection has but then at the end of verse 6 he says the new life in the Spirit is in no way the same as trying to obey the old written code why?

[46:36] you read through the New Testament there’s a lot of commands in there sometimes it feels like the law but it’s not you see God calls us those of us who believe in Jesus those of us who trusted in Jesus he calls us to live a mission through the cross

[46:57] and then empowers us to live it through being resurrected to a life in the Spirit see your old spouse was the law but that spouse is dead your new spouse is Jesus Christ he’s the groom and he gives you the strength of the Holy Spirit to give you joy in something that you don’t have [47:26] you’re used to just be a taskmaster the written code doesn’t give you joy without Christ if you read this all you get is a written code lifeless that’s all you get that’s why somebody that doesn’t have faith in Jesus Christ can read this and nothing

[47:54] if you have faith in Jesus Christ you read this and you have joy and the world is like are you crazy? you say no I’ve just got the Spirit and you don’t

[48:05] when we go to this book through faith in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit looks at it and it sees the mission of Jesus it sees the gospel and it says that really is good news news enough for me to want to actually plan my entire life around living for that message [48:23] you say but what if you fail? haha that’s the key I can’t Jesus has already met the demands failure is impossible for me see you can live for the thing that you were actually designed to live for no more guilt no more shame price paid pardon received [48:48] the Holy Spirit filling you so you can have a power to actually do what God wants you to do that’s glory that’s life and that’s the new mission of Jesus for you are you living it? [49:11] friend I don’t want to assume in our final moments together that you have the relief that the gospel offers I don’t want to assume that you have the joy that Jesus says he desires to give so what I want to do in these moments is I want to just ask you friend are you taking joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

[49:38] have you really believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins? what changes is it making in your life? see if you are in here this morning and maybe you have been thinking about it and you said I don’t understand the gospel I don’t really know it I don’t know that I really believe it [50:02] friend the good news for you this morning is that Jesus wants to save you Jesus doesn’t want to condemn you under the law Jesus wants you to trust him that he has endured the wrath of God for you you can trust him today

[50:24] are you finding real joy in the gospel? are you living for it? are you believing God for the Holy Spirit in your life to empower you to do it? are you believing the lie that you can’t? are you believing the lie that he hasn’t given as much of the Holy Spirit to you as he has to other people?

[50:46] friends I want to give you the promise of God right now that he wants to change your life every day and he wants to use you yes even you to take his gospel to a world that desperately needs it

[51:04] see as the band comes up every week here at Village Church we reflect on what is called the Lord’s Supper if you are not a follower of Jesus it may seem odd but I want to explain it in just a moment [51:23] followers of Jesus are called to remember the cross of Jesus Christ by eating and drinking we eat of the bread and the bread represents the broken body of Jesus broken under the penalty of our sin the cup represents the blood of Christ that he shed under the penalty under the curse of my sin [51:49] and we do it to remember so we will always remember that the gospel is still for us but we also do it as a proclamation that I believe that Jesus died for me and I believe that he lives that he rose for me as well [52:11] if you are in here this morning and you are not a follower of Jesus I am going to ask that you abstain but not because anybody is better than you but because you need to do something else you see this morning I will be up here there will be some in the back maybe even in the foyer [52:31] this morning you need to do something else you need to trust Jesus you need to receive him as your savior and your lord and I want to give you the space to do that Christians as you come proclaim your belief but also ask Spirit empower me to live for the gospel when you are ready come