BREAKING THE CHAINS OF BONDAGE
The word bondage come from the Greek word “douleuo” doolyoo’-o which means to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary): KJV -- be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice). It comes from the word doulos -- pronounced: doo’-los, which means a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): KJV -- bond(-man), servant.
We have all been in bondage of some kind in our lives, some of us still are. We have become slaves of bondage to a variety of things in our everyday lives. It can be alcohol, drugs, hate, jealousy, or any other thing that keeps you separated from the love and inheritance of God. I want to use the book of Romans and look into how we can break those chains of bondage by using God’s word.
Let’s pray
Romans 8:1-17
1-4
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
I. The first verse is so key and is something you need to know
A. Pastor Ed touched on it last Saturday night when he was here
B. Believers may be chastened by the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world.
1. No condemnation for those in Christ
2. God does not put you down or hate you
3. He will correct and convict you of sin
a. Jesus took all our sins on the cross
b. As a loving Father he convicts us of our mistakes
c. But not for ever; confess it and it’s forgotten
II. The second verse points to the law of the spirit
A. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace?
1. Which one are you walking by?
a. Walking by the flesh means walking in darkness of sin
1. Corruption and despair of sin
2. Obstacles of sin keeping you from your inheritance
b. Walking by the Spirit is walking in the sunshine of God
1. The promise of help and strength during trouble
2. The spiritual path to all the your needs
3. We can come before God’s throne for help in times of trouble
4. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
III. God did what the law could not do
A. God showed his hate for sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer would be pardoned and justified.
B. This was God’s total condemnation for sin through His son
C. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner.
1. The law could not be fulfilled by us but by Christ alone
2. There needed to be a perfect sacrifice to cover our sins
3. It was fulfilled for us; this the belief of all true believers
4. The intent of God was the welfare of our eternal soul
a. Those of the spirit are concerned about the pleasures eternity
b. Those of the flesh are concerned about pleasures of here and now
5-8 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
IV. It depends on what your mind is set on
A. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure?
1. Those who have bondage of the flesh have one set of pleasures
a. Worldly things and material things
b. Carnal things of fleshly pleasures
c. Those that live in the sin of bondage are dead
2. Those who focus on the Spirit focus on spiritual pleasures
a. Others are alive to the God and have His promise of inheritance
3. By the grace of God that have a sanctified living soul
a. They live a life of peace and contentment
b. They are satisfied with that they have and can gain all
c. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
4. The carnal mind is an enemy to God
a. They live a life of strife and discontentment
b. Never satisfied with what they have or their gains
c. Their thoughts can never please God
1. They fight constant spiritual battles in their minds
2. They constantly fight the foolishness of worldly things
d. 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; 20 and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.
1. Our wisdom is northing to God
9-11 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12. So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13. for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
V. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.
A. Once you start living in the spirit you are no longer chained to sins of this world
1. Once we die to sin we are no longer bound to sin
2. We have a new life just as Christ when He rose from the dead our sin is dead
a. Romans 6:4-5 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;
b. Galatians 2:20 " "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me”.
1. We must die daily to sin
2. Each day we must renew our faith in God and not in the world
12-17 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh --13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
VI. Being heirs in Christ we are promised an inheritance from our heavenly father
A. Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called will receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
1. We have a right as children of God to ask our Father for help
2. We have no need to be in bondage
3. Sin has no hold on us that we do not allow
a. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,
1. Key word MAY
Conclusion
As long as we walk in the flesh we will walk in bondage. When we learn to walk in the spirit we will no longer walk alone in fear of bondage and sin. When we learn to walk hand in hand with God as His word says in Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, `Do not fear, I will help you”.
Once you become a child of God you can have freedom from bondage
John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
John 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
What holds you in bondage today? What is it that keeps you from a life free of the chains of bondage? What hold does Satan have on you that God has already taken to the cross for you? Are you ready to break the chains of bondage that holds you to sin, corruption, and pain? Don’t let pride get in your way of a life of freedom from the bondage of sin. Take that first step to spiritual freedom right now. With that first step you will hear those first chains of bondage SNAP. Let me help you to take the first step down the path of freedom from bondage and lead you in the sinner’s prayer of salvation.
