Growing in Grace
Lesson # 7
Guiding Others to Freedom
Romans 6:15-23
[Taken from “The Grace Awakening” by Charles
Swindoll. (Dallas:Word, 1990)]
Introduction
During the
1988 presidential election, an unexpected shift of attention occurred. Instead of the
evening news focusing on the candidates, all eyes were on three gray whales that were cut
off from their migratory route by a frozen sea of ice. At first, only a few Eskimos with
chain saws attempted to rescue them. But when the media brought the whales’ plight
into our living rooms, volunteers flocked to the scene with heavy machinery and a
determination to set those stranded whales free. But volunteers’ ingenuity and energy
were soon exhausted. Enter the National Guard. Their helicopters dropped a five-ton
concrete basher to break up the ice. Then, in a cooperative effort with the United States,
the Soviet Union dispatched two of their ice-breaking ships to facilitate the rescue.
After three weeks and a expenditure of $1.5 million, the whales were freed. [Charles Swindoll, “The Grace Awakening”
(1990, Word Publishing), pp.125-126]
The heroic and noble rescue sparked a sense of compassion throughout the world. But
it did something else too. By showing how willing we were to save a couple of ocean-going
mammals, it underscored how hesitant we are to join hands in rescue efforts that involve
mankind. It has always seemed ironic to me that most of the save the whales, and other
environmentalist seem to accept the pro-choice position concerning abortion. They are
willing to fight to save the lives of whales but accept that human being can be
slaughtered without thought. They are so willing to save the whales yet, so reluctant to
do anything to save our fellow human beings.
Unfortunately, the same reluctance can be found within the Family of God. Many
people are quick to want to free some heathen halfway around the world from the shackles
of sin, yet they are pathetically slow to raise a finger to loose other Christians from
the chains of legalism.
While it
is true that Christians in Paul’s day didn’t wrestle with exactly the same
issues that we wrestle with today, they did struggle with issues of freedom from legalism.
Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (10:25-30), established some principles that
apply to us today. “Eat
whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; (26) for
"the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." (27) If any of those who do not
believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you,
asking no question for conscience' sake. (28) But if anyone says to you, "This was
offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for
conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." (29)
"Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty
judged by another man's conscience? (30) But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil
spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?”
This passage centers attention on the
eating of meat offered to idols. In those days the premier taboo was not about going to
movies or dancing or playing cards or wearing cosmetics. Back then the major question was
whether meat that had been offered to idol could be consumed with a clear conscience by
Christians. Paul didn’t set up a lot of legalistic rules and rigid, pharisaical
regulations. He made it clear that God has given His children a wonderful freedom in
Christ, which includes not only freedom from sin and shame, but also freedom from living
under legalistic lifestyles imposed by other Christians.
When questionable things aren’t specified in scripture, it then becomes a
matter of one’s personal preference or convictions.
In the same letter in chapter 6 Paul speaks on the issue of liberty when he says in verse
twelve; “All things
are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful, but I will not
be brought under the power of any.” When
Paul says all things are lawful he means all things not specifically commanded or
specifically forbidden. The verse means “All things God has not spoken on are lawful
to me.
In those things that are not specified in Scripture Christians have liberty, that
is that your convictions in those areas my not and do not have to match mine and mine do
not have to match yours.
In our previous study we referred to the first part of Romans 6 and now we will
focus on the second part of that chapter. But first, let review what we learn in that
study. You will remember that two groups were highlighted in those verses based on there
position towards grace.
The first
group (outlined in verses 1-14), were those who didn’t claim their liberty and continued to live like slaves. These people fail to live in
freedom, living their lives oversensitive to sin. Sin dominates their every waking moment.
Paul lets them know they have grace and are free from the shackles of sin in verses 1-14.
The second
group (outlined in verses 15-23), are those who take their freedom too far and take advantage of liberty. These verses tell of
those who feel like they can do anything they want and call it “grace.” These
people abuse grace. These people are not living in a way that would allow them to restrict
their freedom for other people’s benefit.
Here are some Scriptures concerning freedom:
1. (Gal 5:1) – “Stand fast in the
liberty by which Christ has
made us free, and do not be entangled again in the
yoke of bondage.”
2. (Rom 6:7) – “For
he who has died has been freed from sin.”
3. (Rom 8:2) – “For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
death.”
4. (Rom 8:31-32) – “What, then, shall we say
to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (32) He who did not spare his
own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He with him, also freely give us all
things?”
5. (John 8:32, 36) – “And
you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free….
(36) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall
be free indeed.”
II. WARNINGS CONCERNING FREEDOM
Romans 6:16-23 set up our warning signs as we travel through life in freedom.
The Overall Principle – “How we live depends on the master we choose!” (Verse 16) “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves
slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death,
or of obedience leading to righteousness? “
Some years
ago there was popular folk song (Bob Dylan) that stated this very evident principle; “You gotta
serve somebody, You gotta serve somebody. It may be the Devil or it may be the Lord but
you gotta serve somebody.” Before grace, we were trapped in bondage to sin
but grace freed us from the slavery of sin. Though we may lapse in sin from time to time,
we need not live in subjection to its control any longer.
This passage further tells the believer that, Grace Has Freed
Us To Obey Christ - (Verses 17-18) “But God be
thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of
doctrine to which you were delivered. (18) And having been set free from sin,
you became slaves of righteousness.”
Grace doesn’t mean we can live any way we want; it means that you are free to
choose righteousness or disobedience. Grace gives us the choice of serving Christ rather
than sin. Even as a Christian we can place ourselves under the control of sin, we do not
have to, but choose to do so! Freedom is not the ability to do what I want, but rather the
ability to do what I know I should do.
III. IMPORTANT REALIZATIONS
First, we
are warned: “Never hide behind grace as a
cover for disobedience.” When
someone deliberately decides to disobey, that person isn’t living free…those
decisions bind and restrict. (Prov. 5:22-23) – “An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that
catch and hold him. (23) He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of
his incredible folly.” (NLT)
Do you
remember the commercial on TV from some years ago about potato chips which challenged the
viewer with, “I
bet you can’t eat just one.” Well this is a good statement of the truth
about sin. It’s like the man who says, “There is nothing to quitting smoking. I have done
it a thousand times.” Jesus said
in John 8:34, “I say to
you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.” When we engage in sin and
choose willfully to disobey God we become slaves to sin.
Secondly we are told that, “We cannot
live by grace without guidance.” Even though our nature yearns to be free,
the indisputable fact is that we need a master. (Verses 19-23) “I speak in human terms
because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of
uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members
as slaves of righteousness for holiness. (20) For when you were slaves of sin, you were
free in regard to righteousness. (21) What fruit did you have then in the things of which
you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. (22) But now having been set
free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the
end, everlasting life. (23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These
verses say two things:
1. Make
the right choice! (vv. 19-21)
2. Focus
on the benefits of your current
position in grace! (vv. 22-23)
·
Because
of God’s grace, we are free from sin’s mastery.
·
By
God’s grace, we are enslaved to God.
·
Through
God’s grace, there are benefits to be derived.
What are the benefits to be derived through
grace?
* The
exciting process of growing to
maturity
as a Christian!
* A guilt-free lifestyle characterized by
creativity and freedom!
* The joyful
outcome of eternal life!
In contrast what are the wages that
taskmaster of sin doles out?
1. An instant break in our fellowship with God. (Isa. 59:2) – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
2. The
removal of God’s blessing. (Dt. 28)
3. The
misery of a guilty conscience.(Ps
32:3-5) “When I kept
silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.(4) For day and night your
hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. (5) Then I
acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD"—and you forgave the guilt of my.”
One horrible side-effect of sin is that it produces memories. One of the problems
we face as Christians is how do we face the memories of past sin. Sin fill us with regret
and guilt. Satan will try to use those memories against us. He causes us to recall those
memories to shame and condemn us, to render us useless to God’s kingdom.
4. Loss of personal integrity. David’s loss of integrity because of Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 12:1-12 & 16:5-8
5. Sudden
stop in spiritual growth. Sin affects us
by making us dead on the inside to the things of God. We become dead to love, dead to the
joy of serving the Lord; spiritually blind, spiritually insensitive, and spiritually dead.
Solomon experience this after he fell into sin with foreign women in (1 Kings 11:1-4). “But King Solomon loved
many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites,
Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—(2) from the nations of whom the LORD had said to
the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you.
Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in
love. (3) And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and
his wives turned away his heart. (4) For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives
turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was
the heart of his father David.”
6. Strained relationships with
fellow Christians. (1 Cor 5:9-13) “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually
immoral people- (10) not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the
greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. (11)
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a
brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a
swindler. With such a man do not even eat. (12) What business is it of mine to judge those
outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? (13) God will judge those outside.
"Expel the wicked man from among you."
Helpful reminders that keep us
balanced:
1. Abusing grace stagnates us!
·
It
dulls our spiritual taste buds to the
sweetness of God.
·
It
causes us to live casual, indifferent lives, instead of committed ones.
·
We
lead others astray.
·
We
become embarrassments to the Kingdom
rather than an exemplification of its King.
2. Living in freedom motivates us!
To “Let
Go” Takes Love
To “let
go” does not mean to stop caring,
it means that I can’t do it for someone else.
To “let go” is not to cut myself off,
it is the realization that I can’t control another.
To “let go” is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.
To “let go” is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another,
it is to make the most of myself.
To “let go” is not to care for, but to care about.
To “let
go” is not to fix,
but to be supportive.
To “let go” is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To “let go” is not to be in the middle arranging the outcomes,
but to allow others to effect their own destinies.
To “let go” is not to be protective,
it is to permit another to face reality.
To “let go” is not to deny,
but to accept.
To “let go” is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings & to correct them.
To “let go” is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes, and to cherish myself in it.
To “let go” is not to criticize and regulate anybody,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To “let go” is not to regret the past,
but to grow and to live for the future.
To “let go” is to fear less and to love more.
Click on the BACK button to return to the "Growing in Grace" page.