Spirit of Life | Romans 8:1-4
Sermon Discussion | Romans 8:1-4
Discuss the questions that Brian opened his sermon with...
Are you content with just receiving knowledge and understanding?
Are you actually committed to being changed by the scripture?
Do you want to change? Do you want to live as a disciple?
(My summation of Brian's summation of Romans 1-7)
Paul opens the letter of Romans addressing their lives, lived by desire and disconnected from God. Everyone is under the power of sin, we don’t reflect the righteousness of God. However, you are called out of that life to be forgiven in Christ. The law will not save you but belief in Christ. God demonstrated his love through the life, death and resurrection of Christ. You now have new life in Christ, sin is no longer the master. We have died to sin and have a new life in the Spirit! Through this new life in the Spirit we are changed.
1. Romans 8:1 says, "There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus". You're guilty of sin, but not condemned. Freedom to believe that condemnation is no more comes from a life that confesses sin. That is the hinge to change, confessing sin. However, we seem to hide and avoid confessing sin...at least to one another. Is it easier to confess to others or God your sin? Why do we ignore sin and confession? Do you have someone in your life you can confess sin to?...Are you that person for someone else?
2. We are told we have been set free from the power of sin. Even though we still feel and experience the effects of sin, change is still available, we have been set free, we don’t *have to* obey sin! We are not slaves to sin. Do you believe this? What does freedom from sin look like to you? How do you deal with the tension that we are free from sin and yet still struggle not to sin?
3. Because our effort was involved in the law it was powerless to call us righteous. It could not change a heart. The law was intended to shape a people in the way of God, however humans have failed. Jesus came to fulfill the law. Jesus put sin to death on the cross. Jesus condemns sin on the cross. What the law couldn’t do, the Spirit can! We can live righteously, when we obey and live according to the Spirit. There is a power to overcome sin in us, we don't have to live according to the flesh. But, when we ignore the spirit, the flesh that is still in us will happily take over. What are things we can do to "live according to the Spirit"? Are there places in your life that you need to confess the flesh is still in control? Do you trust God enough to confess and give him control of sin in your life?
Take a few minutes and speak these truths over your group...
There is no condemnation for those in Christ, you don’t have to hide from God.
The spirit has set you free from slavery to sin. You don’t have to obey sin.
God has condemned sin on the cross. You don’t have to die.
God has made a way for you to obey in the spirit. You don’t have to rely on your own power and effort.
*Weekly Practice* This week take time to confess sin to another believer. If you've never done this before, don't be afraid, it could be a spouse or close family member - start small, you don't have to confess your deepest darkest sin ;)