Freedom

  • Dr. Bob Harrington
  • Nov 11, 2007
  • Series: New Series
Freedom from Sin

 

Romans 6:1-11;

 

Dr. Bob Harrington

 

 

 “Freedom is the ability to do what you ought, not the right to do what you want.”

 

 

Commitment to Jesus . . . . is not about following rules or commandments or laws. 

 

 

  • Following the ONE who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

     

 

  • A true FOLLOWER, turns away from sin and sinful things

     

 

  • He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain - LIFE and RELATIONSHIP for eternity.

     

 

So, like in marriage, we take the plunge, make the commitment and enter the journey . . .But . . .  where does sin, my sinful ways, and sinful temptations fit into all of this . . . .

 

 

Romans 6:1-11 describes it well.    

 

·          Sin is to miss the mark – miss the
Best Way
 of your life.                             

 

·         The Motivation to “not sin” is Relational – showing gratitude, getting close to God and not hurting the relationship, and giving him reason to say, “Well Done.”

 

·         Sin is anything that violates 1) your commitment of love and faithfulness to God and 2) your love of other humans.

 

·         Sin takes you further than you wanted to go, makes you stay longer than you wanted to stay, and makes you pay a bigger price than you thought you would pay.

 

·         Sin is pleasure for a moment and consequences for a lifetime.

 

 

Level One -  knowing WHAT SIN IS   – and saying “no.”

 

 

Level Two -  a matter OF WORKING AT IT   – this is not easy, but I will work at it.

 

 

Level Three -it is a matter of finding DEEP SPIRITUAL HEALING    – and renewal.

 

 

Level Four - it is a matter of a MAJOR LIFE STRUGGLE   – a daily battle.

 

 

 

What You Must Do . . . to be Free from Sin.

 

 

 

1. Pursue GOD DAILY  .

 

 

2. Work at BEING OBEDIENT  in All Things.

 

 

Memorize Romans - Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

 

 

3. Get RADICAL  with Sin Problems.

 

 

Matthew 5:29-  f your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

 

 

4. In Major Sin Struggles, Find Spiritual PROGRAMS and Spiritual HABITS .

 

 

  1.  
    1. Celebrate Recovery – HCC Offices Friday Night.

       

    2. Celebration of Discipline – Richard Foster.

       

 

5. Believe in a GOD Bigger than Your Sin.

 

 

The next time, just as the temptation to sin is coming into your mind, look up to heaven and say, ‘Jesus you love me, and I love you more than this sin.’  If you then commit the sin, afterwards, look up into heaven and say, ‘Jesus even though I sinned, you still love me . . .  forgive me and show me how to avoid doing that in the future.’

 

 

 Small Group Questions

 

 

Care  (15 Minutes)

 

Ask two or three people to share some of the bigger changes they have experienced since becoming followers of Jesus.

 

 

Study  (30 Minutes)

 

READ and review the illustration in First Steps on page 30 entitled, “Love is the Only Way To Become Holy.” Is this illustration helpful to you?  Explain why or why not.

 

 

Review the four levels of sin that Bob Harrington describes (see above).  Why are some sins more difficult for us to overcome than others? 

 

 

Read and review Romans 6:1-11.  What does 1 John mean when it says that we are to “put sin to death”?

 

 

Review our definition - “Freedom is the ability to do what you ought, not the right to do what you want.” How is this definition personally helpful to you?

 

 

Review the five ways to find freedom from sin. In practical terms, what is the most effective way for you to put sin “to death” in your life?

 

 

 If you have one “sin area” with which you most need help, what is it?  What are you doing to find freedom over this sin?

 

 

Prayer  (30 Minutes)

 

1) As I look over this list, I pray that I will take the following specific step in the Ways of Jesus this week (pick one and explain why)  . . .

 

               

 

  • Intentional Love (for other people)

     

  • Acceptance (of God’s Grace and/or Truth)

     

  • Connecting (with God and/or God’s People)

     

  • Service (to the church and/or the world)

     

  • Leading (others in the Ways of Jesus)

     

 

2) Please also help me with your prayers for the following sin struggles in my life . . .