Romans: Deliverance from Enslavement

Introduction 1:1-17 Condemnation 1:18-3:20 Justification 3:21-4:25 Romans - Summary Introduction 1:1-17 Condemnation 1:18-3:20 Justification 3:21-4:25 Sanctification 5:1-8:38

Gospel Salvation Wrath Condemnation/condemnation Four Words

Literally = “Good news” Gospel Literally = “Good news” Does not mean “the message that brings eternal life”, though it can mean that. In Romans = “the good news that brings deliverance from the enslavement to sin”. Four Words

Literally = “Deliverance” Salvation Literally = “Deliverance” Does not mean “eternal deliverance from hell”, though it can mean that (?). In Romans = Something the Gospel produces in the life of every believer who appropriates its power Four Words

Does not mean “Hell”. It is temporal. Wrath “Bondage and corruption of sin; enslaving consequences of sin; removal of God’s grace”. Does not mean “Hell”. It is temporal. Four Words

Only God can make unrighteous people righteous. Only righteous people can enjoy the Spirit’s power, escape enslavement, and enjoy reward. Only God can make unrighteous people righteous. To God be the glory!

Condemnation #1 = The verdict “Guilty!”

Condemnation #2 = The Penalty: Enslavement

Adam sin experience of death Jesus experience of life Romans 5:12-21: Summary

Standing In Christ Truth in time In time Relational Truth In Christ, I am eternally Eternal truth Perfect In Christ Complete Forgiven In time, I am being… Truth in time Perfected Completed In time Forgiven

New Nature; the “real me” Trapped inside of a “dead” body My Status N.N. Trapped inside of a “dead” body

Trying to keep the Law doesn’t work. We died to the Law and have been joined to Christ to bear fruit for God. Trying to keep the Law doesn’t work. Romans 7:1-6 Joined to Christ

The Law kills spiritual life. The Law stirs up the desires of our flesh. Because of our natural desires, it’s not uncommon that the very fact that something is wrong makes it more appealing to us. Romans 7:7-12 The death of life

We want to do what is right, but don’t know how. Our flesh is at war with our new self. (Gal. 5:16-17) Romans 7:13-20 Two faces have I

This is key and anticipates v. 24. The desire to do good lies “ready at hand” for us; we want to do right. “I do not discover” This is key and anticipates v. 24. “…The believer often does not find the secret of victorious Christian living until he is urgently seeking to discover it”. p. 198 “Romans” (Hodges) In the hands of God, failure can become the key to success. Romans 7:13-20 Two faces have I

The four laws that lead to enslavement. Four Principles of Enslavement Four spiritual laws that work together so that, in this case, we are led to enslavement. Romans 7:21-25 Four Principles of Enslavement

Four Laws of our Spiritual Reality The Law of God: Mosaic moral code. The Law of my body’s members: Overcomes the desire of the New Man by using the reign of sin in our bodies. The Law of my understanding (mind): Paul’s inward man that understands the Law is holy, spiritual, and good (7:12, 14) The Law of sin in my body: The reign of sin (6:12) that results in enslavement. Romans 7:22-23 Two faces have I

The experience of death and enslavement leads Paul to emotional frustration, but he finds hope in the God who gives life to the dead. Romans 7:24-25 The only Hope

“Who will deliver me from the body of this kind of death?” Sin brings an experience of death and enslavement. The key question in Romans is, “How do we get a dead (uncooperative) body alive?” Romans 7:24-25 The only Hope

Jesus = the “Lawbreaker”? The Spirit of Christ Jesus is the only One who can break the bondage of the Law of sin in our lives. Romans 7:24-25 The only Hope

Producing fruit for God is not simply a matter of the will, it’s a matter of relationship.