Celebrate Freedom! Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ is now if we died with Christ, knowing that Christ having been raised in the date is never to die. Death is no longer master for the deputy died, he died to sin once for all the life he lives, he lives to God. Christ was that's why when I'm baptizing someone I put them in the water rising buried with Christ, raised the newness of life that does amazing newness of life. It's a picture of what being a Christian is spiritual unity is I'm raised to the newness of life. Joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us God's word meets our work that what Jesus was saying to the Jews would delete if you continue in my word, then you are truly my disciples of mine and you will know the truth and the truth will make you what free while you follow me, you'll know the truth. The truth makes you free. Sony says they say to him by the way, when you start talking about stuff like this. Religious people never get to say give you start talking about grace they don't get. I just can't understand so that his enemies said to him what we are Abraham's descendents have never been enslaved to anyone how is it you could say you will become free… Funny what they say were Abraham sent we've never met no one is Eric and were always free weight weight want to go as the Roman soldier of silly soldiers here.

These are moments your property wrong wrong taxes you that's why you have so what you're trying to fight right now you're in bondage and you're pretending you're not seeing whatever they said to him, so Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house where the son does remain forever.

So if the son makes you free your free indeed. So what did Jesus say you and I are free of sin free were free of sin that you see yourself how many of you see yourself as of you're victimized by said see, I'm trying I just can't get over the hump is Jesus line see this is interesting when does he mean by this. What he means is this one thing for sure you and I are free from the penalty of sin.

That's called justification. Your free from the penalty of sin. What is that one of the wages of sin is death separation. God eternal judgment.

You're free of that you called justified by God in Romans your justified people soon as you came to Christ, you are free from the penalty of sin. The second stage of your life is called sanctification.

That's how we live out our lives.

That's were living in right now and we are being freed from what the power of sin in our lives and as you know it's tough work in it is quite a job for us to go through this one day will be absent in the body present with the Lord and that's called glorification and were free from the presence of sin. But right now were in sanctification now want to explain it more from a theological point of view. So go with me to Romans chapter 6 Romans chapter 6 verse one what shall we say that, I went to continue in sin that grace may increase. Now this is funny in Its Own Way, Paul makes a statement that no matter how much sin accumulates there's always more than enough grace to compensate the more sin the more grace so Paul anticipates what some people may think for then why don't we send more.

If that's true… Keep sending and gawking to give us more more grace said that made Edwards a good deal. He's happy were happy everybody's happy. But Paul's been answer that. That's not true at all. That's not the case at all. But is that true that grace overcomes all sin.

Yes, all sin, yes matter how many, yes, I remember way back in Pennsylvania due to the Bible study. An older woman was in the study, and she said hold. Are you saying that no matter how much you sin you're still to go to heaven and I said that's exactly what I'm saying to Rewrite that can't be right. If you sent. You can't do that so that's what us. That's is what it says and he read it again.

She grace grace overcome sin. That's a fact. Now Paul says, may it never be Megan Neutra is the word absolutely positively no. He shows why would we people who been freed from the penalty of sin and can be freed from the power sin, why would we send why would we do this, he says, how shall we who died to sin still live in it.

All were that come from, how do you feel like you died to sin. We did he just said that with the mean you would need me would died to sin. Well, remember when you became a Christian Bible says a couple things happen. One is Christ now resides in you is says the Scripture says Christ in me the hope of glory.

Okay Christ is in me and I am in him. Ephesians chapter 2 says that you and I are seated in the heavens with Christ. I know you are seated here but you're in Christ.

So were Christ is you are where you are. Christ is it even goes further, though, were Christ will be you will be. It even goes further, where Christ was.

You were, that's what is going to say so when Christ died on the cross you died on us because you're in Christ.

That's the identity means the come become one with Christ know what how this plays out.

He said, or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death. He doesn't mean water baptism here he means spiritual baptism through baptism. The moment you became a Christian baptism means to identify with the moment you became a Christian, you identify with Jesus Christ you see that moment.

Now what we do appear when we baptize you is it doesn't do anything to you except that lets everybody know what's happened to me on the inside first.

I was spiritually baptized now will be physically baptized so the people will see my decision to follow Christ goes on. He said therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raising the dead through the glory of the father, so we too might walk in the newness of life. For if we become united with him in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with him in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin is wide-eyed. That's what you died and I died in Christ.

That's what he's trying to say.

He says now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, knowing that Christ having been raising the dead is never to die again. Death is no longer master over him for the deputy died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.

When Christ was raised you and I raised that's identity.

That's why when I'm baptizing someone when I put them in the water ice eight buried with Christ in his death raised to the newness of life that doesn't raise it in the newness of life.

But it's a picture of what being a Christian on the inside is what is spiritual. Christianity is, I'm raised to the newness of life. Now he says some really important for us. Even so, consider yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus, there's the hard work. Consider other words, if you don't consider it.

You'll never benefit from seal never what this consider me extra essay making James reckon I'll say this way.

Believe it. You have to believe this, you see, if you don't believe this. It's a no advantage to all. It will help you at all. If you don't believe it. You see, the idea that weight a minute. I actually died to sin. I've been raise the newness of life. Yes member Paul said you're a new creature in Christ.

Everything's passed away what you think he meant by that, I think you made your new creature in Christ. Everything's passed away.

But what if you don't believe it. Then you look just like a nonbeliever just like them. You do everything they do. You throw your be victimized by everyone around you and every set of circumstances, and you never move forward in your faith because that's what you believe he said no you have to consider it. You have to reckon this so so he says let me be clear, therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies that you abeyance lost to let sin reign in your life but his heart yet. I'm explain this is not hard for you it's impossible for you when you mean by that you don't you don't do this by willpower of your flesh. This is Christ in you.

This is why this Jesus would say to you I got that. That's why put the Holy Spirit in my will.

Paul said I can do all things through him who strengthens me. You know why Paul said it is true you see is true I can do all things through him. His friend how much can you do in your own Paul nothing I can doing my own but I can do all things through him strengthens me is yet but I have to believe this scene is interesting for me. As Christians, think about how to do come the Christ is the how did you come by faith right. Someone told you the truth about Christ, who he was, how he lived and how we died in a sit. If you believe that the dirt trust that it you be born again in the kingdom of God and what you do. I believe the way you came is the way you live. See when the Scriptures tell me this. Christ tells me the truth.

You have to believe it ended. I can tell you whether I believe it or not. Not because I can get an a on a test. Can I apply this to my life to I believe it see if Jesus says you can have all this freedom. If you follow me what you have to do follow this. I have to I have to follow my following him.

None of this is going to happen to me that's not the way any of this is going to work at all and you see what happens here. I'm freed. He says in verse 14 for sin shall not master over you, for you are not under law but you are under grace. Since you never master you have to consider this. If that's the case in one of my really free, free of sin, but some more important I'm free of the consequences of sin or feel guilty something you did Shane fear, anxiety and worry saw the consequences of sin. He's tell me I'm free. I can be free of that. Who doesn't want to be see who doesn't want to be. I can be free of all those negative aspects of sin I can actually be free enough to enjoy the positive blessings of righteousness. Jesus said my piece, I give to you while Paul called that a piece beyond all comprehension. While you ever feel anxious.

If you do feel anxious, why Jesus told you he's getting give you his peace. Is he so give it to you. Also, is beyond all comprehension is not related to circumstances in any possible way. Think of joy.

Because of this. In Philippians 4 he said rejoice in the Lord always again I say rejoice. Macy's a positive thinker. He's in prison he's waiting to see what is delivered.

I and he said Paul how do you feel joyful when you mean how you feel filled sure I do. Why I tell you what it say I believe and if you believe in. That's how you'd feel.

James wrote this in James chapter 1 he said consider it all joy, my brother.

When various trials come upon you how many you in the club manager really it all right, the worse it gets a happier am I focused joy deep in me. We should see we should. That's the point I don't look at the trial. I look at my Lord, you never remember he said about the world.

Be of good cheer, why I've overcome the world.

He said in the world you have all kinds of trouble, but you can be of good cheer because of overcome it. See, that's the idea. That's why he can say I give you my peace I can have peace in any and all circumstances. That's an amazing thing when you think about it from. I can experience hope future certitude. I see so many people hopeless. That's why say this things all the time. The worst thing that can happen to you can happen to you fine I hope for you and me. I read the end of the book we went to see, that's the point why I need to be's. I need to feel peaceful about that. I need to have hope and that's a future certitude we all face difficult trials I know about you but on the fleshy level been overruled overcome by the possibilities and am trying to work through it at time and I think what am I doing it when my trying to do and I tell you what I'm doing.

I'm trying to say what would be the best way to active Jesus were dead. He's looked at the me I'm in a figure the side so how's Nyack with him being dead he's not dead.

He also said to me in Hebrews 13, five on never leave you nor forsake you. I'm right here you see I don't have to be full of anxiety and stress he sees right with me. She that's what he promises me you look at that James who said like I read before he says in James trials are good for us is that your first thought you get a terrible diagnosis was is going to be good for me. You know whether it is yet is It will could happen. I say what what would be the worst prognosis possible going to die, but the Scripture says death is lost that sting and if a maps of my body and present with the Lord. How bad is that explain which one without the me because it is the truth will receive. Not now.

It's going to be then he doesn't come back were all that I the difference is I don't have to live in fear if I believe them then you know if I believe and let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me. My father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so in a told you, but I go and prepare a place for you. So where I am, you could be also receive you to myself, so the worst thing you could happen to me. It can happen to me. What would that do to me and give me peace exhibits a matter what I believe it or not, I mean that's what this goes on and on and on. Romans 828 all things work together for good of those who love Jesus, how many things can work together for good. While we believe that this is it heart and my flesh. It seems impossible at times.

You see it's I I've been with people all say I can't like you, I can't see how this is ever going to work for good you are gods of the me that I ask you to see it. I said it.

Is that enough for you see, is that enough for you.

Well I like it.

Have I ever seen at work together for good. Yes, I've seen really good things turn out really bad situations but a lot of them. I never see him and he says why do you have to do you believe me or not. Believe me, you see, that's the whole point we can be freed from sin and its consequences. I don't know about you but I can't even imagine any kind any kind of freedom that would be better than shame, guilt, fear and anxiety, worry, all those kind of things have an incomprehensible piece I joy in any circumstances, a certain certitude hope for the future. Those what we want any says Ike got it right here for you Jeff to consider shall tell you the truth but I can't make you believe the truth that's going to be up to you so when I came to Christ. It was my Independence Day and is been my Independence Day every day since.

In the should be for you as well. By the way it costs a great deal of my Lord was in free if cost and he loved me enough as a sinner to go and die for me so that I could be with them. I can now live a life free of worry and anxiety and shame and all those things I can live a life of peace and joy and hope but have to follow my Lord, I must trust the things he's told me I must walk with him in the same way that I came to buy just faith.

I love celebrating the freedom we have in America but I realize the country's changing and I hate to say this am not a prophet but it's going to get much worse. We live in now. I completely post-Christian country and were going to see more and more ramifications.

But our role hasn't changed little or influence were Salt Lake were not trying to be. He said you are we good salt good light or not. Our mission hasn't changed where to go and make disciples and I can joyfully do that because my ultimate freedom has come to me as a gift from my Lord Jesus Christ, who died for me. Happy Independence Day. The spring father. We are grateful for this country. We are grateful for the freedoms that we've had as Christians, we are grateful for the ideals that this country was founded on. What a blessing to be able to be born and live in such a place but father, even if it changes you don't even if it changes you can have impact in this country we can be salt and light. We can have influence. We can share the hope that is within each and every one of us and give people the good news of Jesus Christ and have them be born again and your family. Father, we are so thankful for this unique opportunity.

Our culture is falling deeper and deeper into sin. We see it all around us, but there's one thing we know you're not marked whatever a man sows, he will reap. And so were very much aware that our culture is going to reap a lot of heartache. We already know what's happening father just by how medicated our culture is by how many suicides there are. There's no joy in the consequences of sin.

But there is joy in putting your faith in the Savior. And that's where we come in. So father I pray with all my heart that this day is a day that we honor our country, but every days of day we honor you as you have set us free, and that freedom something never take you forever to pass through government on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you dislike of the sum of the method one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as well at Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible.

We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help with radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting us monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service of fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sermon series are looking for. You can search by title. Once you find the messenger looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember, you can do all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt and Jason Gebhardt.

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