Which other scriptures reinforce the concept of being freed from sin's bondage? Anchoring Verse: Romans 6:6 “We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” How Jesus Described Our Freedom • John 8:34-36 — “Jesus replied, ‘Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’” – Christ identifies the bondage, then personally guarantees release. • Luke 4:18-19 — “He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Freedom from sin’s captivity is woven into His mission statement. Paul’s Expansions on Liberation • Romans 8:1-2 — “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” – The gospel moves us from condemnation to liberation. • Galatians 5:1 — “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.” – Freedom is both gift and responsibility. • 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” – Bondage belongs to the “old”; new identity breaks the chain. • Colossians 1:13-14 — “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – A transfer of kingdoms means a transfer of masters. Freedom Celebrated by Other Apostles • Hebrews 2:14-15 — “By His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” – Christ’s cross disarms both sin and its ultimate threat. • 1 Peter 2:24 — “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes you are healed.” – The purpose of the atonement is practical freedom: dying to sin, living to righteousness. • 1 John 3:8 — “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” – Liberation is not partial; the works of the devil are dismantled. Snapshots of the New Life • Ephesians 2:1-6 — once “dead in your trespasses,” now “made alive with Christ … raised up with Him.” • Titus 3:3-6 — once “enslaved by all kinds of passions,” now “saved … through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” • Revelation 1:5-6 — Jesus “has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.” Living Out the Liberty – Count the old self crucified (Romans 6:11). – Present your members as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13). – Walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh (Galatians 5:16). – Cling to grace; refuse any return to legalistic or sinful bondage (Galatians 5:1). |
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