You shall know the truth: conquering condemnation

We continue our series on You Shall Know the Truth. When we know the truth it can set us free.  Truth and freedom are connected. We are free but at some point, our freedom will result in conflict with a person, a group, or a society.  It is not difficult to find as we look at the world.  People are in conflict, governments are in conflict, and nations are in conflict because we do not see freedom in the same manner.  This may seem small but the impact can be very dramatic.  Is there a difference between the definition of freedom between the patriots of the American Revolution and a Communist revolution?  Of course!  Both are fighting for freedom but they do not see freedom in the same light.  This is especially true in our relationship with God.  God gave the Ten Commandments to guide our freedom to righteousness and when we fail to be righteous, we experience condemnation and fear.  This fear of condemnation begins with Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden of Eden after they had broken the only commandment they were given.  Their misuse of freedom would enslave humanity to self-will rather than a “free” will!  It would create condemnation, fear, hatred, and death for all of humanity.  This is not what God wanted for all of us.  In the sermon Conquering Condemnation, we turn to Galatians 5:1-11.  The Galatians were being convinced that legalism was the path to freedom rather than the truth of believing in Jesus Christ to be their Savior.  Paul tells them that nothing could be more misguided.  Instead of being free, they would be enslaved again to condemnation, fear, and death.  It is amazing that we still struggle as much as these early believers.  Do you want to find freedom, joy, peace, and hope that can lift you above the darkness of condemnation?  Of course! Fear and shame are horrible taskmasters, but we struggle to put an end to their tyranny!  Paul wants to lead us to an amazing freedom that can help us to experience the grace and goodness of our living God!  We ardently pray that as you read Galatians 5:1-11 you will experience the joy of our Savior as a powerful wind lifting your heart and soul from the painful tyranny of sin into God’s glorious liberating grace.

Romans 8:20-29: For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (NIV)