FREEDOM – THE OBSTACLE

Within us humans is the huge roadblock to experiencing real freedom.

Jesus identified sin as the underlying cause of our bondage.

“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.”

John 8:34 NLT

How does sin enslave us?

First, we must acknowledge that we have the natural inclination to sin from birth, since we are all the descendants of Adam. Even young children don’t need to be taught to sin, which they express in stubborn self-will. That’s what sin is – the determination to do what we want in place of what God wants.

David acknowledged…

“For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.”

Psalms 51:5 NLT

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

Romans 5:12 NLT

Second, we sin because we want to sin. Sin, to us, is as natural as breathing. Our sin nature enslaves us, so that we can only think and behave within the boundaries of our sinfulness.

“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

James 1:13-15 NLT

“… Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin… When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom.”

Romans 6:19-21 NLT

Third, practising sin increasingly enslaves us so that we can never free ourselves from sin’s clutches. Like an insect caught in a spider’s web, the more we struggle to be free, the tighter we are held in sin’s grip.

” And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway… Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?”

Romans 7:18-19, 24 NLT

Fourth, sin made us God’s enemies. There is no such thing as neutrality or non-alignment in this war. God is righteous – we are sinners, and that sets us against God. We are born God-haters; we hate His Word, mistrust His goodness, and run from His love.

“… You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.”

Colossians 1:21 NLT

Fifth, sin kills us. Sin not only enslave us in this life, it also cuts us off forever from God and all that is good in the life to come.

“And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal Doom…. For the wages of sin is death…”

Romans 6:21, 23 NLT

How can we ever get free from this enslavement to sin that will inevitably lead to eternal separation from God and everything that He is?

“Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?”

Romans 7:24 NLT

BUT GOD…