Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church Message for Sunday:
Freed from the Shackles of Sin by a Single Act of Righteousness
© February 5, 2024, by Steve Mickelson
Based on Messages shared at BLCF on June 24, 2018, and September 29, 2013
BLCF Bulletin September 29, 2013
Announcements and Call to Worship; Prayer
Prayer and Tithing: Hymn #572: Praise God from Whom All Blessings; Prayer Requests
Doxology (Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow) Instrumental – https://youtu.be/Mk4p3rihONU
Music Special: Kari Jobe – Breathe On Us (Lyrics) – https://youtu.be/Jki1hjB_2wA?si=mmKa7FFywpuewCyF
Music Special: Here I Am, Lord (Lyrics) – Collin Raye – https://youtu.be/X_v9JKi4Ajo?si=EzYVhIUZL0wlX7gm
Responsive Reading #605: Prayer of Penitence (Psalm 51)
Message by Stephen Mickelson: Freed from the Shackles of Sin by a Single Act of Righteousness
Let us pray…
Good morning and welcome to our Praise and Worship service at BLCF Church for the first Sunday of February 2024, which makes today a Communion Sunday.
I understand that the Canadian groundhog Wiarton Willie saw his shadow Friday morning, which translates to an early spring. I suppose Willie’s prediction is about the same as The Farmer’s Almanac and possibly the Weather Channel.
Today’s lesson is entitled: Freed from the Shackles of Sin by a Single Act of Righteousness.
As believers in the Resurrected Christ, we profess our faith that while we were still sinners, Christ died for our sins, Romans 5:8 (ESV):
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
But ask Christians: “What is meant by sin?”, you may get any of a variety of definitions: sin is an act, it is the state of grace or lack of it, it is the legacy or birthright we carry as descendants of Adam and Eve; it is in our nature; it a manifestation of a defiant attitude towards our Maker; and so on.
No wonder there is some confusion among both believers and non-believers alike! It is very difficult to have a meaningful dialog or to witness sin and salvation unless we have a mutual understanding and agreement of the terms that we discuss. The definition of salvation is fairly clear, but what about sin?
Let us have a look at how the Online Farlex Free Dictionary defines sin:
sin 1 (s n) n.
- A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate.
- Theology
- Deliberate disobedience to the known will of God.
- A condition of estrangement from God resulting from such disobedience.
- Something regarded as being shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong.
intr.v. sinned, sin·ning, sins
- To violate a religious or moral law.
- To commit an offense or violation.
[Middle English sinne, from Old English synn; see es- in Indo-European roots.]
sin 2 (s n, s n) n.
The 21st letter of the Hebrew alphabet. See Table at alphabet.
[Hebrew în, modeled on în, shin (the following letter).]
Sin (s n)
- Mythology
The Babylonian god of the moon.
[Akkadian Sîn.]
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Sin
We might have a better idea of what is a sin if we look at what Bible scholars commonly refer to as the original sin. In recent sermons, we looked at how Adam and Eve violated God’s singular rule: not to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan stepped in and rationalized that eating the forbidden fruit would elevate them to the same level as God. Let us look at what happened after Adam and Eve chose to ignore God’s rule. In Genesis 3:17-19; 22-23 (ESV), we read:
17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
I find it interesting to note that the Tree of Life was not forbidden to Adam and Eve, which implies that they were able to eat from this tree and live forever before they ate from the Tree of Knowledge.
Note that Verse 18 states: in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; which indicates that Adam’s days are numbered and finite and eventually will end as indicated in Verse 19: 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
So the consequence of sin is death, but God has a plan, a solution, as we read in Paul’s epistle of Romans 5:12-18 (ESV):
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men.
Footnotes: a.Romans 5:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women; also twice in verse 18 b.Romans 5:18 Or the trespass of one c. Romans 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one
But was sin the result of an act or the thought of something else? Let us look at Romans 7:12-14 (ESV):
12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
“Sold under sin” sounds like slavery. This is confirmed in John 8:34 (ESV):
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin.
Footnotes: a. John 8:34 Greek bondservant
But if, by definition, a sinner is a slave to sin, then what is the remedy? The remedy is Christ, Galatians 5:1 (ESV):
Christ Has Set Us Free
5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
We have seen the consequences of sin and God’s solution in Jesus Christ. What does God expect from us in this equation? Let us next look at Colossians 3:5-6 (ESV):
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[a] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[b]
Footnotes: a. Colossians 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth b. Colossians 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience
So from Colossians 3, we see some expressions of sin and understand that sin is earthly or worldly in contrast to being spiritual. And the solution the Lord provided to us for sin is unconditional, Romans 5:8 (ESV):
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Still, God expects us not to surrender our commitment and drive, but that instead of allowing ourselves to be slaves to sin, which is associated with things that are of the world which is Satan’s realm, we must surrender ourselves to matters of spiritual reality which is the domain of God, Romans 6:16-22 (ESV):
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Footnotes: a.Romans 6:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface (twice in this verse and verse 19; also once in verses 17, 20)
In addition to a commitment to follow the righteous path which leads to sanctification and the promise of eternal life, we must remain vigilant to avoid temptation from Satan to give in to the impulses of our own carnal or worldly desires, which will lead us down the path to sin, James 1:12-15 (ESV):
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
God does not tempt us for He cannot be tempted. But knowing the law can lead to temptation. And temptation then leads to sin, Romans 3:20-25 (ESV):
20 For by works of the law no human being[a] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
Footnotes: a. Romans 3:20 Greek flesh
So the sin of humanity, as initiated by Adam, was removed by the righteous act of Christ in the Death in Adam, and changed to the Life in Christ verse we read earlier in Romans 5:12:
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. Thus, requiring faith on our part, as we read in Romans 3:22, which then leads to a Redemption through Christ: 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
This passage indicates that though all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, all are entitled to redemption and grace to be received by faith. Faith or lack of faith is the key to sin. Adam and Eve sinned as a result of trusting Satan more than God. And the only way we can receive God’s redemption, grace, and glory is to give up our faith in things of the world and return to having faith in God, by accepting the unconditional gift of Jesus Christ paid on the cross at Calvary.
Let us pray..,
Communion:
Lauren Daigle – “We Will Not Forget” (Lyric Video) – https://youtu.be/izeZa9wx8wA?si=oNXu2rGTLWiZ_NwL
Matthew 26:26-29 ESV – Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Footnotes: Matthew 26:28 Some manuscripts insert new
Hymn #286: Years I Spent in Vanity and PrideMusic Special (At Calvary) – piano instrumental hymn with lyrics – https://youtu.be/ybac87HfB2M?si=f_jus_VKYrWr9dJT
Music Special: It Is Well – Lauren Daigle [lyrics] – https://youtu.be/RYMjqc5I9G4
Benediction Music Special: In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible) – Katy Nichole – Lyric Video – https://youtu.be/R84PqRdZ7_Y
Benediction (2 Peter 1:2): May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
– Go in Peace of the Lord