Text: Epistle to the Romans 8:11

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

An Invitation to Freedom

This morning is an invitation for every person in this room to experience a freedom like no other.

Freedom from fear and anxiety.
Freedom from loneliness and isolation.
Freedom from guilt and shame.
Freedom from past failures and disappointments.
Freedom from the bondage of sin.

Whatever weight you walked in with today, you do not have to leave with it.

You can lay it down at an altar of transformation and walk out of this place a different person.

The Same Spirit

Paul gives a promise to the church in Rome.

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can dwell in you.

That same Spirit will bring life to these mortal bodies and produce a resurrected life of freedom.

This is not about a holiday.
This is not about tradition.
This is not about checking a religious box.

In Jesus’ day, many people missed their moment of freedom because they were focused on religion instead of relationship.

They had the form, but missed the Savior.

Religion Cannot Set You Free

Religion will not set you free.

Rituals will not change you.

A list of rules will not transform you.

Only Jesus can set you free.

This morning you can experience real freedom if you choose relationship over religion.

In the Gospel of John Jesus said:

John 8:31 to 32

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Freedom comes when truth is revealed.

The Danger of Partial Truth

The enemy is comfortable when people live with partial truth.

Partial truth is what led to the fall in the garden.

Satan did not remove God’s word. He twisted it.

Partial truth leaves room for deception.

It appeals to the eyes, but leads to destruction.

Adam and Eve lost their freedom because they did not stand on the full truth.

But today, there is hope.

Freedom Through the Son

John 8:34 to 36

“Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin… If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

If Jesus sets you free, it is real freedom.

But freedom requires leaving the old life behind.

Transformation only happens when you choose to turn away from what you used to be.

The Process of Freedom

Paul explains this clearly again in the Epistle to the Romans.

Romans 6:3 to 7

We are buried with Christ through baptism.
We are raised to walk in newness of life.
The old man is crucified so we no longer serve sin.

Freedom is tied to transformation.

There is a process:

First, repentance. The old life is surrendered.
Second, baptism. The old life is buried.
Third, infilling of His Spirit. New life begins.

Baptism is not a ritual to join a church.

Baptism is an act of obedience to the Word of God.

What Needs to Be Buried

Some people today need to bury some things.

Fear needs to be buried.
Anxiety needs to be buried.
Guilt and shame need to be buried.
Failure and disappointment need to be buried.

You cannot walk in resurrection life while holding on to a dead past.

Jesus Is the Resurrection

In the Gospel of John Jesus declared:

John 11:25 to 26

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

Resurrection is not just an event.

It is a source of life and freedom.

Many people are tired of religion and ready for something real.

That reality is found in Jesus.

The Gospel Plan

What is the plan that brings freedom?

It is the Gospel.

The death.
The burial.
The resurrection.

Paul explained it to the church in First Epistle to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:1 to 4

Christ died for our sins.
He was buried.
He rose again on the third day.

That is not just history.

That is the pattern for our lives.

The Response

Peter preached this message in the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 2:38

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

This is the response to the Gospel.

Repent.
Be baptized.
Receive His Spirit.

Closing Call

This is your moment.

This is your opportunity for a resurrection of freedom.

You do not have to leave the same way you came in.

Freedom is not found in religion.

Freedom is found in Jesus.

And today, that same Spirit that raised Him from the dead is ready to bring new life to you.