Embracing Divine Rest and Freedom in Christ
Summary
Rest is not a luxury; it is a divine commandment. God instituted the Sabbath for our benefit, a time for us to cease our labors and trust in His provision. This principle extends beyond a single day of rest to a broader concept of sabbatical rest, as outlined in the Old Testament, where every seventh year the land was to lie fallow, debts were to be forgiven, and slaves were to be released. This sabbatical year culminates in a year of Jubilee every 49 years, where everything resets, symbolizing complete restoration and freedom.In Deuteronomy 15, we see a slave who, upon being granted freedom, chooses to remain with his master out of love and well-being. This choice to remain a servant, even when liberty is available, is a profound image that we carry into our understanding of Romans Chapter 6. Here, the concept of possession is paramount. We are possessed by what we obey, whether sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness.Through Christ's death and resurrection, we are united with Him. We are baptized into His death and raised to walk in newness of life. This baptism is not merely a physical act but a spiritual reality where our possession transfers from ourselves to God. We are no longer slaves to sin but to righteousness. Sin's power over us is broken, and we are called to present ourselves as instruments of righteousness.Yet, many of us live as if we are still in bondage to sin. We must recognize that we are free and live accordingly. The enemy's lies cannot hold us captive because we have been set free by the power of Christ. The fruits of sin are shame and death, but being enslaved to God leads to sanctification and eternal life. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Key Takeaways:- The Sabbath and sabbatical principles teach us about God's design for rest and restoration. Just as the land was commanded to rest and slaves were set free, we too are called to find our rest in God and embrace the freedom He offers through Christ. This freedom is not an excuse for idleness but an invitation to trust and obey God's perfect plan for our lives. [07:14]- Choosing to remain a servant out of love, as seen in Deuteronomy 15, mirrors our relationship with God. We are freed from sin's bondage, yet we willingly become servants of righteousness. This paradoxical freedom is the essence of Christian discipleship—finding true liberty in surrender to God's will. [08:41]- Baptism symbolizes our death to sin and new life in Christ. It is not the water that saves us but the spiritual reality it represents—our possession transferred from self to God. This transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, marking us as God's own. [17:09]- Sin shall not be our master because we are under grace, not the law. This truth empowers us to resist sin's lure and present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. Our obedience to God is not a burden but a joyful response to the grace that has set us free. [22:44]- The wages of sin is death, but God's gracious gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. This profound truth should motivate us to live in the freedom we've been given, producing fruit that leads to sanctification and ultimately, eternal life. Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of God's grace. [39:38]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Deuteronomy 15:12-17 - The Sabbatical Year and the Release of Slaves
2. Romans 6:1-23 - Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
#### Observation Questions
1. What is the significance of the Sabbatical year as described in Deuteronomy 15:12-17? How does it relate to the concept of rest and freedom? [03:34]
2. According to Romans 6:3-4, what does baptism symbolize in the life of a believer? [12:16]
3. In Romans 6:14, what does it mean that "sin shall not be your master because you are not under the law, but under grace"? [22:44]
4. How does the imagery of a slave choosing to remain with their master in Deuteronomy 15:16-17 reflect our relationship with God? [08:41]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the principle of the Sabbatical year in Deuteronomy 15 help us understand God's design for rest and restoration in our lives today? [07:14]
2. What does it mean to be "baptized into Christ's death" and how does this affect our daily living according to Romans 6:3-4? [12:16]
3. How can understanding that we are no longer slaves to sin but to righteousness change our perspective on obedience to God? [25:09]
4. What are the implications of Romans 6:22, which states that being freed from sin and enslaved to God results in sanctification and eternal life? [39:38]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current practices of rest. How can you incorporate the principle of the Sabbath into your weekly routine to better trust in God's provision? [07:14]
2. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward transformation. If you have been baptized, how does this reality shape your identity and actions? If you haven't, what steps can you take to publicly declare your faith? [12:16]
3. Identify an area in your life where you feel bound by sin. How can you remind yourself of the truth that you are no longer a slave to sin but to righteousness? [33:50]
4. The sermon mentioned that many Christians live as if they are still in bondage to sin. What practical steps can you take this week to live in the freedom Christ has given you? [35:20]
5. How can you present yourself as an instrument of righteousness in your daily interactions? Think of specific actions you can take to reflect God's grace and love. [22:44]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of recognizing and rejecting the lies of the enemy. What are some lies you have believed about your identity or worth, and how can you combat them with the truth of God's Word? [37:05]
7. Consider the fruits of sin versus the fruits of righteousness in your life. What changes can you make to ensure that your life produces fruit that leads to sanctification and eternal life? [39:38]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Divine RestRest is a gift from God, not merely a suggestion. The Sabbath principle is a divine commandment, a time to cease from work and trust in God's provision. This concept of rest is not limited to a single day but extends to a broader rhythm of life, where every seventh year the land was to rest, debts were forgiven, and slaves were released. This cycle culminates in the year of Jubilee, a time of complete restoration and freedom. It is a reminder that rest is woven into the fabric of creation and is essential for our spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. By observing rest, we acknowledge that our lives are sustained not by our efforts alone but by the grace and provision of God."Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard." (Leviticus 25:3-4 ESV)Reflection: How can you incorporate a rhythm of rest into your weekly routine to honor God's design for restoration and trust in His provision? [07:14]Day 2: True Liberty in ServitudeChoosing to serve out of love is a powerful expression of freedom. In Deuteronomy 15, a slave is given the opportunity to go free but chooses to stay with their master out of love and well-being. This reflects our relationship with God; though we are freed from the bondage of sin, we willingly become servants of righteousness. This paradoxical freedom is the heart of Christian discipleship, where true liberty is found in surrendering to God's will. It is a joyful service, one that is chosen, not forced, and it leads to a deeper understanding of what it means to be free in Christ."But if he says to you, 'I will not go out from you,' because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you, then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever." (Deuteronomy 15:16-17a ESV)Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate your love for God by choosing to serve Him and others, even when you have the freedom to do otherwise? [08:41]Day 3: Baptism into New LifeBaptism is a profound symbol of our death to sin and rebirth into life with Christ. It is not the act of being submerged in water that saves us but the spiritual reality it represents: our old self being buried and a new creation rising to live in the freedom of God's grace. This transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit, marking us as belonging to God. As we emerge from the waters of baptism, we are called to walk in newness of life, no longer slaves to sin but to righteousness, living as a testament to the transformative power of God's grace in our lives."We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4 ESV)Reflection: How does your life reflect the transformation symbolized by your baptism, and what steps can you take to walk more fully in the newness of life granted to you? [17:09]Day 4: Instruments of RighteousnessUnder grace, sin no longer has dominion over us. We are called to resist the temptation of sin and present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. This is not a burdensome task but a joyful response to the grace that has set us free. Our obedience to God is an act of worship, a demonstration of our gratitude for the freedom we have received in Christ. As instruments of righteousness, we are empowered to live lives that reflect God's love and holiness to the world around us."Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness." (Romans 6:12-13 ESV)Reflection: What specific area of your life can you submit to God today, choosing to be an instrument of righteousness rather than yielding to sin? [22:44]Day 5: The Gift of Eternal LifeThe consequences of sin are severe—death. But God, in His infinite grace, offers us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This gift is not something we can earn; it is freely given to those who believe in Christ. As recipients of this incredible gift, we are called to live in the freedom we've been given, producing fruit that leads to sanctification and eternal life. Our lives should be a living testimony to the power of God's grace, a beacon of hope that points others to the salvation found in Christ."For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 ESV)Reflection: How can you live out the reality of God's gift of eternal life today, and in what ways can you share this gift with others? [39:38]
Quotes
- "Rest is extremely important for us; it's not just so that we can be lazy. We're talking about following commands that God has given us for the betterment of ourselves and our bodies." [07:14] ( | | )
- "This slave chooses to remain a slave... who would choose to remain a slave when you are under the control of somebody else? Why would you then choose to stay there rather than being able to gain the liberty, the freedom that we think we deserve?" [08:41] ( | | )
- "Baptism... is a matter of possession. This is where you are transferred the possession of yourself is transferred from yourself to God and this happens at the moment of Salvation." [18:41] ( | | )
- "For sin shall not be Master over you, for you are not under the law but under grace. My key verse is verse 14... because we see this word Master... you are not under the law but under grace." [22:44] ( | | )
- "You are slaves to what you obey... you are either a slave to sin resulting in death or you are a slave to obedience resulting in righteousness." [26:39] ( | | )
- "We are free from sin and the master of it... These verses point out the shallowness and sheer lacking of the benefits and outcomes of sin in our lives." [40:29] ( | | )
- "If you are saved, if Jesus is your savior, if you have been forgiven of your sin, you are free from the power of sin in your life. It no longer has the ability to take you wherever it wants you to go because you are now free." [41:58] (Download clip | | )
- "The second is the saved Christian who is still walking around being controlled by the sins in their life because they are either unaware of what happens at Salvation or are still listening to the lies of the enemy." [43:41] ( | | )
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