From Law to Grace: Union with Christ

 

Summary

In this final sermon of our three-week series on the law, grace, and the Christian life, we delve into Romans 7 and 8 to explore the profound transformation that occurs when we move from being bound to the law to being united with Christ. By nature, we are bound to the law, which is akin to a miserable marriage due to our sinful nature. The law itself is good, holy, and righteous, but the problem lies within us. Sin is not merely about wrong actions; it is a power residing in our hearts, pulling us away from God's commands. This creates a conflict, much like a burglar married to a security expert, where the two are not aligned.

The only way out of this binding relationship with the law is through death. In Christ, we have died to the law through His body, allowing us to belong to Him who was raised from the dead. This new union with Christ is like a second marriage, freeing us from the old bond and enabling us to bear fruit for God. Paul contrasts life in the flesh, bound to the law, with life in the spirit, bound to Christ. Living in the flesh is our natural state, hostile to God and unable to please Him. However, in Christ, we are no longer in the flesh but in the spirit, with the Spirit of God dwelling in us.

This transformation is not about moving back and forth between the flesh and the spirit; it is a permanent change through death and resurrection with Christ. As Christians, we are no longer bound to the law but are in a living union with Christ, characterized by life and peace. This truth liberates us from perfectionism and defeatism, reminding us that we are sinners saved by grace, wholly dependent on Christ. Our worst days are never beyond God's grace, and our best days are never beyond the need for it. This understanding brings freedom and joy, as we are not merely forgiven to try harder but are united with Christ, who empowers us to live a life of love, peace, and strength.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Nature of Sin and the Law: Sin is more than just wrong actions; it is a power residing in our hearts, creating a conflict with the law, which is good and holy. This conflict is like a miserable marriage, where our sinful nature is at odds with the righteous demands of the law. Understanding this helps us see the need for a Savior who can transform us from within. [01:21]

2. Union with Christ: Through Christ's death and resurrection, we have died to the law and are now united with Him. This new union is like a second marriage, freeing us from the old bond and enabling us to bear fruit for God. It is a permanent transformation, not a back-and-forth between the flesh and the spirit. [03:05]

3. Life in the Spirit: Being in Christ means we are no longer in the flesh but in the spirit, with the Spirit of God dwelling in us. This new life is characterized by peace and the ability to serve in the new way of the spirit, rather than being bound to the law. [11:25]

4. Freedom from Perfectionism and Defeatism: The truths of Romans 7 liberate us from the crushing burden of perfectionism and the oppression of defeatism. We are reminded that we are sinners saved by grace, wholly dependent on Christ, and that our worst days are never beyond God's grace. [21:10]

5. Joy and Freedom in Christ: Our union with Christ is not about trying harder to keep the law but about living in the joy and freedom of being united with Him. This relationship brings life, peace, and strength, as we are empowered by His Spirit to live a life of love and service. [34:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Introduction to the Series
- [00:19] - Bound to the Law
- [00:47] - The Conflict with Sin
- [01:48] - The Miserable Marriage
- [02:34] - Death as the Way Out
- [03:18] - Union with Christ
- [04:08] - Living in the Flesh
- [05:42] - In the Spirit, Not the Flesh
- [08:13] - Born of the Flesh vs. Born of the Spirit
- [10:24] - Fruit for Death vs. Fruit for God
- [12:38] - New Life in the Spirit
- [17:01] - Misunderstandings of Flesh and Spirit
- [21:10] - Cure for Perfectionism
- [26:57] - Answer to Defeatism
- [31:32] - Source of Freedom and Joy
- [34:25] - Jesus' Promise of Rest
- [37:20] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 7:1-6
- Romans 8:1-11

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 7:1-6, how does Paul describe the relationship between the law and a person? What analogy does he use to illustrate this relationship? [00:19]

2. In the sermon, what is the significance of the "miserable marriage" analogy used to describe our relationship with the law? [01:59]

3. How does Romans 8:1-11 contrast life in the flesh with life in the spirit? What are the key differences mentioned? [05:42]

4. What does the sermon say about the role of death in transitioning from being bound to the law to being united with Christ? [16:17]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the nature of sin as more than just wrong actions? What implications does this have for understanding our need for a Savior? [01:21]

2. What does it mean to be "in the spirit" according to Romans 8, and how does this new life differ from living "in the flesh"? [11:25]

3. The sermon mentions freedom from perfectionism and defeatism. How does understanding our union with Christ help address these issues? [21:10]

4. How does the concept of a "second marriage" with Christ change the way we view our relationship with God and our ability to bear fruit for Him? [03:18]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel bound by the law or perfectionism? How can the truth of being united with Christ bring you freedom in these areas? [21:10]

2. The sermon describes sin as a power residing in our hearts. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you feel this power at work? How can you invite Christ into that struggle? [01:21]

3. In what ways can you cultivate a mindset of living "in the spirit" rather than "in the flesh"? What practical steps can you take this week to focus on the Spirit's presence in your life? [11:25]

4. How can the understanding that our worst days are never beyond God's grace and our best days are never beyond the need for it change your daily walk with Christ? [31:15]

5. Think of a time when you felt defeated in your spiritual journey. How can the assurance of Christ's presence and power in you help you overcome that sense of defeat? [29:58]

6. The sermon emphasizes joy and freedom in Christ. What is one specific way you can experience and express this joy in your daily interactions with others? [31:32]

7. How can you support someone in your life who might be struggling with perfectionism or defeatism, using the truths from Romans 7 and 8? [26:57]

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Sin and the Law
Sin is not merely a series of wrong actions; it is a pervasive power residing in our hearts, creating a conflict with the law, which is inherently good and holy. This conflict is akin to a miserable marriage, where our sinful nature is at odds with the righteous demands of the law. Understanding this dynamic helps us recognize our need for a Savior who can transform us from within. The law, while good, cannot save us from sin; it can only highlight our shortcomings and our need for divine intervention. This realization is crucial for understanding the depth of our spiritual struggle and the necessity of grace. [01:21]

Romans 7:18-19 (ESV): "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel trapped by sin. How can you invite God into this struggle to begin transforming your heart today?


Day 2: Union with Christ
Through Christ's death and resurrection, believers have died to the law and are now united with Him. This new union is like a second marriage, freeing us from the old bond and enabling us to bear fruit for God. It is a permanent transformation, not a back-and-forth between the flesh and the spirit. In this union, we find our true identity and purpose, as we are no longer defined by our failures but by our relationship with Christ. This profound change empowers us to live a life that reflects God's love and grace, bearing fruit that honors Him. [03:05]

Galatians 2:19-20 (ESV): "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with Christ. How does understanding your union with Him change the way you view your daily life and interactions with others?


Day 3: Life in the Spirit
Being in Christ means we are no longer in the flesh but in the spirit, with the Spirit of God dwelling in us. This new life is characterized by peace and the ability to serve in the new way of the spirit, rather than being bound to the law. The Spirit empowers us to live in a manner that pleases God, transforming our desires and actions. This transformation is not about striving in our own strength but about yielding to the Spirit's work within us, allowing His peace and power to guide our lives. [11:25]

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (ESV): "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: Consider how you can be more open to the Spirit's leading in your life. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit?


Day 4: Freedom from Perfectionism and Defeatism
The truths of Romans 7 liberate us from the crushing burden of perfectionism and the oppression of defeatism. We are reminded that we are sinners saved by grace, wholly dependent on Christ, and that our worst days are never beyond God's grace. This understanding frees us from the need to perform or achieve perfection, allowing us to rest in the sufficiency of Christ's work on our behalf. It also encourages us to persevere, knowing that God's grace is sufficient for every challenge we face. [21:10]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with perfectionism or defeatism? How can you embrace God's grace and find freedom in His strength today?


Day 5: Joy and Freedom in Christ
Our union with Christ is not about trying harder to keep the law but about living in the joy and freedom of being united with Him. This relationship brings life, peace, and strength, as we are empowered by His Spirit to live a life of love and service. In Christ, we find true freedom—not to indulge in sin, but to live as God intended, reflecting His love and grace to the world. This freedom is a source of deep joy, as we experience the fullness of life that comes from walking in step with the Spirit. [34:03]

John 15:10-11 (ESV): "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy and freedom in your relationship with Christ? What changes can you make in your daily routine to prioritize this relationship?

Quotes


We have discovered for Romans in chapter 7 and verse 1 that by nature we are bound to the law. The law is binding on a person, verse 1, as long as he or she lives, in other words, till death us depart. By nature, we are bound to all of the requirements, all of the demands, and therefore by implication all of the penalties of the law of God. [00:17:44]

Sin is more than doing bad things; it is more than wrong actions. It is, in fact, a power that resides by nature in our hearts. It is an impulse that gravitates towards that which God forbids. So if we were righteous in our very nature, then it would be a happy thing to be married to the law, but because that is not the truth about us, because by nature we pull away from the commands of God. [00:75:92]

The only way out of this miserable marriage to the law is by death. It is until death us depart, and the law never dies. Therefore, the good news for all who are in Jesus Christ is that we have died. We have died through a living union in the bond of faith with Jesus Christ, who died and who rose again. [00:57:51]

We are brought into a new and living union with Jesus Christ, the great truth of union with Christ, which Paul pictures as being like a kind of second marriage in which we are released by our union with the death and resurrection of Jesus from this old bond to the law, and we're brought into a new and living union with Jesus Christ. [00:202:08]

For while we were living in the flesh, verse 5, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive. [00:255:76]

The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God. It doesn't submit to God's law, nor indeed can it do so. And then he says those who are in the flesh cannot please God. If you just have life as you were born with it, that's your position, bound to the law, living in the flesh, hostile to God, cannot submit to God's law, cannot please God. [00:549:51]

But thank God that if you are in Jesus Christ, you are no longer in that position. That's the good news. We are not in that first and miserable marriage. If you are in Jesus Christ, you are in the second marriage. You are bound to Jesus Christ, and you have a new life that is characterized here as life in the spirit. [00:666:95]

Now, clearly, when we become Christians, obviously we're still living in the body. So exactly what Paul means by in the flesh is really important for us to grasp here, and it's often a point of confusion for this reason that the New Testament uses the phrase flesh in a number of different ways on different occasions. [00:362:96]

There is all the difference in the world between the life you were born with and the new life in Jesus Christ, all the difference in the world between being bound to the law and being made one with Jesus Christ through the bond of a living union, faith in him, all the difference in the world between life in the flesh and life in the spirit. [00:918:32]

The truth that we've been learning in Romans and chapter 7 are the cure for perfectionism. Now, some of you live under a crushing burden in this regard, and I want to try and describe it to you in a way that I hope you'll recognize, and then for us to see how the truth that we've been learning from the scripture here is the very truth that will set you free from this crushing burden. [00:1287:76]

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace, and your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Wonderfully true. Now let me end it here and say this, that the great truth that we've been learning from Romans in chapter seven, they're the cure for perfectionism, they're the answer to defeatism, and they really are the source of freedom and joy in Jesus Christ. [00:1857:27]

Jesus Christ has something better to say to you than I forgive you, now go and try better next time. He says I'll forgive you, and I will bind myself to you. I will give you my spirit, I will make you one with me, I will give you a new life from above, I will give you my Holy Spirit, and I will dwell with you. [00:2065:67]

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Transcript
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