Total Freedom From Self-Condemnation -- Zac Poonen -- February 2, 2022
http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/total-freedom-from-self-condemnation River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that the New Covenant is fundamentally different from the Old Covenant, asserting that its core focus is not merely escaping hell or reaching heaven, but achieving freedom from the power of sin. True understanding of this covenant leads to a desire to partake in God's divine nature, which is the greatest gift, allowing for a life of effortless victory over sin, much like an expert swimmer. This transformation is entirely dependent on Christ.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What is the first promise in the New Testament?Jesus was named Jesus because He saves His people from their sins, which is different from merely having sins forgiven or escaping hell.
Partaking of the divine natureThe greatest gift of the New Covenant is partaking of God's divine nature so that we can overcome sin effortlessly through Him.
Our adequacy comes from God aloneApart from Christ, we can do zero and have no adequacy in ourselves; true victory comes from abiding in the vine.
The old covenant of death versus the new covenant of lifeThe old covenant is a ministry of death and condemnation, while the new covenant is a ministry of righteousness and the Holy Spirit.
God did not send His Son to condemn the worldJesus came not to condemn the world but to save it, meaning believers should not spend time self-condemning when they slip up.
The New Covenant gospel in two sentencesJesus told the woman caught in adultery that He did not condemn her, and told her to sin no more.
Justification by faith and the blood of ChristThrough justification, God declares us not just forgiven, but righteous as if we had lived a perfectly righteous life all along.Romans 5:1–9
No condemnation for those in Christ JesusBecause Jesus bore all our condemnation on the cross, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.Romans 8:1–3
The ongoing battle in the fleshEven when our mind joyfully concurs with God's law, we experience a war in our flesh, yet we refuse to live under condemnation.
Overcoming pride to apologize immediatelySatanic pride prevents us from quickly apologizing to others when we make a mistake, but we must remove sin like a thorn immediately.
The blood of Jesus cleanses unconscious sinWhen we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus continuously cleanses us from unconscious sins that we are not even aware of committing.
Recognizing unconscious sins like expecting thanksAs we grow, the Lord reveals subtle unconscious sins in our lives, such as expecting others to thank us for helping them.
