The Experience of His Freedom

0:00Today, we'll explore the experience of God's freedom as it relates to our identity and what we believe about ourselves. Many of us have yet to truly taste the freedom available to us through the finished work of Christ. There is nothing else like it in the world. It is my prayer you are liberated today and that you're thinking towards yourself changes and in result changes your actions. Christ said his work was finished on the cross and it's about time we start living in the new reality he instated for us. Welcome to the Verse 15 podcast. Our scripture for today comes from Romans 6 verses 1 through 4, scripture says, what

1:20shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound by no means? How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. The Christian experience of freedom was not established by the power and endurance of mankind but by the sacrifice and love of our God. The freedom we experience is not our own but his. Apart from the redemption bought for us, we have no strength to resist sin.

2:26And apart from continually renewing our minds to the truth of this redemption, we'll continue to act as if chains that were broken long ago still tie us down to the world from which we've been successfully ransomed. Paul says in Romans 6 verses 1 through 4, what shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound by no means? How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. To experience freedom here on earth is to continuously acknowledge that our old ways,

3:32our former self was buried with Christ the day we accepted him as Lord. To sin is to live outside of the reality that we've been given a new resurrected identity in Christ, our resurrected King. How do you see yourself in regard to your sin today? How do you believe you experience freedom? And what areas of your life are you still trying in your own strength to fight for something Jesus already bought with this blood? What sin have you not yet brought to the glorious light of God's powerful resurrection that you might see it for what it truly is? There is freedom for you today in Christ that's available apart from any past failures present downfalls or future concerns.

4:34You can walk in newness of life as you live in the reality of the inner working of the Holy Spirit and follow his leadership away from your old identity. Your mistakes don't change the reality of God's grace. Your sin is powerless to bind you. Your freedom is just as sure as the limitless love of your Savior. Take time today to renew your mind to who you are in Christ through guided prayer. Take time to bring your sin to the light and confess it that God might take it from you as far as the East is from the West. Do you experience the freedom of your risen King today as you live in light of his powerful grace?

5:51As we begin, meditate on what the Bible says about freedom from sin. Align your understanding of your sin with the truth of God's Word. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.

7:20And next, what sin do you need to bring to God today in confession? What feels too dark and too powerful to gain freedom from? Bring it to him that you might see it in light of his power and sacrifice. And last, ask God to reveal how He sees you.

8:25Ask him to reveal your new identity in him. Ask him how you can experience freedom from that which doesn't align with your new identity. Renewing our minds to our new identity takes time. Often, while we are gaining a correct understanding of our freedom, we need to set up boundaries

9:30to gain separation from darkness. We need time to identify things that continuously lead you into temptation. It could be friends, media, or actions that seem beneficial like lifting weights or going shopping. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you establish boundaries that will guard your heart from the outside as He does a powerful work in you on the inside. May you experience the freedom purchased for you by the blood of Jesus as you walk in the newness of life with the power of the Holy Spirit. Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast.

10:39I'm Josh Miller with Verse 15. Tomorrow, we wrap up our week-long series on experiencing God by looking at the experience of God's presence. If you haven't already, make sure to subscribe or follow the podcast so you won't miss an episode, and if you have an extra moment, we'd be honored if you would rate and review us so that others who need this guide to God's presence can find us. Thanks so much for being a part of this space we're creating to meet with God as His people. Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek Him. Do you ever feel like your faith is solid, but the world around you just feels so heavy?

11:42You trust God, you believe He's good, but then you read the news and anxiety creeps in. The future feels uncertain, and you're not sure what to do with that tension. My friend Dr. Jim Denison wrote a book called Bright Hope for Tomorrow that meets you right in that place. It explores ten of Jesus' parables and shows how His timeless stories still speak peace in our hardest days. When you give to support Verse 15 today, we'll send you a copy as a thank you. But here's what your generosity really does. It helps create daily devotionals, guided prayers, and worship resources that invite people around the world into God's presence every single morning. Visit supportfirst15.org to give, and get your copy of Bright Hope for Tomorrow today.