Freedom From Sin

In this enlightening episode of the Heartbeat of Faith Podcast, we delve into the profound concept of forgiveness and how it transforms our lives. Often, we think we need to get our lives in order before God can accept us, but it's quite the opposite. Join us as we explore the powerful story of a woman caught in sin and the remarkable encounter she had with Jesus. In the midst of shame and judgment, she found redemption and acceptance. Discover the life-altering truth that God's acceptance paves the way for a transformation that we sometimes overlook.

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In the heartwarming story of Saul's transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a disciple of Jesus, we see the incredible freedom that forgiveness can bring. After being touched by the grace of Christ, Saul's life took a remarkable turn. As we reflect on these stories, we're reminded that God's acceptance precedes our transformation. We don't need to have it all together for God to embrace us. It is through His unconditional love and favor that we find the strength to change. So, join us in this journey toward freedom and discover the profound truth that drawing closer to God through forgiveness allows us to walk in His liberating grace.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray for this is the will of God,
that by well doing you should put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men, as free and not using your
freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bond servants
of God. First Peter, Chapter two, Verses fifteen and sixteen.

(00:22):
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me freedom from the
standards of the law and placing me under your limitless grace.
Thank you that you met me in my failures and
forgave me of all my sins forever. Remind me never
to take this freedom for granted. I don't want to
slip into the bondage of sin just because you have

(00:42):
forgiven me. May your grace empower me to see my
new identity, to realize my union with you, and to
walk in a manner that is worthy of my calling.
Thank you for the honor of being in your family
forever in Jesus name. Amen, Thank you for praying with

(01:05):
me today. Now discover the profound intricacies of scripture through
prey dot COM's podcast The Heartbeat of Faith with doctor
Andrew Farley. Stay tuned after this quick word from our responsors.
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Speaker 2 (02:23):
We sometimes get forgiveness backward. We think we need to
get our lives together so God will accept us, But
it's the other way around.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
The woman looked around. Her heart was filled with shame
and gladness. She wept her tears fell into the dirt
before Jesus. She shook her head and answered, there is
no one left to condemn me. Lord Jesus propped up
her chin so her eyes met his. Then, neither do
I condemn you. Then Jesus helped the woman to her feet,

(02:59):
go and sin no more. So the woman departed, feeling
the full weight of forgiveness.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
God accepts us, and that acceptance empowers us to turn
our lives around. Hello, I'm doctor Andrew Farley with today's
episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. Welcome back. This
episode is day two of our three day journey looking

(03:29):
at biblical freedom. Last time, we learned about God's passion
for liberating slaves and ensuring people are treated with dignity
as image bearers of God. Today we look at our
bondage to sin and how Jesus has given us freedom.

Speaker 3 (03:51):
A bright light shown to the ceiling. Then all of
a sudden, Jesus saw a silhouette of a man on
a stretcher being lowered down by ropes. The two friends
had found a way to Jesus. Although it was unconventional
and perhaps illegal, they were willing to do whatever it took.
The paralytic was lowered slowly. Jesus went under the man

(04:13):
and helped him to the floor. Jesus looked up at
the hole in the ceiling. He could see the friend's
guilty smiles. Jesus grinned and looked down at the man.
He placed his hand on his shoulder and said, my child,
your sins are forgiven. As Jesus said this, a scribe
in the crowd scoffed, his sins are forgiven? What authority

(04:35):
do you have to forgive sins? God alone has the
power to forgive sins. The scribes spat on the ground,
angry at Jesus's words. Jesus looked at the man with compassion.
He knew the scribe was questioning his words. Jesus smiled
and answered him, tell me which is easier to say
your sins are forgiven? Or get up and walk in

(04:59):
immediate As Jesus said this, the man's legs began to move.
The paralytic's eyes widened as he lifted himself upright. Jesus
stood up and helped the man to his feet.

Speaker 2 (05:11):
For all the glaring physical limitations facing this man, Jesus
knew his ultimate need was the forgiveness of his sins.
Before he healed the paralytic physically, he addressed his spiritual
need were often so focused on the difficulty of our
situations that we forget our underlying needs. Jesus, seeing what's

(05:37):
beneath the surface, always looks inward.

Speaker 3 (05:44):
All that remained was Jesus and the woman. She was
still sitting on the floor. Her knees were bleeding and
her eyes were red. Her scalp was sore from being
drug out by her hair, and she was still embarrassed
by her nakedness. Jesus walked over to her and out
onto the floor. He took the robe off his back
and draped it over the woman's shoulders. He looked at

(06:06):
the woman and then looked around the empty courtyard, My child,
He said, who is left to condemn you? The woman
looked around. Her heart was filled with shame and gladness.
She wept, Her tears fell into the dirt before Jesus.
She shook her head and answered, there is no one
left to condemn me. Lord. Jesus propped up her chin

(06:29):
so her eyes met his. Then, neither do I condemn you.
Then Jesus helped the woman to her feet, go and
sin no more so The woman departed feeling the full
weight of forgiveness.

Speaker 2 (06:45):
Jesus accepted this woman and addressed her deepest needs. He
assured her that he didn't condemn her, Refusing to shame her,
he offered her God's love and acceptance, and out of
that beautiful place of dignity and respect, Jesus urged her
to turn away from the sin that had entangled her.

(07:08):
We sometimes get forgiveness backward. We think we need to
get our lives together so God will accept us, But
it's the other way around. God has fully forgiven us,
freed us from all condemnation, and accepted us, so that
we're empowered now by his grace to make new and

(07:30):
better choices going forward. Jesus demonstrated his love and forgiveness
on the cross. All we have to do is open
our hearts to him to be saved. In that moment,
we receive total forgiveness of all our sins, past, present,
and future. Even more, we receive a new heart that's

(07:54):
freed from the power of sin, a new heart that
agrees with God and all longs to trust him. Paul
experienced this new found freedom when Jesus interrupted him on
his path to destruction.

Speaker 3 (08:14):
After being baptized, Saul presented himself to some of the
disciples at Damascus. They were the ones he planned to
kidnap and kill. They watched as he entered the room
with his head held low. They were skeptical, but could
clearly see that something was different about him. Peter sat
among them. He was protective over the rest of the disciples.

(08:34):
He did not want a wolf among sheep. Who is Jesus,
he asked plainly. There was a long pause. Saul's face
was filled with anguish and regret. He remembered what he
had done and what he had said.

Speaker 1 (08:48):
There was blood on his hands.

Speaker 3 (08:50):
He is the son of God, Saul answered. As he
said these words, the entire room gasped. They were amazed
that Jesus had touched the heart of someone's so dark
and so evil.

Speaker 2 (09:03):
After being forgiven, freed and in dwelt by God's spirit,
Paul began to experience true liberty. He finally saw way
out of the sin and self righteousness that had consumed
his whole life. He spent the rest of his days
passionately telling others about this freedom, the freedom that comes

(09:27):
from knowing and trusting Jesus. Not only with our salvation.
But with every ounce of our lives, letting Him be
our savior, our Lord, and our everything.

Speaker 3 (09:44):
Stand firm. Therefore in the liberty by which Christ has
made us free. And don't be entangled again with a
yoke of bondage. For you, brothers, were called for freedom only.
Don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh. Through love,
be servants to one another Galatians five one thirteen.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
Here's a well known proverb, bad company corrupts good morals,
But the opposite is also true. Good company inspires goodness. Fortunately,
we believers are always in good company, as we're now
united with Christ, one spirit, with the Lord. The presence

(10:32):
of God's Spirit within us empowers us to live in
freedom from sin. But there's more. It's not just about
God's spirit living in you as a good influence on you.
It's you, Yes, you yourself. You're a new creation. You're

(10:52):
the new self. You're the one with a new heart.
You're now a good tree that can bear good life fruit.
So you can confidently embrace who you are in Him
and allow His spirit to shape your thoughts and actions.
The perfect union you have with Christ inspires you to

(11:16):
live in alignment with his counsel and reflect his love
to the world around you. Thank you for listening to
today's Heartbeat of Faith podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode
or learn something new about the Bible, share it with
a friend or family member. Download Theprey dot com app,

(11:38):
and for more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org.
That's Andrewfarley dot org.