Beware the Lie of the Lizard

6 · Unpacks the central image from *The Great Divorce* that will govern the sermon: the red lizard on the ghost's shoulder as a personification of sin's seductive lies

So if you flip forward in the book to chapter 11, you'll come to a picture in the last half of that chapter of a ghost of a man with a red lizard on his shoulder, constantly twitching and whispering things into his ear. This red lizard represents sin. The lizard entices this ghost man into sin. The lizard talks the man into thinking his sin might not be that bad, that his sin might actually be desirable.

7 · Establishes the doctrine of original sin and its comprehensive effects

Since the beginning, since just after the beginning of humanity on earth, we have been marked and marred by the stain of sin. We've not been able to outrun it. The stain of sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, is one that we are all marked by sin affects our view of ourselves. Sin affects our families. Sin affects our view of life. Sin affects the way that we experience friendships. Sin affects the way we view our bodies. Sin affects the way we view our identity. Sin affects the way we view the culture. It's pervasive and pretty scary.

8 · Continues the Lewis illustration, introducing the angel who offers to kill the lizard and the man's resistance to the radical solution

The story of the ghost and the red lizard continues when the man is approached by an angel from whom is emanating heat and light like the sun on a tyrannous summer day. In El Paso. We are acquainted with tyrannous summer days, are we not? This angel asks the ghost man if he'd like the lizard killed. The man desires this lizard to be killed, but wonders if there might be another way. In fact, at one point he says, look, it's gone to sleep of its own accord. I'm sure it'll be all right.

9 · Interprets the Lewis image theologically: the lizard's whispers represent Satan's strategy of minimizing sin and convincing people they can manage it themselves

Now Satan uses his conniving and convincing tactics in the fallen world to feed us the lie that sin might be attractive, enticing, and it might not be that bad. We may even ourselves become convinced that it might be able to be dealt with gradually. Maybe we could hold it at bay on our own. This could be seen as the lie of the lizard exerting its influence.

10 · Brief expositional appeal to Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23 establishing sin's universality and its ultimate consequence — death

When we look to God's word, we see that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. The consequences of being given over to sin are drastic and real.

11 · Poses the existential dilemma: if sin is inescapable and God's hatred of sin is just, humanity has no hope on its own

So what do we do if experiencing sin and its effects is inescapable, much like the red lizard on the shoulder of the ghost man? And if God hates sin, then we have no hope. And the penalty of ultimate death and separation from God is a just one.

12 · The preacher uses personal testimony of his speeding ticket and his attempts to justify it as an illustration of universal human sinfulness and the internal rationalizations people construct

I wish I could stand up here and tell you that I'm a perfect guy, that I don't ever sin, that I never get impatient with my kids, that I never snap at my wife, that I don't speed in my car. But the defensive driving course that I have to take this month would belie that fact. It will attest to my insufficiency in that area as well as my propensity to sin if left to my own devices. In my defense, it was my kids fault because they got up late. Actually, it was my wife's fault because she didn't get them up on time. Come to think of it, my speeding was totally justified because I was on my way to church and the events that led up to my being late weren't actually my fault, right? These may or may not have been the justifications or excuses going through my Head as I saw the lights on that motorcycle cop's bike in my rear view mirror. The reality is that I knew I was going way too fast, that I was impatient, that my breaking of the speed limit was willful and also going to result in a just consequence. So then, when that very kind officer approached my car, I rolled down my window, handed him my license and proof of insurance, took my medicine. I got out of my fine for the ticket. But I had to admit that I was guilty and agreed to the consequence of a class to teach me how to drive safer and pay attention to others and the speed limit, whatever. Ironically, this is not the first or second time I've had to take a class like this. Lord help me. And the church said, lord, help him.

13 · Applies the illustration theologically: even mature believers with genuine faith still experience the reality of indwelling sin

Maybe a speeding ticket seems like not that big of a deal, but the reality is I broke the law and I deserved the punishment I got. Now look, I love the Lord. I've been a Christian since I was 5 years old. That in and of itself is a miracle I've come to see. I'm a Christian, I'm a pastor, and I still regularly do things I don't want to do. And I don't do the things I know I must in order to please God. Does anybody relate to that?

14 · Extended quotation from Romans 7:15-20 establishing that Paul himself experienced the same internal conflict between desire to obey God and persistent sin

So did the Apostle Paul. If you look back a couple verses from chapter 8, just go backwards or up to chapter 7, verse 15. The apostle Paul speaks of a similar plight in his own life. For I do not understand my own actions, Paul says, For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. How many of us have ever said that? Now, if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law that is good. So now it's no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells within me. 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. Now, if I do what I do not want, it's no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells within me. Even the Apostle Paul had this wrestle.

15 · A rapid-fire series of concrete questions about specific sins designed to pierce through abstractions and force personal self-examination

Now let me ask you a question. I'm going to ask you a series of questions. And sometimes we stand up here and we ask rhetorical questions. These are not those. If, as I ask these questions, you relate, be honest with yourself. I'm not going to ask you to raise your hand or speak out loud, but be honest. Might these be you in any shape, form or fashion? Do you ever speak in a way you know isn't right? Do you ever yell at your spouse or your kids in anger? Kids? Do you yell back at your parents and disobey? Do you look at images, videos or people lustfully? Do you give into and act on impure thoughts and desires with yourself or other people? Do you think of yourself as better than everyone else? Are you ever prideful? Are you ever selfish? How about demeaning to others? Gluttonous? Idolatrous? Do you gossip ever? Do you participate in light slander?

16 · Turns the self-examination toward the 'lie of the lizard' framework: not just that people sin, but that they rationalize and minimize their sin through Satan's deceptions

Did you answer yes to any of these questions? If you did, how do you justify your sin? What lie of the lizard do you believe on a regular basis in reality?

17 · Synthesizes the section on sin's reality: all sin deserves earthly and eternal consequences, and human effort cannot atone for sin

All of our sin, no matter how enticing, ensnaring, simple, benign, seemingly innocuous or devastating, deserves a just punishment. Our sin will always result in some sort of earthly consequence. And the truth is that our sin also deserves a cosmic, eternal consequence. There's no defensive driving course that will lessen the eternal cosmic consequence of a life of sin. In fact, the punishment, the just punishment of sin, apart from Christ, is condemnation. There is no amount of atonement we can ever work toward that will ever save us in our own right from the curse of sin and death.

18 · Hinge statement that names the tension created by the first section and signals the structural move into the second major section on 'no condemnation

So if this is the reality of sin, and Paul knows this, how can he write after he himself acknowledges his own struggles in this way? How can he say, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus? As we go into this next point, exploring what no condemnation really means, look back at Romans chapter 27, right where we left off, or Romans chapter 7, right where we left off, verse 21.

19 · Extended reading and exposition of Romans 7:21-25 and into Romans 8:1

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies closest close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? Have you been there? Have you felt the war in your mind and your members? Have you cried out to the Lord, wretched person that I am, how will I ever be rid of this thing? Paul says, thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord man. So then I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. And then he says, there is therefore now no condemnation for Those who are in Christ Jesus, we'll look at why in a minute.

20 · Comprehensive theological statement on salvation: humanity's natural state (dead in sin), the means of salvation (Christ alone, confession and belief), what we are saved from (condemnation, death, hell), and what we are saved to (relationship with God, good works, kingdom participation, eternal restoration)

You were born a sinner. If that's a surprise to you, I'm sorry you were born a sinner. I was born a sinner. In our natural state, we are out of relationship with God, dead in our sin, eternally hopeless. Through Christ and Christ alone, we can be brought into a right and restored relationship with God as new creations. Jesus offers complete and total forgiveness and victory over sin. The Scriptures say that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be. What? Saved? What are we saved from? Death, Eternal condemnation, separation from God, Hell. The consequence is dire. It's a worse eternal reality than any of us could ever imagine. But what are we saved to through Christ? We are not saved to a place. We are saved to eternal relationship with the living God. We are saved for the good works that he has prepared in his kindness beforehand that we should walk in them. We are saved to be participants in building the kingdom of God here and proclaiming the kingdom of God for eternity. We are saved to a better eternity than we can ask, think or imagine. Where God makes all things new and where the stain of sin is nowhere to be found. That is good news.

21 · Clarifying transition that distinguishes healthy conviction from false condemnation and sets up the narrative return to the Lewis illustration to demonstrate God's radical solution

Now we're called to holiness. So it's good and right when we feel convicted by our sin. Paul himself says that there's a helpful and necessary weight when we feel that we're doing things outside of God's will and and plan. We're called to turn from our sin, put off our old self, walk in newness of life as we put to death the things of the flesh. So how do we do this if we can't save ourselves? What does this look like?

22 · Returns to the Lewis illustration at its climactic moment: the angel's refusal of gradualism, the pain of the burning process, the lizard's desperate attempts to preserve itself, and the man's final cry for deliverance

The story of the ghost, the lizard and the angel continues this way. The angel repeats his question to the ghost. He says, may I kill it? The man wonders if a gradual process would be better than killing the lizard. And the angel replies the that the gradual process is of no use at all. As the angel draws near to the man, the emanating heat begins to burn. The man cries out in pain, wondering if the angel might kill him along with the lizard. And the angel replies, I never said it wouldn't hurt. I said it wouldn't kill you. The lizard speaks to the man, desperately trying to talk the man into allowing him to live, sowing doubt and loudly shouting unfillable promises of sweetness and innocence, all while concerned with only the preservation of its lizard self. The man Cries out to be rid of the lizard. God help me. God help me.

23 · The preacher shifts to personal testimony of his own sin before college — unnamed but significant — using Augustine's language of 'the joy that enchains' to describe false pleasure that leads to bondage

Just before I went to college, I was uniquely subject to the lies of the lizard in my life. I allowed its conniving whispers, inconsistent lies, its promises of pleasure to convince me that my desires were more fulfilling than the promises of the Lord in my life. I gave in to sin in a way that hurt myself, hurt people around me. It damaged others, it caused brokenness in my life and the lives of others. In the three hundreds, the church, Father Augustine, said this, and I resonate with these words. I rushed headlong into love by which I was longing to be captured. My God, my mercy in your goodness, you mixed in much vinegar with that sweetness. My love was returned. And in secret I attained the joy that enchains.

24 · Continues the testimony: the preacher mistook conviction for condemnation and tried self-rescue

The Lord in his kindness allowed me to feel the weight of the consequence of my sin. But I mistook that conviction, that weight for condemnation. I told you, I've been a Christian since I was five years old. I believed that miracle with all of my heart. But even as a Christian who had walked most of my life with the Lord, I thought I had to fix myself. I was so weighed down my first number of days at college, and the Lord, in his kindness, provided to me a roommate, my friend Brian, who did not pull any punches. He was like, yeah, that was dumb. But he pointed me to Jesus. Can you imagine for the side note, meeting somebody for the first time and then just being laid out? Here's the weight of all of my sin. I'm John. Ha ha. I'm Brian. Nice to meet you. Lord was so kind. Through my friend Brian, he pointed me to Jesus. He. He said, you need to pursue reconciliation. But he reminded me of the mercy of God through Christ that I had received.

25 · The climax of the testimony: during chapel worship, physically unable to stand under the weight, the preacher cries out to God and hears 'give it up

Now I was so burdened by the consequences of these, I couldn't stand to sing. So I cried out in my spirit, God, what do I do? And I heard in that moment, give it up. I said, okay. I repented of my sin immediately. I felt the weight that I've been carrying lift. I stood, and for the first time in a number of days, felt free to worship with a profound sense of the mercy of God in my life.

26 · Returns to the Lewis illustration for its violent resolution: the angel grips the lizard, the ghost screams, and the lizard is killed and flung broken to the ground

Lewis uses a vivid image to display how the Lord deals with our sin. As the story of the Ghost, the Lizard and the angel continues. The next moment the ghost gave a scream of agony such as I never heard on earth. The burning one closed his crimson grip on the reptile, twisted it while it bit and writhed, and then flung it broken back onto the turf.

27 · Synthesizes the personal testimony and the Lewis image: the preacher interprets his own experience through the lizard framework and connects it to the garden fall pattern

While I was carrying the weight of condemnation in my life, it was self imposed. I was trying with all of my might to deal with my own sin. I was trying to do everything I could to hide myself from the One who created me, just like Adam and Eve in the garden. But I couldn't cleanse myself. I can't cleanse myself. I can't lift the weight of condemnation and shame. The Lord knows that. So he gripped my proverbial red lizard, ripped it from my body and flung it broken back onto the turf.

28 · Direct application questions moving from the illustrations to personal examination: Are you trying to remove sin yourself, and have you given it to Christ?

Is there a sin you are seeking freedom from in your life? Are you beholden to something that you've been trying desperately to be rid of yourself? Have you given it to the only one who can rid you of it? Have you given it to the one who gave himself for you?

29 · Anchors the application in the substitutionary atonement: Christ bore the full punishment for all sin, therefore no eternal consequence remains for those in Christ

I will not promise you that letting go of the grip of your sin will be easy or painless. But I can confidently promise you that if you are in Christ, there is therefore now no condemnation for you. There is no eternal consequence left for you. Because Jesus died for that sin too. He bore the full weight of punishment in your place. And in my place he bore the full weight of God's wrath. Justly punishment for the curse of sin and death for you and for me.

30 · Promise statement: God meets those who repent, and freedom awaits on the other side

The Lord will meet you. And there is freedom found on the other side of true repentance. And it is beautiful.

31 · Explicit structural pivot into the third and final major section: what it means to run in Christ's freedom

Which brings us to our final thought today. I said at the beginning that our big idea today was that I want you to be able to Christian run in the freedom that Christ has won. So what does freedom in Christ mean?

32 · Returns to Romans 8:2 and unpacks the mechanism of freedom: the Holy Spirit's law of life has liberated believers from the law of sin and death

Paul says this. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you what free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. The Gospel is. Say it with me. Good news. The good news is that Jesus died for your sin, taking the whole eternal cosmic consequence for your sin on the cross. The Holy Spirit has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. The Gospel is God's victory over sin and death. The Gospel is the reason we have any hope at all in this life and the next.

33 · Corrects reductionist views of salvation: the gospel is not merely escape from hell but entrance into eternal joyful relationship with God

The good news isn't just some version of cosmic fire insurance. It's the good news of an eternal, unending, hope filled joy beyond our wildest imagination, relationship with the maker of the universe, period.

34 · Direct evangelistic appeal to non-believers present

Have you trusted in Christ for your salvation? If you're here today and you don't believe this, you would honestly say you have not submitted your life to Christ. You would say you have not understood the good news of the Gospel. May I ask you to consider if the Lord is calling you to himself today. Turn from your sins, repent. Confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and today you shall be saved.

35 · Pastor shifts to direct pastoral address to believers who are discouraged by ongoing sin

For those who are Christians today, I want to acknowledge a particular reality. Even as a new creation. Even as a new creation, sin is hard to deal with, isn't it? And it's that much more discouraging, isn't it? You like Paul, are like, why do I keep doing this? Where's the freedom that I keep being told about? Even as a new creation, because of Satan's influence on the world, because of the fall. Until Jesus comes back, we fight the battle against the flesh. Sin can be really enticing. It can feel good, euphoric, even at times. Can it? But what is a fleeting moment of forbidden feeling if its result is a joy that enchains a false joy that is actually slavery to the earth and to the flesh?

36 · The Lewis illustration reaches its glorious resolution: the ghost becomes a glorious man, the lizard becomes a magnificent stallion, and both ride into eternity

Let's look at what became of the ghost, the lizard and the angel. What ensues upon the vicious defeat of this red lizard is that the ghost of a man grows into what Lewis describes as an immense man, bright and strong. The red lizard becomes a giant stallion, silvery white, with a mane and tail full of gold. With each stump of its hooves, the earth shakes. The ghost and his sin have been transformed into a new creation. The man jumps on his stallion and they ride across the plains into eternity. The picture Lewis paints here is that of the natural body being put to death and raised a spiritual body, a new creation. Lewis says this what is a lizard compared with a stallion? Lust is a poor, weak, whimpering, whispering thing. Compared with that richness and energy of desire which will arise when lust has been killed, you can substitute any sin for lust there.

37 · Interprets the Lewis image theologically and applies it to present-day believers: Christ's victory is not theoretical but actively extends through the Holy Spirit into current struggles with sin

What is the joy that enchains in comparison to what the Lord has for you? Christ won the victory over sin and death forever. That's not just some theoretical fairy tale. None of us would stand up here if we didn't believe it. We're not telling stories. Each Sunday we are proclaiming the absolute truth of God's goodness and mercy to his people. Christ won the victory over sin and death forever. That Christ won victory over sin and death means that through the power of the Holy Spirit, that victory extends into the sins and challenges of the flesh you wrestle with right now. Christian. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life has set you what free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

38 · Extended application sequence naming specific sins and leading congregational response: 'In Christ there is victory

Do you struggle this morning with truth telling? Do you regularly find yourself convicted when you get caught in a lie? Christian? In Christ there is victory. Do you wrestle with gluttony, being beholden to binging on food, tv, drinks, video games, whatever else? In Christ there is victory. Do you struggle with gossip, slander, putting others down with your words, trying to make yourself look good? In Christ there is victory. Do you have a hidden pornography habit? In Christ there is victory. Do you wrestle with substance abuse? In Christ there is what? Victory. Come on. Do you wrestle with impure thoughts or actions with members of the opposite sex? In Christ there is what? Do you wrestle with impure thoughts or actions with the members of the same sex? In Christ there's what? Do you believe that church? Do you believe that there is victory in Christ? Then say it. Say, in Christ there is victory. Sometimes we say things. I was going to say this later, but I heard this quote this week that says, when I come into church, sometimes I sing from my heart and sometimes I sing. I need to be. I need other people to sing to my heart. This is one of those moments we're not singing, but we're proclaiming the victory of Christ. Amen. So with your heart, say, in Christ there is victory. If you couldn't say that with your heart, hear the ones of the voices of those around you proclaiming that truth this morning.

39 · Escalates the application to address the most severe manifestation of sin's destructive power — thoughts of death — and proclaims Christ's victory even there

In the category of death, do you wrestle with thoughts of self harm or suicide? In Christ there is victory. Satan doesn't get the last word in your life. In Christ there is victory.

40 · Direct charge to believers based on their identity: new creation, Spirit-empowered, called to run in freedom

Are you a Christian? You are a new creation. You have the Holy Spirit empowering you to walk in a manner worthy of your calling. So, Christian, run the good race set before you in the freedom that Christ has won.

41 · Introduces hymn 'And Can It Be' as doxological capstone to the application

One of my favorite hymns is and Can It Be. And the last verse says this. No condemnation Now I dread Jesus and all in him is mine alive in him my living head and clothed in righteousness divine bold I approach the eternal throne and claim the crown through Christ my own. And then the refrain is this. I was reading this this morning. I was like, I can't stop there. Because the refrain of that hymn says, amazing Love, how can it be that thou, my God, should die for me?

42 · Synthesis of the sermon's Christology: the God of the universe chose substitutionary atonement, which secures both present freedom and eternal victory

The God of the universe decided to bear your weight, bear the weight of your sin and condemnation on himself on the tree. How kind of the Lord. You see the victory of Christ that Christ won through his death and resurrection provides freedom to run this life in step with him. And it means that Satan doesn't get the last word in eternity. In Christ there is victory now and in eternity.

43 · Structural signal introducing the final three-point application grid

So, three things that will help us apply this this morning, just very briefly.

44 · First practical application: names the serpent's lies in Eden ('Did God really say?') and their contemporary forms, then provides direct theological responses to each lie

The first is this. Don't believe the lie of the fall. The lie of the Fall might sound something like this. Did God really say, do you really think that God doesn't want you to do this? This brings you so much pleasure. Will it really be that bad? Doesn't God want you to be happy? Doesn't God want you to have friends? Don't you think God would want you to have this good experience? Here's a few answers for us. Yes, God really does have a good plan. No, God does not want you to participate in acts of destruction. Yes, earthly pleasure can lead to pain and suffering outside of God's will. Yes, God does want you to be happy, but he's more concerned with your holiness. In him there is fullness of joy. Yes, God wants you to have companions in this life, but primarily a community that points you back to him. And it's in him that we find ultimate friendship and companionship. No, God does not want you to have a good experience if it's outside of his will. And good design in his design is ultimate fulfillment. Don't believe the lie of the fall. Believe the promises of the Creator of all things and the author of salvation. Don't believe the lie of the fall.

45 · Second application, part one: warning to mature Christians not to believe they are immune to temptation

Number two, Beware the lie of the lizard. I have two warnings here. There are two reasons to beware the lie of the lizard. The first is for the mature Christian. You're here this morning. You're like, I've been walking with the Lord a long time. I've experienced victory over sin. I'm a mature Christian. Maybe you've experienced freedom for particular sins. Maybe you believe that you're. Excuse me. Maybe you believe the lie that you are immune to the lie of the lizard. You are immune to struggles against flesh and blood. Christian, beware. The allure of sin is kind of like the sirens that Odysseus encounters in Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. The allure of sin is like the mythical creatures with enchanting voices that lure even the most seasoned of sailors into Their deaths. Christian. Be vigilant, always putting to death the sins of the flesh. Don't give the enemy a foothold, no matter how small.

46 · Second application, part two: warning to Christians who believe their sin requires isolation until they fix themselves

The second warning is for those who believe their sin leads them to isolation. Maybe you would be a Christian here today and you're tempted in this way. Isolation is the goal of the enemy, and sin thrives in isolated darkness. You may be tempted to listen to the whispers of the red lizard and try to work things out on your own, or convince yourself that your sin really isn't that deadly. Maybe the lies of the lizard have convinced you that you're not worthy of community. Maybe you believe today that until you can be rid of whatever sin you're struggling with on your own terms, you must isolate yourself until it's dealt with, until you're better. But that's exactly the opposite of what God calls us to do. If that's you today, step into the light. Step into the community that the Lord has provided so that we can help you see the freedom in Christ. If you're stuck in sin this morning, if you're being isolated by the enemy, step into the light. We're here for you. You don't have to be better to be free. The Lord is calling you even now to step out of that darkness, step out of isolation. The lie of the enemy leads to death and destruction, but the way of the Lord leads to life. So beware of the lie of the lizard.

47 · Third and final application: trust in the resurrection hope

And lastly, trust in the hope of the resurrection. Paul says this so much better than I can. So we're going to look in First Corinthians, chapter 15. You don't have to go there. I'll read it for you. Paul says this. Listen to this glorious picture of eternity and why in Christ we are able to run in the freedom that Christ has won. Paul says this. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, oh, Lord, we cannot wait for that day, and the mortal puts on immortality. Then shall come to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

48 · Final synthesis of the sermon's hope: the gospel is better than imagination

My hope today is that we would leave truly believing that the Gospel is better news than anything we could ask, think, or imagine for today and for eternity. And if you are in that category of being stuck in bondage, feeling isolated, feeling like you can't come out into the light until you're better placed Please come over to the foot of the cross. Let us pray for you today. Don't leave today. Still in bondage. Don't leave today. Still stuck. The Lord has freedom for you. If you're not walking with the Lord, if you are not a Christian today, come to Jesus today. Repent, turn from your sin, confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and today is your day of salvation.

49 · Climactic declaration using vivid imagery: sin in Christ is toothless, powerless, defeated

Jesus is better than anything sin has to offer. In Christ, sin has no teeth. I love that picture, don't you? If you imagine teeth as a sin, as a person with no teeth, it's kind of helpful sometimes, isn't it? In Christ, sin has no teeth. Sin has no shine, it has no sparkle. Sin has no influence. Sin has no sting in Christ and in Christ, most importantly, sin. Sin doesn't get the last word. Sin has no victory.

50 · Final rehearsal of the primary text (Romans 8:1-2) and the concluding verse from 1 Corinthians 15:57

So the words of Paul say this. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Church said,

51 · Closing pastoral prayer thanking God for victory, asking for deliverance of those in bondage, and looking forward to the sinless eternity

let's pray together. Lord, thank you for the victory. Lord. It is hard to hear about sin. It's hard in a culture that wants to avoid it, to really look at the consequences of sin in eternity and in life. But, Lord, help us not to shy away from it, because we know that in you there is victory. Lord, I pray that if there are those here today that are stuck in the bondage of their sin, that are feeling that weight of condemnation, that they're feeling that weight of the consequences of their sin, Lord, would you release them of that today, even now? Now, don't let anybody leave this room until they're delivered from that bondage, Lord. Lord, we believe you can do all that we ask, think or imagine. And we look forward to an eternity that is not marked with sin, where we can see the victory fully, completely in you. In Jesus name, amen.