I think it’s important that we recap on some principles we discussed last Sunday night!  Remember that there are two types of religion in the church, faith and works.  Let’s dial this in a little more and say faith would be living by the Holy Spirit and Works would be living by the flesh or self-centered desires.  Works looks at people and wonders why they don’t behave like them.  Faith looks at people and longs for them to belong.  Faith or the Holy Spirit produces love!  The Works based religion or flesh produces legalism or licentiousness.  We want to answer the why question, tonight we’ll answer the how question.    

The Remedy for Freedom vv.16-18

The remedy is a daily relationship with Jesus Christ.  If we want to experience true freedom, we must abide in Christ. 

John 8:31-32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 15:4-7 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

The Ruin From the Flesh vv.19-21

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

There may be times even in the Christian’s life in which they get tangled up into a life of sin.  I’m not concerned about those we are actively fighting sin, but those who are not.  If they are not fighting and hating sin, than they may not have a relationship with Christ or they may be a prodigal son.  The flesh will kill you!  There have been more deaths as a result of drug overdoses than murders. 

The Results of Faith vv.22-24

Galatians 3:23 “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.”  The results of faith are from the Rescuer, Jesus Christ!