Faith of Our Fathers

Episode: Freedom from Bondage of Decay

Speaker: John Stott
Date: October 3, 2025
Podcast Host: WDAC Radio Company

Episode Overview

In this episode, John Stott, a renowned evangelical preacher and theologian, digs deep into a foundational aspect of Christian hope—“Freedom from Bondage of Decay.” Stott explores the reality of human and cosmic frailty, explaining Paul’s teaching in Romans on the limitations of our present existence and the glorious liberty promised to believers. Stott’s message is rich with biblical exposition, driving home the future-oriented aspect of Christian freedom, and offering hope rooted in Christ’s resurrection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature of Christian Freedom (00:50)

• Not just “freedom from,” but “freedom for God”: Stott reframes Christian liberty as not merely an escape or release from constraints but as a purposeful freedom to love and serve God as his children.
  • “Christian freedom is not primarily freedom from anything, but freedom for someone. It's freedom for God to live in love as God's children.” (00:50)
• Progressive liberation: Four freedoms already given—freedom from condemnation, from the opinions of others, from the slavery of self, and from the fear of evil—but a fifth, final freedom yet to come: freedom from the “bondage of decay.”
• Fifth tyranny—Bondage of decay: The present message focuses on the still-future nature of this freedom: “No Christian can claim to enjoy perfect freedom in this life.” (01:45)

2. The Bondage of Decay Explained (03:10)

• Scripture foundation: Romans 8:18-25.
  • “The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (04:06)
• Decay and futility in the natural world: Stott observes the universal cycle of decay—birth, growth, death, decomposition—in both animate and inanimate creation, highlighting Ecclesiastes’ cry of “vanity of vanities.”
  • “All animate nature is in bondage to decay. We simply cannot escape from the cycle of nature...” (05:40)

3. Universal Groaning and Hope (07:10)

• Creation and humanity both groan: Not just the material world but humans—including Christians—experience this groaning.
  • “How important it is for us to realize that birth into the family of God does not liberate us from our human mortality. Grace does not eliminate nature in Christian people, or not yet.” (08:40)
• Half redemption: While Christians’ souls are redeemed, their bodies await redemption; our present experience includes both spiritual renewal and physical frailty.

4. Twofold Bondage & The Hope of Resurrection (10:00)

• Physical frailty and indwelling sin: Continued bondage is both bodily (mortality, decay) and moral (remaining sin).
• Deliverance comes with resurrection: Only at the resurrection, when given new bodies, will both Christians and creation know final freedom.

5. Contrast Between Present & Resurrection Bodies (13:04)

• 1 Corinthians 15 exposition: Stott unpacks Paul’s teaching on the nature of resurrected bodies, drawing several key contrasts:
  • Perishable vs. Imperishable: Present bodies are frail; resurrection bodies will be “immune to all germs and bacteria,” enjoying “perennial youth.” (15:40)
  • Dishonor vs. Glory: Current bodies are the sphere of temptation and corruption; the resurrection body is “entirely rid of this indwelling sin.” (17:30)
  • Weakness vs. Power: Earthly bodies are limited; resurrection bodies will have “new powers.” Stott speculates based on Christ’s resurrection body: material, yet transcending ordinary physical limitations (e.g., passing through doors, ascending to heaven).
    • “Our present body is weak. Our resurrection body will be powerful. It will have new powers.” (20:05)
  • Physical vs. Spiritual: Earthly bodies are animated by “animal” (psuki) life; resurrection bodies are animated by the spirit (pneuma), suited for eternal existence.

6. The Liberty of Glory (22:45)

• Summary of “the fifth tyranny”: Christians remain subject to mortality and sin, and full deliverance will be both physical and moral.
  • “The liberty to which we're looking forward is the liberty of glory. And this glory is deliverance from both physical and moral corruption, from decay and from sin.” (22:50)

7. Closing Applications—Christian Perspective, Assurance, and Expectation (23:15)

• Perspective: Christians should “learn to live this life in the light of the next, looking forward to our final liberation.”
• Assurance: The indwelling Spirit is “the first fruits of the Spirit, as a pledge of our final inheritance.”
• Expectation: We give thanks for our present freedoms, but “the fifth freedom is yet to come and it will be the best of all.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the meaning of Christian freedom:
  “Christian freedom is not primarily freedom from anything, but freedom for someone. It's freedom for God to live in love as God's children.” (00:50)
• On decay in the world:
  “All animate nature is in bondage to decay. We simply cannot escape from the cycle of nature, birth, growth, death and decomposition...” (05:40)
• On the partial nature of redemption:
  “Birth into the family of God does not liberate us from our human mortality. Grace does not eliminate nature in Christian people, or not yet.” (08:40)
• On the hope of resurrection:
  “Our present body is weak. Our resurrection body will be powerful. It will have new powers.” (20:05)
• On final liberation:
  “The liberty to which we're looking forward is the liberty of glory. And this glory is deliverance from both physical and moral corruption, from decay and from sin.” (22:50)

Important Timestamps

• 00:50: Introduction to the theme of Christian freedom and the “five tyrannies”
• 03:10–09:00: Romans 8 explained—the groaning of creation and humanity
• 13:04–21:00: 1 Corinthians 15: Contrasts between present and resurrection bodies
• 22:45: Summing up the “bondage of decay” and the glory to come
• 23:15–24:30: Application—Christian perspective, assurance, and expectation

Episode Tone & Language

John Stott’s tone is thoughtful, clear, and pastorally warm. He teaches with precision, gently guiding listeners through difficult theological territory with rich scriptural exposition, practical analogies, and a sense of reverent hope.

Summary

John Stott’s message calls Christians to acknowledge the universal reality of decay and futility, but to do so with assurance and longing for the promised liberty of resurrection. The episode offers both a realistic view of present struggles and a stirring vision of future glory, grounded in Christ’s own resurrection and the sure promise of God.