OceanSide church of Christ
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THANK GOD WE ARE FREE
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A. The Declaration of Independence was issued on July 4, 1776.
1. The colonies in America were seeking their independence, their freedom, from Great Britain.
2. It would not be until September 3, 1783 that their freedom would become a reality. This was the date that the Treaty of Paris was signed acknowledging the United States to be sovereign and independent.
3. The war that took place to secure this freedom would be the second-deadliest conflict in U.S. history.
B. Since the Revolutionary War, no word resonates with Americans like the word “freedom.”
C. Since tomorrow is Independence Day, we thought we would present a lesson entitled: “Thank God We Are Free!”
1. John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
2. Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage.
I. DEFINITION OF FREEDOM
A. Free
1. Strong (1658): to liberate, to exempt, deliver
2. Thayer: to make free, set at liberty
B. Liberty
1. Strong (1657): freedom, unrestrained, not a slave, exempt
2. Thayer: freedom
C. Google.com
1. The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint
2. Absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government
3. The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved
4. The state of being physically unrestrained and able to move easily
5. The state of not being subject to or affected by (a particular undesirable thing)
D. One of the features of freedom is how is stands in opposition to bondage and enslavement.
II. MAN’S BONDAGE
A. Man is in bondage to sin.
1. Sin is the transgression of God’s will (I John 3:4).
2. The penalty of sin is death (Ezek. 18:20).
3. All have sinned (Rom. 3:19, 23)
4. Since all have sinned, all are enslaved to sin (John 8:36).
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
5. The problem is that we have no way to be released from our sins.
a. Animals are not a sufficient price
b. The sinner cannot pay for his sin, except by death.
c. Another man cannot pay the price for he is also a sinner.
B. Man is in bondage to Satan. He is the master of all in sin.
1. Satan is the tempter (Matt. 4:1, 3).
2. He seeks to enslave (II Tim. 2:26).
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
C. Man needed to be free from the Law of Moses.
1. The Law of Moses is one of the most misunderstood covenants to ever exist.
2. It was a covenant that was given strictly to the Jews (Deut. 5:2).
3. It was given for very specific purposes.
a. To separate a people whereby Christ could be brought into the world (Rom. 10:4).
b. To make sin exceedingly sinful (Rom. 7:13).
c. NOTE: It could never take away sins (Heb. 10:4, 11).
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
D. Man is in bondage to the fear of death.
1. Physical death is part of the sentence against the crime of sin (Gen. 3:19).
2. Following death is judgment (Heb. 9:27).
3. If man dies in his sins, he has much to fear when he dies (Heb. 2:15).
And deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject unto bondage.
III. JESUS CAME TO BRING FREEDOM
A. Four verses
1. Sin (Gal. 1:4)
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God, and our Father.
2. Satan (Heb. 2:14)
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil.
3. The Law of Moses (Gal. 3:13)
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth upon a tree.
4. Death (Heb. 2:15)
And deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
B. Other verses:
1. John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
2. Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
3. I John 4:14
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
IV. THE IRONY OF FREEDOM
A. There is no such thing as “absolute freedom.”
1. To be free from one thing enslaves us to another.
a. Free from all men and enslaved to self
b. Free from past traditions and enslaved to present traditions
c. Free from prison and responsible to various laws and obligations
2. Absolute freedom, without boundaries, would bring chaos and death (i.e., driving on the road).
3. Our freedom in Christ means
a. We are enslaved to Christ (Rom. 6:22).
But now being made from from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
b. Some may look at this, and say: “This is no freedom at all.”
1) When were Adam and Eve the most free? Before the fall? Or, after the fall?
2) When was the prodigal son truly free? While he was at home? Or, when he was in the foreign land?
3) When was the apostle Paul free? When he was a zealot in Judaism? Or, when he was a servant of Jesus Christ?
B. Freedom is acquired through the law of God.
1. Several verses:
a. John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
b. Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
c. James 1:25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
2. Remember, man will always be subject to something.
a. He can be subject to the bondage of sin and die.
b. He can be subject to the law of God and live.
3. What God’s law says that men must do to escape sin (Rom. 6:17-18).
But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
a. In the New Testament, we see
1) Jesus telling men what they must do to be saved in the Gospels.
2) Individuals obeying Jesus’ words in the book of Acts.
3) Reflection back upon what had been done to be saved in the Epistles.
b. Individuals heard the gospel, believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, repented of their sins, confessed the name of Jesus Christ, and were baptized for the remission of sins.
CONCLUSION
A. Two quotes:
1. Freedom is “to live as we should, not as we please.”
2. Freedom is being who we ought to be.
B. For man to live as he should and to be what he ought to be, he must be in a right relationship with God and live a life in harmony with God’s will.
1. Living as God directs is the whole of man (Eccl. 12:13).
2. Living as God directs is the abundant life about which Jesus spoke (John 10:10).
3. Living as God directs frees man to serve others (Gal. 5:13).
4. Living as God directs grants man hope beyond this life (Prov. 14:32; Rom. 5:2).
C. There is no freedom outside of Jesus Christ and away from God.
D. When a man finds freedom in Christ, he will exclaim: “Thank God I am free!!!”