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FREEDOM IN CHRIST*

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The desire for freedom seems to be something that is inherent in every individual.

1.      Small children quickly want to be able to do things for themselves:  feed themselves, chose their own clothes, and dress themselves.

2.      Teens yearn for freedom from their parents:  less rules, go when and where they please.

3.      Employees who are oppressed by their supervisors will often quickly look for other places for which to work.

4.      Those who are in prison long for the day they will be free again.

5.      Slaves yearn to be free from their cruel and evil taskmasters.

 

B.      Today is Independence Day.  On July 4, 1776, “the Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states” (www.wikipedia, “Independence Day”).

1.      Fifty-six men signed “The Declaration of Independence.”  The Preamble of “The Declaration of Independence” begins with these words:

 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

 

2.      The Revolutionary War was fought for the independence of the colonies from England.  That war lasted from April 19, 1775 until September 3, 1783.

 

C.     The freedom connected to July 4th is valuable to every citizen of the United States.  But, there is another freedom that is even more important and valuable.  It is the freedom that one can have in Christ Jesus.

 

D.    The title of our lesson this morning is:  “Freedom in Christ.”  Let’s examine some of the things that are involved in this freedom.

 

I.                   FREEDOM BEGINS WITH BONDAGE

 

A.    This statement is very ironic.

1.      Freedom and bondage are diametrically opposed.

2.      However, there cannot be freedom unless there is bondage first.

 

B.      There are two main components of bondage.

1.      A cruel owner/taskmaster of others.

a.      An “owner’ of another can possess others in two ways: 

1)      Through purchase

2)      Through capture

b.      Spiritually, we had a cruel owner known as the devil or Satan. 

1)      He is a wicked and vile being (John 8:44b).

…he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:  for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

2)      He captured us by means of temptations and snares (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.

 

2.      Wicked masters like Satan put their slaves in severe, rigorous bondage.

a.      What bondage involves:

1)      Doing the will of the taskmaster

2)      Making the master profitable at your loss

3)      Giving up your rights to the master

4)      Receiving horrible punishment from the master

5)      No hope for a better future

6)      The service always ends in death

b.      Passages that note the evil bondage under which we were living.

1)      Romans 6:20-21

 

For when you were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?  For the end of those things is death.

 

2)      Titus 3:3

 

For we ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

 

3)      II Peter 2:19

 

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption:  for of whom a man is overcome, of the same he is brought into bondage.

 

II.                FREEDOM IS SECURED BY A DELIVERER

 

A.    Freedom is not happily and voluntarily given back by the oppressor.  Usually, there is a deliverer who secures the freedom of those in bondage.

1.      Abraham had to rescue his nephew Lot from Chedorlaomer and the four kings who defeated Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 14).

2.      Moses with the assistance of God secured freedom for Israel (Exo. 3:10).

3.      Nations usually obtain freedom through horrible wars (Ex., Revolutionary War and Civil War).

 

B.      Our spiritual freedom is secured by Jesus Christ the Son of God.  Listen to what Jesus said during His earthly ministry (John 8:36).

 

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 

C.     A common word used in the Bible indicating freedom is the word “deliver.”

1.      Romans 7:6

 

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held…

 

2.      Galatians 1:4

 

Who gave himself for us, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

 

3.      Colossians 1:13

 

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

 

4.      I Thessalonians 1:10

 

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from wrath to come.

 

5.      Hebrews 2:15

 

And delivered them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject unto bondage.

 

D.    The deliverance that Jesus brought to us did not come without a very high cost. 

1.      The Son of God procured it by shedding His blood on Calvary (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14; I Pet. 1:18-19).

 

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without spot and blemish.

 

2.      We sometimes fail to appreciate the cost that was paid for several reasons.

a.      We were not the ones who paid the price.

b.      A lot of time has passed since the price was paid.

c.       We do not understand how much the price really was. 

1)      It is never set in terms of dollars.

2)      It is only set in terms of the loss of Jesus’ life.

d.      All of these things deal with the spiritual realm, a realm that it is difficult for us to comprehend and appreciate.

 

III.             FREEDOM IS OBTAIN CONDITIONALLY

 

A.    The Word of God clearly reveals that God’s law is involved in the freedom process.

1.      John 8:32

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

2.      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.

 

B.      The process is simple.  It can be summed up in two words:  trust and obey.

1.      Faith (Rom. 3:23-25)

 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

 

2.      Obedience (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.

 

NOTE:  Some object to freedom being obtained by obedience to God’s will.  An illustration will help some.  Assume an individual has been diagnosed with a very serious, life-threatening disease.  The doctor tells him:  “I can free you from this disease, but there are steps you must take in the process:  treatments, medications, and a special diet.  Question:  Would you take the steps to be free from the disease?

 

IV.             FREEDOM IS NOT LICENSE

 

A.    Some like to believe that freedom means the release from all rules, regulations, and restraints.

 

B.      The Bible warns against such an attitude toward our freedom in Christ.

1.      Galatians 5:13

 

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

2.      I Peter 2:16

 

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

 

C.     If freedom is not confined within the bounds of law, then freedom turns into chaos and anarchy. 

1.      Illustration:  Do we have the freedom of travel in this country?  Yes, we can go just about anywhere we desire to go.  That freedom, however, is governed by laws:  drive in the right lane, speed limits, stop signs, red lights, minimum age of drivers, etc.  What if we did not have these laws?  There would be anarchy on our streets.  We would quickly lose our freedom of travel to chaos and fear.

2.      The book of Galatians proclaims our liberty in Christ Jesus.

a.      Galatians 5:1 is the key verse of the book.

 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage.

 

b.      In the book, however, Paul exhorts the Christians to “Walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16) and “live in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). 

1)      When we walk in the Spirit, we walk in harmony with the Spirit’s teachings found in the Word of God.

2)      When we live in the Spirit, we live in the realm of holiness established by the Spirit in the Word of God.

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Christ came to set men free from Satan, sin, death, and wrath to come.

 

B.      If you have not trusted in the Christ and obeyed His Word, you are still a servant of sin.

 

C.     Paul told us specifically what we are to obey to be free from sin.  He said we are to obey that form of doctrine which was delivered unto us (Rom. 6:17).

1.      The word “form” means pattern to be imitated.

2.      The pattern involves the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3.      The sinner dies to his sins.  He is buried in the waters of baptism for the remission of sins.  He comes forth from the water of baptism as a new creature ready to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4; 6:17; II Cor. 5:17).

 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 

D.    Dear Christian, our freedom in Christ does not give us freedom to do as we please (See Rom. 6:1-2).

 

What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  God forbid.  How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

 

E.      If you have not obeyed that form of doctrine, or, if you, as a Christian, have not lived your life in conformity with God’s law, please seek His deliverance today.  Be free from sin!