WORD ASSOCIATION: FREEDOM

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   When words are thrown out for consideration, individuals usually have several words that they can associate with that word.

 

B.   There have been several television shows that have been based upon word associations.  Password and the 100,000 Pyramid are probably the most popular.

 

C.   In today’s lesson, we will be doing a word association.  We are going to use the word “Freedom.”  There are two reasons for this.

1.    First, yesterday was July 4^th or Independence Day.  It is the day that the United States celebrates its independence, its freedom from England.

2.    Second, freedom is a biblical topic. 

a.    The word “free” is found 32 times in 31 verses in the New Testament.

b.    Ten times the word “free” is directly associated with our freedom in Jesus Christ.

c.    One of the most familiar verses on freedom is John 8:32.

 

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

 

D.   As I contemplated the word “freedom,” there were seven or eight words that came to mind.  Let’s look at five of them in this lesson. 

 

E.   We have entitled the lesson:  “Word Association:  Freedom.”

 

I.             DESIRE

 

A.   Almost everyone who has ever lived has desired freedom.

1.    Some more than others.

2.    Children age into their teens and desire freedom from the restraints of their parents.

3.    Others have lived in horrible states of confinement and slavery.  Every day they have yearned to be free.

 

B.   Freedom gives one a multitude of blessings.

1.    One can make his own choices.

2.    One can express his thoughts and opinions.

3.    One can pursue goals and intents.

4.    One can live without coercion or oppression.

 

C.   In the spiritual realm there are multitude of people who are in spiritual bondage to sin. 

1.    Sadly, many of them do not yearn to be free.

2.    Paul was not of that number.

a.    Paul was well-educated in the law.

b.    He knew that the law showed sin to be exceeding sinful (Rom. 7:13b).

 

…that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

 

c.    Paul also knew that the blood of bulls and goats could not remove sins (Heb. 10:3-4).

d.    He knew he was in sin.  He longed to be free, but he did not know how this freedom could be possessed (Rom. 7:24).

 

O wretched man that I am!  who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

 

II.           COST

 

A.   Freedom is not free of charge.  It usually comes at a great cost.

1.    The Revolutionary War lasted eight years (1775 – 1783).

There were approximately 25,000 American lives lost.

2.    The Civil War lasted four years (1861-1865).

Union lives lost totaled 330,000.

Frederick Douglas’ legal freedom was purchased in 1846 for E150.  This would be equivalent to tens of thousands of dollars today.

 

B.   Spiritual freedom did not come cheap.

1.    Men enslaved in sin had to be redeemed.  A ransom had to be paid.

2.    The payment had to be in blood (Heb. 9:22).

a.    It could not be the blood of animals.

b.    It could not be the blood of sinful human beings.

c.    Thus, it was paid by the blood of the perfect Son of God who was made flesh.

3.    Verses:

a.    “For ye are bought with a price…” (1 Cor. 6:20).

b.    1 Peter 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 blemish and without spot.

 

c.    “Who gave himself a ransom for all…” (1 Tim. 2:6).

 

C.   NOTE:  When we do not have to pay for our freedom, we often do not understand the cost.  Since we do not understand the cost, we do not appreciate the cost.  Since we do not appreciate the cost, our lives do not fully yield the fruits of freedom.

 

III.         LAW

 

A.   Law must be associated with freedom.

 

B.   This seems extremely ironic.

 

1.    Definition:  a collection of rules established by the governing authority and made applicable to people.

2.    Rules command.  Rules restrict.  Rules set boundaries.  Rules involve consequences for violation.

3.    If this is true, how can law be associated with freedom.

 

C.   Two illustrations:

1.    No rules for the road

2.    No rules for sexual practices

 

D.   God has a law that He has given man.

1.    The law of the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2)

2.    The law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2)

3.    The perfect law of liberty (Jam. 1:25)

4.    The royal law (Jam.2:8)

 

E.   When a man lives in the confines of the law of God, he and all others, living under that law will experience true freedom. 

 

IV.         MAINTENANCE

 

A.   Freedom is not something that is permanent.

 

B.   There are always others out there seeking to take away another’s freedom.

 

C.   Satan definitely wants to remove us from our freedom in Christ.

1.    He seeks to get us to commit sin (temper, Matt. 4:1-3)

2.    John 8:34

 

Jesus answered them, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

 

a.    We are not referring to a few sins committed over a lifetime.

b.    We are referring to those who get caught up in sin.

 

D.   Because of this, we must maintain our freedom.

1.    We must increase our knowledge of God’s Word (Ps. 119:11).

2.    We must develop self-control (1 Cor. 9:27).

3.    We must warn and rebuke others (Col. 1:28; 1 Tim.5:20).

4.    We must expose the false teachers (Rom. 16:17; Gal. 2:4)).

 

E.   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.

 

 

 

V.           LOST

 

A.   Liberty can be lost.  Yes, we can lose our freedom.

 

B.   Have there been countries taken over by foreign nations who have enslaved them once the opposing nation is in charge? 

 

C.   It happened at least 15 times in the period known as “The Judges.”

 

D.   Peter reveals that those who have escaped the world can be entangled in it again (2 Pet. 2:20).

 

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

 

1.    Peter says “they have escaped the pollutions of the world.”

2.    Peter notes how this was done.  Through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (See John 8:32).

3.    Peter reveals that these escapees can be entangled in the world again, and overcome.  Here is where they lose their freedom in Christ.

4.    Peter reveals that this condition is worse than the condition they were in before they escaped. 

 

E.   This condition is horrifying, sad, and ugly (2 Pet. 2:22).

 

But it is happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and, The sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We have looked at five words associated with freedom:  desire, cost, law, maintenance, and lost.

 

B.   God wants all of lost humanity to experience the freedom that is found in Christ.

 

C.   According to Paul, that freedom comes through obedience (Rom. 6:16-18).

 

Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness?  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.

 

1.    Obedience determines one’s master.

2.    Obedience dovetails with both heart and doctrine.

3.    Obedience delivered the Romans from sin.

4.    Obedience decides salvation.

 

D.   Two verses:

1.    John 8:36

 

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

 

2.    Galatians 5:13

 

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