Set Free- Day 1

Galatians 5:1 NASB95

1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Why do we need to be set free? Because we are slaves.

Who sets us free? Jesus Christ.

What are we set free to? Freedom.

Misconception

There is a misconception in the world that each person is deserving of complete and whole freedom. That no one should be ruled over, or tell you what to do, or forced to do anything against one’s own will or natural disposition. This is a misconception because it denies the reason and purpose for which you were made and seeks to enslave you under the power of death.

How we were created

We were created in God’s image. When we were created, we were given specific instructions. The features that we were created to have demonstrate that we were created for something and someone. Right out of the gate we must understand this. We are not just “our own”. The question that you have to deal with in your life is who are you serving?

This week we are going to take a deep dive into understanding that you will serve someone; and to understand that who you are serving has a direct impact on your life: 1) how you make decisions, 2) how you act towards others, 3) how others influence you, and 4) how things will turn out for you.

Here is how we will progress this week:

1. Not Free (part 1)- Slave to sin

2. Not Free (part 2)- Slave to satan

3. Set Free- not slaves but sons.

4. Live Free- living in freedom.

5. Stay Free- Maintaining Freedom

I. Not Free pt. 1- Slave to Sin

The whole reason we have to be set free is because we are a slave. The questions becomes what are we a slave to? We are a slave to sin and satan.

John 8:34 NASB95

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

Romans 3:23 NASB95

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

A. Everyone Sins, therefore, all are slaves.

James 1:14–15 NASB95

14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

1. Slave to desire.

Our desires are strong within us and control us. Either desires that are good or desires that are bad. They rule over us. If you were to dangle a carrot on one side and a cookie on the other you will find where your desire lies.

Matthew 6:21 “21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

2 Peter 2:19c NASB95

19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

2. Slave to deeds.

You reap what you sow. You cannot run from your sinful decisions, though many are deceived and believe they can. For the wages of your sin is death. Even the best deeds are riddle with sin because they are done for the glory of self than God.

Romans 6:16 NASB95

16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

Isaiah 64:6 NASB95

6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Matthew 5:20 NASB95

20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

3. Slave to death.

Romans 6:15–23 NASB95

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 NASB95

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. Slave to approval:

What others do and think highly impact you. They have such an influence over you that you can become a slave to it. You are a slave to approval. It steers you towards needing it.

Galatians 1:10 NASB95

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

5. Slave to self.

2 Timothy 3:2 NASB95

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Being a slave means we do not possess the ability or the freedom to escape from that which enslaves. But when someone comes along to free us we are now given the opportunity to no longer live in one direction- towards death. We can use our freedom to live in a new direction- life.

B. Who will set you free?

Romans 7:24 NASB95

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

1. Jesus Ministry was to set you free from sin.

Luke 4:18 NASB95

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed,

2. True freedom.

John 8:36 NASB95

36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

3. Set free from sin and death.

1 John 1:9 NASB95

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB95

30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

Romans 8:2 NASB95

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 NASB95

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. From slaves to sons.

Galatians 4:4–7 NASB95

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

As I said at the beginning we all are slaves and as slaves we all serve someone. We looked at how it is we are enslaved and unable to free ourselves. Only Christ truly sets us free. However, because we are a slave to sin we also are slaves to satan in his kingdom of darkness. Tomorrow, we will look at how we do the master of sin’s bidding and how Christ also sets us free from Satan.

C. Response

1. What sins have the greatest power over you?

2. What sins have you been set free from through faith in Christ?

3. What decisions in your life do you wish to be undone?

4. Whose attention do you desire the most?

5. Have you been delivered from the body of death?