Declaration of Freedom

John 8:31–38 NIV84

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

Freedom is never free. Many brave men and women have sacrificed to ensure our nation remains free. As believers, you and I have been set free. Our freedom was not free. Jesus paid the ultimate price. He died a sinners death to ensure you and I live a life of freedom. This is the reason the Apostle Paul appears to be frustrated with the believers in Galatia. He told them that it was for freedom that Christ died. He also posed a question to them after reminding them of how they started. You were running a good race, who deceived you? Why did you give up your freedom? Why do individuals give up their freedom? What are we free from? Jesus said that if the Son set you free you are free indeed.

There is an “if” and a “then” to this freedom. He started by stating, Jn 8:31 “31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” Then Jesus said, Jn 8:32 “32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

We always hear the “Then” part—you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” However, before “then” there is a qualifying instruction—hold to Jesus’ teachings. Then the truth you KNOW sets you free. But, FREE from what?

1. Freedom from sin

Rom 8:1-4 “1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”

Sub point 1: Sin enslaves us

We all know what it's like to be enslaved to sin

We try to break free, but we find ourselves returning to the same patterns of behavior over and over again

Sub point 2: Jesus liberates us from sin

Jesus offers us a way out

He liberates us from sin and sets us free to live in righteousness

Sub point 3: We must choose to live in freedom

We must choose to live in that freedom every day.

2. Freedom from fear

1 Jn 4:18 “18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Sub point 1: Fear limits us

Fear can hold us back from living the life that God has called us to

Sub point 2: Jesus gives us courage

Jesus offers us courage in the face of fear

Sub point 3: We can overcome fear through faith

Through our faith in him, we can overcome our fears and live boldly for his glory

3. Freedom from shame

Rom 10:11“11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.””

Rom 8:1 “1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”

Sub point 1: Shame keeps us in bondage

Shame can be a powerful force in our lives, keeping us trapped in a cycle of guilt and self-condemnation

Sub point 2: Jesus removes our shame

Jesus offers us a way out

Sub point 3: We can walk in confidence

Jesus removes our shame and gives us the confidence to walk in his grace.

4. Freedom to love as we are loved

Mt 22:37-39 “37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

1 Jn 4:19-21 “19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Sub point 1: Love sets us free

We are called to live in the freedom to love as he loves us

Love sets us free from the bondage of selfishness and pride

Sub point 2: Jesus empowers us to love

Jesus empowers us to love others as he loves us

Sub point 3: Love reveals our Lord and Savior

We declare the Lord when we love

Jn 13:35 “35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

1 Jn 4:11-17 “11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.”