1 Peter #6

Introduction:

Connection:

After the Lord used Martin Luther and John Calvin in the Protestant Reformation—the Roman Catholics came back with a counter-reformation (digging their feet down in their false doctrine). One of their accusations was that free grace for sinners would lead to a free license to sin. But Martin Luther wrote an incredible treatise on the Freedom of a Christian and he said that “A Christian is free from all, subject to no one—and a Christian is a servant of all, subject to everyone”. The work of God’s grace in our hearts always leads to a transformation of our hearts in loving service.

Theme

Living Freely as God’s Servants

Need

True liberation leads to servitude. Christian freedom is not a release from having a master—but a transfer of masters.

Purpose

To intrust God’s exiles in the importance of submission to authority, to encourage the saints to persevere while suffering unjustly; to comfort the church in the suffering of Jesus for our salvation; and to exhort the people of God to imitate Jesus in all of life.

Read Text:

1 Peter 2:13-25 ESV

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) Christian Freedom leads to Christian Submission - v. 13-17

1 Peter 2:13–17 ESV

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Last week the Apostle Peter exhorted us to live morally beautiful lives with good conduct before the Gentile and Pagan world. One of the ways that we live on mission, as witnesses for Jesus, even through suffering, is to obey Christ the Lord in all of life. And here Peter shows us how exactly we are to let our good conduct shine forth in this fallen world. He begins by commanding the church to a healthy and proper submission to the civil government.

First he says: Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good (v. 13-14).

Here the Apostle reminds us that our obedience to the civil government is not done simply for our sake, or simply for their sake—no—it is to be done for the Lord’s sake. Our proper obedience to the civil government is proper obedience to the Risen Christ who is Lord over all. Later in the letter Peter writes that the resurrected Jesus Christ has “gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him” (1 Peter 3:22). Jesus Christ is Lord of lords, King of kings, Ruler of rulers, Master of masters.

Why do we obey civil governments? Because civil governments are subject to Christ the Lord who reigns over them all. We submit to them for the Lord’s sake—which shows the pagan world that our allegiance is to King Jesus and all of his instituted authorities in daily life. Dr. Schreiner writes:

By carrying out the precepts of the government, Christians demonstrate that they are good citizens, not anarchists. In this way believers extinguish the criticisms of those who are ignorant and revile them.

Peter wants us to know that just because we are elect exiles in this fallen world, that it doesn’t give us an excuse to rebel against the temporary authorities. The civil government is put in place, under God, and over the people—to maintain peace, order, justice, protection, and freedom. Whoever is in a proper place of human authority, we are to submit to—we are to place ourselves under them willingly and voluntarily.

Why? Because these authorities are given by God and are under the authority of Christ the Lord in order to punish evil and praise good. The civil government isn’t set up in order to praise evil and punish good—that’s an abusive government—the civil government is meant to punish evil acts which violate God’s moral law—and to praise good acts which are in accordance with God’s moral law.

The civil government doesn’t get to determines what good and evil is—God does—and as Paul says elsewhere—the government is “God’s servant for your good”, they are “servants of God, avengers who carry out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” … who are “ministers of God” (Rom. 13:4-6). As ministers of God they must submit to the moral law of God as their standard for just laws that they impose on their people. As Christians we have an objective standard to be able to test what the government says and wether or not we obey their laws. The Holy Scripture reminds us that we are to submit always (which means that we put ourselves under their authority), but we aren’t always to obey (which means to follow through with their dictates). Rather—the same Apostle who penned 1 Peter also said this in Acts 5:29:

Acts 5:29 ESV

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Likewise—Jesus told us that different authorities have different limits to their authority and jurisdiction. He said this in Matthew 22:21

Matthew 22:21 ESV

They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Bringing all of this together, with what Peter says about submitting to every human institution, we can conclude that God’s will for us is to (1) Always submit to the civil government that God has put in place, (2) To always obey when the civil government’s laws are in accordance with the laws of Christ the Lord, (3) that we have the obligation to always disobey when the civil government’s laws cross the laws of Christ the Lord, and (4) that we have the option to disobey when the civil government makes laws that our outside of their jurisdiction.

As we properly submit to and obey the civil government, whether it’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford, Mayor Bryan Paterson, Local Police, or any other human institution of proper authority—as we properly submit to and obey them when it is just, we are living morally beautiful lives as a testimony to our Risen Christ. Peter says: For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people (v. 15).

As we obey the revealed will of God relating to authorities and submission and obedience—our lives should be so Christ-like that our pagan neighbours should be able to look at us and have absolutely no ground for accusation against us—we should be able to silence the ignorance of foolish people by not giving them ground to make accusations against us. I wonder—is that true of us? Is that true of our lives? Are we living such morally beautiful lives in obedience to Christ the Lord that we silence opposition? Or are ours lives sloppy and unrepentant and disobedient and disrespectful of authority so that our neighbours might very well have just grounds to make accusations against us? These are important questions to ask.

Peter continues and says: Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God! (v. 16).

Isn’t that fascinating? Most often when we think of freedom we define it as being free from any and all restraints or requirements—we’re free to do as we please. But that’s not heavenly freedom—that’s devilish freedom. That’s the temptation that Satan gave to Adam and Eve in the Garden. God said—you are free to do xyz, but you are my moral creatures so you must not go beyond these limits. But Satan came and said—well, if you really want to be free then you shouldn’t listen to the restraints of God, you should be your own judge of good and evil, free from all restraints.

Do you see? The way that the world defines freedom is what brings joy to the evil one. But Biblical freedom is quite different than this worldly concept. Biblical freedom is not really being released from slavery, or released from a master—it’s a transfer of slavery, it’s a transfer of masters. Biblical freedom frees the Christian from slavery to the devil, and brings the Christian into slavery to the living God. Biblical freedom frees the Christian from the devil as his lord, and brings the Christian to the Christ as his Lord. This is why every time the NT speaks of the Freedom of a Christian it is organically related to serving God. We are freed from sin so that we can serve God—we are freed from the devil so that we can delight in God—we are freed from our flesh so that we can walk in the Spirit.

Romans 6:22 ESV

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Oh the freedom of the Christian! This is is his hope, this is his delight, this is his song, this is his joy! That He has been freed by the ransom and redemption of Jesus Christ! That He has been released from the tyranny of sin, the lordship of the devil, the burden of the flesh, and the curse of the law! Oh blessed freedom! That you dear Christian have been qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in light, as Col. 1:13-14 says.

Colossians 1:13–14 ESV

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

This is a done deal—we are presently citizens of the heavenly Kingdom, the heavenly Zion, the City of the living God. Remember, that is why we are exiles in this earth—because our homeland is in heaven! And because of this, Peter says: you’re free! Hallelujah! You’re free.

You’re free from the curse of that sin that keeps weighing you down. As you repent and trust in Jesus you can known that it no longer has the final say in your life.

You’re free from having to always give in to the temptations of the evil one. As a Christian, you have been given the Holy Spirit who enables you to say no to sin and yes to righteousness.

You’re free from having to be the trailblazer of your own meaning and purpose—in Jesus Christ you have been elected from all eternity past by the Father, and have been born again to a living hope, which then joyfully obligates us to walk in holiness!

Dear Christian—you’re free—Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour is Risen, and He has set you free—nothing in all creation can change that—you are set free by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

But Peter doesn’t stop there, does he. He continues and says: do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil, but live as servants of God!

You’re free from the curse of sin—so don’t use that as an excuse to sin.

You’re free from the tyranny of the evil one—so don’t use that as an excuse to submit to him

You’re free from the depression of self-love—so don’t use that as an excuse to set up idols in your life.

Rather, your freedom brings you to the freest place of all—joyful and delightful service and slavery to the living God. This is our greatest joy—that we would serve God for all of our days without fear. This is our greatest delight—that we get to commune with God through his Word and Spirit. This is our greatest love—that we get to soak in the everlasting love of our God and Father. This is our greatest hope—that we get to live with our eyes fixed on our everlasting inheritance that is kept in heaven for us.

Thus, with Martin Luther, we concur: “A Christian is free from all, subject to no one—and a Christian is a servant of all, subject to everyone”. The Freedom of the Christian lies in being brought into the Freedom of walking in the Spirit, in the Word, in the ways of Christ, for the glory our Father.

The unbeliever says—well if you really are saved by grace alone then go and live in sin and have a great time!

But the true Christian responds—BY NO MEANS! How can I who’ve died to sin still live in it! I have a new Master, and his joys, his pleasures, his service, his path—they are sweeter than honey to my lips. My purpose in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever—my delight is to serve the Trinity, the Lord of Heaven and Earth. So lift up your head oh weary Christian—rend your hearts and not your garments—repent and believe—obey and serve—and come again to the Fountain of Life to taste and see that God is good—and that He always will be—because you are His, and He is yours.

Thus Peter shows us how to live in this Gospel Freedom, this Christian Freedom. He says: Honour everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the emperor. (v. 17).

One pastor says:

First, we “honor all men,” treat everyone with a respect they deserve, if only because they bear God’s image. Second, we love the brothers, showing affection and offering aid to all within the family of faith. Third, we fear God. This is affectionate fear, not cringing or servile terror, [this is a holy fear that] we owe to a person we respect. We revere the Almighty. Fourth, we honor the king—or the emperor, president, or prime minister

Brother Dave Moore has recently said to me that if Christians just picked one small Epistle in the NT and just actually obeyed it that all of our problems would be gone in the church—I’m going to take that to another extreme—if we would just obey this single verse all of our problems would be gone. If we actually honour everyone because they are made in God’s image—if we actually loved the brotherhood which is the family of the redeemed—if we actually feared God with a holy and dreadful delight—if we actually honoured the emperor and all civil governments. Every area of life is covered! Civil, Family, Church, Work, Recreation—if we just obeyed this single verse we would be living morally beautiful lives before this pagan world. God help us to let the beauty of the Spirit shine through our hearts and into this fallen world.

True Christian Freedom from sin, death, hell, Satan, and self—true Christian Freedom leads to true Christian Submission—and true Christian submission leads to faithful obedience in all that is just and in accordance with God’s moral law.

(1) Christian Freedom leads to Christian Submission - v. 13-17

This leads us to our second point:

(2) Christian Freedom leads to Christian Endurance - v. 18-20.

1 Peter 2:18–20 ESV

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Before unpacking the commands that Peter gives to slaves, I think it’s important to address the reality of 1st century slavery and its relationship to Christianity in the NT. Here is a lengthy quote from Dr Schreiner:

Modern people often ask why NT writers did not criticize the institution of slavery or advocate its overthrow. The latter was completely unrealistic for the fledgling NT church in the Roman Empire. The young churches would be fighting the consensus of the Greco-Roman world, and hence any such attempt would be doomed to futility. Again, we must remember that NT documents address readers in the situation in which they lived. Railing against slavery would not be of any help to ordinary Christians, for, as noted, the dissolution of slavery was out of the question. Furthermore, NT writers were not social revolutionaries (cf. 1 Cor 7:17–24), and they would have incurred further persecution if they advocated overthrowing societal structures. Even though the evils of slavery are not addressed, it does not follow that they did not have social concerns. New Testament writers concentrate on the godly response of believers to mistreatment. Peter fits this paradigm nicely since he admonishes his readers to respond in a godly way to persecution and oppression. It is crucial to note that the NT nowhere commends slavery as a social structure. It nowhere roots it in the created order, as if slavery is an institution ordained by God. … The NT regulates the institution of slavery as it exists in society, but it does not commend it per se. Hence, Peter’s words on slavery should not be interpreted as an endorsement for the system, even if he does not denounce the institution.

Thus, what we are seeing here is not the Holy Spirit inspiring a positive view of slavery, in fact, Paul himself says this elsewhere under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

1 Corinthians 7:21 ESV

Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)

The NT undermines slavery—but Peter, being realistic, knew that it was not possible at the time for it to be abolished—so he gave exhortations to Christian slaves to help them to live morally beautiful lives even under such wicked conditions.

Peter says: Servants, or slaves, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly (v. 19-20).

Just as Christians are to be subject to the civil government, so too are Christian slaves to be subject to their earthly masters—even in their harsh rule.

Do your best to show the love of Christ. Do your best to respect authority. Do your best to turn the other cheek. Do your best to show the fruit of the Spirit. Why? Because this attitude is a gracious thing in the sight of God! As you endure sorrows while suffering unjustly—God is pleased with your endurance and hope as you are looking forward to when Jesus will make all things new. Peter says—the fact that your not a rebellious and revolutionary slave means that you know that this isn’t your home! Your home is in the new creation—and nothing can take that away; not even your abusive masters. So as you journey to the New Jerusalem—you can endure suffering, even unjust suffering—knowing that you have a God who delights in your endurance and who will judge your wicked masters if they do not repent.

Peter then adds: For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God (v. 20).

While still addressing the Christian slaves, Peter says—don’t suffer for your own sin—don’t increase your suffering because of your own rebellious heart—don’t magnify your pain because you aren’t submissive. Sin-inflicted suffering is not God’s will for us. But Peter says—righteous-inflicted suffering and endurance is a gracious thing in God’s sight.

As we live for Jesus, we will come under persecution. As we endure suffering for righteousness sake we are walking in the will of God—we are showing that our ultimate allegiance is to the living God and the new world—not to the earthly authorities and the passing world. As we endure suffering for following Jesus—we count it all joy that we are given the privilege of suffering just like our Lord and Saviour did.

What are some areas in your life where you are in a tough situation—a place where you can’t alleviate the pain—you can’t alleviate the suffering—you can’t alleviate the sorrows—but you are following Jesus, obeying his Word, walking in the Spirit, and glorifying the Father. Have you ever experienced that? Peter says—this is a gracious thing in God’s sight as you endure sorrows while suffering unjustly for doing good, for doing righteousness, for loving God and serving Him in all of life—for showing that Christ is Lord and He is our King—and the Spirit of God is within us. Peter says this very thing in 1 Peter 4:13-14

1 Peter 4:13–14 ESV

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Oh dear suffering Christian—don’t see your endurance through suffering as evidence of God’s judgment upon your life—see it as God’s gracious and precious love for you, as you are walking in the paths trodden by your Saviour, following his road of suffering which leads to glory. Press on dear Christian! Don’t turn back! You’re almost home! Even as you suffer unjustly—even as your pain is magnified beyond words—even when no one else understands … God does, God is in control, God is giving you a taste of the sufferings of Christ so that the sweetness of glory will be even more enjoyable to you! Because when Jesus wipes away all your tears on the last day—the more tears you have for him to wipe away will increase your appreciation for the gift of eternal life that He is giving you—that He is keeping in heaven for you—as He is proving the genuineness of your faith as you persevere in Christian freedom and endurance. Keep your eyes heavenward, beloved—for your Christ will not leave you to suffer forever—He is coming again—and as Peter says later in the book: 1 Peter 5:10-11

1 Peter 5:10–11 ESV

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Samuel Rutherford, an old Puritan used to say: “You only have two river to cross through, suffering and death, and on the other side stands Jesus ever ready to meet you and embrace you in his arms”. And he also said: “Though you might be like a dangling spider that is just hanging on by one thread—don’t worry—for that thread is of Christ’s spinning”.

Your Jesus is the Lord of all Creation—Supreme over all earthly powers—and He will see to it that you and rewarded for your suffering and endurance, by grace alone.

Peter wants this suffering church to know that true Christian freedom leads to true Christian endurance—and true Christian endurance leads to everlasting glory—all because of the sovereign and free grace of the Triune God in Christ.

(2) Christian Freedom leads to Christian Endurance - v. 18-20.

This leads us to our third point:

(3) Christian Freedom leads to Christian Discipleship - v. 21-25

1 Peter 2:21–25 ESV

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Peter points our eyes to the suffering Christ for our salvation—and then says to those who are trusting in Him—now follow in his steps of suffering unjustly while entrusting yourself to him who judges justly.

Peter says: To this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps (v. 21).

The Apostle here reminds the saints of the fundamental reason for their salvation: effectual calling. They have been irresistibly drawn to Jesus Christ in the Spirit of sovereign grace who caused them to be born again to a living hope, who drew them and enabled them to run to Jesus for salvation.

Dear Christian—you have been called by God to salvation, and to an eternal inheritance. But notice that Peter says that you’ve also been called to suffering. God calls us to salvation and the new creation through the suffering of this life. Suffering is God’s means to bring us refined in the Spirit to the New Jerusalem. Schreiner again adds:

Believers are called to suffer to inherit their final reward (vv. 19–20). Suffering, in other words, is not a detour by which believers receive the inheritance to which they were called. It is God’s appointed means for receiving the inheritance.

On our way home we travel through suffering—because through suffering Christ went to secure our home. Peter says: Christ suffered for you (v. 21).

On the cross, dear Christian—Jesus suffered for you specifically. You were one of the elect chosen of the Father, and given to the Son. You were one of those lost sheep whom Jesus laid his life down for. Your name, written in the book of life, was also written on his chest as he went to Golgotha. Your sins were fully known to Him, yet he took them to Calvary. Your rebellion was no mystery to him—yet he took it to the grave. Dear Christian—beloved of the Father—Jesus died for you specifically to win your salvation and to bring you all the way home. If Jesus suffered the penalty of sin, satisfying the wrath of God on our behalf, then by the grace of the Spirit we can endure our suffering as we press forward to our eternal inheritance. Trust in Him—and press on! And for anyone here who doesn’t know Jesus this morning: run to Him, come to Him, trust in Him, repent of your sins and self-pride, turn from your wicked ways and come and find forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, peace with God, and power in the Spirit to live a new life—through the sufferings of the life—as we look forward to eternal life in the new world when Jesus returns to make all things new!

Don’t go to Jesus as your example before you go to Him as your Saviour—because to try to imitate Jesus without trusting in Him is to increase your guilt and condemnation. Go to Him even now—for today is the day of salvation.

And now for all you Christians who are trusting in His precious blood—who’ve been saved by his blood—by His life, death, and resurrection—the Holy Spirit calls you to follow in his steps—to walk the path of suffering on the way to glory.

When we deeply trust in the promise of eternal glory we will quickly realize that any suffering in this life is nothing in comparison to the eternal weight of glory coming our way—lift your drooping heads beloved—strengthen your hearts in the grace of God—b/c your suffering is not in vain. You’ve been freed from sin—and have been promised glory—so live in light of this eternal calling!

So—how do we follow in his steps? Peter says: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (v. 22-23).

How do we follow in his steps? Walk in righteousness—walk in holiness—don’t retaliate—don’t sinfully threaten—don’t slander—don’t be prideful—don’t be revolutionary—but exemplify a submissive, faith-filled, hope-filled, humble, and lowly spirit.

When you’re sinned against—don’t sin in return—but respond with grace, truth, love, humility, boldness, courage, and respect. How? How is it that we can do this? Because we entrust ourselves to him who judges justly. Peter has already told us that the Father will judge impartially according to each one’s deeds. When the Day of Judgement comes each will receive according to his works—Jesus is bringing true, holy, flaming, and righteous justice—we don’t need to take vengeance, beloved, that is up to God. Rom. 12:14

Romans 12:14 ESV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

That is what it means to follow in his steps—it means to live the life of Christian discipleship—sitting at the feet of Jesus in his Word and in Prayer—being filled with his Spirit that we might imitate Him and be his faithful witnesses, even through suffering, in this fallen world. That we might be his pilgrims and exiles who are his faithful embassy in this common kingdom—that we might live in the power of the age to come, showing that the Kingdom of God is spiritually present in the Church and will be physically present when Jesus returns.

Peter then closes this passage with a reminder that the purpose of the Gospel is Holiness—the purpose of Grace is Good Works—the purpose of Mercy is Love—the purpose of Forgiveness is New life. He says: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (v. 24-25).

Jesus took all of our shame, guilt, rebellion, wickedness, and ugliness—he dashed head first at hell itself on that tree—He bore the curse of the Law that we might be Redeemed and set free—and just as Jesus then left the body of sin in the grave and rose in resurrection life, so too are we to follow Him in putting sin to death and living in righteously—living in the new ways of the Spirit, not in the old ways of the flesh.

Some are you are saying: I know that! But I just feel so broken. Peter says, dear child—listen to me: By His wounds you have been healed (v. 24). . It’s a done deal if you’ve run to Jesus you have spiritual healing, restoration, forgiveness, and peace with God. And this promise extends to any and all who come to Jesus today, or who need to be restored to the joy of your salvation today.

And here’s the best part—it doesn’t even depend on the intensity of your emotions. If you’re a Christian—you’re trusting, repenting, and seeking God’s glory out of gratitude and love for that old rugged cross—Peter says: You were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (v. 25).

Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, the Ultimate Pastor—the perfect Pastor who feeds and protects his flock with perfect grace, love, power, and provision.

Jesus is the chief Overseer, the Ultimate Elder—the perfect Elder who watches over you and guides you into paths of life—who holds you fast, prays for you, and guards you.

If you’ve run to Jesus—you have a Pastor and Elder, a Shepherd and Overseer who cannot let you down. Us under-shepherds and under-elders might let you down—(God forbid)—but Jesus won’t. He is the great Shepherd of the Sheep—you are safe in His arms.

Isaiah 40:11 ESV

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Oh dear Christian—you who’ve been burned by pastors who feed themselves—run to Jesus who is the only one who won’t let you down—run to His everlasting arms—and pray that us under-shepherds would exemplify the love and care of Jesus to you, our dear flock. As we lead you in discipleship—it should be nothing less than leading you to follow in the ways of Jesus—to obey his commands, to walk in his mercy, to enjoy his presence, to spread his love, to exemplify his character, and to imitate his life. Christian discipleship is Christ-like obedience in the Spirit—for the glory of our Father—as we suffer and live on mission in this fallen world.

(3) Christian Freedom leads to Christian Discipleship - v. 21-25

This leads us to our conclusion:

(C) The Gospel of Jesus Christ Frees us to Return to Service.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

(C) The Gospel of Jesus Christ Frees us to Return to Service.

Amen, let’s pray.