Freedom In Christ

Introduction

Thank you praise team

Preparing this message and listening to what God has for me to say, I wasn’t sure I wanted to preach this sermon.

But then I saw the set list for the songs we were to sing this morning and just laughed. 2 different songs about praising God for the freedom found in Him. wow!

What Is Freedom?

“The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” - Webster

247 years ago our nation was founded on this very principal and since than it has been a foundation of our ideals.

This morning, I want to look with you at what scripture tells us about Freedom.

Freedom In Christ

2 Corinthians 3:15–18 ESV

Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Pray

1. Removing the Veil

At the beginning of this chapter Paul address one of the most controversial topics of the time… Old Covenant vs New Covenant.

Vrs 7-11, Paul lays out to the People of Corinth the superiority of the New Covenant in Jesus.

It may be a little confusing to follow along but it is important theology to understand.

The old covenant consisted exclusively of the old law (think 10 commandments). The only way to obtain glory was to keep the law.

Doesn’t sound that hard.. but look at the Torah (5 books of the Bible)

The sinful hearts of the Israelite people were unable to keep the law ultimately bringing condemnation on Gods people.

A new covenant was established through the Birth, Death, Resurrection of Jesus.

vrs. 11 Paul is saying the superiority of the New Covenant is it brings righteousness through Jesus.

Paul is not discrediting the Old Testament or the 10 commandments. We need it so that we understand… because of our sinful hearts we can’t do it and we need Jesus.

Why am I telling you all of this?

When we think of Freedom it is often something fought for, something we need to take for ourselves.

vrs. 15-16, Paul is referencing Moses to say Freedom and ultimately transformation is not our own doing, but by the hand of the Lord.

2. Freedom Is The Spirit

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Little nerd moment: Lord = Spirit. Paul affirming the trinity doctrine.

Reading this verse: I think it is fair to say that if where the Holy Spirit is there is Freedom… than where the Holy Spirit is not there is not… FREEDOM.

There is even this false sense of Freedom.

Molly and the electric fence

- We installed an electric fence.

- Buried it around our backyard so when we let her out it seemed as if she had ultimate freedom, but then learned quickly that there was something that would give her a little shock when she got to close to the perimeter.

- She had a false sense of freedom.

- It wasn’t until one day she saw a squirrel on the other side of that perimeter and at full speed hit that electric fence and just went right through it.

- From that point on the fence was pointless cause she learned she could just run right through it.

True Freedom

Paul tells us, True Freedom is experienced through the liberating Mercy and Grace of God.

Rocky said this a while back, every single one of us is in recovery. We will never fully be rid of our sinful hearts until God gives us a new one.

3. Transformation

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

I don’t know if you are weird like me but every now and then when it is storming right at sunset I like to sit outside and listen to the thunder and watch the lightning.

- A while back I was doing just that, and in this moment I began just to speak to God and listen.

- I didn’t hear an audible voice but I had a realization from the Lord: that there is no better version of myself, except for the version of me that looks more and more like Jesus.

Paul says we are to come before the Lord with an unveiled face, meaning vulnerably and with everything we are!!!

Beholding the glory of His face and being transformed into His image.

Conclusion

Are you like the people of Corinth, living in a false sense of freedom striving for a better version of yourself?

Are you like Paul, realizing the only better version of yourself is the one that looks more and more like Jesus.