Freedom
Notes
Transcript
From Liberty to True Freedom: Obedience in Christ
From Liberty to True Freedom: Obedience in Christ
Bible Passage: John 8:31–36
Bible Passage: John 8:31–36
Big Idea: True freedom is not the absence of restraint, but rather the obedience to Christ that leads to liberation from sin and a life of purpose.
Intro:
Yesterday marked the 250th anniversary of our nation. That is 250 years of freedom. We are privileged to live in the state of living history. If you wander downtown or even explore the Francis Marion national forest these areas echo with the stories of those who fought against tyranny so that we could live securely in a land where we are free to practice freedom of conscience.
As amazing as this area and our nation is and amazing as our nation has been over these last 2.5 centuries, it’s important not to confuse liberty with true freedom.
From man’s perspective liberty is essential its the ability weather right or wrong to do as one pleases as long as it doesn’t infringe on someone else or bring injury to them. This is liberty but it isn’t freedom
Scripture paints for us a different picture for us.
One Author puts it this way,
The core paradox centers on slavery and liberation. Every person exists in relationship to some power—free from one force while enslaved to another, with freedom in Christ correlating to slavery to God, while freedom from Christ means slavery to sin.
Some of you are wondering why my face is ridiculously tan compared to the rest of me.
I was at Edisto State Park yesterday with my family and I noticed that my face was starting to get burned. So I grabbed my daughters son screen. I noticed it said spf 15. So I grabbed it and put it on. As I was applying it I thought to myself why is this sunscreen brown in color.
Well come to find out it wasn’t actually sun screen. It was some kind of self tanning lotion. What I thought was beneficial for me was actually the opposite.
Sometimes in life things are not always what we think they are.
Like this difference between liberty and true freedom. Liberty says I can do as I please. I have rights, But true freedom leads to obedience in Christ.
1. Step into the Truth
1. Step into the Truth
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
As the modern church we love to hyperfocus on grace without realizing how grace is extended. Grace is extended Through Christ as needed to fill in the areas of our lives that are still in need of sanctification. Grace is not a replacement for obedience. It is the remedy for our disobedience.
What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?
since a person who has died is freed from sin.
While we are not saved by our obedience to anything else other than the Gospel, that is repent and believe. Obedience to Jesus is one of the proofs of our salvation. The freedom from sin is the proof that we have been set free.
But many don’t see the slavery....
2. See the Slavery
2. See the Slavery
“We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
The Jews during Jesus day were confused by Jesus statement. Under the Roman law at this point in history the people under Roman rule had great liberty to do as they pleased as long as it didn’t go against Roman law.
So when Jesus made this statement they were confused by it. But you see while liberty allows for you to do as you please inside the law, It also allows for your to sin. While sin seems like freedom it actually enslaves you it’s desires.
Many people are in our great nation are free to act on what every whim they may choose yet they live thier lives in slavery to their passions.
In fact, the culture in our nation can accurately be described as ruled by our feeling and passions.
Just think about how much our news cycle revolves around fear, sex crimes, anger and violence.
Outside of Christ peoples lives will be enslaved to passions of thier heart. Everyone will do what is right in their own eyes.
things like greed, lust, violence, fear and anger rule the hearts of the masses. What they once thought was freeing has now taken control of thier lives.
Instead of Joy they are looking to fill the ever growing hole in thier soul with whatever temporary thing alleviates the pain.
Liberty allows for sin. No one can tell another person what to do as long as it doesn’t break the law but it doesn’t free us from our the task master of our own sinful hearts
for this reason Jesus uses the idea of Sonship to illustrate for us what it is like to live in his kingdom and under his freeing rule.
3. Secure the Sonship
3. Secure the Sonship
John 8:35–36
“A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”
Here Jesus contrasts the temporary status of a slave with the permanence of a son. In other words, those that submit to him do not obey him because they are slaves but because as sons we love our father.
There is a permeance to this relationship. Their is a permant access to the father through the son. Which means there is permanant access to true and lasting freedom.
Jesus came to set us free!
In God’s great compassion for us he sent his only Son Jesus to die.
When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
True freedom in Christ. Free from the slavery of emptiness, sin and guilt into a relationship with the God of all creation. You too can have this freedom in Christ.
Repent from your sin(release ownership of your life to Christ)
Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, coequal with the father, That he died to take your punishment.
Sin is man’s problem so by a man it had to paid. Christ became man to take our place.
3. Confession
One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,
since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him.
Will you do this today?
To those in Christ...lets use our liberty for righteouness. While we still have the liberty to preach Christ anywhere we desire...lets make our church a church where Jesus and his Gospel is made much of...
