Freedom

intro

Freedom is something so important, so dearly fought for, and so many sacrifices have been made.

Patrick Henry, one of americas founding father famously said: “Give me freedom or give me death.”

75 million people died to win freedom over Nazi Germany in the 2nd world ar.

All of us as reciently felt the burden of having our freedom taken away from us for just 1 month.

But today i dont want to talk aboout worldly freedom, but spiritual freedom.

Freedom is not defined by bars or windwos - in fact a prisioner in a cell can be more free than a millionar on a golf course.

For me one of the most precious verse and mision statments about our Lord is:

Galatians 5:1 AV

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Jesus Christ has set us free. He has set me free and if you are in the Lord, He has set you free.

Isaiah 61:1 AV

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

I head about a prisoner who, all cells full was placed in a cell with broken lock - gaurds slambed the door closed with a solid thumb, but it could not lock, leaving him there the man sat all night, without realising that the door was open and he could have his freedom.

I bealive many christians are like that.

Jesus Christ has opened the prison doors, he has rolled away the stone, but defeated hearts, sometimes refuse to come out.

Well today im saying come out!!!

Jesus Christ has set his people free from the penalty of sin

God is holy, god is perfect nd it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

In the same way that crime incurs the wrath of the law - our sin has incured the wrath of God.

There is coming to the earth, a day of the Lord. A day when the wrath of God is poured out upon all sin and iniquity. A day judgment!

But praise Jessus:

1 Thessalonians 1:10 AV

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Jesus has set us free from this terrible wrath.

so long as we have the son, we are not under wrath, but if we do not have the son, the wrath of God remains.

John 3:36 AV

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Jesus Christ has set His people free from the Spiritual Death that accompanies sin

We all kniow that the wages of sin is death.

Jesus Through his death and ressurection set us free from spiritual death as a wage for our sins.

Romans 6:1–7 AV

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

We will never die what the Lord calls the second death. We die, once as our mortal bodies give way to glorious eternity and so we live forever with the lord.

Jesus Christ Set His people free from the fear of death

Death haunts humanities nightmares. From the ancient pharoahs who wanted to embalmed to live forver, to the liberal elite of today who want their bodies frozen forver - mankind has always feared death.

The snatcher of parents, and seperator of spouses, the ever present danger in a world of uncertantity death is always at the back of themind.

Hebrews 2:14–15 AV

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Look at v15 for a momet: The fear of death puts people in a lifetime of bondage. It is not very long when you leaern as a young child, that your pets die, your grandparents die, and your parents will die, and you too will die.

When this realization that we come into this world with our ticket alrwady stamped and that all that awaits us after is life is an eternity in Hell, we are placed in the prison of death.

But Jesus Christ has v 14

Destroyed him who held us in this fear, the devil.

So that we say:

1 Corinthians 15:55 AV

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

All death can do now, is take me home to glory.

In Fact:

Jesus Christ has set his people free from death itself

Death is actualy the wrong word to describe a child of God’s earthly existance coming to an end.

Death has withinit the connotations of ceasing to be.

But the bible describes those as having mearly fallen asleep.

When you and fall asleep - we not end, or come to an end, or cease to be, or are lost or gone.

When a fall asleep it simply indicated that “this day” is over and im waking up in the next.

we the bible says:

1 Corinthians 15:22–23 AV

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

By our first bith in Adam we are born to die, but by our second birth in Jesus we are born to live forever.

Jesus Christ has set his people free from the power of sin

Where does sin get its strength? many people think its satan, but in fact its the law:

1 Corinthians 15:56 AV

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

what does this mean?

It simply means that you and I are powerless to stop disobeying the law of God.

God says a, the flesh says b - and the power of sin is so great that you cannot do what God wants.

As Paul said:

Galatians 5:17 AV

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

You cannot do the things that you know you should so.

Again Paul said:

Romans 7:15 AV

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

This is the frustration of a person who discovered that they are under sins power.

However:

Romans 6:11–14 AV

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

When we come to Jesus Christ He breaks sins power over us, and gives us freedom.

It has well been said:

Jesus did not give us freedom to sin, but freedom finally NOT to sin.

Jesus Christ has set his people free from the pollution of sin

Like second hand smoke can hurt others and leave a stink - sin can pollute and corrupt everything it comes into contact with.

Sin has cured the ground, it has corrupted the relationship in marriage, it has ruined so much.

But Jesus Chriost sets us free from this corruption by blessing us with His Word.

2 Peter 1:2–4 AV

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The Word, its power, wisdom and instruction tell us how to live a life of victory and freedom.

Jesus Christ has set his people free from the power of Satan

As much as it hurts to confess, before we were christians our bodies were instraments of sin, wealded by the world, the flesh and the Devil.

We were under his power and under his influence.

But whom the son sets free is free indeed!

Colossians 1:13–14 AV

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Conclusion:

Jesus has set us free from so many things and indeed we are free!

There is however still one thing remaining. He has promised us that one day we will be free from it, but for all of us, we still wait patiently.

Jesus Christ WILL set us free from the presence of sin

As much as we are free from both the power and penality of sin, we, while here in a sinful qorld are not set free from the presence of sin.

We see it all around us, read it in the news, feel its malace and smell its stench.

The rrason of course is that our earthly bodies anchor us to this world of sin.

But not for long...

Philippians 3:21 AV

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Oh when the trumphet sound calls us home, or when our earthly tent may perish, then we shall be bound for the heavenly zion.

Where the only reminder of sin, are the nail pearced hands of the savior.

Are you free? Do you enjoy the freedom wrought by Jesus Christ?

Or are you sitting in a cell with the door unlocked?