The Use and Misuse of Gospel Liberty

Introduction

We live in a country that was constructed by the sovereign hand of God. Men were willing and did shed their blood and even lose friendships to undergird this nation with a special freedom that is second to none.

Not all men today have the same perspective of the context and purposes for out God given freedom (i.e. abortion, social justice movement, CRT, BLM, murder, rape, sinful pleasures, LGBTQIA, etc..).

However, there remain some who still maintain a clear perspective of what constitutional freedom looks like.

PARALLEL TO TEXT...

My friends, we are witnessing in this text today the full picture of the Jesus’ Gospel freedom He personally provided on Calvary.

Now, just as there are those who abuse and misuse our constitutional freedom, there are pride filled Believers who abuse and misuse of the freedom one receives when placing their faith in Jesus’ Gospel.

As much as our country desperately needs to be re-focused upon the intent of our constitutional penmen, genuine Believers need to take a repentive move toward the intent and purposes of God’s sovereign provision of the Gospel.

1) The People of Gospel Freedom

A. They worshipped Jesus

“And when they saw HIM”

They saw Jesus like Isaiah did “high and lifted up.”

B. They doubted

This part is the encouraging part for me.

There are always seasons in our lives when we are extraordinary ordinary.

Even tho these men were full of faith while at the same time full of fear, God chose to use these men to be His witnesses.

The Lord is still is interrested in using people who

2) A Powerful Gospel Freedom

He can make this claim because he victoriously resurrected over death, hell and the grave.

It wasn’t the Apostles resuscitating him.

He by the power of the Spirit came up from the grave.

The Father had given Jesus name that is above every name.

Now lets be honest, what comes next DOES NOT matter.

We should have a resolve in our hearts that whatever comes next WILL HAPPEN!

The working out of what Jesus commands is the direct overflow of our understanding of the person of our Savior.

Guess what “all” means in the greek.....ALL!

Quote: “Verse 18 is the search warrant to breaking in to other cultures with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ”

This power was given to HIM!

You must realize His greatness.

He is greater then, bigger than, more powerful than, more important than and person, culture, sin, temptation, fleshly emotion, prideful tendency and even the devil himself.

3) A Purposeful Gospel Freedom

A. You are free to duplicate yourself

This verse is going forward with the assumption that the discipler is walking with God, remaining true to His Word and not forsaking Biblical worship.

To teach all people, you must be obedient to learning all truth.

Preachers must not stoop to therapeutic preaching.

Churches must not stoop to self promoting worship.

We have NO AUTHORITY to edit what God has established.

To encourage new believers to follow commanded baptism, you must have already followed through.

To teach all people to keep the highest view of God’s commands, you must live with the same convictions.

In other words, you are freed by the gospel to be transformed and conformed to Jesus (Jesus duplicated in you) and then duplicate yourself in those you are teaching.

B. You are free to deny yourself

Before we get to the “and” we must stop and consider the “ye”

A teacher, discipler must live within the framework of their gospel conversion YOU ARE NOT WHO YOU USED TO BE!

You are a CHRISTIAN!!!

God cannot love you more than He already does.

Romans 6 says that every believer is DEAD TO SIN.

When tempted to be filled with pride and hate.

When tempted to gossip about those who are part of your church family or your pastor.

When tempted to make false accusations about others.

Romans 8:3-9

You are eternally secured in grace by the Holy Spirit.

Your actions are to reflect the fruit of the Spirit.

love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, kindness and faith.

For you to “go” and not go within a gospel framework through the Spirit’s power, those people are ABUSING and MISUSING God’s grace.

They will only replicate more faulty followers of Jesus.

When it comes to “going,” you might ask, “God, where do I go?” God replies, YES!

4) A perpetual Gospel Freedom

“I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

You better resolve in your heart to depend on this promise.

Remember what I said earlier. What Jesus has freed you to become and do will not be easy!

When a family leaves the church and shoots at you on their way out.

When a brother or sister criticizes you behind your back to another church member.

When a brother or sister cuts you down with their words.

When the offerings take a dive.

Remember this one thing.......Jesus has ALL AUTHORITY and is with YOU ALWAYS!

Romans 8:31

Conclusion