Free Indeed
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
It has been rightly said that true freedom is not found in living without any master, but rather in living under the right Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.
According to Mark Parsec, Independence Day “celebrates America’s Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of England under King George the III.” The signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, he says, was not intended to declare war with England, nor did it procure our country’s independence. America’s freedom was not actually obtained “until a treaty was signed seven years later on September 3, 1783” at the end of the Revolutionary War.
Parsec says the intended purpose of the Declaration of Independence for the colonists was to declare “to the world their belief in a personal, infinite God - their Creator - who endowed them with certain ‘inalienable’ or absolute rights . . . To the men of that time it was self-evident . . . that if the inalienable rights they were urging were not seen in the context of Christianity, then they were without content - illusions, and nothing but dreams. To have absolute rights our forefathers had to acknowledge the Absolute Authority of God.”
You see, there is no true freedom without God and His authority to determine the morality upon which the laws of our land are founded. In God we find the basis for national freedom, or physical freedom; however, we also find in the Lord the basis for our spiritual freedom. God’s provision for our spiritual freedom is found in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.
Because we are Americans, we possess certain rights and liberties that citizens of other nations do not enjoy.
Just to be honest, there’s no other nation in the world where people are literally dying trying to get here…Why is it such a big deal? Because Americans have freedom!
Because we are Americans, we can assemble in this place today.
Because we are Americans, we are free to believe in any God we choose or in no God if we choose.
Because we are Americans, we have the right to speak our mind on any issue we choose.
Because we are Americans, we have the right to carry a Bible, pray in the name of Jesus Christ and serve Him in the world today.
Thank God for the rights we enjoy as Americans.
Here’s the thing though, it is possible to be an American and not be free. It’s possible, and we see it everywhere we turn; people can be socially free, but not spiritually free.
Let’s look at these verses concerning true freedom and answer three questions this morning:
Where Does Our Freedom Come From?
Where Does Our Freedom Come From?
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We see by this verse that freedom comes from the truth...
What is truth?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Friends, without the Way you cannot go! Without the Truth, you cannot know! Without the Life, you cannot grow!
The Truth Jesus is referring to here is the whole truth regarding Who He is and what He did for sinful mankind. It refers to the whole truth about Jesus Christ!
Christ sets us free and continuing in the Word leads to liberty and knowing the truth. The truth sets us free!
The truth about Jesus is found today in the Gospel:
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The truth about Jesus is found today in the Scripture:
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
True freedom comes from Christ today! That answers the first question, let’s look at the second one I want to answer this morning:
What Are We Free From?
What Are We Free From?
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
In these verses, Jesus is speaking to people that thought they were free, but they weren’t.
It’s one thing to be free, but something else to be free indeed!
That little word indeed means, “without a doubt; certainly; in fact; in reality.”
You can be free indeed this morning!
So, if we are free indeed, what exactly are we free from?
We are free from the wrath of God:
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
We are free from condemnation:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
We are free from death and hell:
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We are free from the power of sin:
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.
We are free from the power of Satan:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
We know now where freedom comes from, and what we are free from; the third question to answer this morning is:
How Much Did Our Freedom Cost?
How Much Did Our Freedom Cost?
The freedom we enjoy today as Americans wasn’t cheap, as a matter and fact, the freedom we enjoy is ours because over 1 million brave soldiers have paid for our freedom with their blood!
Our freedom as Americans was purchased at a very high cost. We should be thankful for it, and we should all be willing to die to protect it.
While the price for our national freedom was very costly, it pales in comparison to the cost of our spiritual freedom.
The cost of true freedom was the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary.
It was at the cross of Calvary where He...
1 Timothy 2:6 (KJV 1900)
6 ...gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
It was at the cross of Calvary where He became:
1 John 2:2 (KJV 1900)
2 ...the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
It was at the cross of Calvary where He:
Isaiah 53:5 (KJV 1900)
5 ...he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.
It was at the cross of Calvary where:
Isaiah 53:6 (KJV 1900)
6 ...the Lord...laid on him the iniquity of us all.
You might be wondering why He would do all that…The answer is actually quite simple...
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The Bible tells us the horrible condition of the lost:
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
We were hopeless, we were helpless, we couldn’t save ourselves, but wait just a minute…we must never forget what comes after:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Conclusion
Conclusion
So, let me throw a fourth question at you this morning - I know I only said three at the beginning, but oh well - Knowing what we know, the only question left is:
How Can We Obtain These Freedoms?
1. Come to Jesus Christ for salvation…the Truth will set us free!
2. As Americans, we were born in freedom by being born in the wonderful country.
3. In the same way, we must be born again in Jesus Christ to enjoy the freedoms that come only through Him.
4. Jesus told Nicodemus,
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.