Freedom Indeed

Introduction:

Today we celebrate 245 years as a nation.

True freedom isn't something that comes from heritage, from internal pride or even governmental civil laws, but comes only through belief in the Truth, and in the Son of God - Jesus the Messiah. May we never give up true, eternal freedom for a temporary illusion that leaves us in our sin.

Read John 8:31-59

Pray

The Jews “who had believed in Him” balked at the idea that they needed to be freed. So do we.

The Illusion of Freedom

You can have a sense of freedom and not be free.

Jewish sense of freedom (v.33)

How could any Jewish person ever say they have never been enslaved by anyone?

They’d been subjugated by Egypt for 450 years, then later Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Syria and {most recently in our text} Rome

They had a sense of freedom from their national and religious heritage. They took pride in these things.

The problem was that they thought that simply being a Jew meant they were saved. That has never been the case for only those who acted towards God in obedient faith are justified.

Romans 4:3, Genesis 15:6

Romans 4:3 NASB95

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Belief brings salvation (freedom). Obedience demonstrates saving belief (freedom).

You can have a sense of freedom and not be free.

Such is the case with many today - American sense of freedom

Our founders declared independence on this day in 1776. They reasoned that God Himself has created us all equal, and therefore we have certain “unalienable rights” that no government should violate.

They fought against Great Britain and in 1783 the treaty of Paris was signed, where we were formally recognized as an independent country.

We are keen to spot any Tyranny, and to speak out or rise up against it, exercising freedom of speech (while we can) and engaging in public, civil debate

We have a deeply ingrained sense of our own personal rights and enjoy freedoms that many in this world could not imagine

We can speak out against our leaders, and do so regularly

We can move across the country with little impediment

In our state, you can buy and carry a weapon basically without interference by government authorities

I could desire to no longer be married, and legally do so.

I could even decide to change my gender identity and I have legal protections and provisions made to accommodate my decision.

We have a strong sense of freedom as citizens of this nation. And yet, the truth is - we can have a sense of freedom and not be free. Such is the case with many free Americans!

The dangerous illusion - It is fine to appreciate blessings, to know who you are and where you come from, but when that becomes self-righteous pride it is very dangerous. Self-righteousness can become an illusion of freedom and can turn “almost belief” into condemnation.

This was the case with Jesus’s audience in our text. For all their confident sense of freedom, they were ultimately and obviously slaves to their sin.

Read John 8:34-36

Sin enslaves, but the Son alone can free. Sinful rejection of the Son of God not only demonstrates such slavery, but also pushes one even further into their slavery and out of the Kingdom of God.

Part of our American heritage is the ugly reality of the enslavement and forced labor of black people. Friends, I cannot imagine the horrors that many endured, to have been kidnapped from their home, pressed onto a boat and packed so tight that they had to lay in their own waste and filth for the 35-90 day trip across the sea. I cannot imagine how it must’ve been as 1 of every 10 people died before ever landing on shore. Then, to be sold in a market like and animal, finally subjugated and often mistreated for the profit of a rich master. That was horrible. And wrong. Praise God for the progress that has been made, Amen?

As hard as it is to imagine, it is ever more difficult to imagine someone so enslaved, looking into the face of someone with the ability to set them free, and refusing outright their offer of redemption. Rejecting freedom, they ensure their continued slavery! That is exactly what these Jewish “almost believers” did. It is exactly what people still do every day.

Their rejection of Jesus demonstrated they were slaves indeed

They rejecting the true Son’s teaching and therefore rejected God’s Word (v.36-37) - There is no other way!

Hating unto murder anything or anyone that would stand against their own ways (v.37)

They didn’t follow Abraham in obedient faith (v.39)

Nor do they follow God as Father (v.42)

Instead, they are willfully following their spiritual father, the one who has them blinded and enslaved - the devil. (v.41, 44, 47)

Stuck in their illusion of freedom, they were liars - saying they knew God, while rejecting Him and refusing Him with their actions (v.54-55)

This friends, is absurdity. They were declaring they were fine, have no need of salvation or forgiveness by a demonstration that they were indeed, not fine (sinfully rejecting the Redeemer Himself). It’s like declaring your freedom by clanging your chains.

There are many ways we do this:

This weekend so many are declaring freedom by clanging their sinful chains of bondage. (Ex. Drunkedness, so-called sexual freedoms, addictions of every sort).

People do this every day:

Friend that claims to be a Christian, yet has no fellowship with believers, doesn’t read or study the Bible and has no desire for Holiness. (illusion of freedom)

Family member who says they believe in God and yet any time accountability for sin is even hinted at they shut down the conversation (illusion of freedom)

The neighbor who is a good citizen, has a good job and seems to be fully content with their life. They have no need for God nor see any reason for concern that they may not be good enough if in fact there is a judgement. (illusion of freedom)

Co-worker who is sincerely and fervently anti-religion, believing their own superior intellect or beliefs sets them above the revelation of God both in His Word and in His Son. (illusion of freedom)

Each trusting in falsehood, lied to and lying according to the father of lies. Each claiming freedom by jangling the very chains of disobedience and disbelief that keeps their soul enslaved in sin. Their condition is serious! Your condition - if this is you!!! You are not free - it is an illusion!

Church-goers are not immune! In fact, they’re the worst kind and the most like the people in our text!!! I’m fine because....

My family has always gone to church

We <unlike them over there> have the right beliefs, belong to the right denomination

Lord, keep us from any sort of religious self-righteousness that gives us the illusion of freedom and keeps us blind to our slavery and sin!!!

Have you ever come to grips with your sin, understanding your guilt before the Holy, Holy, Holy God who made you!

Have you ever truly cried out for mercy and forgiveness, knowing that grace is your only chance to escape the penalty of death and hell?

Have you ever truly seen Jesus with the eyes of faith as your only hope for salvation and freedom from sin and all of it’s bondage over you?

Friend, don’t you ever exchange true, lasting, spiritual freedom for some lie that you are okay and have no need for the Redeemer. You don’t have to stay in the bondage of the devil. You can be free indeed.

True Freedom

Freedom indeed is:

To know the truth that makes you free (v.32)

To know Divine Son and Messiah who has the power to save! This involves the truth about Him and all the truth that comes from Him. He shares in The Father’s:

v.31,36 - Divine power - He has power to set the spiritual captive free -

Isaiah 61:1 NASB95

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

v.37,40,43,46-47 - Divine Teaching - His Word is God’s Word. Rejecting His Word is also rejection of God’s Word and therefore rejection of God.

v.42 - Divine devotion - To love God is to love Jesus. To not love Jesus...

v.42 - Divine mission - He came from, arrived by, and was sent by God

v.46 - Divine holiness - He cannot be convicted of sin by man, only falsely accused

v.49,50,54 - Divine honor and glory - He deserves honor from men, and receives glory from God

v.56,58 - Divine Greatness - Abraham rejoiced in Him, “Before Abraham was, I am!” - Isaiah 43:13

John 8:24 NASB95

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

To receive release from the slavery of sin and the death it brings (v.34,51), to be “made free” (v.32), redemption!

Justification - (penalty) salvation from judgment

Sanctification - (power) salvation from sinful oppression

Glorification - (presence) promise of eternal life to come

To secure a place in the Kingdom of Christ (v.35)

sons by faith are included, those found to be slaves excluded and kicked out (See also Matthew 3:9, 8:11-12, Mark 12:9)

Finally, it is to persevere in devotion to Jesus (v.31, 34, 51)

How is devotion to Jesus shown? Not just in words, but in deeds.

v.31 - "...“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine”

1 John 3:18, John 14:15, 21, 1 John 2:3

Love is connected to behavior.

Illustration: No one thinks it legalistic or inappropriate to say, “If you love your wife, you’ll be faithful to her."

Neither must we dare think it legalistic or appropriate when Our King says “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

That’s what true discipleship looks like - not perfection, but relationship and commitment. Our union to Christ is secured. He will never abandon or disown us, but we demonstrate our relationship with commitment and devotion.

Conclusion:

As American citizens, we still live in a country where we enjoy much civil freedom.

We recognize that such freedom is preserved through commitment, sacrifice and a heavy dose of God’s Gracious Providence.

Today we celebrate, but as Christians, let us:

Praise God for these liberties, and yet understand that one can be in the freest nation in the world, have all the resources in the world and still be in an utter state of slavery in their soul. (Such is the case for sooo many!)

Let us strive to be good citizens and patriots, not taking for granted what we’ve inherited nor the work and sacrifice it has taken to preserve it.

Let us take care though, dear friends that our relationship with Christ be the fundamental source of our identity and sense of freedom, would demonstrate our patriotism through Christ-like love for neighbor and devotion to God - and not by fearful or hateful reactions to “the other side”.

What if we truly understood that our Kingdom was in God? What if we really lived as if we were just traveling through this land to our home? What if we worried far more about true freedom in Christ, and the true slavery of sin than our freedom to not wear a mask or carry a weapon?

Yes, celebrate, for we are (for now) living in a great country with much freedom. But let us do so with even more appreciation for Jesus and the ultimate, eternal freedom we have been granted in Him.