The Cost of Freedom
The Cost of Freedom
David Cawston
John 8:32 &:36
32 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free
indeed."(NIV)
2 Cor 3:17
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is freedom.
(NIV)
Introduction:
Freedom is the most sought after commodity.
Yet it has an illusive quality about it.
When you don't have it you want it!
When you do have it, you easily not value it.
What freedom is?
The power of choice top make responsible decisions
for oneself and ones future.
What freedom is not!
To do what I want regardless of others or
consequences? no!
I. The Desire for Freedom
The desire for freedom is one of the strongest desires
of the human soul.
Men over the centuries have given their very lives and
fortunes for this desire.
It was the desire of Hebrew salves in Egypt!
It was the desire of Babylonian Captives.
It was the desire of a group of pilgrims that
founded our nation!
` Recorded in the first Document the
Mayflower Pact
It was the desire of our founding fathers in ridding
the nation of the rule of the British as expressed in
the declaration of Independence.
On July the 4th, 1776 in Philadelphia in
Constitution Hall we see a document
signed that we call the Declaration of
Independence. It says "We proclaim
ourselves independent from the tyranny
of those who would hold sway over the
minds, the souls, the lives of
Americans. It went on to say "we hold
these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights."
It was the desire of the black slaves in American
History.
It was the desire of Martin Luther King.
"I have a dream. . ."
It was the desire of an Indian by the name of
Mahatma Gandi
It was the desire of Nelson Mandella
The desire for freedom has even overpowered the need
for love.
Men and women have left fathers and mothers,
sisters and brothers, husbands and wives and
children
It is a desire that has been placed with every human
from the time of Creation.
Adam was created to rule the earth and to
subdue it.
Gen 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to
them, "Be fruitful and increase in
number; fill the earth and subdue it.
Rule over the fish of the sea and the
birds of the air and over every living
creature that moves on the
ground."(NIV)
Ever since man experienced the feeling of rulership
under God he has had a taste of freedom and has
yearned for it forever.
II. Privilege of Freedom.
III.
A. To Walk in it!
Gal 5:1
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us
free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves
be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.(NIV)
II.
Don't act like a slave of captive any longer.
Let the chains of bondage go!
You have been set free!
Pardoned!
Rom 8:1-2
1 Therefore, there is now no
condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the
law of the Spirit of life set me free from
the law of sin and death.(NIV)
Exercise your free rights!
Illus. Paul the Apostle with his Roman Citizenship.
Acts 22:25-28
25 As they stretched him out to flog him,
Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it
legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who
hasn't even been found guilty?"
26 When the centurion heard this, he went
to the commander and reported it. "What are
you going to do?" he asked. "This man is a
Roman citizen."
27 The commander went to Paul and
asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?"
"Yes, I am," he answered.
28 Then the commander said, "I had to pay
a big price for my citizenship." "But I was born
a citizen," Paul replied.(NIV)
A.
Same is true in your Spiritual life!
John 8:36
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be
free indeed."(NIV)
Illus. Paul's letter to the Galatians
Gal 3:1
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has
bewitched you? . . .
Gal 4:7
7 So you are no longer a slave, but
a son; and since you are a son, God has
made you also an heir.(NIV)
B. To provide it for others!
America has long been the voice of freedom in the
world!
We have declared to the world that freedom was a gift
of life.
We declared it long enough until the Berlin
wall fell.
The Soviet Union collapsed!
We continue are continuing to declare it to
Cuba and China
That is the responsibility of free people!
Paul the Apostle recognized this responsibility in his
own life.
He declared in 1 Cor 9:19
19 Though I am free and
belong to no man, I make myself a slave
to everyone, to win as many as possible.(NIV)
He desired for all to experience the freedom that they
could have in Christ.
Christ wants us to like wise declare that the
whole world can be free from the chains of sin
and the penalty of death!
If you truly value it you cannot keep it to yourself!
III. The price of freedom.
Freedom has a great price tag!
It involves the giving of everything!
The men that signed he declaration of
Independence gave up their fortunes and their
lives for our freedom.
And eventually it always involves the giving of life!
Many people have died to allow you the
freedom that you have today.
Think of those that Died in:
The revolutionary war!
The Civil War
First World War
Second World War
Korean War
Vietnam War
So the same price tag has been paid for our eternal
freedom!
It cost God the death of His only Son!
John 3:16
16 "For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life.
(NIV)
Gal 1:4
4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue
us from the present evil age, according to the
will of our God and Father,(NIV)
1 Tim 2:5-6
5 For there is one God and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all
men--(NIV)
Conclusion:
God is aware of your desire for freedom!
It is God given from creation!
There is a freedom that has been provided for you by God that
is eternal!
Freedom from Sin and the penalty of sin which is eternal
death!
He paid the price for you!
It cost Him dearly!
He will be offended and rejected if you don't receive
it!
It is yours by accepting the forgiveness provided by
His son!
Transferring your citizenship to heaven.
Reflection:
Do you recognize this God given desire?
Are you tired of being a captive by sin and its habits?
What price would you pay to be really free?
What would you give . . .. . .?
All you have to do is today decide to give your life to God.
He has provided for your freedom!
He will set you Free!
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