Would You Be Free?
07/06/08 AM
Text: John 8:31-32
Introduction
Freedom is a powerful word, it is a driving concept. Men have fought battles, gone to war and sacrificed greatly in order to gain freedom for themselves or for their country. Friday was the 4th of July, the day where we celebrate the anniversary of America’s Independence from England, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence which declared the American colonies as states free of the English monarchy. And that vision grew to encompass the concepts of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of all to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
And "Freedom" has been the siren cry of this country to millions of the world’s people. A poem by Emma Lazarus is graven on a tablet within the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands. The most well known line read “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” So many immigrants envisioned freedom from persecution, freedom from oppression, freedom from poverty in the freedom of America.
Unfortunately today, many in our country have a much different idea as to the meaning of that freedom. For many in our country today it is not the “freedom of” envisioned by the Founding Fathers or “freedom from” so eagerly sought by those yearning to breathe free; instead many think that freedom means freedom to do what ever they want, whenever they want. Millions of unborn are murdered each year and it’s called the freedom to choose. Pornography fills magazines and movie screens and the Internet and they call it freedom to express themselves. Cults are formed and the truth of God is twisted or replaced with the theology of man and it is called freedom to believe ones own way. Immoral lifestyles are promoted as freedom to marry.
Much more can be added to the list. Our society has turned freedom into license, consumed with a higher standard of living they fail to live by a higher moral standard. And tragically or ironically the things done in the name of freedom, have in reality enslaved them.
You see, for these many people their pursuit of freedom has resulted in even greater slavery.
2 Peter 2:19b “…for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”
Romans 6:16a “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey…”
And such we all once were,
Titus 3:3 “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
Galatians 4:3 “So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.”
One can live in a free land and yet remain in great bondage. There is a freedom to be more highly prized than political or physical freedom. There is a freedom greater than that gained by declaration or constitutional law. Would You Be Free?
Than consider the words of Jesus: John 8:32 “…you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
I.Freedom Comes From The Truth
A.Freedom From Fears
1.2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
a."Spirit of fear" is inclusive of all worldly fears. Those without Christ and the knowledge of our freedom in Him are bound with many worldly fears.
But Christ has given us power, love, and a sound mind. This means a mind that is sober, able to reason and understand, a mind that is not afflicted with unhealthy thoughts and unfounded apprehensions.
Solomon wrote to those who are young,
Prov. 3:24-26 "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid. Yea, thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither the desolation of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."
Heb. 13:5-6 "For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
2.Consider John’s list of those who will be lost in the Judgment,
a.Revelation 21:7-8 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
He does not begin with those who are ungodly and who have done terrible deeds against others.
Why are the fearful named among these? Because to fear means that one does not trust God.
We need not fear even death. Hebrews 2:14-15 "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. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
B.Free From the Law of Sin and Death
1.Spiritually, these three things go together in Scripture. They are law, sin and death.
a.Where one is found, the other two will also exist. If someone were to say that we are under Law of Moses today, one must also say that we are under sin and death. Having some commandments from the Lord does not mean that we are under law. There is only one law. Repeatedly, the Bible writers will use the singular reference, the Law, that is the Law of Moses
Rom. 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Law, sin and death are seen in Paul’s discussion in Romans 5. He wrote, Romans 5:20-21 “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2.The Gospel teaches that we are free from the law of sin and death.
a.Rom. 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” There is only one law in Scripture and we are free of it.
We should be thankful that we are not under law. Rom. 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit."
C.Free From the Bondage of Sin
1.The Truth makes us free John 8:31-32
a.What is the truth? If that isn’t a question for our time.
There just doesn’t seem to be much need for the truth anymore. We claim to have freedom in America, but don’t seem to know what truth is anymore.
So what is the truth?
2.In verse 31, Jesus said what the truth is.
a.He said, “If you hold to My teachings…”
If we hold to His teachings, then we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.
Real freedom doesn’t come from being an American…
Real freedom doesn’t come from being a Republican or a
Democrat…
Real freedom doesn’t come from being a Liberal or a Conservative…
Jesus said that freedom comes from obeying His teachings. Real freedom comes from being a Christian.
3.Sin is slavery.
a.John 8:33-36 “They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’? Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.””
These Jews did not understand what freedom is. And the sad thing is that most Americans no longer know what freedom is.
Those Jews said that they had never been slaves to anyone, so they were free. And sadly, that’s what many Americans think.
But Jesus told them the truth about freedom.
They did not understand Him and refused to believe.
They argued with Him for the rest of this chapter.
And in verse 58, they were read to stone Him, because He said they were slaves; slaves to sin (verse 34).
And sadly, most American’s think that freedom means that you are not a slave to anyone. And since you are not a slave to anyone, then you are free to do anything you want; including what Jesus would call sin.
But the truth is that when people think they have the freedom to sin, they become slaves to it.
4.The Son makes us free (John 8:36)
a.But the Son will set you free.
Free from slavery to sin.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”!!!
The Spirit of the Lord makes us free
2 Corinthians 3:12-17 Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Conclusion:
The Son of God has said that those who commit sin are slaves to sin. Would You Be Free of the fears and worries of the world?
Would You Be Free of the Law of Sin and Death?
Would You Be Free of the bondage of sin?
Jesus has lifted the veil and given us the truth that sets man free, free to choose to live holy, free to choose the life God intends for us, free to confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Invitation
