Freedom with Mind of Christ
Living Together Series • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 76 viewsUnderstanding and walking in Christian Liberty brings fellowship
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
I’ve got joy, joy, joy . . .
I’ve got joy, joy, joy . . .
You know the song, where do we have joy? Down in our heart when we have the heart for the Lord and the mind of Christ.
We are a family, a fellowship, we are living together as the Lord’s Church.
We are to be an intimate family
And interdependent family
A family that loves to gather to worship (assemble) together
Our family needs each other and should be able to count on each other. Oh we may have family squabbles, but families stick together.
In Christ we have freedom (Gal5:1)
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
But we need to be careful how we exercise our freedom within our family and within our community (insert that I don’t always do this right).
Our freedom when properly exercised helps the family flourish. Failure
Improper use, application can bring fractures and problems to the family.
Our freedom in Christ is our focus today how it impacts our family; first we should look at defining our freedom in Christ.
I. Nature of our freedom in Christ
I. Nature of our freedom in Christ
When you think about your freedom in Christ, what do you think of?
Enjoying our freedom in Christ
Christ offered freedom to His Disciples (Jn8:31-32, 36)
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Paul taught to stand fast in our liberty, in our freedom (Gal5:1)
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
James speaks of the “perfect law of liberty” (Jam1:25)
So to enjoy the freedom, we should look at the nature of the freedom
Does our freedom in Christ make us free from any obligations? Are we free to do our own thing?
Do our own thing, do it our own way with no consequences? That is ridiculous isn’t it.
Paul addressed that type of assumption didn’t he (Rom5:20-6:2)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
Rom6;
Do we have responsibilities to anyone, should we be accountable to anyone when we are free in Christ? How about being concerned for our brethren, our family, are we free from that?
We have responsibilities to each other in our family (Gal6:1)
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
The context of our freedom
Freedom from sin (Jn8:34-36)
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.
36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Jesus promised freedom from sin, the right to become a child of God, a son.
Paul spoke of the freedom from old law (Gal4:3-5, 8-11)
3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Then just a few verses later
8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
Then there is the perfect law of liberty (Jm1:21-25)
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
The perfect law of liberty is a blessing to those who are “doer’s of the word”
The truth that sets us free is to free us to serve in that freedom!
Free from slavery to become a slave to righteousness (Rom6:17-18)
17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
We became obedient from the heart (expand on this passage)
Free to serve one another through love (Gal5:13)
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
There is the danger that we not abuse our liberty. We need to be careful not to devour one another (Gal5:14-15) for we are free “from” sin, not “to” sin
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
So, we have looked at the nature of the freedom, understanding the freedom, responsibility of the freedom and the warnings of the freedom so how about how freedom and fellowship work together.
II. Freedom and fellowship
II. Freedom and fellowship
I would like to use an example in the church at Corinth (1Cor8:1-13)
Let’s us read this passage together then look at the freedom and fellowship
Knowledge puffs up, love edifies (v.1)
Paul did not consider anything an idol for there is no God but one (v.4)
And if there were many gods, many idols we do not want to cause people to violate their conscience (v.7)
Those who violated their weak conscience were sinning (Rom14:23)
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
So what we eat, or don’t eat Paul warns against being a stumbling block to those who are weak in faith (vv.9-10)
Don’t be a stumbling block to others (vv.11-12)
I want to look at (v.13) one more time to look at the application of not using our freedom to cause a stumbling block.
13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
1Cor8:13
Consider your brother, don’t be a stumbling block (v.13)
Though an apostle, enjoying the freedom in Christ (1Cor9:1; ref only) He is willing to place limitations on his liberty, on his freedom so as to save others. (1Cor9:19-23)
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
To what degree, what extreme are you willing to go to to help save a soul. Are you willing to come out of your comfort zone?
23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
What
Paul uses himself, sets himself as an example to follow (1Cor10:31-11:1)
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
1Cor10:31-32
1Cor1
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. 1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Paul spoke, taught the same things in all churches
17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
Another good example is what we find in Romans (Rom14:1, 13; 14-23; 15:1-3)
Strong in faith, consider those weak in faith (Rom14:1)
1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
Don’t be a judge of your brothers faith; don’t put a stumbling block (Rom14:13)
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Be willing to give up some of your freedom for sake of others (Rom14:14-23)
In summary of this passage
in Jesus Christ there is nothing unclean in itself; to one who thinks it is, is, and should treat it personally as unclean (v.14)
Walk in love, don’t destroy brother over food (v.15)
Rom14:17
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Pursue things that make peace and building up one another (v.19)
Don’t tear down, be willing to give up your liberty for others (vv.20-21)
Your faith is your faith and your conviction (v.22)
Come from a place of faith, if you don’t you are condemned (v.23)
III. Food for thought about freedom
III. Food for thought about freedom
Now there are no perfect churches, no perfect people, but we can work together in fellowship with one another and strive to walk in the freedom we have in Christ.
In place of self, we would look to serve others and build up one another
I would think of the value of assembly not just for me but for others benefit too
I would consider my not being commited or being absent from the assembly how it impacts others
I will be willing to forego my own liberty for others
Those who are weak in faith
Not making others stumble over person conscience issues
I would look for ways to bring unity and not division over non salvation issues
We will be unified by Christ having the mind of Christ with a heart for the brethren, a love for the brethren, to serve the brethren and our fellowship with thrive!
(Conclusion and invitation)
All this and salvation too, these special things made possible by the Cross of Christ, the work completed on the cross
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
United, fitted together, build together being made into a holy temple. It is a fragile body, we need to be willing to give up some of our freedoms sometimes for the good of he body
For the good of the body we should have the mind of of Christ (Php2:1-8)
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
(not on the screen, not on the handout)
No nothing out of selfishness or empty conceit.
Build up, esteem others more than self
Look out for others interest
End result is a healthy that has freedom in Christ
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Let us love and serve one another!
(Invitation/encouragement)