Freedom

JULY 4, 2021 STUDY NOTES SUBJECT: FREEDOM BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES SCRIPTURE The Truth will set you free (John 8:31-36) The freedom of life is being set free from sin and becoming a slave to righteousness (Romans 6:15-23) INTRODUCTION This is the 4th of July weekend, July 4th is a national holiday commemorating freedom We like the sound of the word “freedom,” we like the meaning of the word “freedom” We don’t like the thought of being under the control and power of another Freedom is knowing that we are no longer enslaved by an oppressive force We want the liberty to think, to speak, and to do as we please Our nation was founded upon freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech Throughout the world there have been many known as “freedom fighters” There have been many “freedom walks,” freedom marches, and freedom rallies All coming from the desire to do whatever one wants to do Coming from those who want to be their own master and do their own thing But in many cases the truth of freedom is not known or understood Left to one’s own personal thinking, man himself does not understand freedom People really don’t understand what they are fighting for, marching for, or asking for Even when they find themselves set free from one power or another Or feel that they have been set free from one authority or another They find themselves enslaved to another power or authority There is a universal power and authority that all mankind must be set free from The freedom that will not be experienced through the personal attempts of man It will never be experienced through freedom marches, freedom speeches, or freedom rallies All of mankind needs to be set free from the bondage of Satan and sin A bondage that man alone cannot break, a bondage beyond our ability to overcome The only true freedom known to man is the freedom of God found in Christ The freedom of the child of God is called “glorious liberty,” Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. “Freedom” is being liberated from the curse of sin, a bondage that affects the entire creation The NT has much to say about those who have been set free and the extent of their freedom The freedom presented in the Bible is not a license to do whatever one wants It is the freedom to live in a personal relationship with God Which requires being set free from the bondage of Satan and sin Which is possible only through the Lordship of Christ Jesus is Lord, freedom is allowing Him to be the Lord of your life THE TRUTH OF HUMAN BONDAGE Human beings are not born free from bondage People are born under the bondage of Satan and sin That bondage is identified as the “spiritual forces of evil” raging against us, Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not Page 1 of 5 against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Christians are called upon to teach those who are lost the truth of Satan’s bondage, 2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; Not only do the lost oppose God and salvation they oppose themselves, they are not free to live They do not realize that they have been taken captive by Satan and sin, 2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Peter identifies Satan as our adversary, 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: The trap that Satan set for Adam and Eve was sin, rebellion, and disobedience toward God As a result of the fall of man all of mankind are under the bondage of sin, Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: That bondage of sin is known as the “old man” or “old self,” a corrupt life of deceitful lusts, Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; The Bible teaches us that the body of sin must be destroyed, that we should not serve sin, Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin The bondage of the sin nature brings man even deeper into the bondage known as a sinful life Being the servants of sin, Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Bondage of sin is yielding your body to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. Sin is that which you should be ashamed of, Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. The penalty of the bondage of sin is death, Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So, sin keeps us from being free to live, 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. Through Christ Christians are set free from the bondage of sin Satan wants to bring the Christian back into the bondage of sin through his false teaching, Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: Satan will often come without you knowing that he has come or why he has come He uses false teachers to smuggle in his lies and to spy upon our liberty His purpose is to lead us back into the slavery of Satan and sin Peter warns us of false prophets and false teachers that have the same purpose in mind, 2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. “Feigned words” means “fabricated words,” made up stories, they use false arguments Peter uses it with the meaning to deceive others for one’s own advantage They promise us liberty, but they are themselves the servants of corruption, 2Pe 2:19 While they promise Page 2 of 5 them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. They want to “entangle” you, 2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. Satan wants to tie the Christian up again under the influence and power of sin Satan always promises freedom through sin, but it is a false freedom He promises that the way of sin is the way of life, the truth is, sin is the “bondage of death” Eventually the sinner realizes that he is not free at all, that he is a prisoner of sin FREEDOM TO BECOME A SLAVE Scripture does not present freedom as being set free from a master Freedom is the receiving of a New Master The story of redemption is that sinful man under the bondage of Satan and sin has been set free Freedom in Christ means that you never have to serve the old master of Satan and sin anymore The death of Jesus on the cross was the price paid to purchase our freedom from sin, 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, 1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: The redeemed are now free to live as servants for Christ To be a servant of God is the highest calling of man, the greatest privilege of life that we have--OUR GLORIOUS FREEDOM We have a Master in heaven, Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. The true freedom of man is serving the Heavenly Master, Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Glorious freedom is not to do whatever you please, but to serve one another, Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. God has called us to be free, Christ has set us free, we are free to live But we must learn the truth of life and how to live the life of freedom The “Truth” will set you free, obeying the Truth is the pathway to freedom (John 8:31-36) We are set free to become slaves to right living (righteousness) (Romans 6:15-23) We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness, either of which pays wages The wages of sin is not life at all, it is “living” death, and finally the second death (eternal death) The wages of righteousness is “Holy Living,” the abundant life, and “Life” throughout eternity The Holy Spirit within the life of the redeemed is the Spirit of freedom, 2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (A free person) We have the freedom to “wholeheartedly” serve God James calls the Word of God “the perfect law of liberty,” Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Page 3 of 5 The Word of God will accomplish it goals, fulfill its purpose, it is the law of God’s Eternal Plan For the Christian God’s Word is “Liberty,” it is not a list of commands to take away life The daily requirements do not bind us, confine us, or lock us up, the Word of God sets us free The secret of freedom is to live according to the teaching of the Bible When you learn the Bible and live the Bible you begin to experience the joy of freedom You find out that obeying God is the way to live and the way you wanted to live all along Then you ask yourself, “Why have I waited so long to be set free?” Freedom of life is being released from the deeds of the old nature (Gal 5:13-21) We have been set free to live in the joy of the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) Galatians 5 presents the choice of two masters You will serve one or the other, God or the sinful nature CONCLUSION Biblical freedom is not “doing your own thing,” it is not “having it your way” Freedom is learning and living the Truth of God Freedom comes when we submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ God freely blesses those who freely serve Him Freedom to serve God is a present joyful life Freedom is living the best that life can be and being the best that you can be Our freedom in Christ allows us to freely come before God with the desires of our heart, Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The word translated “boldness” means the “freedom to speak,” the freedom to speak to God We all need the freedom to speak to God at all times, especially in our time of need That same word (boldness) is found again in, Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, “Boldness” is the freedom of the believer because of our new relationship to God through Jesus It refers to a sense of freedom in any situation of our daily life, we can freely come before God We are free to tell God the desires of our heart, share our concerns, and make our requests known We can cast all of cares upon Him, 1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. The freedom of faith in Christ is being free to live and face all circumstances of life freely Knowing that God has an eternal purpose for our life, Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: With that assurance of life, we can go for it, we can keep going regardless of what happens in life, Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. We are free to live a life free of fear and that will gain eternal rewards, 1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. All of creation will one day be “set free,” Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Which does not teach a universal salvation of all mankind Only those who call upon Jesus will be saved, Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Through salvation Jesus sets you free, Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. As an American you have the freedom that we celebrate on July 4th every year Our nation has fought for the freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech Page 4 of 5 Pray that America will continue to be the “Land of the Free” As a Christian you have the “Spiritual Freedom” to live free at last, which is “Glorious Liberty” I want you to listen to a song that shares that same truth I am free from the fear of tomorrow, I’m free from the guilt of the past I’ve traded my shackles for a glorious song “I’M FREE, PRAISE THE LORD, I AM FREE AT LAST” Are you free from the fear of tomorrow? Are you free from the guilt of your past? Surrender your all to Jesus and you will be set free Page 5 of 5