Freedom Series

Freedom

Galatians 5:1, 13

July 2, 2017

Am I really free? YES!

John 8:36

Justification by Faith: We are justified before God, not by our works, but our genuine faith in Jesus and His atoning work on the cross.

What am I free from?

We are free from the penalty of sin

“It is finished” John 19:30 tetelesthai: paid in full

We are free from the bondage of sin

Galatians 5:1

We are free from the burden of the Law

Ephesians 2:8-10

What am I free for?

Galatians 5:13

Opening quote from book on freedom on back shelf

4th of July weekend. Lots of people traveling. We have freedom to do that because of the sacrifice of brave men and women for the last 400 years.

But as wonderful and good as our national freedom, as believers must remember that the things of this world are only temporary. No nation, no matter how powerful, even the United States, is going to last. Just survey human history: Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, British… we need to maintain that perspective.

There is, however a kingdom that is eternal and everlasting, and that is the kingdom of God. Is. 9:6,7 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.”

There is one ultimate kingdom and one ultimate king: Jesus Christ. And He has established earthly kingdoms for His own kingdom purposes. And I believe the greatest kingdom in the history of humanity is our own United States of America.

But sadly, in a country with all these personal freedoms, there are millions of our citizens that are not in freedom, but in bondage.

Stats on meth, etc…Ohio, etc; financial…porn…depression…fear…

Turn with me to the book of Galatians. The book of Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul in about 50 A.D. to the churches in a region called Galatia, which is modern day Turkey. The gospel had spread to this region; churches had sprung up, and Paul is taking on a issue that was plaguing these young churches. The issue was this: If Christ has set us free, what does that mean in everyday life? Am I really free? What am I free from? What am I free for.

So let’s answer three basic questons:

Am I really free? (build) The basic answer is YES! This freedom was not secured by any nation or military. It was secured Jesus the Messiah. He said in John 8:36 “if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

At the heart of this question is the bedrock biblical concept of Justification by Faith: We are justified before God, not by our works, but our genuine faith in Jesus and His atoning work on the cross. If you have surrendered your life to Jesus and by faith asked that His atoning death on the cross pay for your sin, then YES, you are really free. This freedom supersedes anything any nation or people can provide for you.

But what does that mean for everyday life? So the 2nd question is: What am I free from?

Well, there’s a lot we’re free from in Christ, but let me focus on the three main issues.

We are free from the penalty of sin When Jesus hung on the cross, His last words were: “It is finished” John 19:30 The Greek word used there is tetelesthai: paid in full

Term used in commerce and also a legal term. If you bought some goods, you would get a bill of sale that would have tetelesthai written across it: paid in full. If you had been thrown in jail or prison, they would enumerate your crime and the penalty on a parchment, and once you had done your time, they would write across the parchment, tetelesthai: paid in full. That thai on the end of tetelesthai is an infinitive. So when Jesus said “It is finished” He was declaring that His payment for our sin was complete and infinite. If I am in Christ, Jesus paid the penalty, the debt for my sin and imperfection and His payment was complete and infinite. Hallelujah!

We are free from the bondage of sin Notice what Galatians 5:1 says: Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

The freedom Jesus secured for us with His blood is intended to keep us from being a slave to any sin in our lives. I’m not talking about sinless perfection; no one is perfect but Jesus. But what I am talking about is being in bondage to our fleshly desires.