How To Be Truly Free

“HOW TO BE TRULY FREE” John 3:16

FBCF – 6/30/24

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Saw this in Doug & Diane Barker’s yard this week (pic). It’s such a true statement. So many have given so much so that so many of us may enjoy the amazing freedom of living in the USA! American is a great nation that has been greatly blessed by our great God. But as Pres. Ronald Reagan said in 1984, “If we ever forget that we are a nation under God, we are a nation gone under.” And it sure seems that we are going under in many ways today.

A Prayer for America – David Jeremiah

“Almighty God, in all history, there has only been one nation like America – founded by pilgrims seeking freedom to worship, established on a vast continent between two oceans, dedicated to the proposition that we are created equal & endowed by our Creator w/ certain unalienable rights: One nation under God.

You have delivered us in war, prospered us in peace, & raised up generations willing to offer the last full measure of their devotion for the preservation of liberty at home & abroad.

We have been a light for the world. From our shores has gone the greatest missionary force in history.

But now, Lord, America has fallen into darkness, disobedience, & indifference. We have sinned, & we, Your People, Lord, humble ourselves & pray & seek your face, & turn from our wicked ways. Please forgive & heal our land.

Give us leaders who understand the times & know what we should do. May the torch of liberty burn brightly, inflamed by the goodness of Your people.

God bless America. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

As we celebrate our nation’s freedom this next week, we must remember that there are many people in this country who live as free citizens of the United States of America but are still held captive by the chains of sin & death. They are free, but not truly free. And that very well could be YOU today! And today, I want to tell you how you can be TRULY free!

EXPLANATION – John 3:16

Why is this verse so well-known?

- B/c it’s full of hope – “the hope diamond of the Bible” (Max Lucado)

- B/c it’s the whole message of the Gospel – the amazing Good News of salvation – rolled up into a simple single spectacular verse – 25 words that God has used to change the lives of multitudes of people all over the world.

- B/c it’s God’s plan that this verse be proclaimed by preachers & missionaries & parents & grandparents & children & students & businessmen & teachers & athletes & coaches & doctors & nurses & musicians & farmers & housewives & government leaders & workers & the list goes on & on to include ANYONE ANYWHERE in the world who is a Christ-follower – and it HAS been & continues to be proclaimed!

So let me dissect this verse for you w/ 5 simple points:

SALVATION IS ALL ABOUT GOD… – “For God…” – Salvation has always been God’s plan.

- It was His plan before the beginning of time

- Adam & Eve’s in the Garden of Eden did not catch Him off-guard. The plan for their forgiveness & salvation & our forgiveness & salvation was already in place.

- He is the one who calls you to Himself.

- He is the one who saves you & sets you free from sin & death.

- He is the one who keeps you saved while you are still alive on this earth.

- He is the one who has prepared a place for you in heaven where you’ll spend eternity w/ Him after you die.

- He is the one who will call you home to be w/ Him one day – that is, IF you have truly accepted Jesus as your Savior & Lord.

…GOD’S LOVE – “…so loved the world…” – With all the sin in the world – all the evil that we see on display all around us – all the misery & pain that is caused by so many living for themselves under the power of Satan – we might expect an anger-filled, anger-fueled God ready to punish & destroy the entire human race & forget about us all. In fact, that’s actually what we deserve as sinners. But salvation is all about His love for us – His unconditional, unending, underserved, unfathomable love for every last person on the face of the earth – the down & out & the up & in – the mansion-dweller & the homeless person – the thug dealing drugs in the inner city & the respectable suburban family – the newborn baby in the delivery room & the senior adult in their final days – the religious, but lost person in this very room & the irreligious atheist protesting on a college campus somewhere. He loves YOU – whoever & wherever you are – b/c He IS love!