31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Do you like invitations or special offers?
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus offers us a wonderful invitation, a great special offer
Listen again to verse 31
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Are you free?
Would you like to be free with Jesus?
Before we explore this further, there is something we need to get rid of out of our system when it comes to freedom.
Freedom from God does not mean we can do what we want.
Nelson Mandella, said once in explaining this to others
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Jesus also encourages us in another section of scripture to Love the Lord and Love others as we love ourselves.
When God speaks of freedom, it is not about doing what you like.
One of God’s main purposes that we see constantly through out scripture is about setting people free from oppression, the things in life that are detrimental to them.
If we open up the book of Exodus we see God freeing the people from Egypt.
However this did not mean that they chaotically ran into the desert in all directions and did what they wanted.
However to be free they needed to listen to Moses,
because through Moses God spoke.
Through Moses’ leadership God would lead them to a better life, a better place.
Freedom is about grabbing hold of what is helpful for the long term,
and not being bound or tied to what is not.
If I was to look at the way you spend your time, would I see that you have accepted the invitation, the special offer from Jesus, for freedom?
Who are you listening to?
So this morning I want us to focus on what is important to live this life of freedom.
What are some of the essentials for freedom?
Let’s begin by listening to Romans 3 verse 22
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
The first essential thing in our life for freedom is Jesus.
You might say daa, that is obvious.
But it is important to remember and to keep on remembering.
Because not everyone sees it that way.
We live amongst people who don’t see Jesus as essential for freedom.
And these people can influence us with their ideas and thoughts.
So our life can become so cluttered not just with things,
but events and ideas that rather than lead us to freedom, actually prevent us from experiencing freedom.
For us to experience this freedom Jesus needs to be a priority in our lives in all situations.
Without Jesus, we have no hope of eternal life.
Our long term future is simply not possible.
Our relationship with God is simply not possible without Jesus.
This week as you live, ask yourself, where does Jesus rank?
Is he number one, or am I letting other things, other ideas dominate?
If Jesus is essential for freedom, then today’s gospel reading also reveals something else that is essential.
Listen again to verse 31,
Jesus says, “If you hold onto my teaching you are truly my disciples”.
Holding onto Jesus teaching is crucial for freedom.
Why is this important?
How we live our lives is influenced by what we learn.
You may have seen the adverts on television of a young child doing something wrong, which show that they have picked this up from their parents.
Remember that advert of a young girl swearing as she got in the car only to be told off by her mother.
Then as her mother goes to drive off, she is cut off by another driver, then expletives come out of her mouth.
We learn from those around us.
This means we need to be regularly studying Jesus, so we know what true freedom is about.
Now the experts say we learn in at least three ways.
By what we hear, by what see and by what we do!!
So as you read or hear the scriptures there are three things we need to ask:
What am I hearing God say?
What am I seeing God doing?
How can I put God’s ways, God’s approach to life into action?
Those three questions again:
What am I hearing God say?
What am I seeing God doing?
How can I put God’s ways, God’s approach to life into action?
The reformation began because Luther and a number of others saw that the scriptures were about what God is up to.
About God revealing himself to us.
And his wonderful discovery was that the bible and Jesus did not require us to do heaps of stuff, in fact it did not require us to do anything but believe, to earn our place in heaven.
Rather our place in eternity is a free gift from God.
This was some what different to how many people understood their relationship with God at the time.
Many people were convinced if they were to have a relationship with God they needed to work hard, to prove themselves.
Yet the scriptures say the opposite.
Luther and a number of other reformers also discovered that doing good is still part of the Christian life,
it is still something God wants us to be doing.
Not so we can get to heaven,
but to show love to God and love to others.
Now this is a completely different perspective to how many people live today.
Many people won’t do anything unless they have to,
unless they can earn a benefit,
unless they can personally benefit!
This is not the relationship God has with us.
Nor is it the way God encourages us to live.
What Jesus basically says to us is this;
Don’t stress about whether you are going to be in heaven or not.
Leave that up to me.
Look I know you have done wrong, that you continue to sin.
(Now Romans 3 reminds us we can’t hide this fact,
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”)
However Jesus says my father has done something about that.
He sent me to earth for you!
I paid the fines for all your sins, but dieing for YOU!!
You are freed from stressing about whether you will be in heaven or not.
Now use your freedom to show my love to others, to introduce them to this freedom I offer.
Jesus teachings are essential in that they show us a different approach to life
and the way to view our relationship with God.
How are you constantly receiving Jesus teaching?
Have you put aside some time each day to read the bible?
When do you discuss the bible with other Christians?
Why not join or begin a bible study, with a few other Christians!!!
Because, the truths of Jesus are found solely in the bible.
Now there is one final aspect that I would like to touch on from the gospel reading in John.
In verse 33 the Jewish Christians say we are Abraham’s descendants, we have never been slaves of anyone?
They were relying on their Jewish heritage, being part of the Jewish family to give them a pass into heaven
In the gospel reading Jesus warns everyone that relying on your family connections will not help you gain a place in heaven.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics amazingly over 500 people in Launceston call themselves Lutheran.
My question is where are they?
In fact over 70% of the population say they are Christian, imagine if they all attended church.
All our churches would be overflowing.
One of the saddest discussions I have had with someone,
is that they label themselves as Christian, a Lutheran, but their actions and ideas demonstrate something else.
They had grabbed onto the dangerous attitude that I have been baptised therefore I am alright ‘jack’, I don’t have to do anything else, I don’t have to come to church, to worship, to read the scriptures or have fellowship with any Christians!!
Is this what scripture teaches???
Whilst it is true that baptism is a saving action of God.
That is one of the benefits of baptising infants; it clearly shows that God is doing the work.
Once we are baptised,
we need to allow God to fertilise the faith that baptism introduces into our lives.
We need to be fertilized by Jesus.
This means being in regular and constant contact with God.
Parents and grand parents.
Sponsors and friends.
In fact everyone in the congregation.
You have a part to play in this!
How are you bringing God’s word, the message of freedom into the lives of the people you love!!
How are you continually helping people to see how loving God is for those people he has put under your care.
Some little ways you may want to try:
How about, remembering their baptism anniversary, dropping them a short note, a gift or a card.
What do you give them at Christmas or for their birthday that reminds them of God’s love.
When I was some distance from God, one of my sisters bought me a business person’s bible.
When was the last time you invited them along to church?
And at Christmas rather than avoiding Christmas worship services because it may interfere with a family lunch a little, why not invite them along, so God can reveal his message of freedom to them!
Jesus has made public God’s special offer.
God gives us freedom!!
And this freedom is only possible by believing in Jesus!!
So grab hold of his teachings and share it with others!!
Because only Jesus makes our relationship right with God!!
Allow Jesus and his teachings to be your number one priority in your life!!
And hold onto the truth that the reformation revealed that true faith in God is based solely around
Word alone, grace alone and faith alone.
AMEN
