Title: Freedom in Christ
Theme: To show that we can experience freedom in Christ.
Text: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 2 Corinthians 3:17
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Introduction
The year is 1776. The date is July 4th. The place is Philadelphia, PN. 56 men gathered to sign what would soon become known as the Declaration of Independence. The men represented the 13 original colonies that as we know today has grown into 50 states now called the United States of America.
Their intention with this document, that we celebrate the signing of on this July 4th, was to proclaim the independence of America from the British rule and taxation.
This was the final step in proclaiming freedom for all the citizens of America. These men risked their lives and the lives of their family. Soon the Revolutionary War would be fought and 4,435 soldiers would be killed. Another 6,188 would be wounded fighting for the freedom of our nation.
All to declare freedom in America. Men and women risks their lives to live in a free country. To escape the tyrannical rule of a king. Was the cost too high, these men and women didn’t think so.
Christ’s freedom
Yet a greater freedom happened over 2,000 years ago. A man called Jesus went to the cross. We don’t know the date and even have a hard time pinpointing the year. Yet we do know that it would change this world forever.
That cross where Jesus died declared freedom to the world. Any one who believed and received Christ can experience that freedom. Freedom was declared and Satan was defeated.
Jesus was just beginning his ministry. For 40 days he was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. He was next baptized by John. Finally as if to proclaim his calling to the church he enters into the sanctuary and brings forth the word.
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty (freedom) to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty (free) those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
His purpose is to bring freedom. His purpose is to proclaim freedom. His purpose is to “set at liberty them that are bruised” “to preach deliverance to the captives”.
We don’t have to live in bondage. We don’t have to live under the curse of sin or the law. We don’t have to live as if there is no way out. Jesus said again in
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
verse 36 as if to clarify his freedom he said
36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Freedom has been proclaimed and the price has been paid? Was the price worth it? Yes for our freedom.
How many Christians miss this freedom?
Yet how many Christian who have experienced the blood of Christ in their lives still don’t experience this freedom.
Freedom in America. Yet freedom is more than a law.
It is more than a verse. It is more than a saying it is an experience. We must let that freedom sink into our lives and take over our heart.
Remember what I said last week, Paul told Timothy to stir of the gift. Let the fire be rekindled. Let the embers be stirred. When we stir it up we experience a refreshing. The Holy Spirit once again fills us.
When we have the Holy Spirit there is boldness. Where there is boldness there is no fear. Where there is no fear there is freedom.
Paul talked of freedom to the Corinthians
That is what Paul is saying in 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Paul is telling those in Corinth that when the spirit of the Lord comes he brings liberty. The word liberty here also means “freedom”.
God’s spirit brings freedom.
I heard another minister who was talking about this verse the other day. She said another definition of this word is “relaxation”. When we have peace in our lives we can relax. Some Christians are just too uptight. And if they are not uptight they are looking at something to be uptight about.
We sometimes need to learn to relax in Christ and trust him.
That is what that word Shalom means. It means peace but it means the peace of God. It means that may God peace engulf you as you walk through the day.
We need to believe those famous verses of freedom that we hear so much about.
“Greater his he that is in me than he that is in the world”
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.
“With God we can have the victory”.
“What is impossible with man is possible with God”
“All things work together for them who love the Lord”
We don’t just need to just mark them in our Bible, or write them down or even quote them every day we need to get them in our heart and believe them.
Liberty means peace. To have peace in the time of trouble.
Christ has come to set us free. He has come to give us life and give it more abundantly.
Christ died to Set us free from Sin
Paul tells us that we don’t have to be a slave to sin.
Christ died to Set us free from Bondage
Bitterness, Unforgiveness,
Christ died to Set us free from Fear
Christ has come to set us free from fear. This is what Paul was telling Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Then again in Romans 8:15 “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear”.
Fear is bondage
Fear in bondage. Fear is controlling. Fear will try to control your actions.
Most of you know that I am afraid of heights. I mean it is not an unknown secret and I am not really embarrassed about it.
I also understand that my problem is not with the fact of falling but with the fear of falling. Fear will make you think and make you act strangely.
Trying to teach my son to swim I explained to him that, ”Most people who can’t swim drown because the panic.” Panic makes us make bad decisions.
That is why Christ felt it so important to emphasize the fact that he died for our freedom. We don’t have to be controlled by sin. We don’t have to be controlled by our emotions. We don’t even have to be controlled by other peoples reactions. We can be freedom.
Conclusion
Today we celebrate a day of Independence. We celebrated a day liberty. Yet we are so bound. Bound in our worship. Afraid of others opinions.
I ask you are you truly experiencing the freedom of Christ.
If you are lost you must answer no.
If you are a Christian and your mind is on other things you must say no.
