Spiritual Freedom
We as Americans believe that Freedom is the birthright of every person. It makes no difference whether a person is born rich or poor. It makes no difference whether a person is red – yellow – black or white. It makes no difference what gender a person is. It makes no difference whether a person is uneducated or has all kinds of degrees on his wall – they all deserve to be free.
A person may never own a foot of land – they may only own the clothes on their backs – but they have every right to experience freedom. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a statement made in our Declaration of Independence and we – as Americans – hold these values very highly. Every American deserves to be free.
The Bible teaches us:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (HCSB)
The freedom talked about here is more than political freedom. It is a freedom which only God can give and it arrives when the Spirit of the Lord arrives. It is spiritual freedom – it is freedom from the chains of sin.
It is true that all people have a right to freedom – but it is also true that you will not experience true freedom until you experience “the Spirit of the Lord”. For – “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Spiritual freedom is the most powerful freedom that there is – it is the freedom of being free from sin.
How many of us have felt the grip of sin in our lives? How many of us have felt the oppression that sin can cause? How many of us have felt guilt – and remorse because of sin? I would venture to say that all of us have felt the bonds of sin at one time or another. We have all been slaves to sin. But - “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Friend – let there be no doubt in your mind that God has the power to set you free. He has the power to set you free from the slavery of sin. He has the power to set you free from the penalty of sin. He has the power to set you free from the guilt of sin. He has the power to set you free from the dominion of sin. May we never forget – “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Let us now examine more closely what true freedom consists of. It consists of:
1. Freedom from the SLAVERY OF SIN
Words seem inadequate to describe the bondage of sin. Some of you know exactly what I am talking about. Ropes and chains would be simple constraints compared to cruel constraints that sin lays upon us. Some of you know the misery that I am speaking of. Of all the bondage and slavery in this world – there is none more horrible than the slavery of sin. Tell the Hebrew captive to make bricks then deny him any straw. Tell the debtor that he owes more money than he can make in a lifetime – then multiply it by tenfold. Tell the sinner that the wages of sin is death - then go on to explain that it is eternal death. The burden would be too much to bear – he would sink into the abyss of depression too heavy to see any hope. Sin does the same to the sinner. How shall I escape? How shall I be forgiven?
I think I have seen such persons. There is never a smile upon their face. Dark clouds have gathered on their brow. He groans – he sighs – tears have dug furrows on his face. Hope is lost. Hope is no-where to be seen. Help seems impossible to find. He feels that no-one could love a poor creature like himself.
But here is the good news Folks – God does not leave us slaves to sin.
For:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (HCSB)
Jesus said:
“If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NKJV)
If the Son frees you – you have passed through the Slough of Despond and are now standing on solid ground. You have walked through the valley of the shadow of death – and have received life – eternal life though the Son – Jesus Christ. The chains of sin have been broken – for you are free – free indeed. We cry, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24 (NKJV) But now we know the answer – the Son of Man can make us free – it is none other than Jesus Christ Himself.
Jesus is the Lover of my Soul. I have been set free by Him and now I am free indeed. There is no sin upon my conscience now – there is no crime hovering over my head. I am no longer a slave to Satan. The Son has set me free and I am free indeed. He said to me, “Come!” and I ran into His arms and He accepted me. He wrapped His arms around me and said, “You are forgiven – you have been made clean - I have set you free. No chains of sin will ever bind you again. You are not a slave to sin - but now you are a child of God. Rejoice for I have led you into the promised land. You are free.”
Folks the arms of Jesus are open to you. You no longer need to be a slave to sin. You no longer need to live a life filled with guilt – Jesus will forgive you. He says:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
Do you seek rest for your soul? Do you seek freedom from sin? Then come unto Him who can set you free. Confess your sin to Him and He will forgive you. Tell Him you are sorry for what you have done. Ask Him to loose the chains that weigh you down. He can make you free. For:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (HCSB)
A sinner without the grace of God is a slave to sin. He cannot deliver himself from his sins. But for the Christian – God has delivered us! Yes, we have been freed from the slavery of sin.
But that is not all. Jesus can give you:
2. Freedom from the PENALTY OF SIN
What is the penalty of sin? It is death – eternal death. That is what the scripture tells us when it says: “For the wages of sin is death.” But I am happy that the verse does not stop there but goes on to say, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
Folks the sinner deserves death. The sinner deserves to be condemned. The sinner deserve to die. “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He can set us free from the penalty of sin.
It is no sweet thing to think of what might happen if I am not forgiven. It gives me no comfort if the penalty of sin cannot be removed from me. Death and Hell would be my destination. Death and Hell would be my inheritance. But that is not the case. Jesus has the power to take away the penalty of sin. The Bible tells us:
“Those who believe in him won’t be condemned. But those who don’t believe are already condemned because they don’t believe in God’s only Son.” John 3:18 (GW)
Folks, here is a fact: If you have trusted in Jesus – He has set you free from the penalty of sin!
Do you know it? Can you recognize it? The moment you trusted in Christ – you are free from the penalty of sin. Not only are you forgiven – you are no longer condemned.
Jesus has suffered the punishment for my sin and for your sin. The punishment was placed upon Him. He took our place. It would be unjust for any of us to be punished when the punishment has already been carried out. He died in our place. He suffered on our behalf. Every lash of the whip – He received for you and I. His hands and feet were pierced – for you and I. The blood flowed down His face - for you and I. The penalty of sin has been paid. It has been abolished. “It is finished” was cry from the cross - it is over it is done with.
True, I am a sinner – but Christ died for sinners. True, I deserve punishment – but the punishment has been paid. Jesus took care of it all. For:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (HCSB)
No longer must I worry about the punishment. There never was and never shall be one Believer in Hell. There never was and never shall be one Believer who will suffer the punishment that Jesus has already took upon Himself. Hell’s iron gates are locked forever and ever against every Believer. Jesus paid the punishment for sin - and now I have been set free.
But that is not all. Jesus can give you:
3. Freedom from the GUILT OF SIN
Here is one more fact that many of you may find hard to believe. When a person becomes a believer not only are they free from the slavery of sin – not only are they free from the penalty of sin – but they are free from the guilt of sin as well. God has extended a pardon – a pardon to the uttermost. The president may extend a pardon – and it may last a life time – but God’s pardon extends into eternity. There is no end to His pardon. The Bible tells us:
“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12 (NKJV)
If my transgressions have been removed – I are no longer guilty. When I stand before the Judge of judges – He will look at me and say, “Not guilty.” Yes – I am a sinner. I know what I have done. But that is not what God proclaims me to be. He proclaims me to be holy. He proclaims me to be inocent.
Do you understand how my guilt is taken away? Here I stand a sinner – guilty as charged. Yet Christ comes for my salvation. He bids me to leave my prison cell. He says, “I will take your place. I will stand where you are. I will be your substitute. I will be the sinner. All your guilt is to be imputed to Me. All your shame is upon My shoulders. I will die for it – I will suffer for it – I will be punished for it.”
But then He says, “Here are my robes – put them on. You shall be the righteous one for My righteousness is imputed to you. I will take your place as I have promised – and you will take Mine. You are no longer guilty. But you are covered with My righteousness.” Then He will cover me with His glorious robe of righteousness – just as He promised. What we have done is laid on Christ – and what He has done is laid on us. Yes, we will have freedom from the guilt sin. There is no more any crime listed against me. It has been blotted out forever. It is cancelled. I will not be punished because there is no longer anything to be punished for. Christ has atoned for my sins and I have received His forgiveness and His righteousness. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (HCSB)
But let us not leave here without talking about:
4. Freedom from the DEATH OF SIN
Paul wrote long ago:
“Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 (HCSB)
Death no longer has any victory. Death no longer has any sting. For sin has been deal with – and even though we may die in this mortal body – God has promised that we will live – forever and ever and ever.
Since the fall of Adam and Eve – death has shadowed the human race. But Bible tells us:
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (HCSB)
Go ahead and circle the word “but”. It is the largest word in the human language. Because of your sin you will die – but …. Because you have living in rebellion against God you deserve death – but … Because you have fallen short of God’s glory you are doomed – but …
But God did something. He sent His son to take care of the sin problem. And guess what? He fixed it! O death where is your sting? O death where is your victory? Death you have no hold on me – for the wages of sin is death – BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I could not even estimate how many people in this world are afraid of death. Perhaps more than half of the world’s population – but folks here is a fact. If you are a child of God – if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior – you do not have to fear death.
I heard a story of an older Christian lady lying on her death bed. It seems that a friend came by to visit her. The friend asked her, “Are you sinking into death?” The older lady answered not a word. Thinking that the she was not heard the friend asked again, “Are you sinking into death?” Again there was silence. The friend asked a third time. Finally, the older woman looked at the friend in disbelief – rose a little from the bed and said, “Sinking? Sinking? How can I sink when I am standing on a solid rock? Did you ever know a person sink through rock? If I had been standing on the sand, I might sink – but thank God I am standing on the Rock of Ages – and there is no sinking here.”
Folks the truth is plain – Jesus gives us a salvation which is more powerful than death.
You will not sink into death - through Christ you will over-come it. Your inheritance is not death - it is life - eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Remember the Bible tells us:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (HCSB)
Freedom from the slavery of sin.
Freedom from the penalty of sin.
Freedom from the guilt of sin.
Freedom from the death of sin.
Are you free? Jesus offers you freedom – for He said:
“If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NKJV)
I want to thank C. H. Spurgeon for the sermon starter ideas.
