Freedom in the Son John 8:1-11, John 10:1-10
Words of freedom:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security
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“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Our nation was founded on the passion for freedom.
A freedom founded on faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ.
A freedom men were willing to give up everything for.
A freedom worth dying for.
A freedom of independence- through dependence on God.
A world without Christ is a world of captivity.
Our world is calling evil good and good evil.
Our world is exchanging freedom for captivity.
Look at other nations where Christ is missing.
The enemy does not want us free.
He comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
He does not love or care for us.
Jesus came that we might experience freedom in Him.
He is the shepherd.
He seeks intimacy with us.
He has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
He laid down his life for us, that we might be free.
A living illustration of freedom and captivity
John 8:1-11
Woman in captivity to the sin of adultery.
Woman in captivity to the religious leaders.
Religious leaders were in captivity to the law.
They did not care about her freedom.
They wanted Jesus gone so that they could continue to hold others in captivity.
Jesus knelt and begin to write.
He could not look on the woman in her sin.
He could not look on the men in their sin.
Judgment is as much a sin as adultery.
Jesus destroys their system of captivity and sets them free.
Jesus breaks the chains of the woman and sets her free.
Jesus does not condone captivity.
Jesus does not condone judgment.
Jesus does not condone sinful lifestyles.
Jesus brings freedom through grace.
He without sin cast the first stone.
Only someone who doesn’t need grace has the right to judge or condemn.
That is Jesus.
The rest of us need grace.
Our passion our life mission ought to be freedom in the Son.
We must stand for truth.
God does not call us to be stone throwers.
God calls us to be spiritual patriots.
He calls us to love Jesus, freedom, and others so much we would do whatever we are called to do so that others can experience true freedom in the Son.
