Would You Be Free?

Would You Be Free?

07/06/08 AM

Text: John 8:31-32

Introduction

Freedom is a powerful word, it is a driving concept. Men have fought battles, gone to war and sacrificed greatly in order to gain freedom for themselves or for their country. Friday was the 4th of July, the day where we celebrate the anniversary of America’s Independence from England, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence which declared the American colonies as states free of the English monarchy. And that vision grew to encompass the concepts of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of all to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And "Freedom" has been the siren cry of this country to millions of the world’s people. A poem by Emma Lazarus is graven on a tablet within the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands. The most well known line read “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” So many immigrants envisioned freedom from persecution, freedom from oppression, freedom from poverty in the freedom of America.

Unfortunately today, many in our country have a much different idea as to the meaning of that freedom. For many in our country today it is not the “freedom of” envisioned by the Founding Fathers or “freedom from” so eagerly sought by those yearning to breathe free; instead many think that freedom means freedom to do what ever they want, whenever they want. Millions of unborn are murdered each year and it’s called the freedom to choose. Pornography fills magazines and movie screens and the Internet and they call it freedom to express themselves. Cults are formed and the truth of God is twisted or replaced with the theology of man and it is called freedom to believe ones own way. Immoral lifestyles are promoted as freedom to marry.

Much more can be added to the list. Our society has turned freedom into license, consumed with a higher standard of living they fail to live by a higher moral standard. And tragically or ironically the things done in the name of freedom, have in reality enslaved them.

You see, for these many people their pursuit of freedom has resulted in even greater slavery.

2 Peter 2:19b “…for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”

Romans 6:16a “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey…”

And such we all once were,

Titus 3:3 “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

Galatians 4:3 “So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.”

One can live in a free land and yet remain in great bondage. There is a freedom to be more highly prized than political or physical freedom. There is a freedom greater than that gained by declaration or constitutional law. Would You Be Free?

Than consider the words of Jesus: John 8:32 “…you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

I.Freedom Comes From The Truth

A.Freedom From Fears

1.2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

a."Spirit of fear" is inclusive of all worldly fears. Those without Christ and the knowledge of our freedom in Him are bound with many worldly fears.

But Christ has given us power, love, and a sound mind. This means a mind that is sober, able to reason and understand, a mind that is not afflicted with unhealthy thoughts and unfounded apprehensions.

Solomon wrote to those who are young,

Prov. 3:24-26 "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid. Yea, thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither the desolation of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."

Heb. 13:5-6 "For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

2.Consider John’s list of those who will be lost in the Judgment,

a.Revelation 21:7-8 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

He does not begin with those who are ungodly and who have done terrible deeds against others.