Message topic: What does it mean to be free?
Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-10
The question is been asked, what does it mean to be free? But I think that is just a part of the question, the full question should be, are you free from the spiritual law of sin, or, are you free from the laws of the country in which you are living?
So what does biblical freedom mean? The freedom God offers throughout Scripture is freedom from the enslaving power of sin in our lives. The enemy uses sin to obstruct our relationship with God, keeping us from experiencing abundant life in God’s kingdom.
Biblical freedom allows us to reclaim what the enemy has robbed from us so we can live a life of who God created us to be.
By contrast, worldly freedom is the ability to do what we want, how, when we want, when Adam and Eve were in Eden, they were free to choose whether to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But choosing to eat from it brought consequences of death
Paul gives us a clear idea of this whole freedom thing and defines what biblical freedom truly means and doesn’t mean. He wrote in (1 Corinthians 6:12) I have the right to do anything, you say- but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything-but I will not be mastered by anything.
What does this mean to you? This means Jesus set you free so you can stand firm in His power to live a life that is free and fully alive.
Not so, you can be bound to the things of this earth, He wants you awakened to a life that can hold both hurt and hope. A life that cries out in grief but can whisper gratitude in the same breath.
This kind of freedom allows you to have faith in Christ but still experience human fears. You can bring them both before the cross, where His grace, love, and mercy can cover you and empower you.
The scripture teaches that the only truly free people in the world are those who have made Christ their Savior, Master and Lord. Jesus Christ said, ye Shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, free from sin and eternal death.
Listen to five of the many things the bible says about freedom: first Galatians five and verse one says; stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
(Next) First Peter two and verse sixteen says we should as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover up for evil, but living as servants of God.
Now listen to Isaiah sixty-one and verse one: the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Psalm one hundred and eighteen, and verse five says: Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. Do you know the freedom that only Christ can bring?
What is freedom in Christ, and how to obtain it? Freedom means you have a choice. It means you are no longer restrained or controlled by the things that once held you back.
Some people are fortunate to be born into a free country, but there are others that are not so lucky. They live their whole lives oppressed, or even enslaved, by others.
However, all of us are born as slaves to sin (Psalm 51:5). our sin nature separates us from God’s love and His freeing power of the Holy Spirit. The moment you decide to place your trust in God and follow Him is when sin loses the power to control you (Romans 6:6)
Freedom in Christ means that you are no longer controlled by sin. The power of the Holy Spirit (2nd. Corinthians 3;17) gives you the ability to resist your sinful desires, and instead of choosing the path of sin and death, you are free to choose life (Romans 6:22)
Your first step towards freedom is salvation through Christ Jesus: recorded for us in John 3:16, which so many of us can repeat, but what does the verses from seventeen to twenty- one says and what do they means? Let’s listen to these verses (John 3:16 -21)
For God love the world so much, He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.
This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hated the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds might be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (The words of John 3:17-21)
Once you open up your heart and invite the Holy Spirit in. the chain that enslave you will be broken. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14.
Does freedom in Christ means that we can do whatever we want to do: no, not ever. do not be mistaken, Freedom is not full, unhindered autonomy. Whether it’s earthly freedom or spiritual freedom, there are always going to be laws, rules, and guidelines we have to follow. There will always be right and wrong.
Freedom in Christ means we no longer have to satisfy our desires, so I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh, they are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
What is freedom in Christ? and how do I obtain it? Freedom means you have a choice. It means you are no longer restrained or controlled by the things that once held you back, some people are fortunate to be born into a free country, but there are others that are not so lucky. They live their whole lives oppressed, or even enslaved, by others.
However, all of us are born as slaves to sin as (Psalm 51: 5) our sin nature separates us from God’s love and His freeing power of the Holy Spirit. The moment you decide to place your trust in God and follow Him is when sin loses the power to control you (Romans 6;6)
Freedom in Christ means that you are no longer controlled by sin. The power of the Holy Spirit gives you the ability to resist your sinful desires, and instead of choosing the path of sin and death, you are free to choose life as in (Romans 6:22)
Once you open up your heart and invite the Holy Spirit in, the chain that once enslave you will be broken, for He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins as is recorded for us in (Colossians 1:13-14)
There we are reminded that he who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.
The people of many countries believes that the people who lives in America are free: have all the freedom: starting with the freedom of speech, and the list goes on according to their constitution, little do they know, this is not always so.
There is one supreme law, and that law is the law of God, which is the law of all the countries of the world, and to all men everywhere.
When the first man and woman who ever lived, broke the law of God, they became sinners and required to be forgiven of their sin against a sinless Holy God: and there was only one way that this could be done; there is only one without the sin of disobedience would have to pay the penalty, and there was none other but the only son of God.
That is why the Holy Spirit told John that what is conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit, and when he is born, His name shall be called Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins. Adam and his wife Eve were made without sins, but when they became sinners through their disobedience to God, they could only reproduce sinners.
Jesus, God’s only sinless son willingly came into this world for one reason, to rescue mankind whom God loves so much to bring them back into the relationship they had in the beginning, that is why Jesus said, I am come that you may have life, and have it forever, therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Today we can say redeemed how we love to proclaim it! redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; redeemed thro’ His infinite mercy, His child, and forever we are. Redeemed and so happy in Jesus, no language my rapture can tell, I know that the light of His presence with us doth continual dwell.
I think of our blessed redeemer, I think of Him all the day long; I sing for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song.
I know I shall see in His beauty the King in whose law I delight, who lovingly guarded my footsteps, and giveth me songs in the night.
We are redeemed, yes redeemed, redeemed, by the blood of the lamb; His child and forever we are. Let us remember that we are no more ordinary people, we are redeemed and is now the light of the world so that others can see Jesus the savior of all mankind.