Pastor Jann Braaksma
Happy Fourth of July and Happy Birthday America. We think about and speak of freedom more this weekend than most. Our freedoms have been paid for with blood, the blood of soldiers and the blood of Jesus Christ.
We celebrated Papa Bob’s 85th birthday yesterday. Family, friends, food and fun were the agenda. It was HOT. Even in the shade by 3 in the afternoon it was hot, and that when the party broke up.
This weekend we celebrate America’s birthday. Family, friends, food and fun, weather permitting, are on the agenda.
I’d like us to consider our freedoms this morning. Not our political freedoms or our freedoms as Americans, but our freedoms as followers of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:1 says – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Does this verse mean we run amuck and do as we please? I don’t believe so.
The freedom that comes through Christ is, first and foremost, liberation from the condemnation and slavery of sin and the whole dominion of Satan.
If I was caught speeding, what would happen? I would be fined. And under our new laws that went into effect July 1st I understand that could be hundreds of dollars in fines.
Would I be expected to pay that fine? Yes. Perhaps after a court appearance, but the fine or debt would have to be paid.
What is the fine or wage for sin? Yes, Death. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin is like speeding, there is a penalty and it must be paid.
Can we, as humans, pay our own sin debt? No.
Who paid that debt? Jesus. And how did He pay our debt? By dying on the cross.
There is a wonderful hymn I’ve only heard once, it says; “I owed a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe.”
Jesus, sinless and perfect, hung upon a cross and died a terrible death to pay for our sins. It’s not an easy thing to think of or to truly understand.
Now, did Jesus die so we could sit around and be sad about it? Or so we could go back to a sin filled life?
No, I don’t think so either. Jesus died to pay our sin debt so we could live in freedom. And from that position of freedom to serve Him and the human race.
True liberation begins with the believer’s union with Christ and his or her receiving the Holy Spirit. Liberation from spiritual bondage is maintained through the Spirit’s continued indwelling and through obedience to His direction.
Romans 8:1-2 please – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set us free from the law of sin and death.
This ‘law of the Spirit of life’ is the regulating and activating power and life of the Holy Spirit operating in the hearts (and I believe the minds) of believers. The Holy Spirit comes into sinners and frees them from the power of sin.
The law of the Spirit comes into full operation as believers commit themselves to obey the Spirit. They find a new power operating within, a power that allows them to overcome sin.
“The law of sin and death” is the controlling power of sin, which places people in bondage and reduces them to wretchedness.
Are we forced to believe in Jesus Christ and His blood sacrifice? No, we can choose to believe or to remain non-believers.
Freedom provided by Christ is not a freedom for believers to do what they want but to do what they should. Spiritual freedom must never be used as a cover-up for evil or as a justification for conflict.
Christian liberation frees believers for service to God and other people in the way of righteousness. We are now Christ’s slaves living to God by grace.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 please – Everything is permissible – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
Let’s hear what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God – even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
And what is the example of Christ? Let’s hear from Luke 4:16-19
Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. And He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has set me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Jesus gives the purpose of His four-fold Spirit-anointed ministry here;
1) To preach the gospel to the poor, the destitute, the afflicted, the humble, those crushed in spirit, the brokenhearted and those who “tremble at His word”.
2) To heal those who are bruised and oppressed. This healing involves the whole person, both physical and spiritual.
3) To open the spiritual eyes of those blinded by the world and Satan in order that they might see the truth of God’s good news.
4) To proclaim the time of true freedom and salvation from Satan’s domain, sin, fear and guilt.
All of us who are filled the Spirit are called to share Jesus’ ministry in these ways. To do so we must gain a deep realization of the terrible need and misery that has resulted from sin and the power of Satan – a condition of bondage to evil, brokenheartedness, spiritual blindness and physical distress.
And we decide, to sit by and do nothing, or to reach out. What will your decision be?
Let us pray.
Resources: The Full Life Study Bible