“WHAT IS FREEDOM?”

As I prepared the sermon for this week, and I looked up all kinds of really cool scriptures on freedom, and I researched the freedom in our own country, I had to stop and ask myself if I really knew what freedom was.
2 Corinthians 3:17
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (ESV)
Galatians 5:1
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (ESV)
What freedom? We will answer that in a moment? But first I have another question for you.

What is Freedom?
Well this being July 5th, it’s only right to start with this.
Freedom; a country's right to rule itself, without interference from, or domination by, another country or power.
Psalms 119:45
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (NIV)
We are free because God made us free!

What is Freedom?
Freedom; a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any undue restraints or restrictions.
If we are truly free in Christ, are we free to live and act as we choose?
1 Peter 2:16
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (ESV)

What does a servant do? Anything that the master tells them to, they do whatever the master says. This verse says do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, or as a cover-up for sin. Before we are saved we live in sin, we do things that God says are sin and we don’t worry about it, but after we are saved we should be conscious of sin. If we are truly in tune with God and His Word, the Holy Spirit will prick our hearts when we are doing things we should not be doing. But the trouble is that way too many Christians want to be saved and still live like the lost world. They have convinced themselves that it is alright to run around doing the same things and acting like those people who are not saved, and it doesn’t work.
If we are truly free, then what are we free from and what are we free to?

What is Freedom?
Freedom; release or rescue from being physically bound, or from being confined, enslaved, captured, or imprisoned.

John 8:34-36
“Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (ESV)

So if Freedom is release or rescue from being physically bound, or from being confined, enslaved, captured, or imprisoned. Then we must know what bondage is, we must know will enslave us. Jesus said that everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.

How do we become enslaved to sin after we are saved?

2 Peter 2:19
“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (ESV)
They who? The ones who are not saved, the ones who are lost and going to Hell, and they want you to go right along with them. These people are the very ones who will tell you how wonderful their life is and how much fun they are having, what the honest truth is they are in bondage to sin.
“For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”
You know that Lord told me something a while back, He said, “It’s what we get used to that we accept.”
What does that mean? If we hang around something long enough, no matter how bad it is, no matter how repulsive it is, we will begin to look at it in a more and more approving way. And soon we will be trying it and doing the very thing that we disapproved of. Why? Because we got used to it and accepted it, and now we try to justify it and we will use God’s holy Word, even if we have to pervert it, to show that we have the freedom and the right to do as we please.
One of them that I hear a lot is, “Well I don’t thing that God will sent me to hell for it, do you?”
Let me ask you this, Do you think that this is something that God will allow into His perfect Heaven? Look at the consequences of you actions.
How do we become enslaved to sin after we are saved?
“Are you staying sober?” “Most if the time.” That means “When I’m not partying.”
“Are you staying clean?” “Pretty much.” That means when you can’t find a fix.
“Are you staying faithful to your spouse?” “Yeah, sure.” That means only when there is a chance of being caught.
“Are you still cheating on your taxes?” “Not so anyone would notice.” That means you are hoping that the IRS doesn’t notice.
Are you getting the drift? “For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”

What is Freedom?
Freedom; the ability to exercise free will and make choices independently of any external determining force.
People believe that they should be free to do whatever they wish, and God should’nt interfere, that nobody should ever tell them that they are wrong. Did you know that many people who call themselves Christians, would rather have a pastor who will make them fell good, than one who will point out sin. But when you stand before God, and are judged by God, which one would you rather have?
James 2:12-13
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (NIV)

Galatians 5:13-15
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. 14 For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. 15 If you bite and ravage each other, watch out— in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?” (MSG)

Jesus said in
Luke 4:16-21
“He 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. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (NIV)