It is a rare occasion that the fourth of July falls on a Sunday. And it is not my custom to share a topical sermon on a holiday unless that holiday is a Christian one, like Christmas or Easter. The reason for this is, because when we gather as the Church to worship on any given Sunday, our focus should be on the person of God and how we are to come closer into relationship with him. Secular holidays tend to focus on the individual person rather than on God.
There are secular holidays that we honor, like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Memorial Day. And there are secular holidays that we do not honor, like St. Patrick’s, President’s, and Valentine’s Day. Each of these we could bring biblical themes into, and maybe someday, if God leads, we will, but for the foreseeable future, I have never felt led to take a Sunday and speak on any of these. The reason for this is, due to the fact that the world desires us to look towards self, when the Bible and the Holy Spirit call us to turn our eye upon God.
Yet today is different. There has been a building up in my spirit for the last year to speak on this particular secular holiday. Our nation celebrates the fourth of July because it’s the day that we declared our independence from what was seen as an oppressive government. But for those of us who’s citizenship is in heaven, and who understand that this citizenship is greater than our citizenship to any human nation, the fourth should mean more.
For Christians, the fourth represents the closest thing that a human nation can create in the light of the teachings of the Bible. No nation on earth today, nor since the nation of Israel was torn to sunder, has a nation so purposefully been founded on the precepts that come from the Word of God.
Jesus proclaims in John 8, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (8:31b-32).”
The Bible is replete with imagery of the freedom that is found in following God. So much so, that in 1807 a Bible was produced that is now known as the Slave Bible. This Bible was brought about because missionaries wanted to reach African slaves in U.S., but at the same time, these missionaries had to make the Bible agreeable with slave owners.
This resulted in a Bible that cut out the freedom passages that God had revealed. There are 66 books that are universally accepted in the canon of Scripture, and about 1,189 chapters. In the Slave Bible, 52 of those books are cut out, and out of those 1,189 chapters, only 232 remain.
Now hearing those numbers, where do you think the bulk of the books and chapters where taken out of? Old or New Testament? If you’re like most people, one would think it would be out of the New Testament, because the first words of Jesus’ public ministry, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, were, “18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (4:18-19).”
But the reality is, only 50% of the New Testament was removed; whereas 90% of the Old Testament was taken out. Why? Because the freedom that is found in the New Testament is rooted in the work of God throughout the Old. The freedom that believers can experience through the resurrected Lord, has its foundation in the work of God in Israel to bring about Jesus. In fact, Jesus’ first words that we just read, were a quote from the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament. As Christians, we must understand the need to understand and enjoy the Old Testament, because everything that we are given in the New Testament is founded on the work done before.
Last week in our study of Matthew, we read these words from Jesus in the fifth chapter, “17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
The fulfillment of the Word of God is what Jesus came to accomplish. In fact, in Jesus’ first public words in the Luke passage we referred to earlier, Jesus goes on to state, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:21b).”
God’s freedom work didn’t start with Jesus, but in Jesus, God’s freedom work reached it’s breakthrough moment. This is why Paul writes these words in Galatians 3, “19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe (19-23).”
God’s work throughout the span of human history has always been about bringing freedom. Even in the curse of Genesis 3, that Paul is referring to in Galatians 3, we can see clearly the working out of freedom. In fact in the midst of the cursing of the serpent, God speaks these freedom words, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel (v.15).”
Even in the midst of the shackles of sin being placed on humanity, shackles that place the human race into a state of eternal death and separation from God, God himself gives the promise that freedom will one day occur. Paul points out that this freedom is in Jesus.
And because God’s work has always been a freedom work, James writes in his letter, “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do (1:25).”
And so, if we claim we have called on the name of Jesus, we must walk in his freedom. For as the Scripture states in 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Therefore as the Scriptures teach, we must follow it in understanding the freedom that God seeks to establish in our lives. This freedom comes in three truths in the Bible.
The first truth is that, in Christ, we are free from sin. Paul writes in the book of Romans chapter 6, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin (1-7).”
The power of sin in our lives has been crushed in the crushing of Jesus body on the cross. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, the power of sin that enslaves the world, is broken and we are freed. Not only from the eternal destination that we were on, but also from sin’s control over our thoughts and actions now.
Does this mean we no longer sin? No, but now, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we have a choice to allow sin to have power over us or not. We now have freedom to fully choose, fully knowing the price that has been paid for that choice.
The second truth of freedom that is found in the Scriptures, is that we have freedom to come before God, because of Jesus. Paul writes in Ephesians 3, “7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.”
No longer is the wrath of God on us for our sin, therefore now we may freely enter into the presence of God without fear that we would be struct down. The presence of God is no longer a place of fear, but rather a place of refuge. Instead of a holy fire that would surely destroy us if we were to enter in it in our sin position, those who have accepted the free gift of Jesus as their Savior enter into God’s holy fire so that they may be cleansed by the loving embrace of God. Not destroyed, but purified.
The final truth of freedom that we find in God’s Word, is that we have the freedom to do right. In the second chapter of Peter’s first letter he writes, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (2:11-21).”
Our freedom, therefore, is not to indulge in our sin, but to live lives in honor of God. We must not fall into the thought that freedom is to do whatever one wishes, but rather true freedom is to live in the truth that God has ordained, within the boundaries he has established.
If we have placed our trust into Jesus as our Savior, we must live lives that honor him. We must do everything, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, to walk in the light of Jesus, and be led by the peace of the Spirit. Too often the Church has allowed sinful actions to go unaddressed for fear of losing power in this life. Ministers did not speak out against the enslavement of people as the missionaries who cerated the Salve Bible didn’t. Pastors stood by as gas chambers were built, and the millions of people were sent to their death. We must speak out to injustices as they come into view in our own time, and we must stand firm on the absolute truth found in God’s Word.
Right now, we are in a culture where people are wanting to Church to follow the world’s movements. Critical Race Theory, BLM, De-fund the Police, LGBTQ, the Trans movement, and a host of other movements that desire the Church recognize and embrace them. In a time such as this, the Church must arise to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). She must lead a life that would shine before the world so that glory may come to our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16). True freedom is not that ability to do whatever one wants, but rather to recognize that it is sin that binds us, and Christ who frees us. The Church must not embrace one sinful action, over another. One injustice for another. No, the Church must stand on the principles of the whole Word of God.
It is July 4th, the day that freedom is proclaimed. A freedom that many people now look at with disdain. Why? Because the foundation of freedom, which is Christ, has been trampled upon, not just by those who are at odds with it, but even from those in the Church who have not always walked in the full freedom of Christ. A freedom from sin, that leads into the presence of God, and that walks in truth in front of the world.
Let us sing of the freedom we have, not just in the land of the U.S., but in the Savior, the God come down, who died on a cross, while we were bound in the slavery of sin. Let us proclaim him, as the freeing Savior he is. Because his freedom will outlast any freedom we have in a governmental system.
This week I want to challenge you to walk through each of these truths of biblical freedom. Have you received the freedom from sin? To gain this freedom, you must accept that you’re a sinner, that you are bound to things that God says are evil, and not of him. You must then accept that you cannot free yourself from that bondage of sin, and that only by accepting that Jesus paid your price to sin through the cross, can you be set free from it.
Next, ask yourself, do I walk freely into the presence of God? To gain this freedom you must come to a place where you realize that the freedom Jesus has brought you into, means that you are fully welcomed into the presence of God. That even when you falter to sin, Jesus has already covered that sin in his blood on the cross. Though you may succumb to sin’s calling you back into its bondage, those chains will never hold tight, because Christ has forever broken their locks. All it takes now is a confession of the failing, and clinging to the gift of salvation.
Finally, are you walking in that freedom in front of the world. Do you call sin out in both the world’s systems, and in the Church? Speaking the truth in love, for the reconciliation of people back to God? Do you walk in humility and honesty of your own failings. Do you seek the reconciliation of people and relationships back to God, or do we try to use our freedom to cover up sin in ours or other people’s lives? To walk in this freedom, we must embrace the truth, that sin is what it is and should not be covered but called out, and speak God’s absolute truth in love to the world around us.
God calls us out of slavery to sin and into his freedom, and so, let us, as the Church, echo the words of the Psalmist when looking towards God, “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts (119:45).”
Let us all walk in the Word of the Lord, which brings freedom for all that would listen, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment