24 September 2006: CHRIST SET US FREE – What For?

TOPIC: Liberty; bondage, freedom, license, new life, slavery
TITLE: CHRIST SET US FREE – What For? [H/T: Charles Haddon Spurgeon; Morning & Evening Morning September 19]
TEXT: Galatians 5:1

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Freedom from what or to what?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

See the Expanded Outline below!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: How is this? We are still slaves to God! [Ephesians 6:6] Amen! And to all that some might be saved! [1 Corinthians 9:19] For righteousness sake! Amen?

Today I begin a new series for me and I’m sure this church. How many have heard of Charles Haddon Spurgeon? Morning & Evening ... a devotional by the same name? Have you read it???

I will be preaching from Scripture but using Morning & Evening as a topic and outline source … to the extent they lend themselves to proclamation, to this church, and according as God wills! If I figure right there are 830 messages con-tained in Morning & Evening … way more than half are applicable to us. That’s roughly eight years of preaching. That’s what you call job security.

Spurgeon’s "Morning" devotional for 19 September concerns liberty or freedom in Christ; I have noticed something among believers that troubles me - they say they have been set free and they acknowledge their freedom in Christ but their lives do not give evidence of this freedom.

[Morning & Evening] This "liberty" makes us free to heaven's charter - the Bible. Here is a choice passage, believer, "When thou passes through the rivers, I will be with thee." [Isaiah 43:2 KJV] You are free to receive that.

Here is another: "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee." [Isaiah 54:10 KJV] You are free to receive that too.

You are a welcome guest at His table of the promises; Scripture is a faith filled treasury of boundless stores of grace - deposited to your account. It is the bank of heaven - you may draw on it as much as you please, without limit or obstacle.

Come in faith, you are welcome to all covenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word which will be withheld from you.

You will find that Spurgeon is unequaled in his use of the English language to elevate a point.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Freedom from what or to what?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. FREE FROM LIVING IN BONDAGE AGAIN
II. FREE TO …

A. Reject All That Offers Slavery
B. Welcome God’s Grace-filled Freedom

III. FREE NO MATTER THE AGONY OR ANGUISH

A. In the midst of terrible trials, this freedom soothes us
B. In the shadow of deafening distress, this freedom exalts us
C. In the tumult of swirling sorrows, this freedom is our anchor
D. This is freedom is God’s voucher for His bounty …

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

1. His love is free to you at all times
2. It’s a believer's free privilege to access at all times his Father in Heaven
3. His throne of grace is also free to you at any moment
4. Whatever your desires, your difficulties, your wants, you are free to spread all before him

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

IV. FREE NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE OR CONDITION

A. It matters not a whit the enormity of your sins

1. You may plead
2. And expect pardon

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

3. For He has promised

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Matthew 7:7-11

B. It matters nothing how little you possess …

1. we may plead his promise
2. He will provide all things needful

Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gen-tiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about to-morrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:31-34

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE:

[GO FREE] A great many people find it almost impossible to accept the finished work of Christ's on the cross … an all-sufficient ransom for their sins. They want to do something themselves.

"But I can't see it," said a cabinetmaker to a friend who was trying to show him how the death of Christ completed the work of his atonement.

At last an inspiration struck his friend, who picked up a plane and moved to plane the top of a polished table waiting for the customer to pick it up.

"Stop!" cried the cabinetmaker. "Don't you see that's finished? You'll ruin it if you use that plane on it,"

"That" replied his friend, "is what I‘ve been trying to tell you about Christ's work of redemption. It was finished when He gave His life for you. If you try to add to that finished work you’ll only spoil it. Just accept it as it stands - His life for yours - now, go and go freely." [e-Sword 2000+ Illustrations]

But it is not a freedom that begins at a point in time and then is taken for granted. No! Spurgeon reminds us:

We have permission to approach his throne at all times, even at mid-night's darkest hour, or in noontide's most burning heat. Exercise thy right, O believer, and live up to thy privilege.

Thou art free to all that is treasured up in Christ-wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It matters not what thy need is, for there is fullness of supply in Christ, and it is there for thee.

O what a "freedom" is yours! Freedom from condemnation, freedom to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter heaven!

Jesus reminds us …

If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

John 8:31-32

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36

To be free indeed is to be free in reality, free in fact, free to act in freedom.

We do not have freedom to take license with our behavior and bring reproach upon Him and His name … but functioning as a freeman with a Master!


RELATED LINKS: The SHEEP'S CRIB - Sermons

SPECIFIC TAGS: Bondage, Freedom, Galatians, Liberty, Slavery
GENERAL TAGS: Homoletics, Preaching, Sermons