"The Freedom You Need!"
Date: 29 April, 2015
Text: John 8:30-47
Title: The Freedom You Need.
Introduction:
Freedom is a wonderful thing.
We enjoy living in a "Free Country."
We enjoy being a "Free people."
We like to be "free" of concern and worry.
We want to be "free of debt."
But, of all freedoms, there is nothing so wonderful as the liberty that is granted to us through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The name of our church is Free Baptist Church. I want our church to adopt John 8:36 "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." This verse is in our text this morning. Our text has much to say about freedom.
I'm going to start using John 8:36 on much of our literature. (It is in the Gala Day brochure.)
We have a liberating Gospel message from mankind to hear. It sets men free from the bondage of sin.
I received a ministry update for the Stephen Rains family to Kenya this week. "Please pray for a man named Jeff, who we were privileged to give the gospel to on Monday night. He was very open, and God is obviously working in his heart. Pray also for a man named Eleazar who came through our yard to mark some buried cable. Stephen went out to witness to him and his eyes filled with tears as he heard the gospel message. He mentioned that he grew up hearing the gospel and started drinking alcohol a few years ago and has ruined almost every area of his life. He wants to get together again and learn more of how Jesus can set him free from sin!"
Friend, are you free this morning? Or are you in bondage to sin?
note: I've had people in this community say with passion, "Ben I need help." I've heard of people finally coming to the end of themselves and admitting that they need help.
We have a message to give them that can set them free. We, who have been set free, can tell them that they too can enjoy the freedom which we possess. If you don't possess this liberty this morning, it can be yours.
I. The way to freedom.
note: It's not an easy way. But, it is a sure way because it is God's way. The way begins with....
A. Faith.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
exp. Are you willing to listen to Jesus and let him speak to your heart? If he convinces you of something from His Word are you willing to believe it?
app. God's Word will not open up to you if you don't believe it.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
B. Continuence.
31 ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
exp. Jesus knows what a real disciple looks like. He is a person who continues to accept the truth of Jesus.
ill. The parable of the sower. There were several types of soil, but only the seed that grew to bear fruit had really accepted the Word. Some looked like it was growing but persecution, worldliness, or Satan caused it to wither and die. Those "trials" revealed the nature of what was taking place.
app. Are you a real disciple of Jesus. There must be a continuence ....in truth.
C. Truth.
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
exp. HOW IMPORTANT IS TRUTH. This verse says that not only will we have truth but that we will be set free by it.
note: Biblical faith has TRUTH as its foundation.
ill. I meet people who believe in reincarnation because they feel like that is what will happen to them. Others believe in being good enough to go to Heaven when they die. Others believe that they will just go in the grave when they die. THEY ARE MYSTICS NOT BIBLICISTS.
app. We have TRUTH this morning. Don't trust in yourself. We know who Jesus is, what He did, why we need Him, because of the TRUE revelation within this book.
note: If you don't believe it is true, you will not continue in it and you will not trust in it - YOU WILL NOT BE SET FREE.
II. The "why" of freedom.
A. Self righteous people view themselves at liberty.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
exp. They were religious but lost. But, you'll notice that they take offence at the very idea of being in bondage to anything.
question: Do you know that it is possible to be in bondage and not even know it.
ill. Your people defending canabis. They think they are fine. But, their drug habit takes money and they have to pay for it. So, they steal to afford it. Canabis leads to Heroine and now it is destroying their life. The entered into bondage without even being aware of what they were doing.
ill. Self righteous people who are trying to do good things in their religion to "please" God. But, it is never enough because good works will never be good enough.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
app. Careful, just because we don't think we are in bondage, does not mean that we are free.
B. Sin is bondage.
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
ill. I often ask atheists, if evolution is true, why do you do things that you know you shouldn't do, don't want to do, and feel badly about afterwards? The answer is sin. And sin is bondage.
ill. Young people have told me, rock music isn't sin. I've challenged them to try to stop listening to it. It will command their attention because they are addicted and enslaved to it.
app. What are you in bondage to this morning? Freedom is in Christ.
C. Sin's house is temporary.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
exp. Some would say, "If this is bondage, then I will take it." They would brag about being the slave to sin. BUT SIN IS TEMPORARY. God isn't inviting you to be a servant in His earthly house, he wants you to be a child of His eternal Heaven.
app. That is why David didn't want to be anywhere other than in God's family. Ps 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
app. People may mock God all they want, but they have no clue as to the sweetness of a clear conscience and the assurance of a home in Heaven. That is "why" they need freedom.
III. The Word of freedom.
A. Jesus has the ability to set free from bondage.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
exp. Notice that JESUS is actively breaking the bondage of sin.
ill. teenager in Nepal: I read this week of a teenager that was buried alive in the earthquake last Saturday. He could do nothing to free himself. He need a rescuer.
exp. You need a rescuer as well.
note: If you want to be set free, I promise you that Jesus is willing to free you.
hymn: LET JESUS COME INTO YOUR HEART. Mrs. C. H. Morris
1 If you are tired of the load of your sin,
Let Jesus come into your heart;
If you desire a new life to begin,
Let Jesus come into your heart.
2 If it's for purity now that you sigh,
Let Jesus come into your heart;
Fountains for cleansing are flowing nearby,
Let Jesus come into your heart.
Chorus:
Just now, your doubtings give o'er;
Just now, reject Him no more;
Just now, throw open the door;
Let Jesus come into your heart.
B. When his Word finds a place in our heart, it sets us free.
37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
exp. They are in bondage, because the Word of God has found no place in their hearts. They reject it. They despise it. They don't want it or him.
question: Is it any wonder that we live in a generation which is in complete and utter bondage? They despise God's Word. They don't want Jesus or the Bible.
app. But, if they will let God's Word pierce their hard heart, they can be set free. GOD'S WORD BRINGS FREEDOM.
note: When Bible's were printed in English and given to the common man, revival followed because people were set free by God's Word.
IV. The war against freedom.
A. Jesus gave them absolute truth and they rejected it.
38 ¶ I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
exp. The message of Jesus is based upon pure revelation which Jesus not only heard but saw. Our sin nature does not like truth when it conflicts with our understanding, belief's, etc.
ill. Paul said to the church in Galatia - Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
app. Notice - their reaction is against the truth. Careful - when you are upset by a teaching that is clearly from God's Word. Unless it is a misrepresentation of God's Word - you are opposing God.
B. They were religious and they were the enemies of God.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
exp. Oh, they were religious. They claimed their spiritual heritage. They were Jews and Abraham was their father. But, they were not really related to Abraham except by nationality.
ill. All religious claim "God is their father." But, that claim is less than skin deep. If they don't follow God's Holy Word, they are no more his children than Satan.
app. Religion is not the answer to our need. WHAT WE NEED IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!
C. They sought to kill the messenger of God because they would not believe God.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
exp. How the world hates truth! JESUS was true and they despised him for it.
ill. If you want to see our modern world bristle, mention absolute truth. Tell them what God says about creation, the deity of JESUS, sin.... and see how menacing our "tolerant" world becomes against those who stand for THE TRUTH OF GOD.
app. Warning friend, there is absolute truth. You and I are fallable but God's Word is not.
Ps 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
D. Their hatred of JESUS reveals their identity as a child of the devil.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
exp. Notice how deceived they were! God in flesh, Jesus Christ, says that Satan is their father and they have the audacity to claim that their Father is God.
ill. Did you know that their are sincerely religious people who will stand before God and claim that their works were done in His Name. And yet, God will tell them in that day that they were deceived!
Matthew 7: 2-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
app. Are you fighting against the truth of God's Word while trying to claim that God is you Father? It ought to be a warning to your soul that you are standing with the same father as these false religious leaders.
E. They struggled with the "words" of Jesus because they rejected His message.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
exp. Jesus used phrases like, "Water of life" and "Bread of life" about Himself and they didn't get it. They couldn't because they rejected his message they couldn't understand His Words.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
app. The natural man says about God's Word, "I think, I feel, as I understand it" the spiritual man says, "This is what God says." Are you getting the truth of God's Word? Does it speak to your heart? Or are you missing it, because you refuse to accept what it says?
F. They were on the side of the enemy of all righteousness.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
exp. Satan doesn't like absolute truth. He refuses it and lies about it. He is the father of lies.
ill. Touring Roberts Owens, "New Lanark" mill and village. He was a humanist they said because he said, "If there is one God, why are there a multiplicity of religions. There should be one religions if there is one God."
NOTE: There is a multiplicity of religions because you can never tell a lie the same way. Satan continues to deceive mankind down many false paths but the way to God is ONLY ONE WAY.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
app. How do we know what religion is right? Let the light shine (GOD'S WORD) on religion.
VI. The waste of freedom.
A. They rejected his truth.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
exp. They had truth but they refused to believe it.
ill. I used to think that if you could just explain the Gospel to someone, if they understood iit, they would be saved. I've realized that I was completely wrong about that. Because so often when it is understood, it is rejected BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE THE TRUTH.
ill. I witnessed to a friend in this community this week. He shook his fist in the face of a God that would have an eternal @#!*% . (He should have bowed his head and thanked that loving God for sending his Son to the cross of @#!*% because he wanted to do everything in His power to keep that man from going there.)
app. Is your heart harded against God this morning, or will you let the Word of God have it's way in your life?
B. Why wouldn't they listen to an unimpeachable messenger of truth?
46 ¶ Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
exp. They could find no fault with Jesus. They would not accept the truth. Sadly without the truth they would never be set free.
app. If you reject the message of this book, you will never find peace and freedom from sin - the guilt of sin, the judgment of sin, the weight of sin.etc.
C. Because they would not submit to the authority of God.
47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
exp. God had a merciful message for these that were so opposed to Him. But, they refused it.
conclusion: Freedom is a wonderful thing if you possess it. But, what about those who can never enjoy the freedoms that you and I possess? How sad to go through life without liberty. Sadder yet is the condition of those who go through life in bondage to sin and never are set free because they reject the truth that could set them free.
1.) Is that you this morning? Are you in bondage to sin because you will not accept the message of truth.
2.) Are you bound by religious thinking that violates the truth of Jesus? You will not be set free without repenting of your thoughts and accepting the message of God's Word.
3.) Christian, are you rejecting any doctrine of God's Word? We who have been set free by truth can become entangled again by false teachings.
2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
LET US MAKE THIS VERSE THE MOTTO OF OUR CHURCH because Jesus desires to set men free from the bondage of sin.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
