Sunday, September 28, 2008
CHRISTIAN FREEDOM
FREEDOM IN CHRIST
John 8:21-37
INTRO: As Jesus continues His ministry, some seem to believe in Him. He encourages them to abide in His word to be really free. They question what He means about freedom. What is this freedom that He talks about?
THE SOURCE OF FREEDOM
It does not come from ancestry.
It does not come from being religious.
It does not come from being good.
It is from/through Jesus Christ. Then, now, and forever!
John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
IT IS FREEDOM FROM:
It is freedom from bondage to sin.
It is freedom from bondage to legalism.
It is freedom from bondage to tradition.
IT IS FREEDOM TO:
It is freedom to live out the will of God.
It is freedom to abide in His word.
It is freedom to sit at His feet. (Remember Mary.")
It is freedom to live under His authority.
In Jesus Christ we are free! But this freedom is not simply to do as we please, without regard to any regulations. We must be responsible in the freedom we have been given. Remember that the freedom we are talking about cost Jesus the pain of the cross. He has earned the right to be called Lord. Real freedom is to choose who is Lord in our life. Who is your Lord?
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While in the early chuch, there was a great danger of thinking of this freedom as a license to sin, perhaps the more danger today is not experiencing the blessings of the freedom that God wants to give us through Jesus Christ.
As we experience freedom through Jesus we owe allegience to Him as Lord. As such He wants to give us a full meaningful life. (John 10:10)
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Preached at Greenville Southern Baptist Church
September 28, 2008
Pastor Fred D. Kerr
