Understanding True Freedom: Not Legalism or License

Preached at Northwest Christian Church 

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, July 24, 2011

Galatians 5:1-18, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

What does it mean to be truly free? During this month that we might call 'Freedom Month', we have been exploring and investigating this question, “What does it mean to be truly free?” The words of Jesus in John chapter eight, the teaching of the apostle Paul delivered by letter to the church in Corinth, located in 1 Corinthians chapter six, the joyful proclamation of the good news to the poor, the oppressed, the enslaved that Jesus preached at His 'home church', the synagogue in Nazareth, recorded in Luke chapter four. These passages of Scripture and what they contain related to the subject of true freedom, have been our study focus up to this point. If you happened to miss any of these messages and want to learn more about the subject, I suggest that you go to those places for more information and insight.

Today, however, we come to Paul's words in what some have called the 'Epistle of Liberty', the book of Galatians, and to what may very well be some of the most practical teaching in all of the Bible pertaining to the issue of true freedom. Before we examine these words of Paul which he wrote as the Holy Spirit enabled and inspired him, we need to sort of set the background for them, so that we might understand them accurately.

When the apostle Paul preached the gospel, whether he was preaching to Jews in a synagogue, or to Gentiles in the market place, he always, ultimately, came around to the fundamental fact of the Christian religion, and that is that salvation, deliverance from one's sins, from their guilt, from their condemnation, from their deserved punishment, and even from their life-controlling power, was to be found and realized always and only by faith in Jesus Christ. No amount of works on my part, not even works of the highest quality, could be added to my simply trust in Christ, and what He did for me at Calvary, to sort of tip the scales in my favor, when I stand before God. Whether he was preaching to the Jews in one of their synagogues, or to the Gentiles on their 'turf', Paul's message, the gospel he proclaimed, was always the same: “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast...” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Or, as he put it right here, in the Epistle of Liberty, the letter to the churches of Galatia, “we who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

This was Paul's message, the gospel he proclaimed wherever he went. But, like people often do, there were some who misunderstood what he intended by what he said. Some who even twisted what he said to fit their own distorted, and selfish ends. And, here's how they did so: they took Paul's words, and ran with them in one of two different directions. Can't you just imagine the dialogue between these folks who had heard Paul and misunderstood him, and Paul, as he tried to correct their errors? “Paul, hey Paul, you said that through faith in Jesus Christ, I am forgiven, set free. But, listen, I still need some rules to guide me. In fact, I need some rules to keep so that I can TELL everybody about what I'VE done. Paul, what do you think about my 'Legalism' and my pride in keeping the law?” That's one wrong direction people went with Paul's words. Then, there's the other direction that some others went with Paul's teaching. “Hey Paul, you say that through faith in Jesus Christ I am forgiven, set free? Yippee! Now I can live like I've always wanted to live! Now, I can pursue every passion and pleasure I've always wanted to indulge in, because, like you said, I am 'free in Christ...' What do you think, Paul?” In logic, I believe they call this a 'false dichotomy', a situation where two options - you know, 'door number one': legalism, and the self-centered pride that goes with it, and 'door number two,' license, and the self-centered, fleshly indulgence that goes with it. In logic, they call this a false dichotomy, because what you're doing, if you go this way, is that you are setting up two options, and only two, as if there is no other possibility out there, no 'door number three,' if you will. But, what does the apostle Paul do? How does he deal with this apparent 'either/or', 'legalism' or 'license' dilemma? Is there a 'door number three'? And, if there is, how does it set us straight on the issue, our key question for 'freedom month': “What does it mean to be truly free?”

Take a look at what the Holy Spirit directed Paul to write, here in the Epistle of Liberty, Galatians chapter 5. What does it mean to be truly free? Before we discover Paul's answer to that question, the 'door number three' to which he points us, notice what he describes what true freedom is not. Verse one, and really a large portion of the rest of this letter, the message is: “Christ has not set us free only to be enslaved again...”

Read it again with me, will you?

Galatians 5:1-6, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”

You see what Paul's saying here, don't you? You get the point, right? True freedom is not a doorway into another form of bondage, an indebtedness to keeping the whole law! An estrangement from Christ, a falling from grace! Why? Because true freedom, you know, “If the Son sets you free, then you shall be free indeed...” True freedom is not a doorway into another form of bondage because true freedom because true freedom keeps you connected to Christ and what He has done for you at Calvary! To restate what Paul says in verses one and two, when we stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, Christ profits us EVERYTHING. What He has done for us benefits us in every way!

What does it mean to be truly free? Well, using Monte Hall's terminology again for a moment, true freedom is NOT an invitation to see what's behind door number one, the one that's marked self-centered, pride-oriented 'LEGALISM'. Nor, is it a call to explore what is behind door number two, the one that is marked self-centered, lust-driven, 'LICENSE'. Take a look again at verses 13 & following:

Galatians 5:13-21, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Door number one – My, oh, my, how the Deceiver wants to use that 'other way' to lead us away from the One who IS the Way. “Jesus, look at me! Look at what I've done! I've attended every service, been one of the first ones there, in fact. I've studied my lesson, memorized my verses, carried my Bible, prayed my prayers, put my money in the offering plate, Jesus, did you see all of that?” Galatians 6:13, “Not even those who are circumcised (who walk through door number one) keep the law, rather, their desire for you to walk through that door with them, is so that they can boast in you, in your decision to walk through door number one!

And, door number two, the one marked 'LICENSE', self-centered, FLESHLY lust-driven LICENSE. My, oh, my how the Deceiver wants to use THAT 'other way' to lead us away from the One who IS the Way, also! Think of it! “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, all kinds of sexual 'freedom', idolatry, sorcery, all kinds of religious 'freedom', hatred, contentions, jealousies, out-bursts of wrath, all kinds of relationship 'freedom'. Where does a decision to live on the other side of that 'door,' ultimately, take you? Galatians 5:21, “those who practice such thins will not inherit the kingdom of God!

But, now I have to ask you, is there another way? Is there another 'door' to pass through to real freedom? There is, it's called Christ-like love. Take a look again at our text, the Spirit-inspired words, the infinitely wise words of the Apostle Paul. You think that law, legalism is the way to go? Don't look to door number one again. Look no further than love, door number three. Galatians 5:6, the apostle Paul, using the language of lawyers, “in Christ (key phrase there) circumcision and uncircumcision have no legal validity, no legal significance as far as being in Christ is concerned! What does? Are you concerned about keeping the law? Do you remember the parable Jesus told when asked by a lawyer what he must DO to inherit eternal life? Jesus described for that would-be-legalist the story of a Priest and a Levite, who passed by a beaten and bloody man laying on the side of the Jericho road. Two letter-of-the-law people who had forgotten what the law said about loving one's neighbor! Jesus also depicted for him the tender compassion and generous need-meeting ministry of a Samaritan, who did stop to help the beaten and bloody man. Then, what did Jesus say? Are you concerned about keeping the law, including the one that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself?” Go and do likewise! Put your faith into action, through tender-hearted, others-focused, love! Christ-like love! That's the way to true freedom!

Or, maybe you're enticed by the fact that, in Christ, there is no no condemnation, no more punishment, no more judgment, no more guilt. I am free! I can do as I please! Don't misunderstand true freedom in that wrong-headed! Don't mis-use your 'in Christ liberty' by transforming it, by twisting it into self-centered license! No! Galatians 5:13 – Rather, use your freedom, this gift of God, this high and holy calling in and through Jesus Christ, use it as a starting point, a base of operations, a resource reservoir for the most life changing expedition you'll ever make, the expedition through a door marked “loving service to others!” A door marked “walking in, living by means of the Holy Spirit” not self-oriented, sin-directed, flesh...

What does it mean to be truly free? Powerful question, isn't it? But, you know something? There is a question behind that question. A question whose answer unlocks, throws wide open door number three. I'm talking about this question: How can I know and experience this true freedom?

Galatians 6:14-15, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.”

In front of door number three, that door to true freedom, stands a cross, our statue of liberty! Through Christ, and what He did for us at Calvary, the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. In Christ, circumcision, keeping the law, uncircumcision, living like there is no law, those 'doors' no longer have a hold on me, they have no validity in my life. Why? Because in Christ, I am a new creation!

Understanding True Freedom: Jesus is Our Liberator

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, July 17, 2011

Luke 4:16-21, So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

“What does it mean to be truly free?” That question has been our focus so far this month, as we have examined Jesus' words in John 8 and Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6. “What does it mean to be truly free?” You know, there are a lot of different answers to that question floating around out there. For some, true freedom has to do with one's political status and the status of governmental and political affairs in one's state or nation. We all can relate to this perspective, and perhaps to the desire that our government might shrink in size. We yearn for less of its regulating control over our lives, and certainly, less of it gobbling up of our money. But does smaller government and a lower rate of taxation necessarily result in more true freedom?

Some people would answer our question, “What does it mean to be truly free?” with kind of a man-centered response. “Freedom,” they say, “is having the right and room to do what you want to do, regardless to whom it might affect.” But, is that true freedom? In face, think about it. What if everyone - EVERYONE – lived that way, totally, 24-7, 365? Imagine what kind of world, what kind of MESS we would be in !!

Still others are responding to our question about freedom, not with a MAN-centered answered, nor with a smaller government answer, but with an ENVIRONMENT or ENVIRONMENTAL answer. With an answer that is definitely green in color. For most of us, this is the new one, the strange one, when it comes to the question about true freedom. You see, those who hold to this definition and understanding of true freedom want us to believe that true freedom will only be a reality when we stop cutting down trees, killing baby whales and emitting green-house gases. In other words, to these folks, true freedom is all about getting back to nature, with 'Mother Earth,' as they call it, being worshiped and served. But, is that true freedom? The Al Gores of this world want you and me to believe it is, but what they don't tell you is that it actually binds you, enslaves you to mountains of government rules and regulations and to a false god and false object of worship: “Mother Earth”!

What does it mean to be truly free? In John chapter 8, Jesus told the Jews who had come to believe Him, that true freedom revolves around the liberating truth made known in His Words. He put it this way: “If you abide in My Word, then you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

In other words, true freedom, according to Jesus, is not EARTH-centered, government-centered, or Man-centered, but Jesus-centered. Obeying Him, abiding in His Word as it unveils the truth to us, that's where true freedom is to be found and experienced!

The apostle Paul, now here's a man who knew about freedom; that is, in these worldly senses. He was born a Roman citizen. Living in the Roman Empire of that day, Roman citizenship gave him rights, privileges and freedoms that others didn't have! Then, to be an apostle, chosen by God through a special act of divine selection on Damascus Road, he had all kinds of perks and perogatives at his disposal as an apostle. But, when he went to Corinth, to the 'Mecca' of Me-ism, to the 'capital' of man-centeredness, he didn't go as a King, as one living by the “all things are lawful for me!” way of thinking. Rather, he went as a servant, literally, a slave, who realized, and I believe, rejoiced in the fact, that he “had been bought with a price”, that he was not his own, that he was to “glorify God in his body, and in his spirit, both of which belong to God.” (See 1 Corinthians 6:12-20) In other words, as Paul wrote to the Christians who lived in that 'Mecca of Me-ism', true freedom is not man-centered, me-centered, but Christ-centered!

What does it mean to be truly free? And, how is it that true freedom is not to be found in a place, a political position or perfect autonomy, but in a PERSON by the name of Jesus Christ? One day, Jesus walked into His 'home church', the synagogue there in Nazareth. And, as was His custom, He stood up to read from God's Word. And, it just so happened that the scroll of the Book of Isaiah was handed to Him. And in that scroll, He found these words:

Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

“Nice choice of passages, Jesus...” Can't you just hear the comments up and down the aisles in the synagogue there in Jesus' hometown? “That's one of my favorites, Jesus. Thanks for reading it!”

But notice, Jesus doesn't just read the text of Isaiah 61:1-2. No. What does He do? Take a look. The gospel writer, Luke, gives us a window into this amazing when he writes, “Then Jesus closed the book [the scroll], gave it back to the attendant and sat down.” And with all eyes fixed on Him at that moment, what does Jesus say? He boldly declares what the people of Nazareth, ultimately, weren't ready or willing to accept. He boldly claims that He is more than Joseph's son, that He, in fact, is the fulfillment of Isaiah's words!

Now, maybe you're wondering, what does this scenario in the Nazareth synagogue and this Bible reading from Isaiah 61 have to do with true freedom?

To answer that question, one not only has to grapple with the text here in Luke 4, but one also has to grasp the background out of which they come. An announcement of good news to the poor, a mission, ordained and orchestrated by God Himself, for the purpose of healing the brokenhearted, a proclamation of liberty to captives and of new eyes for the blind, a removal of chains from the oppressed, this is more than mere words! No! Isaiah 61, not only does it take folks like us back to the days of the Babylonian captivity, when the Jews, the Israelites, were exiled from their homeland in Babylon. Not only does it take us all the way back to the Book of Leviticus and the law of Moses regarding the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee, but more importantly, it takes us all the way around to a PERSON who would be uniquely anointed by God to do and be all these things, to a Person by the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Blow the trumpet to mark the inauguration of the Year of Jubilee. Why? Because Jesus, our Jubilee, our Liberator, has come! Send forth the proclamation to all in the land, freedom to the captives, sight for the blind, good news for the poor, healing, comfort to the brokenhearted – why? Because your debt has been paid! Why? Because the Anointed One, your Kinsman Redeemer, has made a way for you to be restored to what God had given to you.

Freedom, true freedom, in Jesus Christ, what is it that makes that Good News message so good? You know it, don't you? Jesus, my Liberator, He knows! He knows that the Thief, Satan himself comes only to steal, kill and destroy! (John 10:10) His work, he comes, not to make you rich, but to leave you and me impoverished! Oh, but Jesus, what does the Scripture say about Him? Blow the trumpet! Send forth the proclamation! The Jubilee year has finally arrived! How do I know that? 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you, through His poverty, might become rich!” Beloved, the Good News really is good! Oh, how we need to share it! The brokenhearted, how many of you know someone with a broken heart? The thief, Satan, not only does he leave you poor, spiritually, and, perhaps even, financially poor, He also leave you broken, battered, bruised, crushed. Oh, but the Great Physicians, what did He come to do? Peter put it this way: “Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the cross, that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness. By His stripes we are healed!” (1 Peter 2:24)

What does Matthew record about Jesus, our Jubilee? Matthew 12:20, “A bruised reed, He will not break it. A smoking, flickering flame, He will not extinguish it!”' No! Why? Because He's the Healer! He's the One, whose gracious invitation to every broken heart, is: “Come unto me! Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest! [In Me] ye shall find rest for your souls...” (Matthew 11:28-30)

It really is good news, isn't it? To the poor, to the brokenhearted, to the blind? Have you ever thought about yourself that way before? I know I have to use my glasses or my contact lens, but listen, I can see!

Many of the people of Jesus' day, those who did not believe Him, those who rejected Him, they thought they could see just fine! This Fellow from Nazareth, prophets don't come from Nazareth! The Messiah, he's David's son, surely He won't come from Nazareth. Yeah, this Jesus fellow, we know where He's from, Nazareth; and we know Who His daddy is, Joseph. They thought they could see, and see very clearly! But what did Jesus ay? What had the THIEF done in their lives? 2 Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this world has blinded their minds”, in their stubborn unbelief, the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, it simply cannot shine.

Oh, but our Liberator, Jesus, our Jubilee! Why did He come? It's good, good news, isn't it? He came to proclaim recovery of sight to the blind! He came to give sight to eyes that other wise cannot see!

What does it mean to be truly free? Don't close the Book and put the scroll away! Fix your eyes on Jesus! Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing... where? How? In Him! He is your liberator! Your Jubilee! How do I know that? “It is finished!” “Paid in full!” I know it by looking right there, at the cross!”

The captives' ransom has been paid! The debtors' obligation has been met! The sinner's guilt and punishment has been atoned. The Thief, his stealing, killing, destroying work has been overcome! And in Christ, in your Jubilee, you can go free!

What does it mean to be truly free? Don't look to the government for the answer! Don't make 'Mother Earth' your focus! Don't get caught up in this 'Mecca of Me-ism'! No! Look to Jesus! “For if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed!” (John 8:36)

What Does It Mean to Be Truly Free?

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, July 10, 2011

1 Corinthians 6:12-20, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

What does it mean to be truly free? Last Lord's Day we explored that question as we prepared to celebrate the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation. Jesus answered our question about freedom, didn't He? He said simply, that freedom, true freedom, comes from knowing the truth. And the truth, He declared, is to be found through abiding in His Word.

For obvious reasons, our emphasis in our Scripture study was on freedom, liberty, independence. However, there is a side to Jesus' words in John 8 that we must not miss, nor misunderstand, if we are to experience true freedom in our daily lives. I'm talking now about the subject of slavery. I'm referring now to the issue of ownership and control.

Deep within the heart of every person, I think there is a yearning for true freedom. However, this is where we often begin to go wrong. In our sinful condition, without the divine insight God supplies through this Book, we think freedom, true freedom, means anything goes. Like the Israelites in the days of Gideon and Samson and Jephthah, without the guidance and instruction of God's Word, and with the deceptive lies of the devil being whispered in our ears, we believe that true freedom is the right for “every man to do what is right in his own eyes.” To live and let live, to have it your way!

But when Jesus spoke to those Jews who believed Him, saying, “If you abide in My Words, then you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” When He exclaimed, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, then you shall be free indeed.” Jesus wasn't talking about anything goes, total permissiveness. He wasn't hearkening back to a day-of-the-Judges-style freedom! As a matter of fact, if you study out the conditions of people's lives and of Israelite society in the days of Gideon and Samson and the other judges, you'll find that the situation was closer to anarchy, and a long ways from freedom as God intended it.

What does it mean to be truly free? In the words and wisdom of Jesus, true freedom is not without its limitations! True freedom has its conditions, and even its costs. Writing with a similar train of thought in mind, the apostle Paul told the Corinthians that an 'anything goes' kind of freedom, actually is no freedom at all. Rather, he indicates that such utter permissiveness – you know, “all things, are lawful for me...” - actually brings a person under the power and control of those things, food, drink, sex, or whatever. Furthermore, Paul points out that a mindset to the effect that our freedom is to be without restraints forgets, perhaps even, rejects two or three basic spiritual principles, two or three elementary truths that ever Christian should know and abide by.

Take a look – 1 Corinthians 6:13. The body, our flesh and blood, physical bodies, God did not make them, did not intend for them to be used simply to consume food, to participate in sex, to enjoy carnal pleasure. Why? Fundamental truth about being a Christian that I'm afraid many a Christian may have never learned. Fundamental truth about being a disciple of Jesus, going all the way back to His words in John chapter 8. Here's the fundamental truth about being a Christian that you and I must always keep in perspective when we think about the subject of freedom, when we wave the flag of patriotism and independence: as a Christian, I am not my own! As a Christian, I do not belong to me! As a Christian, I belong to God. He is my Owner, body, soul and spirit! Why? Because He bought me, that's what the whole idea redemption is all about, right? God, my Owner, bought me with His Son's precious life's blood being the payment!

And so, where does all this lead us? In the language of slavery, the language Paul uses in verses 13, 19 and 20, God is my Master and I am His servant, His slave. My body and my mind, my spirit and my soul, for that matter, are not ultimately intended for me, for my purposes and desires, but for Him and His. And, He and His for me! (Verse 13)

Referring to the issue of slavery or slave-like submission and obedience to the will of the Master, Jesus put it like this, in John 8:31-32, “If” - key word underscoring what? A condition, a requirement that must be met, in order for the promise He is about to offer to be fulfilled. “IF you abide in My word...” What's Jesus talking about there? He's talking about obedience! In the context of His radical pronouncements about freedom, Jesus declares that to know, to experience the liberating power of truth you must first be ready and willing to obey Him! To put it simply, to be free, truly free, you must become His slave!

What does it mean to be truly free? If you listen and follow the lead of the Israelites of Samson's day, or of way too many Americans and even American 'Christians' of our day, you'll be led to to believe that true freedom means having it your way! Oh, but listen, my Loved Ones, Jesus says – Paul says – this Book says, that true freedom comes only when we let God have His way in us!

The fundamental truth about being a Christian – do you know it? Do you live according to it? 1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20: You are not your own! Your body and spirit are God's! Knowing, understanding, and, most importantly, abiding by this truth, that's the pathway to true freedom. But, where will you end up, if you take that path?

For all the single folks among us, what I'm about to show you may be the very news you've been waiting for... 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 – Where does that fundamental truth about being a Christian, belonging to God, lead us? It leads us into marriage!

1 Corinthians 6:15-17, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

To be a Christian, to belong, to to me, but to God, means not only that I am God's slave, Christ's servant, but that I am Christ's bride, I am married to Him! And, being married to Him, you know what that mean, don't you? It means that I can flirt with all the other potential husbands that are out there, right? It means that I can give my heart, my love away to all the other attractive ones out there, right? It mean that I can join myself, in “two become one” fashion, to any of the other 'mates' offering themselves to me that are out there, right? Wrong! No! If I am a Christian, I am married to Jesus Christ! And just like my earthly spouse, my Heavenly Husband doesn't look kindly toward any flirting or fornicating that I might be tempted to do with other 'husbands'.

What does it mean to be truly free? Well, what it doesn't mean, since I already have a 'husband', what it doesn't mean is that I can engage in polygamy! I am not my own! I am His 'bride'! His, and His alone! Furthermore, look what else it means: 1 Corinthians 6:19 – To be a Christian, to belong, not to myself, but to God, means that my body is not merely a hollow place to be filled with food and drink and other kinds of carnal, temporary pleasures! No! Because I am a Christian, because I belong to God, spirit, soul and body, what is my body? It is a hallowed place. It is a holy place! 1 Corinthians 6:19, read it again with me and weep. Read it again with me and rejoice.

1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

This body God has given to me, the beer advertisers would have me believe that it was made for Michelob. This house of flesh and blood, entrusted to me by my Creator, the restaurant chains would have me believe that it was made for Chipotle, or maybe for the buffet line at Golden Corral. Yes, this fearfully and wonderfully made creation of God, the publishers of Playboy and Penthouse and Hustler – and Glamor and Redbook and Victoria's Secret – would have me believe that it is meant, made only and always for sex and for whatever kinky and unnatural way in which you want to have it. But, what does my God say? Acts 17:24 (and 2 Cor. 5:1ff), He says, “I don't dwell in temples made with hands,” “in building made of stones and bricks and mortar!” “No! Rather, if you are a Christian, if you belong to Me as My slave, and as My spouse,” listen, God says, “you also belong to Me, you are indwelt by Me, as My Sanctuary! My Holy of holies sanctuary!” (See Ephesians 2:19-22)

What does it mean to be truly free? Well, despite what we may always have been taught, growing up in this great land we call America, being truly free is not synonymous, it is not one and the same as being an American! As glad as I am to be here, to have been born here, my freedom AND my allegiance, ultimately, is found elsewhere, not in a country, but in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is that? Because He has bought me, with His precious blood. I am His! I am His servant. I am His spouse and, perhaps, most amazing of all, the infinite God of the universe, the Almighty Creator Who spoke the universe into existence, and Who knit me together in my mother's womb, He has chosen me to be His sanctuary! So, what?

1 Corinthians 6:20 - “Therefore, glorify God. I am to make Him look great, in both my body, and in my spirit, which belong to Him...”

What Is True Freedom?

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, July 2, 2011

John 8:31-36, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

What does it mean to be truly free? For Americans like you and me, there is perhaps no better time of year than the Fourth of July to have the subject of freedom on our minds. Most of the rest of the year we probably take it for granted that we enjoy such blessings of liberty in our nation as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly. But on the Fourth of July, often we pause to consider and even to thank God for these privileges we enjoy.

Before I any further with this message, allow me to suggest this assignment for the rest of today, and for tomorrow: sing the songs of liberty. Maybe you're not the best of singers, maybe you can't sing at all, but go ahead, do it anyway, sing the songs of liberty. The Star Spangled Banner, America The Beautiful, My Country Tis of Thee and other songs like them. Then, as you sing, think about the words, the message pertaining to this country we love so dearly, as those words tell a story about America that many have forgotten or forsaken. Then, one more: stop and pray. Call upon the mighty and merciful God Who has given us all these things, and thank and praise Him for doing so! Thank Him that we can worship Him in the way we choose to do so. Praise Him for the freedom to speak and even to publish your thoughts, ideas and opinions about our nation and our government without fear of total censorship. Yes, thank God that we can meet – openly, freely – with a sign in the yard advertising that we are doing so, because He has blessed us with a Nation, a Homeland, and a Constitution and Bill of Rights, providing us with that freedom.

By the way, did you know that it is, ultimately, the impact of the Gospel of Christ, the influence of the Christian faith and the Word of God, the kindness and favor of our Creator and Savior, that has brought all these things to pass?

What does it mean to be truly free? A blessings, a concept, an intangible thing like freedom, if you think about it, can only rightly be understood in light of its opposite. In other words, we don't understand – fully – what it means to be free, unless and until we know and discern what it means NOT to be free. To the Jews of Jesus' day, some of whom came to believe Him, Jesus said that true freedom comes, and can only be experienced and enjoyed, to the extent that folks like them and us abide in His Word, to the extent that we honor and obey His teaching. In fact, in verse 32 of the text from John chapter 8, Jesus connects His Word with the truth. By the way, going all the way back to Genesis three and the garden of Eden, the history of men and women and boys and girls is marked out with one distressing fact: lies enslave us!

John 8:31,32 – Jesus connects His Word to the truth and the truth, what does He declare about it? What does knowing the truth by way of abiding in Jesus' word, what does that do for you and me? It sets us free! It liberates us!

What does it mean to be truly free? As I said, blessings, concepts, intangible things like freedom are best understood, and I figure most deeply appreciated, when we grasp the meaning and significance of their opposites.

Jesus understood that principle. So, what does He do? Take a look again at the text. Verse 33 – The Jews that have come to believe Him, all of the sudden, they hit the brakes and say, 'Huh? Abiding in Your Word, knowing the truth, you say that is what will make us truly free? Jesus, don't you know? Jesus, have you forgotten?' “We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. So, how can you say, 'you will be made free'?”

Freedom, that precious commodity we enjoy and probably, too often, take for granted, is best understood and appreciated when we, like the Jews, realize that there's something that's opposite to it. “We've never been in bondage to anyone...”

The Jews understood that slavery, bondage, is the opposite of liberty. But look at what they didn't grasp. Somethin that Jesus had to clarify for them in verses 34-36. “Most assuredly” - the Old King James translation uses the words, “Verily, Verily...” Whenever you read those words coming out of the mouth of Jesus, you ought to sit up and take note. Jesus is about to tell you something that is certain. He's about to make a declaration that is very serious. “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And slaves, their place is not in the house...” What is Jesus trying to teach us here?

Number one, He is saying the same thing that folks like Peter and Paul and James and John would say. Sin enslaves us. It may be enticing, it may be appealing, it may even be fun, a LOT of fun. But, listen, Jesus makes it clear. The apostles make it clear. This Book makes it clear, in both Testaments, tat SIN enslaves us! Sin is a bondage, a kind of prison, a LOSS of freedom.

Secondly, notice the next thing Jesus makes clear to us about sin and the loss of freedom. Verse 35 – Sin excludes us. Not only does sin enslave us, imprison us; it also separates us from the rights and privileges of freedom, the rights and privileges of son-ship.

What does it mean to be truly free? I think it's meaningful, and very, very powerful to note that Jesus connects freedom with son-ship! Meditate on that one for a moment with me, will you? Freedom – true freedom, is linked with son-ship. It can't be separated from son-ship!

You think about it. We hire a 'slave' to fix our roof or repair our faucet or to make our stove work again. And, maybe that man doesn't get the work all done before lunch time. So, when it's lunch time, what does he do? Why, sure! He sits down at our table, in one of our children's places, reaches for the choice piece of meat and serving of vegetables we had prepared for our sons and daughters, and starts chowing down! That's what our 'slave' does, right?

You know he doesn't, not unless he's invited to do so. No! He heads out the door to McDonalds. Why? Because he's a 'slave' and not a son!

And, if for some reason, he doesn't complete the repairs we've hired him to do by night fall, he doesn't bump one of the children out of his bed to spend the night, does he? No! He packs up his tools and finds his own place to sleep!

And, then, think about this. In the middle of the night, I mean, 2,3,4 o'clock in the morning, when 'Mr. Slave' bolts himself awake because of a nightmare, you know he doesn't, does he? He doesn't tip-toe into my room, over to my side of the bed, and whisper, “Daddy! Daddy! I'm scared! Daddy, I had a bad dream and I'm scared!” Why not? You know why! Because he's a slave, because he's not my son!

What does it mean to be truly free? Oh, sure, as Americans we enjoy and praise God for the blessings of freedom we enjoy in this country. But, listen, true freedom, TRUE freedom goes much deeper. It has everything to do with relationship! With being a son!

Sin enslaves you and me! Yes, the Devil, the father of all un-truth, he does his best to make sin look so good: the lust of the eyes, and he plies his deceptive trade, working to make sin taste so good: the lust of the flesh, and he hits us with the biggest whopper of all, the one that ought to make us stop, dead in our tracks, but instead we too often swallow it hook, line and sinker. Sin, this enticement to sin, 'think of how it will move you up in this world! You can be as God', the pride of life... The father of lies does his best to present sin for what it isn't! The pathway to true freedom! Oh, but remember, my friends, the fact is, the truth is, that sin actually enslaves you. Not only that, sin excludes you! Sorry, Mr. Slave, we don't have room for you at the family dinner table! Sorry, Mr. Slave, if you need a bed for the night, Motel 6 is down the street. Sorry, Mr. Slave, don't come crying to me, I'm not your Daddy! 'I'm not your Daddy,' God says to slaves of sin.

Sin excludes you! For Adam and Eve that meant a one way ticket out of the Garden of Eden and forever blocked access to the other tree, the tree of life! Forever, that is, until the Son came! What Son, whose Son, am I talking about here?

I love it! This is the best part of it all! Enslaved sinners, excluded sinners, blocked forever by and because of our sin, from the tree of life, from the Father's table, from the son's place and privileges, from access, free access to the Father's side, to the Father's listening ear, and to the Father's tender heart – guess what? Enslaved sinners, excluded sinners, now have available to them an entrance into all the rights and privileges of son-ship, into all the joys of true freedom. Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, He is that entrance!

Don't you love it? What a marvelous day every day is, 4^th, 5^th or 6^th if you're in the Son! If you are in Christ! “Most Assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever...”

Is that your situation? Outside of Jesus Christ, it is! But listen, the good news is this: the Son can set you free! You can be a son, too! How? By way of a Statue of Liberty, placed, not in New York harbor, but planted on a hill called Calvary! Jesus carried our sins, and all their enslaving and excluding consequences in His own body, on the cross – why? To set you free! To make you a son, a child of the King! What a gift! You can't earn it! You certainly don't deserve it! But, what a gift awaits you in the Son who came to set your captive soul free! Receive the gift, will you?

That's what it means to be truly free!