FREEDOM IN CHRIST John 8.31-36

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. (NKJVS) Free from what? Free to do what? What is this “house” thing? A slave of sin cannot remain in the “house.” And only the Son can make us free indeed. What does all this mean? Well, here are a few thoughts to ponder:

Our Freedom In Christ From the Law: Romans 7.1-4; Galatians 4.21ff

Rom 7:1-4 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another —to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. (NKJVS) We have become dead to the Law through the body of Christ, which is the church of Christ – Eph 1.22-23

Gal 4:21-31 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar — for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children — but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. …Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. (NKJVS) The two sons of Abraham represent the two covenanants. The old covenant, the Law is to be cast out.

Our Freedom In Christ From the Law: Romans 7.1-4; Galatians 4.21ff Sacrifices – daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, special, sin and votive… Harsh penalties – Hebrews 4.28 “dies without mercy” Difficult requirements Its purpose served, now taken out of the way So what does this do for us? Peter said that neither his generation nor their fathers had been able to bear the burden of the Law Acts 15:10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (NKJVS) Paul called it a “yoke of bondage” Gal 5:1-2 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. (NKJVS)

Our Freedom In Christ From Sin: Romans 6.4-22 Were slaves to it Lived in fear because of it Now freed from it: Practice of it Guilt of it Eternal consequences of it As long as we continue to avoid it and repent Rom 6:4-6 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (NKJVS)

Our Freedom In Christ From Fear: Fear for needs of this life – Matthew 6.33; 10.31 Mt 10.31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Mat 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father 's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (NKJVS)

Our Freedom In Christ From Fear: Fear for needs of this life – Matthew 6.33; 10.31 Fear of sin’s temporal consequences – 1 Jn 4.18; 5.3 1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (NKJVS) 1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (NKJVS)

Our Freedom In Christ From Fear: Fear for needs of this life – Matthew 6.33; 10.31 Fear of sin’s temporal consequences – 1 Jn 4.18; 5.3 Fear of judgment – 1 Jn 4.17 1Jo 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (NKJVS)

Our Freedom In Christ From Fear: Fear for needs of this life – Matthew 6.33; 10.31 Fear of sin’s temporal consequences – 1 Jn 4.18; 5.3 Fear of judgment – 1 Jn 4.17 Acceptance with God through Him

Our Freedom In Christ From Death: Romans 8.2, 11, 6 Not physical But spiritual Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJVS) Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (NKJVS) Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (NKJVS)

Our Freedom In Christ From Condemnation: Romans 8.1 In Christ, no condemnation Makes possible our freedom from Death & Fear Purpose of our freedom from the Law & Sin Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (NKJVS)

FREEDOM IN CHRIST From the Law From Sin From Fear From Death From Condemnation