The Role of Liberty in Our Walking with God Choosing Your Burden RELATIONSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY Relationships inherently come with responsibilities.  Duties that must be performed for the benefit of the other person in the relationship that only benefit self in that they enrich the relationship. In a healthy functioning relationship these responsibilities are not coerced, they are done willingly, perhaps even gladly.  This is one of the markers of a healthy relationship, both parties willingly give for the other’s good The Role of Liberty in Our Walking with God

Relationship and Responsibility Relationships inherently come with responsibilities  In a healthy relationship these responsibilities are not coerced Self-sacrifice is a marker of a healthy relationship RELATIONSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY Relationships inherently come with responsibilities.  Duties that must be performed for the benefit of the other person in the relationship that only benefit self in that they enrich the relationship. In a healthy functioning relationship these responsibilities are not coerced, they are done willingly, perhaps even gladly.  This is one of the markers of a healthy relationship, both parties willingly give for the other’s good

Relationship and Responsibility Relationships inherently come with responsibilities  In a healthy relationship these responsibilities are not coerced Self-sacrifice is a marker of a healthy relationship 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (NASB95) Micah 6:8 - This type of voluntary turning towards is described in a host of passages that call on us to be other-centered and God focussed

Relationship and Responsibility Relationships inherently come with responsibilities  In a healthy relationship these responsibilities are not coerced Self-sacrifice is a marker of a healthy relationship 15 The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 145:15–18 (NASB95) Ps 145:15-18 - God does not force us to turn to Him; rather He meets our needs and awaits our free-will response

Relationship and Responsibility Relationships inherently come with responsibilities  In a healthy relationship these responsibilities are not coerced Self-sacrifice is a marker of a healthy relationship 29 “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. Matthew 11:29 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

Relationship and Responsibility Release from sin makes a walk with God possible We are free to serve as individuals We have the the right to choose our burden 29 “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. Matthew 11:29 (NASB95) Through His death Christ granted us liberty from sin so that a relationship with God would be possible Through the New Covenant we are free to serve Christ through our culture, race and social standing Through this liberty we have been granted we have the right to choose our burden and bear it willingly

Defining Liberty A State of Freedom Release from slavery or service 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. Romans 7:3 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

Defining Liberty A State of Freedom Release from slavery or service Freedom from obligation or restrictions 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. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Galatians 5:1–2 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

Defining Liberty A State of Freedom Release from slavery or service Freedom from obligation or restrictions The act of freeing another 24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 2:24 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

Defining Liberty The Right to Be a Burden This concept appears three times in the N.T. - 2Cor 11:9; 12:13, 14 In each instance Paul is expressing his right to accept payment and thus burden the church at Corinth Corresponds to our idea of, “I took the liberty to…” 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so. 2 Corinthians 11:9 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

The Authority to Choose Defining Liberty The Authority to Choose The idea of liberty is often expressed as power Jesus expresses this idea in regards to His own death.  Jn 10:17-18 Paul uses the same term here to refer to the right to choose to eat meat offered to idols - 1 Cor 8:9 17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” John 10:17–18 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

Freedom from Sin Jesus began His public ministry by announcing His intent to provide freedom from sin 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; Isaiah 61:1 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

Freedom from Sin Jesus began His public ministry by announcing His intent to provide freedom from sin Freedom from the condemnation of sin makes walking with God possible 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:5 –7 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

Freedom from Sin Jesus began His public ministry by announcing His intent to provide freedom from sin Freedom from the condemnation of sin makes walking with God possible Freedom from the domination of sin allows us to continue our walk 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Romans 6:17–19 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

Exercising our Liberty Under the New Law we have tremendous liberty Our liberty is not to be forsaken The exercise of liberty is not to be self-serving 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…. 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:1,13 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord

The Right to Choose Your Burden Sacrifice is an essential liberty in our walk with God Paul chose to forgo his liberty for the good of another True liberty is the freedom not to exercise our rights 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 9:1–2 (NASB95) Matt 11:29 - We see this concept of mutual and voluntary service expressed in the invitation of the Lord