31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”33 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’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 8:31-36 (NKJV)
18“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,
Luke 4:18 (NLT)
We need a biblical definition of freedom before we need an American one.
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Why We Become Shackled:
1. Bound by the
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Freedom is not the ability to choose as one pleases.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)
2. Bound by their
Deception is the root of all bondage.
13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
Mark 7:13 (NLT)
Tradition doesn’t get us to heaven, Jesus does.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
3. Bound by their
16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
Romans 6:16 (NLT)
There is a short-term asset to sin but also a long-term liability.
How to live shackle-free:
1. Must know the truth about my
When Christians are in bondage, they have four options:
A.
B.
C.
D.
21 Were you a slave when God called you? Well, never mind; but if you have a chance to become free, use it.
1 Corinthians 7:21 (GNT)
2. Must know the truth about
12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom[d] and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:12-14 (NLT)
Freedom is for both now and eternity.
3. Must know the truth about
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8 (NKJV)
*Jesus was bound by nails so we could be free from shackles.*
a. Frees me from the
17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT)
b. Frees me from the
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)
c. Frees me from the
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (NLT)
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 8:36 (NKJV)
4. Must know the truth about the
I am assuming that we are all committed to the Church. We are not only Christian people, but we are also church people. We are not only committed to Christ, but we are also committed to the body of Christ. At least I hope so…For the church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought. It is not an accident of history. On the contrary, the church is God’s new community. —John Scott
10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Galatians 6:10 (NLT)
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Ephesians 2:19 (NLT)
People are drawn into a relationship with Christ through the kindness of real Christian love more often than theological arguments.
Conversely, people are driving from church by the hardness and ugliness of fake or hypocritical Christians more than by their religious doubts.