Important Things: a study series by Wayne DeWaay

Important Things: Worship, Work, Marriage, Bible Study, Life by the Spirit...

Important Things: Christian Liberty.

Liberty, a definition: “The biblical idea of liberty (freedom) has as its background the thought of imprisonment or slavery... When the bible speaks of liberty, a prior bondage or incarceration is always implied. Liberty means the happy state of having been released from servitude for a life of enjoyment and satisfaction that was not possible before.” J.I. Packer, “The New Bible Dictionary”

Liberty in the Exodus. An Old Testament Example: The Israelites as slaves in Egypt and the freedom given them by God through Moses.

“Liberty is not man's own achievement... He liberates them by bringing them to Himself” J.I. Packer Deuteronomy 9:6 6 “Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people. Exodus 19:4-6 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.

Christian Liberty, Part 2: Liberty in Salvation

Liberty Proclaimed by Jesus Luke 4: And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Liberty from Sin John 8: So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

True Discipleship “True discipleship, as Jesus says clearly in verse 31, means abiding in His word, i.e. welcoming it, being at home with it, and living with it so continuously that it becomes part of the believer's life, a permanent influence and stimulus in every fresh advance in goodness and holiness. Christ's word is indistinguishable from Christ Himself. He is the Word. To abide in His word is therefore to abide in Him,” R.V.G. Tasker “The Gospel According to St. John, an Introduction and Commentary” p.117

Abide in Him John 15:4-5 4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Enslaved to Sin John 8: Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Slaves of Sin or Slaves of Righteousness? Romans 6: Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Enslaved to Sin, Free in the Son John 8: Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

The Liberator “The liberator from our bondage must come from outside the ranks of enslaved humanity. He must be a new Man, a second Adam, wholly free from the chains forged for the human race by the first Adam. He must be no temporary dweller in His Father's home but the eternal Son who lives forever in His Father's presence, fully cognizant of His Father's will, ever seeking to reflect His Father's glory, speaking only what He has heard from His Father, and guiltless of human sin. Such a Liberator, Jesus in this great passage claims Himself to be.” Tasker p.120

Freedom From the Results of Sin Romans 8:1-3 1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, … God did: sending His own Son...

The “Law of Sin and Death” “If you eat … you will surely die” Gen 2:17 “The wages of sin is death...” Rom 6:23 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Rom 5:12

The Law of Life that Liberates From The Law of Death Romans 8:2 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Freedom is In Jesus “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” Rom 8:2 “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” Rom 8:1 “if the Son makes you free...” John 8:34 “abide in Me” John 15:4 “continue in My Word” John 8:31

In Him is our Salvation, our Redemption, our Forgiveness, Righteousness, and Reconciliation. In Him is our Sanctification, Hope for Glory, our Eternal Security, and our Light. In Him are all the Promises of God, In Him is Victory, Joy and Protection. In Him we have Access to the Throne of Grace. In Him all Things Hold Together and all the Fullness of Deity Dwells. In Him we have been made Complete and in Him we have been Buried and Raised to Newness of Life. In Him there is no Condemnation, Old Things pass away, New Things have Come. In Him is our Liberty.