1. 243 years

2. Declaration of Independence
Our Spiritual
Declaration of Independence
…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…
Romans 6:6

3. FREEDOM John 8:36- Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be
free indeed.
Rom. 6:18- And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of
righteousness.
Gal. 5:1- Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made
us free, and do not become entangled again with a yoke of
bondage.

4. But doesn’t 1 Corinthians 6:12 teach this?
What is this
It is a release from the bondage of sin
It is a release from the traditions of men
(Matt. 15:8,9)
It is a release from “binding” opinions (1 Cor. 8:9;
10:23-33; Rom. 14:14-15:6)
It is a release of the Old Law (Gal. 5:1; Jas. 1:25)
It is an impetus to love (Gal. 5:13)
FREEDOM?
FREEDOM
What this
isn’t…
It is not a license to do whatever you desire in the name of religion!
But doesn’t 1 Corinthians 6:12 teach this?

5. FREEDOM COSTS If there is no sacrifice, can freedom be appreciated?
Freedom from
slavery in Egypt
had a cost…
(Ex. 12:13,14)
Freedom had a cost if there was
to be an atonement for sin…(Heb.9:22)
Freedom from sin had a price…
Matt.26:28/
2 Cor. 5:21
If there is no sacrifice, can freedom be appreciated?

6. FREEDOM OBLIGATES Exodus 21:1-6/Deuteronomy 15:12-17
“piercing the ear” and its significance
From slave to bondservant
From freedom to servitude
Significant elements of the procedure
Public declaration of intent
Piercing of ear
Doorpost
Voluntary

7. The piercing would leave a mark – a stigma- on the earlobe
Gal. 6:17 scars of service
Blood on the earlobe was part of the consecration
service for the priests and part of the procedure
in cleansing the leper (Leviticus 8:1; 14:14-20)
Larger significance?
Jesus is the door- Jn. 10:7
Jesus voluntarily gave life, submitted to will of Father as
bondservant- Jn. 10:15,18
Jesus nailed to wood of the Cross
Jesus shed blood on Cross
Jesus had scars from the piercing- Jn. 20:24-29

8. Significance for You and Me?
Been sanctified, made holy by the shed blood of Jesus
When we were pierced (cf. Acts 2:37), we made a
voluntary commitment to become a bondservant for
life.
We allowed ourselves to be spiritually stigmatized,
allowing others to know who “owns” us (Phil. 1:20
Gal. 2:20)
We recognize that in becoming a bondservant, we have
obligated ourselves to a Master.

9. servitude leads to freedom!
FREEDOM DEMANDS
Being a good soldier- 2 Tim. 2:3,4
Stand fast- protect it –Gal. 5:1
Edification – 1 Cor. 10:23-24
Self-sacrifice – Phil. 2:1-8
FREEDOM
This freedom leads to servitude, not slavery, and this
servitude leads to freedom!