For What Are We Made Free?

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Introduction

Answering the question “To whom does this liberty belong?” gives us a sense of ownership.  Christian liberty is exclusive, only saved folk can experience Christian liberty. We’re part of the exclusive Christian liberty club.  Anybody can join, however, they must be born again. Answering the question “How secure is our liberty?” gives us a sense of security and confidence.  Our freedom is so solid, so eternal, so high in heaven, so divinely bestowed upon us, there should no longer be fear of sin and death; but rather an anticipation of life, life in Christ Jesus.

The next question we have is, “For what are we made free?”  The other questions regard the recipient of this liberty and the nature of that liberty; but this questions gives us the purpose of that freedom and an explanation of the context of the text.  To simply answer the question: We are free to serve; free to serve God.  Romans 7:6 “..we are delivered from the law… that we should serve in the newness of spirit…”  In chapter 7, Paul declares the futility of trying to serve God in the oldness of the letter, and asks “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”  In chapter 8, Paul introduces us to the Holy Spirit who delivers us from this futility, delivers us from the bondage of sin and death.

Hebrews 9:14

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

I find it curious that liberty means service.  To be free means to be a servant.  It’s like an oxy-moron: Free to Serve. I thought being free meant to no longer be a servant?  But this is Christian liberty, or real liberty, God-given liberty.  To be made free does not mean that there is an absence of laws and rules.  Liberty is not above the law.  The law is not your problem.  The law is perfect and holy.  Our problem is sin.  It’s sin that we were in bondage to, and it’s sin that we served.  But then came Jesus  ” …in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us…”  So the condemnation of the law is no longer our problem, but rather the righteousness of the law is to our benefit.  The law is still there.   Being free, Christian liberty, is not an absence of law, but rather a fulfillment of the law in us.  Before we served the devil and broke the law of God, but now we serve God and he fulfills the law in us.  It can be said that we’ve changed masters.  Jesus said that “ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  It’s not set you free, it’s make you free.  It’s not the truth that had you in bondage, it’s sin and the law of sin and death.

Remember the type of Egypt? The Israelites were enslaved and in bondage to the Egyptians.  This is a type or a picture of a lost person, enslaved by the devil and in bondage to his own sin.  Service is what we’re saved from, but it’s also what we’re saved for.

Exodus 1:13-14

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

It’s was a hard life of service for the Israelites in Egypt and it’s a hard life of service for the sinner.  But when deliverance comes, when freedom is given, we’re not just free from everything.  We’re not just turned loose in the great outdoors.  Prison doors are opened, we get kicked out in the street with nothing but the clothes on our back.  No, we’re bought with a price.  We’ve changed masters.

1 Corinthians 6:19

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

That’s right, we’ve changed hands.  We’ve been bought with a price.  We’ve changed masters.  A what a wonderful master he is.  Before God sent Moses down to Egypt, he told him, “…When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God…”  (Exodus 3:12)  Ye shall serve God.  When God frees, he guarantees.  When God frees you from the slavery of the devil, he’ll guarantee your service for King.  Ye shall serve God.  When Moses went to Pharaoh, God told Moses to say, “Let my people go, that they may serve me…”  And when Pharaoh refused, God sent a plague through the land.  Every time Moses went back to Pharaoh, he told him the same thing, “Let my people go, that they may serve me…”  Six times it’s recorded between Exodus 4-10:  “Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.”

“My people no longer serve you, Pharaoh.  They serve me.”  They are my people, not your people.  Plague after plague:  Blood in the river; frogs, lice, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and at last, death of the first born.  And at last the will of Pharaoh was broken and he called Moses and Aaron to him in the middle of the night and said, “Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD…”  He said go and serve the LORD.  We’ve changed Masters.  We serve another Master, and what wonderful Master he is.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus is not a slave driver.  We’re no longer shackled by the chains on sin.  We’re drawn into service by the cords of love.  The bible has much to say about serving God.  When Moses gave the law to the Israelites, he admonished them to serve the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:13 – Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Deuteronomy 10:12 – And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

Deuteronomy 10:20 – Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

Deuteronomy 13:4 – Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Moses gave them the law and gave them what God had required of them.  Of course they rebelled.  Ultimately, they didn’t want to go into the promised land bad enough to actually do it.  Instead they murmured against God and Moses, rebelled, set up false Gods, all manner of problems.  So got turned them around and led them 40 years in the desert and all that had forsaken God at Kadesh-Barnea had dies off.  Their carcasses fell in the wilderness.  And finally God brought them back to the brink of that promised land with Joshua leading instead.  And it was the same thing.

Joshua 22:5 – But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

 

Joshua 24:14-15 – Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

 

Another time in the history of the Bible, Samuel, the great man of God, admonished the people of Israel, and the Kings.  Four times it’s recorded that he said “Prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only…”  “If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against he commandment of the LORD…”  “but serve the LORD with all your heart…”  “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth will all your heart…”

David, the man after God’s own heart said to his son, “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind…”  And then in the Psalms David says, “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling…”  He says “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free to Serve God

Now, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free for what?  #1 Free to Serve God.

Rom 6:22

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

What does it mean to be a servant of God?  One thing we can do is look at the blessing of being a servant of God.  In chapter 6, Paul asks, “What fruit had ye then in these things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.”  The blessing of being a servant is now we have the exclusive right and ability to bear a fruit that we are not ashamed of.  We have our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  God said, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”  Let me explain again that there is nothing holy about me, but the Holy Ghost that lives in me.  So if there is going to be any fruit unto holiness that I bear, it’s not I that bears it, but the Holy Spirit that bears the this fruit.  I take no credit. It’s Christ in me, the hope of glory.  It’s God in me that bears the fruit.  I can say along with Paul:

Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 1:11 – Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

 

Ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  If you are a servant of God, the end is everlasting life.  But as we know and Paul teaches throughout the new testament:  We are save by grace, through faith.  It’s not of work.  It’s not of works.  It’s not of works. It’s not a matter of how well you served God or how good you served God.  As long as your a servant of God, the great finale to all this is everlasting life.  It’s eternal life.  That was 6:22.  You know 6:23. “But the gift of God is eternal life!”  Everlasting life is a gift that God gives to all his servants.  And I want to say this:  So is fruit unto holiness.  Do you realize that holiness is a divine attribute or characteristic of God.  Nobody but God has this characteristic.  Holiness is God’s character.

And when God gave us the Holy Spirit, he gave us that holiness in order that we might bear fruit unto holiness.  God gave us the Holy Spirit in the same manner that he gives us everlasting life.  The Holy Spirit is a gift.  We didn’t do anything to earn God’s gift of the Holy Spirit; He just took up residence in our bodies.  And he has the right to because he paid for it.  We’re bought with a price.  We’re His temple.  The Holy Spirit living in us is a gift, therefore any fruit that he bears is going to be holy.

Now what does this mean?  What is holy fruit?  I’ve been preaching a while now.  I’ve been studying the bible for awhile, took some courses on theology, had my experiences with God, and I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t comprehend the holiness of God.  And I’ll say this:  I’m not sure we can really understand it all.  It’s like the glory of God.  We just get a glimpse down here, a taste.  We’ll understand it better by and by.  Not sure we can handle it in this body.  I will say this:  Holy fruit is not one single little act that we perform; like a good deed or something.  It may be, but it’s more than that.  Holy fruit is an act that God performs, we just go along for the ride.  When we yield ourselves to God; when we reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin, God the Holy Spirit can perform.  An little apple tree doesn’t yield 20 baskets of apples the first year.  Some years, that tree’s fruit can be really poor; some years better than others.  But that doesn’t mean the tree isn’t growing.  The roots go deeper and grow stronger as the tree grows older.  Branches have to be pruned.  The ground must be tilled.  Winters must be endured.

You might think, “I ain’t producing no holy fruit!”  No you’re not, but God may be producing the fruit in you.  I’ll tell you this:  All things work together for good to them hat love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  You might not feel like Mr. or Mrs. Holy.  You might think that you’re fruit is nothing but rotten cumquats or sour grapes.  I don’t see how I can produce any fruit in my condition.  If that’s what you really think, you’re closer to the holiness and glory of God than most.  That’s evidence that God is working n you.  When we realize our utter helplessness and desperate need of the helping hand of God, the flower has just blossomed.  How beautiful the flower it is in the eyes of God.  When we call out to God and call upon the name of the Lord, that’s the sweet fragrance from that flower that floats to the nostrils of God.  God will bring that flower to fruition.

That’ what God wants for us in our freedom.  Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Free to Serve Man

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free #1 to serve God.  And #2 to serve Man. This where the rubber meets the road:

1Co 9:19-23

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

 

I have made myself servant unto all.  Remember, it wasn’t man that had you in bondage.  It was sin and the law of sin and death.  Man is not the enemy.  Sin is.  I have made myself servant unto all.  If we could put this into practice, it would revolutionize our life.  If every man was our master, I guarantee you things would be different in your life.  Paul said, Romans 12:3 – For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Let’s just explore this for a bit.  We’re not talking about a slave master.  We’re talking about a loving master.

• If every man is your master, that means you are own nothing.  No one could ever steal from you because nothing is yours.  You don’t have to worry about your stuff because you don’t have stuff.  There’s peace in that.  That’s why Jesus tells us to store up our treasures in heaven where moth and rust don’t destroy.
• If every man is your master, that means you are below everybody.  When you see things like this, it’s hard to look down on anyone because there’s no other one to look down on.  You’re at the bottom of the pole.  Paul said, I’m chief of sinners.  Not only will you not look down on anyone, but you’ll look up to others.  When you’re down there, it’s a lot easier to see good in others.
• If every man is your master, that means you will be on your best behavior for everyone.  No one could ever unduly boss you around.  You’d never talk back or speak harshly to anyone because you know your place.  You’d do things your were told to do willingly and not grudgingly because everyone is your master.  You’d do your best at everything.  You’d be prompt and give everyone your best face because everyone is your master.  It would be yes sir and no sir for everyone.

Things would be different.  I hear people complaining about other people all the time.  This person at work!  That person at work!  It may be their boss, their fellow worker, their customer.  They complain about their husband, their wife, children, their mom, their dad.  What if you just decided that you were going to be their servant and they were going to be good master, how would that change the way you view them and dealt with them?  What if you just humbled yourself before them and treated them like they were the master and you were the servant?  There’s peace in that.  There’s great benefit to humility.  There is no peace in pride.

You might ask, “Why would I do that?  Why would I treat so vile a person like he was this great master over me?”  Paul said, “And this I do for the gospel’s sake.”  This puts things in the right perspective.  I’ll be their servant, not because I love them, but because Jesus loves them.  God loves them.  There’s been times that I’ve prayed for someone that I really don’t know well.  And I’ll be honest with the Lord and tell him that I don’t really know this person or care for this person, but I know that you love them and you want what’s best for this person.  And I’ll tell you, God the Holy Spirit inside me, says yes I do love that person and care about them.  And I get to partake in God’s love for another person.  And I can pray in the spirit for that person.  I do this for gospel’s sake.  I’ll be their servant, not because I love them, but because Jesus loves them.  For the gospel’s sake.  Because Jesus died on the cross for them, and shed his blood for their sin.  Paul said, “And this I do for the gospel’s sake.”  Everyman is my master, because everyman needs to be saved.  Everyman must hear the gospel.  Everyman must know my Savior.

Things would be different if we could practice what the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free for:  To serve man.

Free to Serve Christ

We’re made #1 Free to Serve God, #2 Free to Serve an, and #3:

1Co 7:22

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

We are made free by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, free to serve Christ.  This means that Jesus Christ, the same one that died on the cross and is now sitting at the right hand of the father with his nailed scarred hands, brow, side, and feet.  He who was raised from the dead, appeared to the brethren and ascended into heaven; He is our master.  We our his servant.  The bible says that all power has been given unto him.  He is our master.

Romans 14:10 – But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

 

2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

We are accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ.  In everything we do or say, all is accountable to Jesus Christ.  The beautiful thing is that Jesus Christ was or is a man like us.  Jesus is not so high that he cannot be reached.  Even though Jesus is God the Son, he is also the Son of Man: 

Galatians 4:4 – But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,..

John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

Hebrews 4:15 – For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

The Son of God, so high and holy, yet the Son of man, so meek and lowly.  Jesus is the good master.  He’s not a slave driver.  Instead, he’s the master that has carried the load for us.  Why wouldn’t we serve him will all our hearts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senator Ted Cruz, video by Faith In Action

The bible teaches principles of servant leadership.  He who would be first would be last.  Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.  So many people in politics; it’s all about them.  And what that leads you to do is it leads you to make he wrong decisions.  If your self-worth is defined by being an elected official; when that becomes their self-definition, their self-worth; they’re terrified to lose it; which means they will never rock the boat, they will never make the hard decisions, they will never do what we need to do to actually fix the problems, cause it might mean they lose their job.  My self worth has nothing to do with being elected a Senator or being elected President of the United States.  My self-worth comes from being a creation of God Almighty.  Jesus Christ shed his blood for me.  There can be no greater self-worth than God sent his only beloved son to die for me.  Most of the politicians in Washington are accountable to the lobbyist and special interests in Washington and it governs their decisions because that’s who they hold themselves accountable to.  In the end of the day, you know, I’m accountable first and foremost to God.