SPIRITUAL FREEDOM
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
The freedom talked about here is more than political freedom. It is a freedom which only God can give and it arrives when the Spirit of the Lord arrives. It is spiritual freedom, it is freedom from the chains of sin.
It is true that all people have a right to freedom – but it is also true that you will not experience true freedom until you experience “the Spirit of the Lord”. For “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Spiritual freedom is the most powerful freedom that there is, it is the freedom of being free from sin.
How many of us have felt the grip of sin in our lives? How many of us have felt the oppression that sin can cause? How many of us have felt guilt and remorse because of sin? I would venture to say that all of us have felt the bonds of sin at one time or another. We have all been slaves to sin. But - “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Let us now examine more closely what true freedom consists of. It consists of:
1. Freedom from the SLAVERY OF SIN
Words seem inadequate to describe the bondage of sin. Some of you know exactly what I am talking about. Ropes and chains would be simple constraints compared to cruel constraints that sin lays upon us. Some of you know the misery that I am speaking of. Of all the bondage and slavery in this world there is none more horrible than the slavery of sin. Tell the Hebrew captive to make bricks then deny him any straw. Tell the debtor that he owes more money than he can make in a lifetime then multiply it by tenfold. Tell the sinner that the wages of sin is death - then go on to explain that it is eternal death. The burden would be too much to bear – he would sink into the abyss of depression too heavy to see any hope. Sin does the same to the sinner.
2. Freedom from the PENALTY OF SIN
What is the penalty of sin? It is death eternal death. That is what the scripture tells us when it says: “For the wages of sin is death.” But I am happy that the verse does not stop there but goes on to say, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
3. Freedom from the GUILT OF SIN
Here is one more fact that many of you may find hard to believe. When a person becomes a believer not only are they free from the slavery of sin – not only are they free from the penalty of sin – but they are free from the guilt of sin as well. God has extended a pardon, a pardon to the uttermost. The president may extend a pardon and it may last a life time but God’s pardon extends into eternity. There is no end to His pardon.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
The freedom talked about here is more than political freedom. It is a freedom which only God can give and it arrives when the Spirit of the Lord arrives. It is spiritual freedom, it is freedom from the chains of sin.
It is true that all people have a right to freedom – but it is also true that you will not experience true freedom until you experience “the Spirit of the Lord”. For “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Spiritual freedom is the most powerful freedom that there is, it is the freedom of being free from sin.
How many of us have felt the grip of sin in our lives? How many of us have felt the oppression that sin can cause? How many of us have felt guilt and remorse because of sin? I would venture to say that all of us have felt the bonds of sin at one time or another. We have all been slaves to sin. But - “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Let us now examine more closely what true freedom consists of. It consists of:
1. Freedom from the SLAVERY OF SIN
Words seem inadequate to describe the bondage of sin. Some of you know exactly what I am talking about. Ropes and chains would be simple constraints compared to cruel constraints that sin lays upon us. Some of you know the misery that I am speaking of. Of all the bondage and slavery in this world there is none more horrible than the slavery of sin. Tell the Hebrew captive to make bricks then deny him any straw. Tell the debtor that he owes more money than he can make in a lifetime then multiply it by tenfold. Tell the sinner that the wages of sin is death - then go on to explain that it is eternal death. The burden would be too much to bear – he would sink into the abyss of depression too heavy to see any hope. Sin does the same to the sinner.
2. Freedom from the PENALTY OF SIN
What is the penalty of sin? It is death eternal death. That is what the scripture tells us when it says: “For the wages of sin is death.” But I am happy that the verse does not stop there but goes on to say, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
3. Freedom from the GUILT OF SIN
Here is one more fact that many of you may find hard to believe. When a person becomes a believer not only are they free from the slavery of sin – not only are they free from the penalty of sin – but they are free from the guilt of sin as well. God has extended a pardon, a pardon to the uttermost. The president may extend a pardon and it may last a life time but God’s pardon extends into eternity. There is no end to His pardon.
4. Freedom from the DEATH OF SIN
Paul wrote long ago:
“Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55
Death no longer has any victory. Death no longer has any sting. For sin has been deal with and even though we may die in this mortal body God has promised that we will live forever and ever and ever.
Since the fall of Adam and Eve death has shadowed the human race.
Paul wrote long ago:
“Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55
Death no longer has any victory. Death no longer has any sting. For sin has been deal with and even though we may die in this mortal body God has promised that we will live forever and ever and ever.
Since the fall of Adam and Eve death has shadowed the human race.
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