THE LIBERTY OF GOD'S CHILDREN

ROMANS 8:2

A. THE WORD "LIBERTY" IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPRESSIVE AND ENTICING WORDS IN OUR VOCABULARY
  1. It is the most cherished and most abused word:
    1. It is interpreted in so many different ways that it means everything to everyone's notion.
    2. And yet, the very mention of this word electrifies the oppressed of this world.
  2. It is a subject worthy of prayerful consideration:
B. THE LIBERTY OF GOD'S CHILDREN
  1. It is not natural, from a human standpoint:
    1. By nature, man has become a slave by birth - Ps. 51:7
    2. By reason of selling out to Satan - Rom. 7:14; 1 Ki. 21:20
    3. By reason of having been made a captive to sin and the devil - 2 Tim. 2:26; 2 Pet. 2:19
  2. The liberty of God's children is priceless:
    1. It was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ - 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 2 Pet. 2:1
    2. God found a ransom - Job 33:24
    3. The life of the Son of God is that ransom - Matt. 20:28; 2 Cor. 5:21
    4. All this is an expression of the redeeming of God - John 3:16; Rom. 8:31-33
    5. Only when we realize the infinite price at which our liberty was purchased, will we treasure it as we ought to.
  3. I love to dwell on the liberty of God's children:
    1. It encompasses all that is dear to the heart of the child of God.
    2. Said Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty or give me death."
    3. Too many people use this word too loosely, either in their conversation, or by their actions.
    4. Only they who have come from under man-made oppression, will cherish liberty in the way it is worthy to be cherished.
    5. To me, personally, Liberty is synonymous with salvation through Christ Jesus - John 8:36
C. NATURE AND LIMITATION OF THE LIBERTY OF GOD'S CHILDREN
  1. The liberty of God's children is fourfold:
    1. Freedom from the guilt of sin - Rom. 8:1; John 8:36; Rom. 8:31-39
    2. Freedom of the power of sin - Rom. 6:14-16; Acts 27:18, 19
    3. Freedom from the eternal consequences of sin - 2 Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:4
    4. Freedom to serve the Lord with all we are and with all we have - Rom. 6:16-18
  2. Limitation of our liberty:
    1. We must abide in Christ Jesus to retain it - John 15:1-10
    2. We must walk in the Spirit to enjoy true liberty - Gal. 5:16; 1 John 1:3, 9
    3. We must keep God's commandments to be truly free - Jas. 1:25; 2:12; Ps. 119:165
    4. Think of this promise - Isa. 48:18!
  3. The freedom of God's children is within; it comes through the indwelling of God's Spirit:
    1. That means that so long as we are in this sinful world, we shall have tribulation - John 16:33
    2. Persecution comes without us waiting for it - 2 Tim. 3:12
  4. Let us, in closing this message, ask ourselves this twofold question:
    1. Am I truly free? The answer to this question must be found in my life, and in my daily experience - Rom. 6:16; John 8:34
    2. There are some, according to Peter, who boast of liberty, but are, in fact, the slaves of their evil habits - 2 Pet. 2:19
    3. Do I want to be truly free? This is a very forceful question and needs careful consideration. Why? Because there are many who talk about being free, yet they refuse to allow the Son of God to set them free.
    4. Liberty is the great objective of heaven, and it paid an infinite price to obtain it for all who will accept it as it is offered through Jesus Christ our Lord.


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