John 8:32-36 (NKJV) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Many people are trying to fight sin, break the bondages of sin or use all kinds of methods to keep themselves from doing wrong in the sight of God. Jesus tells us that the truth shall make you free and you shall be free indeed!
Abraham Lincoln is said to have “freed the slaves” with the Emancipation Proclamation. This legal document declared that slavery was dead. When he emancipated the slaves, the issue of “slavery” died, but not the slaves or the masters. All slaves were set free. They could legally throw down all their workload and walk away from their masters as free men and nothing could stop them because of this new legal document.
When this news had spread across the country, it sounded too good to be true. Therefore, many slaves thought that it was a hoax and continued to be in bondage to slavery. The amoral masters told these slaves that it was a hoax/ false rumor and kept them in bondage. But gradually, the truth dawned on them as they saw former slaves walking freely in the streets, taking advantage of their new found freedom. One by one, they threw down their loads, turned their backs on slavery and walked away to begin a new life.
Likewise, Christ emancipated all the slaves to sin at Calvary. We can now “WALK OUT” on the devil! The devil is an unscrupulous deceiver who wants us to think that we are still under bondage and condemns us whenever we fumble by sinning against God. Today because of the knowledge of the TRUTH, we can now throw down our load of sin, walk away from Satan’s dominion and enter into a new life of freedom in Christ!
But some may ask if this is true, why am I not leading or experiencing this victorious life? This is because Satan will never accept such declaration of freedom and Christ’s accomplishment on the Cross, without a fight. He does this with threats, compromises or alluring offers. But legally, Satan does not have a claim on any believer. All he wants to do is to continue deceiving us and for us to live our lives based on our senses.
When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, sin and Satan do not die neither does the evil tendencies. It is the “issue” or the “controversy” that dies. Sin created a controversy in the heart of man who was in control, and the battle of good and evil was the result.
We have been set free from being a slave to sin that held us in bondage when Jesus shed His blood for us on the Cross in Calvary. We are a new creation in Christ with a renewed mind. Jesus has set us free! Jesus’ accomplishment on the Cross must be taken and acted upon by faith. Knowledge by itself is nothing, it must be acted upon. Don’t live with the problem for another day when we know that we have been set free! There is no more bondage. Act on the truth and walk the life of God, knowing your life will be different and enjoy the abundant life now!
Sermon Series: Holiness
由神子释放得自由
约翰8：32-36 你们必晓得真理，真理必叫你们得以自由。” 他们回答说：“我们是亚伯拉罕的后裔，从来没有作过谁的奴仆，你怎么说‘你们必得以自由’呢？耶稣回答说：“我实实在在地告诉你们：所有犯罪的，就是罪的奴仆。奴仆不能永远住在家里，儿子是永远住在家里。所以天父的儿子若叫你们自由，你们就真自由了。
许多人正在努力与罪争战，打破罪的束缚，或使用各种方法来防止自己行在上帝眼中为不义的事。 耶稣告诉我们，真理将使您自由，而你确实将得到自由！
据说亚伯拉罕·林肯（Abraham Lincoln）通过《解放宣言》“解放了奴隶”。 该法律文件宣布奴隶制已死。 当他解放奴隶时，“奴隶制”的问题死了，但奴隶或主人却没有死。 所有奴隶被释放。 他们可以合法地拒绝所有工作负担，以自由人的身份离开他们的主人，而且由于这份新的法律文件，没有任何东西可以阻止他们
当这个消息传遍全国时，听起来真是好得令人难以置信。 因此，许多奴隶认为这是骗局，并继续忍受奴隶制度的捆绑。 不道德的主人告诉这些奴隶，这是一个骗局/虚假的谣言，使他们继续受苦待。但是真相逐渐显明出来，他们看到曾经为奴的人充分利用新得的自由在街道上自由行走。于是他们一个接一个地纷纷扔下重担，拒绝为奴，走出去开始了全新的生活。
同样，基督在骷髅地解放了所有罪的奴隶。 现在，我们可以“抛弃”魔鬼！ 魔鬼是一个不择手段的欺骗者，他希望我们认为自己仍在束缚中，在我们因得罪上帝而慌张失措时控告我们。 今天，由于对真理的了解，我们可以放下罪的重担，摆脱撒但的统治，进入基督里自由的新生命！
但是有些人可能会问，如果这是真的，为什么我活不出或体验不到这样的生命呢？ 这是因为撒旦不会甘心接受这样的自由宣言，牠势必一战。于是牠出尽法宝，威逼利诱加上讨价还价。 但是从律法上，撒旦无权向任何信徒主张权利。 牠一心想继续欺骗我们，想让我们凭着感觉生活。
当我们接受基督为我们的主和救主时，罪和撒旦并没有灭亡，邪恶的倾向也没有消失。 死去的是“问题”或“争议”。 罪在其掌控之人的心中挑起了一场论战，结果就是善与恶的争战。
当耶稣在骷髅地的十字架上为我们流出宝血时，我们已经摆脱了罪的捆绑，不再是罪的奴隶。 我们是在基督里心意更新而新造的人。 耶稣使我们得自由！耶稣在十字架上所成就的必须由人凭着信心领受。 知识本身算不了什么，它必须付诸行动。 当我们知道自己已经被释放时，不要得过且过！ 不再有束缚了。 行出真理，活出神的生命，知道自己的生命会有所不同，现在就享受丰盛的生命！
讲章系列：圣洁