Readings: Revelation 14:6-7 | Romans 3:19-28 | John 8:31-36
Text: John 8:31-36
Freedom is something we know and enjoy in America. Every July 4th, we celebrate that freedom and remember how much obtaining that freedom cost. This coming Veteran’s Day, we will once again be reminded of the continuing sacrifices made by those who serve in our armed forces. Recognizing the principals on which our nation was founded, we also remember the ending of slavery on June 19th, Juneteenth, which commemorates the day the last African American slaves were set free.
The Jews likewise had a story of freedom, and greatly valued it. The mighty acts of the Lord in Egypt are the backdrop for the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, the giving of the Law, and their coming into the land of promise. The Lord desired their freedom, so He told Moses:
“7I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:7-10)
All of these examples describe an civil freedom, an outward freedom that can be seen and marked in history—the 14th of Nisan, the 4th of July, the 3rd of September when Treaty of Paris when Britain acknowledged American independence, the 11th of November when the Treaty of Versaille was signed, V-E Day and V-J Day marking victory over the fascism and destruction of the Axis powers.
Yet, there is another slavery and striving for freedom that is not treated with much nobility—the spiritual enslavement and freeing from it.
1Our churches teach that a person’s will has some freedom to choose civil righteousness and to do things subject to reason. 2It has no power, without the Holy Spirit, to work the righteousness of God, that is, spiritual righteousness. For “the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14). 3This righteousness is worked in the heart when the Holy Spirit is received through the Word (Galatians 3:2–6).
4This is what Augustine says in his Hypognosticon, Book III:
We grant that all people have a free will. It is free as far as it has the judgment of reason. This does not mean that it is able, without God, either to begin, or at least to complete, anything that has to do with God. It is free only in works of this life, whether good or evil. 5Good I call those works that spring from the good in nature, such as willing to labor in the field, to eat and drink, to have a friend, to clothe oneself, to build a house, to marry a wife, to raise cattle, to learn various useful arts, or whatsoever good applies to this life. 6For all of these things depend on the providence of God. They are from Him and exist through Him. 7Works that are willing to worship an idol, to commit murder, and so forth, I call evil.
8Our churches condemn the Pelagians and others who teach that without the Holy Spirit, by natural power alone, we are able to love God above all things and do God’s commandments according to the letter. 9Although nature is able in a certain way to do the outward work (for it is able to keep the hands from theft and murder), yet it cannot produce the inward motions, such as the fear of God, trust in God, chastity, patience, and so on. (Augsburg Confession, Article 18: Free Will)
This freedom can only come when the Son sets you free, because only He has the authority and power to do so!
“31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31–36)
Jesus’ audience that day did not understand. They were too enamored with civil freedom. They rallied behind this cause and desired their Roman overlords to depart. Ultimately, those who did not want the freedom Jesus brought elected to stay in their sin, stay in their slavery with the Devil as their master (John 8:44). The Lord desires more for you and me. If we abide in His Word—embracing it as nothing less than the life-giving, liberating, almighty Word of God—we have a freedom which no power of man could ever promise or deliver.
This liberation has only one point in history to commemorate—the all-atoning sacrifice for sin upon the cross and His glorious resurrection and triumph over the powers of sin, death, and Satan.
Yet it also has a point in our lives which is worth commemoration and delight. It’s the day of our Baptism. There is where the Lord definitively delivers your “emancipation proclamation”:
“4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:4–6)
“25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ… 29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:25–29)
“3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3–4)
Even though this spiritual freedom isn’t obtained through our sacrifices, it is something each of us needs to fight to keep. The Apostle Peter warns us, “8Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9) An even closer enemy lurks within our flesh. “18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)
Yet, our new Master, the Lord of heaven and earth, knows their tactics. He knows their weakness, and He has defeated them already. The gates of hell are not permitted to overpower the living God. [Matthew 16:16-19] “1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh…6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:1–3, 6) He has given the Holy Spirit in your Baptism, so that you can struggle against the would-be captors of the Devil and your sinful flesh.
The life of a Christian is a life of freedom. Now the law of the Spirit of life is at work in every believer. It’s not just the strength to resist false teaching and moral failings; it’s also the freedom to live as God created us to be. Even while we now live under the shadow of death, we are freed from building our lives on the things of this world. Christians are freed to commend their time to God and not constantly fret that there isn’t enough. They are freed to honor their authorities on earth because they know the true Ruler of all. They are freed to better the physical wellbeing of others because they know the dignity God desires for all human life. They are freed to speak for the good of their neighbor and not fear those who crave to harm.
This is the freedom, which is ours, regardless of our circumstances in the world. This is the freedom which our Lord and Master Jesus Christ has gained and given to us. It is delivered through His Word and the faith He gives, and it is the freedom that His Holy Spirit continues to make bear fruit day by day.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
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