Celebrate Your Freedom

This past week many in our country received a day off from work.  I was not one of them.  But, I’m not bitter.  I’m happy for all who did.  I hope you enjoyed it if you were one of those lucky people.  If you did get a day off this week, I’m sure you realized that it wasn’t a random day off.  It wasn’t an accident.  It had reason.  It had purpose.  It came at a price.  231 years ago a collection of 13 British colonies in North America had had enough, and consequently declared their independence.  They took the recommendation of Thomas Paine, war propagandist and author of the pamphlet Common Sense which compelled many colonists to support and even fight in the American Revolution, and the union of colonists called themselves “The United States of America.” 
 

When the Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, and Britain finally recognized the independence of the U.S. east of the Mississippi River, validating that document that had been signed several years earlier, I bet there was celebration in the budding nation.  Maybe they barbecued.  Maybe they had apple pie.  Maybe they set off fireworks.  I don’t know.  But having such freedom undoubtedly brought about joy to the formerly oppressed.  And they undoubtedly celebrated the freedom that had come at such a costly price, yet was unquestionably worth it. 
 

Freedom from political tyranny is far surpassed by freedom from spiritual tyranny.  Freedom from a guilty conscience is a far greater blessing than taxation with representation.  As we celebrated the freedom we have as a nation this past week, today we want to focus on the freedom that we have because of Jesus – freedom from sin.  Today I encourage you to…

 
“Celebrate Your Freedom”

 

I.                    Christ has freed us.
II.                 Live as one set free.
 

Paul’s letter to the Galatians, from which we get our lesson for today, was probably written during his third missionary journey (around 55 A.D.).  This area to whom he addressed this letter was “Galatia”.  It was located in the northern part of Asia Minor and the people settled there were probably early ancestors of the Irish.  After Paul had left the church, it quickly fell into spiritual danger.  A group called the Judaizers were having a huge influence on the church, preaching a new gospel which was really no gospel at all.  The false teaching of these Judaizers was the concept that people are saved by a combination of faith in Jesus + obedience to the Old Testament ceremonial laws. 
 

The reaction to the heresy of the Judaizers was twofold, both being equally treacherous to faith.  Many impressionable Galatians thought that these Judaizers knew what they were talking about, and they came to believe that their salvation was dependent on their obedience to those old ceremonial laws (circumcision, Sabbath regulations, ceremonial cleanness, etc.).  Many other Galatians were equally affected by these Judaizers, but in a very different way.  They knew the Judaizers were wrong, because they understood Jesus to be the fulfillment of all the Old Testament laws.  But as a result, they felt all laws, including the moral laws written on our hearts, made no difference any more.  They viewed Christ’s forgiveness as a free pass to commit as many sins as they wanted.  The Galatians – ancient people, tremendously modern and common spiritual problems.  Maybe these Galatians or people quite like them even live in our own homes.
 

Paul’s desire in this letter is to cause the Galatians to grow in their spiritual maturity and understanding of the freedom that they have in Christ.  Since Christ has done it all for us, we are freed from a slavish obedience to the Old Testament laws and freed for a life of service to our Savior. 
 

Christ has set us free.  The opening verse of our lesson couldn’t say it any clearer: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (vs. 1).  In Greek the words placed at the front of the sentence really direct the main focus of the thought of the sentence.  For this verse and for this third section of his letter, the words are “for freedom.”  That really is an amazing thought that at the heart of Christianity is freedom.  That’s not really how the world sees it.  That’s not even how we always see it due to our sinful nature.  Through sinful eyes we’re tempted to see Christianity as a rulebook.  No one likes rulebooks because humans aren’t crazy about rules.  They confine us and we feel trapped and suffocated.  When you get a new game, unless you’re my mother, generally your first move is not to run to the read the rules.  You try to play it and finally when you get stuck, you consult the rules.  Pastor and I help coach Y-baseball.  They handed us a rulebook at the beginning of the year.  At the end I can hand it back in mint condition.  I haven’t touched it because it’s boring.  By nature we don’t like rules.  We prefer autonomy.  Our sinful nature wants to view the Bible as this big boring rulebook that says “Do this” and “Don’t do this”.  It’s any wonder that it becomes a struggle for us to pick it up on a regular basis.  But that’s not what Christianity is about.  That’s not what the Bible is about.  The Bible teaches that Christ has set us free from rules, regulations, and the burdens of the law.  “Celebrate your Freedom.”
 

We all know exactly what those laws are.  Before we memorized what those Ten Commandments were, even then we knew.  Before God etched them on stone tablets for Moses, he etched them on each and every one of our hearts.  “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”  (vv. 19-20)  This isn’t intended to be a comprehensive list of all sins.  It’s a brief one.  And yet, whether or not these sins have been acted upon by us, they exist in every one of our hearts.  That’s not my observance, that’s God’s assessment.  When Scripture says that “every inclination of man’s heart is sinful from childhood” (Genesis 8:21) we have to take the Holy Spirit at his word.  I’m inclined to trust God more than my sinful pride that says I’m doing okay.
 

But our many sins are not counted against us.  Jesus Christ set us free.  Many of you have known that since childhood.  We will continue to remind you of the source of your freedom each week here at Messiah.  Verse one of our lesson has told us it happened once in the past and nothing ever has to be done again to earn salvation.  The price for our sins has been paid.  The yoke of our guilt and shame has been lifted.  The nails on Christ’s cross not only went through his hands and feet, but they went through our sins as well, so that they would be pinned for eternity to the cross that brought our liberty.  Those broken laws are held against us no longer because by God’s grace they were held against Jesus Christ our Savior.  Praise be to God for such love and mercy.
 

Christ has now called us to recognize who and what we are.  Verse 13 explains it.  Paul says, “You, my brothers, were called to be free.”  Is there anything better than freedom?  America doesn’t think so.  If there is a word that defines our country better than “freedom”, I don’t know what it is.  As a nation we’ve gone through much legislation and passed many amendments to ensure our freedom because we value it above all else.  Freedom is wonderful and rare, and we have it nationally and more important, spiritually. 
 

The natural result of knowing our freedom would be to Live as one set free.  But it’s easier said than done.  If you remember going through driver’s training, you know this.  Getting your hands on those keys was a great feeling.  But some decisions needed to be made. Were you going to drive to that party you weren’t supposed to go to?  Were you going to go and buy that outfit your mom said no to?  Were you going to park in that hidden place with your girlfriend?  A lot more freedom meant a lot of temptation. 
 

We have to make sure that we don’t see the freedom that Christ has blessed us with as a license to sin.  Our lesson says, “Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature” (vs. 13).  Freedom is like a great fortune of money – it could either be a great blessing if used rightly, or it could be an absolute curse if it’s abused.  How do you use your freedom?  Have you ever found yourself saying or at least thinking, “Well, I know Christ has already washed my sins away, so I’m okay if I do this even though I know it’s not God-pleasing.”  That’s not Christianity.  Hebrews 10:26-27 addresses that very heart.  It says, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”  How terrifying!
 

Our sinful nature is constantly trying to see what it can get away with.  It even uses our Savior’s death and resurrection as an excuse to live like unbelievers.  Well, I already know that Jesus died to take my sins away, do I really need to go to church anymore?  Well, I know Jesus already washed these sexual sins away years ago, why not at least enjoy them?  Jesus has already paid the bill, so I can do what I want, say what I want, and think what I want.  That’s freedom.  Right?  Not according to the Bible, it’s not.  The freedom that Christ has won and freely given to us is potential to do good.  Formerly, we were slaves to sin.  Before we became children of God by faith we were incapable of doing anything good in God’s sight.  But since Christ has freed us we are free to live as ones who have been set free.  “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” (vv. 22-23)  That’s what freedom is – it’s the ability to do the things that you were created to do. 
 

That’s really the age-old question, isn’t it?  What did God create us for?  Can we even answer that question – “why am I here?”  We can.  Our lesson actually answers it several times.  God created us to love.  Paul says that the entire law is summed up in one command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (vs. 14)  The first fruit of the Spirit in the list which serves as a summary of the rest is “love.”  Freed from the chains of sin, we are free to love our Lord.  The Lord wants us to show our love to him in our love for one another.  Let’s choose to do so.  Children, go home today and obey your parents.  Do your chores.  Watch your mouth.  Submit to those who God put in charge of you.  Husbands and wives, wake up in the morning and tell yourself that on that day you will live for the happiness of your spouse.  Do things without being told.  Buy them a gift.  Tell them that you love them.  Children of God, thank God for bringing you to life and promising you that even the slightest of pains in this life will be a thing of the past once heaven arrives.  Thank God with your prayers, offerings, Bible studies, and church attendance.  Literally tell about what he did for you to everyone you know.  Focus your life on him. 
 

Make sure you understand that these fruits of faith are not commands.  Instead, they’re simple truths.  A healthy Christian faith naturally produces these things.  Some of you may already know that when I was little, back in the 80s, I used to be a big professional wrestling fan.  Specifically, I was a big Hulk Hogan fan.  Hulk Hogan’s encouragement to all of his little Hulkamaniac’s back then was to “train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins.”  You know what I did?  Granted, as a conservative little Lutheran I recognized a different order of priority, but I prayed, I trained hard for sports and school, and I took my vitamins.  I didn’t look at his little mantra as commands.  They just made sense to me.  Somebody that I looked up to as a hero gave me advice.  I followed it.  God tells me to love and serve my neighbor as myself.  That’s not a burden.  That’s a wise Christian encouragement from the God of all knowledge and love. 
 

Unfortunately I know how often I’ve lived just for me.  Every day I’m tempted to be the center of my day.  How can I ever get away from that?  In our lesson today, Paul says, “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”  (vv. 16-17)  The key to living by the Spirit really is a simple one.  I read a story once that I think illustrates it well.  Some of you may have heard me tell it before.  I use it every chance I get because I think it depicts the internal struggle of a Christian so well.  There was a missionary on an Apache reservation in Arizona.  You have to understand that this Native American group is corrupted with enormous amounts of substance abuse, violence, and debauchery.  The missionary was speaking to one of the recent converts, when the man made a profound spiritual statement.  It was common for those people to speak in metaphors, so the Apache said, “You know, Pastor, fighting temptation is so hard.  It’s like there’s two dogs fighting in my heart.  There’s an evil dog (which he referred to as the “black dog”) that only wants me to do bad.  There’s also a good dog (which he referred to as the “white dog”) that only wants me to do good and obey God’s commands.”  As a Christian who had been trained to understand the old self and the new self, the missionary knew exactly what the Apache man was talking about.  He said to the Apache, “Well, which dog wins the fight?”  The Apache said to him, “Oh, that’s easy – whichever one I feed the most.” 
 

You see, to live by the Spirit requires staying in the Means of Grace, feeding your spirit with the gospel in Word and Sacrament, the vehicles through which the Spirit works on our hearts.  Of course we have failed in the past, but Christ has set us free.  “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”  (vv. 24-25)  Allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life.  Every single time you hear God’s Word the Holy Spirit works on your heart to strengthen your faith and assure you of your freedom from sin and hell.  Every single time you take the Lord’s Supper you taste evidence of your freedom.  “Celebrate Your Freedom” and live today without the chains of sin.  You now have the legs to run from temptation.  You now have the voice to say, “Behind me Satan!”  You now have the Spirit that trusts the promises of a God who declares you forgiven in his Son.  “Celebrate Your Freedom”.  Live it, breathe it, die with it and you will live forever with it.  Amen.
 

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20,21)–Vicar Hein

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