UP FROM SLAVERY

 

John 8:31-36

 

Samson began his life with great expectations,

he was to be Israel’s deliver.

 

No one was born with greater expectations with the exception of John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus, Himself. Samson was born to be a man who had a fantastic future. From birth Samson enjoyed special privileges….He was made a Nazirite, even his mother became one when she discovered she was with child. 

Samson was specially set apart for God and as a sign to that….

His hair was never to be cut

He was never to touch a dead body

He was never to drink wine

His only stimulus in life was to be found in God alone.

 

As he grew, he began to has incredible strength and he had fantastic expectations spiritually. When you read about Samson, he was a man who could do anything and indeed when the Spirit of God came upon him, miracles did happen. But the Book of Judges tells a different story after his birth and later into his life. As he became a man this is where his life fell apart. It began when he pursued a Philistine woman despite his parents’ disapproval. He starting making friendships in all the wrong places. He used his powers selfishly and wastefully And then Delilah came into his life and she bats her eyes and Samson reveals the secret to his strength. It was here Samson didn’t realize that the LORD had left him. “And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him.  Judges 16:20. Samson became desensitized to his spiritual bankruptcy and little did he realize that he was a slave to sin.

 

His discernment was gone, and his great potential was unfulfilled because we learn that. “And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.” Judges 16:21. Samson was to be a liberator, but now he was a slave to the Philistines. It was only later Samson would plead with God to remove this bondage from him, but for Samson it costed him his life. We read, “Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.” Judges 16:28-30

 

The passage that is before us this morning speaks the same thing to God’s created children, deceived in thinking they are truly free, but in reality, they are slaves. We were created to do amazing things for God and the Kingdom, but because of our sin we are slaves to destruction and we need to be freed from it before we can do the things that God has called us too.

 

But many will die to the slavery of sin but many

will be freed from the slavery of sin.

 

Its here and in the life of many, that those who seemed to be free are on the verge of accomplishing great things for God were suddenly in bondage. In this world, different people proclaim different kinds of freedom - freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom to own a gun, freedom of religion, and so forth. However, real freedom only comes from God; and sadly, many people do not have real freedom, because they’re looking for freedom in all the wrong places. As John MacArthur said “throughout history people have always sought to know the truth about reality, about what is right and wrong, and about what is the meaningful and purpose of in life. As a result endless philosophies, worldviews, and religious systems have arisen over the centuries, each claiming to teach absolute truth, and each in turn cancelling out the “absolute” truths of those that came before it.” The great majority of people in our culture today believe that mankind is on its own and we are in control our own lives and destiny “We are free to do what we want, when we want too” Again as Jesus said “…..men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19

 

“Bondage” by definition is “Slavery (GK word is “Doulos”) or involuntary servitude; captivity; imprisonment; restraint of a person's liberty by compulsion or force. Think about for a moment! Slaves cannot free themselves; they need to be set free. Martin Luther takes up this subject in his book “The Bondage of the Will,” where he argues that free-will is a myth, when it comes to our relationship with God. Luther said “We are either slaves to sin, or slaves to righteousness.” He’s right! Remember what Paul wrote to the people in Rome. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” Romans 6:16. Again, as Luther said “We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.”

 

Look what the bible says to those who are in bondage [slavery] to sin. It brings death “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Rom 7:24. It deceives the mind “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8. It entices our affections “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

 

John Owen’s book “Modification of Sin” speaks about four strategies that sin uses to entice, entangle, and ensnare our affections.

 

Sin distracts us from watchfulness by pointing out our recent victories. Owen said “If you recently escaped some temptation or another, watch out. Sin is preparing the third assault. (The second assault has already happened: it's how good you feel about yourself for having defeated the first assault.)”

 

Sin presents itself as desirable and satisfying. It appeals to our most corrupt affections and desires. It uses what Scripture calls "the fleeting pleasures of sin" (Heb. 11:25).

Sin shows the bait, but hides the hook! He says, "Sin deceitfully hides the danger that attends sin. It covers it, just as the bait covers the hook."

 

Sin argues with us. Like a slick lawyer, sin presents a case for itself.

 

To be bondage to sin is to bring forth eternal judgement, everlasting torment by a holy God who must do what is right and that is to PUNISH SIN! But sadly, everywhere you look people are trying to find quick and easy fixes to their problem because they’re in bondage to their sin delights.

 

Whether it is

Marriage

Child rearing

Addictions

Self-fulfillment

Education

Weight loss

Financial gain or riches

Quick fixes don’t solve the issue it only

covers them for a season!

 

Why? The reason is that they cannot see the truth to their problem because they are slaves to sin and they hate the truth. People are usually ok with certain truth, just so long as it doesn’t involve the Bible or Jesus Christ. People don’t like to be told they are enslaved to anything and just like the Jews they are easily desensitized to their condition. The Jews completely missed the point that Jesus was making when he said “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (v31-v32) The reality of believing in Jesus, obeying His Word, and knowing the truth brings spiritual freedom. This includes freedom the bondage of sin and the bondage of falsehood, Satan, this was to liberate lost sinners. Jesus also went to say in (v34) "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Jesus was speaking about their spiritual bondage, but the Jews were thinking physically. Our culture is no different than it was during the time of Pharisee’s and disbelievers. Just like these men whom Jesus was speaking to, they didn’t think they were in any form of bondage.

 

Look what they said “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone….” (v33) In other words what they were says was “Jesus we haven’t been in bondage to anyone, so how could you make such an outlandish statement like that.” Sadly, not only did they misunderstand Jesus’ statement, but they were also deceived by their own hardened hearts. Did the Jews forget about all the bondage they have been in? They have had their share of bondage……..

 

Egyptians

Babylonians

Philistines

Greeks

Now the Romans

 

The Jews were slaves, but they would not admit it; this was the overall stubbornness of the nation. They refused to say they were ever slaves to anyone, it is said, “The Jews hated what had happened to them over the centuries that they said in their souls, “History may say it, others may say it, but we are not slaves!” Years later, as the Jewish soldiers were defending the fortress at Masada, Eleazer gave forth the great cry, “Long ago we determined to be slaves neither to the Romans, nor to anyone else, save God.” So when all hope was lost, the defenders committed suicide rather than surrender. The Jews loathed the idea of slavery, they would rather kill themselves.” This is what bondage does to a person; they don’t realize the danger they are in just as it did to Samson and these men who stand before Jesus. “It is said that a dismissive young man once remarked to a preacher in mocking fashion, "You say that unsaved people carry a great weight of sin. Frankly, I feel nothing. How heavy is sin? Ten pounds? Fifty pounds? Eighty pounds? A hundred pounds?" The preacher thought for a moment, then replied, "If you laid a four-hundred-pound weight on a corpse, would it feel the load?" The young man was quick to say, "Of course not; it's dead" Driving home his point, the preacher said, "The person who doesn't know Christ is equally dead. And though the load is great, he feels none of it"

Bondage to sin keeps a person …….

Ignorant

Prideful

Diluted

Skeptical

Angry

Unbelieving

Arrogant to the truth and so on!

Today many people are in bondage [slaves] and they feel they are not! It’s the idea “I’m ok, I know when to quit” or “I can stop any time” When were in bondage we excel at minimizing our enslavement.

 

Usually, this coming from a person who is in bondage to….

Fornication

Alcoholic drink

Drug of chose

Passion for riches

Keeping up with the Jones
Abusive to their spouse

Abusive to their children

A Workaholic

Obsessed with food

Idolatrous

Town gossiper

Church excuse makers

Angry and bitter all the time

Keeps a record of people’s wrongdoing

Judges people without really knowing them or their situation

And the list is endless

The Jews thought they were free because they are under the linage of the covenant promise the God made with Abraham! And you might think you’re free because you attend church, said some superstitious prayer, or grew up in a Christian home, or know enough bible to sound legit but not really! A slave is to be totally under the control of another and unable to free oneself. Sin like a cruel taskmaster, controls every aspect of the unbeliever’s life. Enslaving that person to various lusts and bondage that leads to eternal damnation.

 

Have you truly tasted the grace that flowed from Calvary and

the truth of the gospel message which will truly set you free!

 

Because when we try to do away with sin and the bondage it has upon the human soul, and we try to achieve happiness and to neutralize our sin is like going after Mody Dick with a pickle fork.  It just won’t work. See, the freedom that Jesus is talking about doesn’t come from your race, or your religious identity. [I’m a Baptist, Presbyterian, Non-denominational, and so on] Our freedom is found in the Son of God who gave His life as a ransom for my sin, your sin! Jesus was talking about freedom from the bondage of sin found in Him alone!

 

We need to wake up and realize that the path to freedom

lies in obeying the Words of God.

 

Apart from Christ and the truth He brings, a person will continue to stay in bondage until the hopes of the Spirit removing the chains of sin in their life through the gospel’s good news. The transforming work of God and power it brings shatters the chains of bondage and sin.

 

How important is truth?

 

The puritan William Gurnall said, “[The Scriptures] are the golden mines in which alone the abiding treasures of eternity are to be found, and therefore worthy all the digging and pains we can bestow on them.” He went on to say as well, “The word of God stands between the saints and all danger..”

 

God’s truth is so important as we all need to know the Word of God, we must be students of the Word, not just the pastor, not just the educated, but all believers. He is teaching that we need to be set free from the ownership of sin through the Sacred Bible we hold in our hands. So how is it that we are set free from sin? Through the truth of the gospel! Again, so many people today grow up really knowing nothing about Jesus at all. Yes, they have heard some of the Bible stories, but they really don't know who Jesus is, His purpose, or what He has to do with God. I think at the core, most people do believe there is a God, but they have no idea what to really believe about who God is. This is really sad from a shepherd’s perspective, because what that tells me about that person is that they’re still slaves to sin. As the bible says “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:14. They are in all intense purpose’s dead in their sin, because they’re in bondage to their sin! They denied the truth and believed the father of lies which keeps them enslaved to sin and death, which ultimately leads to eternal torment. (v38) But it’s not too late to embrace the truth! Hear the promise. “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.” (v34-v36)

 

The Son, (Jesus) has permanent rights in the household, where a slave does not. Though they were descendants of Abraham’s promise they were like slaves, and not sons. This was the danger as Jesus exposes their hearts in light of the truth; they were facing danger of eternally forfeiting they privileges they had received. Just as Jesus said, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt 8:11-12

 

Only those who receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God, will be the sons of God, which is the only place you’ll find freedom from the bondage of sin and death. As Jesus said, “therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” What a promise and joy that brings to the heart of the one who continues in His truth. William Barclay wrote, “Christian freedom does not mean being free to do as we like; it means being free to do as we ought.”

 

 

What are we free from?

 

WE ARE FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN

 

Rom 6:6-13 “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

 

WE ARE FREE FROM THE PENALTY OF DEATH.

 

Jesus said in John 5:24, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

 

In Romans 8:1-2 Paul says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

 

WE ARE FREE FROM THE LOSS OF BLESSING

 

Paul wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Eph 1:3-7 

 

Let me leave you with this thought by J C Ryle as we close “Let us never rest till we have some personal experience of this freedom ourselves. Without it all other freedom is a worthless privilege. Free speech, free laws, political freedom, commercial freedom, national freedom,–all these cannot smooth down a dying pillow, or disarm death of [its] sting, or fill our consciences with peace. Nothing can do that but the freedom which Christ alone bestows. He gives it freely to all who seek it humbly. Then let us never rest till it is our own.”

  

 

Always remember, the promise that Jesus is offering is what true freedom really is, and its eternal for those who rest in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember a slave has no permeant place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. The spiritual freedom that comes to us is a dramatically different as that of a slave and a son. The son is in the house and has access to everything. He can go wherever He wants to go; He can stay as long as he wants to stay. But the slave has no rights, if you are a slave to sin, the Son’s freedoms are not yours. Remember what the bible declares about Christians who are free from the bondage of sin and death…

  

I am not dead, but I am made alive in Christ Jesus.

I sit with Christ in the heavenly places.

I am God’s workmanship for His good please and works.

I am unable, but the Spirit of God will produce in me: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I am not under condemnation no longer.

I am a child of God as His adopted son or daughter.

I am not in bondage to fear and death.

I will be glorified with Christ in Heavenly places.

I am saved in the sure work of Christ in the gospel.

Where I am weak the Spirit helps, and leads me to persevere.

All things work together for good for those who are His.

If God is for me, who can be against me?

Jesus is in heaven and He makes intercession for us to the Father.

I am more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me.

Nothing can separate me from God’s love.

 

 

As Charles Wesley magnificent hymn “And Can It Be” summarizes his hymn with this…

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free;

I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

 

This is what will set you truly free.