Download 030 How Well Acquainted Are You with the Emancipation

030HowWellAcquaintedAreYouwiththeEmancipation
Proclamation?
MessagebyRBruceMontgomery~GraceChurch~1/17/2016
Romans6:17,18andJohn8:34
EmancipationProclamation
Onehundredfifty‐threeyearsagoPresidentAbraham
LincolnissuedtheEmancipationProclamationonJanuary1,
1863,asthenationapproacheditsthirdyearofbloodycivilwar.
Theproclamationdeclared"Idoorderanddeclarethatall
personsheldasslaves"withintherebelliousstates"are,and
henceforwardshallbefree;andthattheExecutivegovernmentof
theUnitedStates,includingthemilitaryandnavalauthorities
thereof,willrecognizeandmaintainthefreedomofsaidpersons.”
Whoissuedit‐PresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Whoenforcedit:thegovernmentincludingtheArmed
Forces.
Whowasitstarget–theslaveswithintherebellious
states.
Whatitdid–releasedthemfromthebondageofother
humanswho“owned”them.
Whenitwentintoeffect–wasadeclaration,butissued
beforethedefeatoftheConfederacy.Soalthoughitwasthe“law
oftheland,”freedomwasnotyetrealizedbythosestillin
slavery.
Asweknow,oncetheCivilWarwaswon,thenegroslaves
stilldidn’thavefullcivilrightsascitizens.
Ittooktheeffortsofmanypeopleovermanyyears,
includingMartinLutherKing,whosebirthdaywecelebrate
tomorrow.
ButI’mnotheretogiveahistorylessonandtalkabout
AbrahamLincoln’sproclamation.
I’mheretotalkaboutanotheremancipation
proclamation.
IssuedbyOnegreaterthanthePresidentoftheUnited
States.
It’sscopewasmuchbroader,unlimitedinfact,forit
appliedtoeveryoneineverytimeandeveryplace.
Whatitdoes.Setsusfreefromtheworstslaverypossible
‐theslaverytosin.
Itisrealizedinstantlyuponone’sacceptanceofJesus
Christ.Therearenodelays,nointerveningstepsthatmustbe
taken.
John8:31,32TotheJewswhohadbelievedhim,Jesus
said,“Ifyouholdtomyteaching,youarereallymydisciples.
32Thenyouwillknowthetruth,andthetruthwillsetyou
free.”
Apervasivemyththatkeepspoppingupinoneformor
anotheris,“Itdoesn’tmatterwhatyoubelieveaslongas
you’resincere.”
Haveyoueverheardthat?Itsoundssogood,sotolerant.
Itispoliticallycorrect.“Differentstrokesfordifferentfolks.You
believewhatyouwant;I’llbelievewhatIwant.We’rebothcool.”
Theonlyproblemisitisnaïveandlogicallyabsurdand
dangeroustoholdsuchabelief!
Becausesinfulmenandwomenwanttodoevil,sinning
freelywithoutfeelingguilty,itisexpedienttoviewalltruthas
culturallydetermined,andarguethatnomoralityorlawis
supreme.
Thefrighteningconsequenceisanyonewhorejectsthe
possibilityofabsolutetruthcommitseternalsuicidebyrejecting
theonlypathtotruefreedomandeternallife.
Incontrasttothetransientspeculationsofpeople,the
Bibleteachestimelesstruth–truththatisabsoluteforallpeople
inallculturesatalltimes–truthsaboutGodandman,goodand
evil,lifeanddeath,andespeciallythewayofsalvation.
ThesewordsinJohn8aredirectedtothosewhoare
inclinedtothinkthatwhatJesussaidwastrue.Buttheyhadnot
yetyieldedtohimwithwhole‐heartedallegiance.
It’snotenoughtojusthearthegospelandinamomentof
enthusiasticresponseacknowledgethetruthofwhatJesussays
abouthimself.“Eventhedemonsbelieve,andtremble.”
Wemust“holdtothetruth,”“remaininthetruth,”“abidein
thetruth,”“liveinthetruth.”
Beingadiscipleistobecomealearner.Itinvolves
studyinghiswords,andobeyingthem,puttingthemintopractice
inourownlives.
BystudyingandapplyingGod’swordweopenourminds
toreceivetruth.Itisanongoingprogressiveprocess,anever‐
upwardspiral.Asyoulearnmore,furthertruthsarerevealedto
you,andyouasyouobeythemyoubecomeincreasinglymore
andmoreliberated.1
He’snottalkinghereaboutscientifictruthorhistorical
truth,butspiritualtruth–thingsaboutourownnature,the
natureofGod,thewayofsalvation,God’splanandpurpose.
AsGod’sWordtakesholdofourlives,themyths,the
superstitions,thelegalismthathavetakenourmindscaptiveare
dispelledbyreality,bytruth.
Theresultisthatwithtruthcomesfreedom!
 Freedomfromself‐deceptionanddelusion.
 Liberationfromtheworld’swayofthinking,withits
fixationonthe“hereandnow,”it’sobsessiononpleasure
atthepriceofmorality.
 Freedomfromself‐centerednessandpridewhichrun
uncheckedovertheneedsandfeelingsofothers.
 TouseCelebrateRecovery’sterminology,freedomfrom
ourdestructive“hurts,habitsandhang‐ups.”
 Inshort,Jesuspromisesfreedomfromsinandevil!
John8:33Theyansweredhim,“WeareAbraham’s
descendantsandhaveneverbeenslavestoanyone.Howcan
yousaythatweshallbesetfree?”
Jesus’word’saboutfreedominfuriatedsomeofhis
listeners,becausetheydidn’tlikethesuggestionthatthey
weren’tfree–justlikemanypeopletodayresentanysimilar
suggestion.
1Whichwords?Allofthem.IfweareChristfollowers,wearen’tfreeto
manufactureourownreligion.Wedon’tpickandchoosethebitsofhis
teachingwefindattractive.It’snotuptoustoapprovewhatweseeas
suitable,butrejectwhatwe’reuncomfortablewith.AsPaulwroteinII
Timothy3:16allScriptureisGod‐breathed(inspired).
It’saratherridiculousresponse!Itignoredmuchoftheir
historyandtherealityoftheircurrentcircumstances!
Theirancestorshadrepeatedlybeenslaves:slavestothe
Egyptians,thePhilistines,theAssyrians,theBabylonians,the
Greeks.
AndnowtheircountrywasoverrunbyRomansoldiers
enforcingtheruleofCaesar.Theymightnothaveliterallybeen
slavesinthesenseofbeingthepersonalpossessionofanyone
Romanbuttheywereslavesinthattheirdestinywasnotintheir
ownhands.
Thecoinsthatjangledintheirpursesboretheimageof
Roman’semperors.WhattheRomanssaiddictatedtheirlives.
It’sunrealistictocallanationoccupiedbyenemytroopsfree!
TheirdignityrestedontheirrelationshipwithAbraham,
IsaacandJacob.Whilewecanadmiretheirpatriotism,they
totallymissedthepointofwhatJesuswastalkingabout.
Thisfreedomhe’stalkingaboutisnotderivedfrom
religiousorracialidentity.
Vs.34Jesusreplied,“Itellyouthetruth,everyonewho
sinsisaslavetosin.”
Jesusisn’treferringtofreedomfromsocialoreconomicor
politicalbondage–he’stalkingaboutfreedomfromspiritual
slavery.
Sinisacrueltaskmaster.Itshutsyouupinyour
cramped,narrow,miserableexperienceandpreventsyoufrom
experiencingtruefreedom.
JustlikeinJesus’day,peopletodayjustdon’twantto
acknowledgethetruthoftheirsinfulcondition.Ifwesuggestto
someonethattheyareinbondage,theywillresistanddenythe
idea.Themoreenslavedheorsheisthemorehe/shewillresent
hearingthetruth.”There’snothingwrongwithme!Whoareyou
totellmethere’ssomethingwronginmylife?ThatI’maslaveto
anything?ThatIneedtofindfreedom?”
John8:36SoiftheSonsetsyoufree,youwillbefree
indeed.”
ThehopeforJesus’listeners,andforustoday,doesnotlie
intheancestryofAbraham,buttheactionofJesusonthecross.
Theyonlywayforsinnerstobereleasedfromsin’sgripand
penaltyistobeunitedbyfaithwithJesusChrist,whoinhisdeath
andresurrectionprovidesdeliverance
Truefreedomcomesthroughknowingthegospeland
beingcommittedtotheLordJesusandservinghim.Andthis
meansalifeofrighteousness.2Anythingelseisreallyslavery,no
matterwhattheworldmaypromiseyouthroughitsliesandfalse
teaching.
InthebookofRomansPaulgoesintogreatdetailabouthow
wearenolongerslavestosin,butarenowslavesto
righteousness.
Romans6:17,18ButthanksbetoGod,thoughyou
usedtobeslavestosinyouwholeheartedlyobeyedtheformof
teachingtowhichyouwereentrusted.18Youhavebeenset
freefromsinandhavebecomeslavestorighteousness.
Jesusredeemedus,whichmeansheboughtusoutof
slaverytothecrueltaskmastersin.Hepaidthepriceforour
redemptionwithhisownblood.3
ThesameactiononthepartofChristthatdeliveredus
fromsin’sslaverysimultaneouslyhasmadeusslavestoGod
(verse22)andrighteousness(verse18).
Itmayseemaparadoxtorefertothisnewstateof
belongingtoGodas“slavery,”foritissuchavividcontrasttoour
previouscondition.
Wehaveanewowner,anewidentity,anewboss.The
Bibleteachesthatitisinthisnew“slavery”thatwefindtrue
freedom.
BytruefreedomIdon’tmeanautonomy,alicensetodo
absolutelyanythingIplease.OurtrueplaceiswithGod,hiswill
isourwillevenasaslavehasnowillofhisown.
Noneofusisfullyindependent.Thereisno“neutral
ground.”Youareeitheroneortheother–aslavetosinand
SatanoraslavetorighteousnessandGod.
Thereisnohumanbeingwhoisabsolutelyfreetodo
anythinghe/shemaywanttodo.4
TheonlybeingintheuniversewhoistotallyfreeisGod.
Everyoneelseislimitedbysomeoneorsomething.
Don’tdeceiveyourself.Sinisbondage.Itenslavesusso
thatwearen’tabletoescapeitsgrasp.Don’tlistentoanyone
whotellsyouthatsinisharmless.Itleadstodeath.
Theonlysensiblereactiontosinistoturnfromit,and
seektheLord.Healonecansaveus.Nothinghedesiresmore.
ThewholepurposeofJesuscomingwastoseekandsavethe
lost.
Theformofteaching(vs.17)isareferencetothegospel.
TheChristianteachingincludesofcoursetheOldTestament,but
thereisacontrastbetweenthegospelperspectiveofthe
ScripturesandtheJewishmisinterpretationandapplication
whichJesusandPaulfacedintheirday.Itisthesamethingas
whatJesusreferredto“thetruth.”
Nb.(1)doesNOTsay,asmightbeexpected,youbelieved
theteaching.Ratherthatyouwholeheartedlyobeyed.Whenwe
cometoChristourfaithhasanintellectualelement(webelieve
wewant.Ifwewantandchoosesin,itleadstobondage.
3IPeter1:18‐19Foryouknowthatitwasnotwithperishablethingssuchas
silverorgoldthatyouwereredeemedfromtheemptywayoflifehandeddown
toyoufromyourancestors,19butwiththepreciousbloodofChrist,alamb
withoutblemishordefect.
4Weallservesomeoneorsomething.It’sjustamatterofwhoorwhat.Some
areslavestotheirwork,busyness,achievement.Theycan’tshutdowntheir
laptopsformorethanacoupleofhours,andtheircellphonesappeartobe
surgicallyimplantedintheirhands.
Someareslavestothings,possessions,stuff.Theyaredrivenbythe
fantasythatcontentmentcanbefoundinhavingthings.Theydon’tevenstop
securingmorelongenoughtoenjoywhattheyalreadyhave.
Manyareenslavedtoseekingapprovalofothers.Theymagically
mutateintowhatevershapetheythingwillgaintheapprovalofanother.
Theiremotionscyclebetweenself‐acceptanceandself‐loathing,dependingon
whethertheyarereceivingaffirmationorcriticism.
Increasinglycommonarepeoplewhoareslavestothegodof
themselves.Wecallthemnarcissists.Theyrelentlesslydemandtheattention,
admiration,timeandnurturingofothers.But,liketheotherformsofslavery,
itonlyleadstogreateremptiness.
2ThekindoffreedomJesuswastalkingaboutwasnotlibertytodoanything
insomething);anemotionalelement(ourheartsaretouched)
andanelementofthewill.
Wemaybelieveinhiminsomesense,butunless
obedienceispresent,whetherwearetrulysavedisquestionable
atbest.ThewholeChristianlifeissummedupinourobedience
toGod.Jesusasked,“Whydoyoucallme‘Lord,Lord’anddo
notdowhatIsay?”Luke6:46.
Nb.(2)doesNOTsaytheteachingIentrustedtoyouto
takesafeguard.NO,ratherwehavebeenentrustedtoit!This
proclamation,thisgospel,thiswordoftruthneedsnoprotection,
ratheritprotectsandchangesyou!
Proverbs30:5EverywordofGodisflawless;heisa
shieldtothosewhotakerefugeinhim. Everywordisflawless‐awordusedinPsalmsto
describesilverthathasbeenrefined.
AlloftheBibleistrustworthyanddependable‐nothing
impure,nothingdeceitful,nothinguntrueinit.Whatotherbook
canyousaythatabout?Whatotherauthorcanclaimthatthere
isabsolutelynoerrorcontainedinhiswritings?Scripturecomes
fromGodandreflectshischaracter.Inhimisnoerror,nothing
false,nothingmisleading.Andthesamecanbesaidofhisword.
Secondpartoftheversesaysheisashieldtothosewho
takerefugeinhim. Don’tkeeptryingto“makeitonyourown,”relyingon
yourownstrengthandwisdom.NothinghonorsGodlike
turningtohimineverytimeofneed.LetGodandhiswordbe
yourshield!
IfyourespondinobediencetoGod’sword,andtake
refugeinhimbycommittingyourselftohisinspiredwords,you
willdiscoverthatHewillindeedbeyourshield,givingyou
peacefulrestandconfidence,protectingyoufromallterrorsand
allyourenemies‐bothinternalandexternal‐includingdeath.
Conclusion/invitation
Thismorningyouhaveheardthegoodnews!“Thetruth
willsetyoufree!”
IfJesussetsyoufree,youwillbefreeindeed.Freefrom

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

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condemnation,
judgment,
spiritualignorance,
Satan’slies,
andspiritualdeath.
Freefromthemyths,thesuperstitions,thehabits,thesins
thathaveenslavedyou.
 Freetochoosetheright,
 freetochoosethebest,
 freetokeepongrowing,
 freetodoandbecomeallyouwerecreatedtodoandbe!5
Beingemancipatedfromsin’sdominionislibertyindeed.The
powerofsinusurpedauthorityoverus,stoleusfromGod,
makingusitsslaves.Weneverrightlybelongedtosin.We
weren’tcreatedtosin,forsintohavepoweroverus.
FreedbyJesusfromthatpowerwecanatlastfulfillthe
purposeofourbeing.Justlikeabirdisfreetouseitswingstofly,
oraflowertoexpanditspedalsandbloom,orafruittreeto
producefruit,wearefreetoobeyourCreatorandourSaviorin
newnessoflife.
Theliberatorofyoursoulisherethismorning,stretching
outhisarmstoyou!Willyoucometohim,andbesaved?“Ifthe
Sonsetsyoufree,youwillbefreeindeed.”
5
This is not a freedom to do whatever we wish according to the
dictates of our own fallen selves, but a freedom from our fallen
selves and the power and guidance to live good and holy lives
pleasing to God.