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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 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.