Austin Bible Church
The Ten Commandments are the Magna Charta of human freedom. The Year of Jubilee in Codex 3 of Mosaic Law is also designed to maintain and continue the freedom of a nation. Exodus 20:2; Deut. 5.6; Lev. 25:10.
“"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2, NASB)
“'I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 5:6, NASB)
“'You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.” (Leviticus 25:10, NASB)
As the Mosaic Law provided freedom in the Age of Israel, so today the Holy Spirit provides freedom for the believer in the Church Age. Today in America we have a double freedom. We have the physical freedom of the structure of our nation. We also have the spiritual freedom of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the grace way of being filled with the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:17; Rom. 8:2-4.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17, NASB)
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:2-4, NASB)
Slavery was a national issue in Jeremiah’s day. He constantly warned them against soul slavery. Soul slavery leads to physical slavery or death. Bible doctrine in the right lobe of the soul provides freedom from soul slavery. That’s the thing that can save our country. Jer. 34:8-17; John 8:30-36; James 1:25; James 2:12.
“that each man should set free his male servant and each man his female servant, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman; so that no one should keep them, a Jew his brother, in bondage.” (Jeremiah 34:9, NASB)
“But afterward they turned around and took back the male servants and the female servants whom they had set free, and brought them into subjection for male servants and for female servants.” (Jeremiah 34:11, NASB)
“"Therefore thus says the LORD, 'You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming release each man to his brother and each man to his neighbor. Behold, I am proclaiming a release to you,' declares the LORD, 'to the sword, to the pestilence and to the famine; and I will make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth.” (Jeremiah 34:17, NASB)
“As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:30-36, NASB)
“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25, NASB)
“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.” (James 2:12, NASB)
Eternal liberty belongs to the children of God. Our eternal freedom is related to the doctrine of Redemption. Our Lord Jesus Christ bought us out of the slave-market of sin. Rom. 8:21; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-20.
“that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21, NASB)
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;” (Isaiah 61:1, NASB)
“"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.” (Luke 4:18-20, NASB)
Positional Sanctification provides freedom from the old sin nature. Experiential Sanctification provides daily freedom to serve God. A believer to be effective must be freed from the slavery of the old sin nature. Rom. 6:7; Rom. 6:16-20.
“for he who has died is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:7, NASB)
“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-20, NASB)
Therefore, liberty is the modus vivendi of Christianity. That means that every born-again believer even with a thimble-full of doctrine ought to understand freedom, privacy, free enterprise, and patriotism. Gal. 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16.
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13, NASB)
“Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” (1 Peter 2:16, NASB)
Legalism seeks to enslave the believer and destroy personal liberty. This is why false teachers are in the slavery of legalism, but they are always promising freedom to their victims. Gal. 2:4; 2 Peter 2:19.
“But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.” (Galatians 2:4, NASB)
“promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:19, NASB)
Freedom provides that stability of soul necessary for both occupation with Christ and worship. 2 Chron. 29:31.
“Then Hezekiah said, "Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD." And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willing brought burnt offerings.” (2 Chronicles 29:31, NASB)
Since salvation and the intake and application of Bible doctrine provide freedom of soul, human slavery or body slavery does not hinder a believer from serving God. That is why Paul says there, “Look, if you are a slave when you accept Jesus Christ as Savior, do not try to break out of slavery. Even though you are a slave, you are free to serve God. And if you are free when you accepted Christ, just remember you are a slave unto the Lord, to serve Him.” 1 Cor. 7:20-23; Gal. 3:28.
“Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.” (1 Corinthians 7:20-23, NASB)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, NASB)