2 Corinthians  3_17      The Freedom of Believers

Rev. David Holwick  W

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

June 30, 1991

2 Corinthians 3:17


THE FREEDOM OF BELIEVERS



  I. American Revolution.

      A. Meaning of freedom to Americans.

          1) USA and threats to religious freedom.

                Scalia:  "unwarranted luxury"


      B. Yearning for freedom around the world.

          1) Eastern Europe.

              a) My parents are visiting right now.

          2) China.

              a) They want freedom and democracy, even if they aren't sure

                   what it is exactly.


II. New Testament teaching on freedom.

      A. All Christians are free in a spiritual sense.

          1) Free to love and experience God.


               "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the

                  Lord is, there is freedom."             2 Cor 3:17

               "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with

                  freedom and confidence."                Ephesians 3:12

              a) We shouldn't be rigid, unthinking.

              b) The truth from Jesus sets us free.       John 8:32,36


          2) Free from the fear of death.


             "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in

                their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him

                who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and

                free those who all their lives were held in slavery by

                their fear of death."                     Hebrews 2:14-15


          3) Free from the power of sin.


             "When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control

                 of righteousness.

              What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you

                 are now ashamed of?  Those things result in death!


              But now that you have been set free from sin and have become

                 slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and

                    the result is eternal life.

              For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal

                 life in Christ Jesus our Lord."          Romans 6:20-23


      B. We should try to be free in a physical sense.


         "Were you a slave when you were called?

          Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your

              freedom, do so.

          For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the

              Lord's freedman;

          Similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is

              Christ's slave."                    1 Corinthians 7:21-22


III. Christian freedom has limits.

      A. We are not free to sin.


           "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up

               for evil; live as servants of God."          1 Peter 2:16

           "They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves

               of depravity-- for a man is a slave to whatever has

               mastered him."                               2 Peter 2:19


      B. We must draw the line on unacceptable behavior.

          1) Jesus accepted the adulterous woman, then told her,

                "Go, and leave your life of sin (sin no more)."


      C. We are slaves of God, and free to serve others.


           "You, my brothers, were called to be free.

            But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature;

               rather, serve one another in love.

            The entire law is summed up in a single command:

              "Love your neighbor as yourself.""       Galatians 5:13-14


IV. Baptists and religious freedom.

      A. Freedom to worship, in a political sense.

          1) No government coercion to believe or disbelieve.


              a) Comment by early Baptist, Thomas Hooker:


                 "We doubt not what we practice.

                  But it is beyond all doubt that all men are liars and

                     we are in the company of these poor feeble men.

                  Either we do or may make mistakes,

                     though we do not know it.

                  What we have learned, we do profess,

                     and yet profess still to live that we may learn."


              b) Baptists were influential in putting freedom of religion

                    in Constitution's Bill of Rights.


          2) Baptists and freedom in Rumania.   (Peter Duchesque)

             Talk by Denton Lotz, general secretary of Baptist World

                Alliance, at ABC Convention in Charleston, WV:


             In 1990 a revolution of democracy swept eastern Europe.

             After Czechoslovakia and East Germany succumbed, the

                dictator Ceaucescue in Rumania hardened his line.

             From a balcony in Bucharest at the Communist party's hall he

                proclaimed, "Communism will never die."

             In a few short weeks he was dead and democracy instituted.

                Baptists played a key role in this.


             The revolt started when a Reformed pastor's church was

                ransacked by government authorities.

             As demonstrations intensified, a 20-year-old Baptist named

                Peter Duchesque decided to light a candle in the darkness.

             He wanted to do this to proclaim his faith and challenge the

                authorities.

             He lit a candle, placed it on the sidewalk and was shot in

                the legs by nearby soldiers.


             Nevertheless, hundreds of others were inspired by his act and

                the city sidewalks were illuminated with candles of protest.

             From his hospital bed, Peter said he did not regret his

                action even though he was wounded.

             In June 1991, Baptists held a convention in the Communist

                hall that the dictator had used.

             From the same balcony where the dictator had proclaimed the

                eternity of communism, they gave an invitation for people

                   to come to Jesus Christ.

                                                                    #1533


      B. Freedom in worship, within church.

          1) No creeds for Baptists.

              a) The Bible is the only source for our beliefs.

              b) Limits - we expect basic agreement on doctrine.

          2) Not held back by rigid format.

              a) We have freedom in the way we worship.

              b) We don't have someone telling us what to preach or pray.

                  1> Though our format can become rigid.


  V. Have you experienced Christ's freedom?



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