True Freedom

FREEDOM!...from sin
Eighth CLASS SESSION FOR FALL/WINTER 2008/2009
NOVEMBER 12,2008

I. PRESUPPPOSITIONS TO OUR STUDY
A. God gives life to all men, the just and the unjust
B. All men are created in freedom and are equal
C. All men are responsible to God
D. God gives gifts to men as a stewardship
E. It is sin to steal, negate or destroy another man's stewardship:
the wages of sin is death
F. God gives rights; men can only protect them for one another; they
cannot give rights
G. Good laws are made to protect rights from individuals who steal
them from others
H. Christ has come to free men from the oppression of sin and from
the oppression of one another

II. WHERE PERSONAL RESPONSIBIHTY ENDS, IS NEGLECTED OR
ABUSED, GOVERNMENT BY OTHERS BEGINS
A. Pr 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
B. Pr 28:2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its
princes; but by a man of understanding and knowledge Rightwill be prolonged
C. Pr 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And
he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
D. Pr 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city
broken down, without walls.
E. 1 Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteousperson, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly
and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers,for man slayers,10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. (NKJV)

III. THE ONLY GOOD GOVERNMENT IS ONE IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS UNDERSTOOD; BAD GOVERNMENT OPPRESSES PEOPLE
A. Pr 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
B. Pr 28:15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear,is a wicked
ruler over poor people.
C. Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach
to any people
D. Pr 14:31 He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: but
he that honors Him has mercy on the poor.
E. God hates oppression and calls on men to relieve it even as He does:
Ps 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a
refuge in times of trouble. (refuge: Heb.'high place'}
Ps 10:18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. (oppress: or, terrify)
Ps 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the
needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
Ps 103:6 ~ The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for
all that are oppressed.
Isa 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,
judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

IV. THE MORE THE INDIVIDUAL IS WILLING TO LET OTHERS CARRY HIS RESPONSIBILITY BY PROVIDING FOR HIM, THE MORE HE WILL BE GOVERNED BY OTHERS AND LOSE HIS FREEDOM
A. l Tim 5:4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
B. 2 Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If any one will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. (NKJV)
C. Eph 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him
labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (NKJV)
IV. STAND FREE AND LIVE THAT WAY!
A. Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has
bondage. ~. ~
B. Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," “You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely,you shall love your neighbor as yourself" 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
C. Freedom comes through the Truth and commitment to it:
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If
you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
D. The believer must reject the 'need' to be governed by someone
other than Christ although subject to ALL authority as outlined in Rom 13: Col 2:16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-- 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with
the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NKJV)