The Biblical Virtue of Freedom

Handout Outline for The Call

The Biblical Virtue of Freedom

• The of Freedom Today
  • Biblical Freedom is not the absence of restraint, but the power to live rightly under God.
• The Founders’ of Freedom
  • If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. – James Madison Federalist No. 51
  • Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. – John Adams (1798)
  • Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. – George Washington (1796)
  • Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.

– Samuel Adams (1749)

• • Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it. – John Adams (1777)
• Cultural Today
  • Radical Individualism
  • Relativism
  • Secularism
  • Entitlement
  • Victimization
  • “Freedom”
• Biblical of Freedom
  • Freedom : The What
    • John 8:31-36
  • Freedom : The Why and How
    • Galatians 5:1,13-15
    • 1 Peter 2:16
    • 2 Corinthians 3:17
• Our Moment
• Biblical is…
  • The ability to obey God
  • The power to live rightly
  • Liberation from sin’s mastery

Text of Verses

• ³¹ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³ They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵ The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:31-36
  • Freedom: The Why and How
• For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery…¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Galatians 5:1, 13-15
• ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16
• ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17