TEXT:  John 8:32

INTRODUCTION:

A.      LIBERTY PRECIOUS, WHETHER SPIRITUAL, POLITICAL, PERSONAL.

B.      "IS LIFE SO DEAR OR PEACE SO SWEET AS TO BE PURCHASED AT THE

          PRICE OF CHAINS AND SLAVERY?  I KNOW NO WHAT COURSE OTHERS

          MAY PURSUE, BUT AS FOR ME, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME

          DEATH." - Patrick Henry

C.      MUCH CONFUSION.  WE WILL DISCUSS 5 POINTS ABOUT LIBERTY.

I.      ABSOLUTE FREEDOM IS NOT POSSIBLE.

A.      WE ARE SLAVES TO SIN OR OBEDIENCE( Rom. 6:16 )

B.      THOUGH FREE FROM THE LAW OF MOSES WE AREN'T FREE FROM LAW

          ( Rom. 7:6;  1 Cor. 9:20-21 ).

C.      SO, THE QUESTION IS NOT "ARE WE FREE?" BUT "SLAVES TO WHOM?"

D.      AND NOT "ARE WE UNDER LAW?" BUT "WHAT DISPOSITION WILL WE

          MAKE OF THE LAW TO WHICH WE ARE ANSWERABLE."

E.  THERE IS NO SUCH THING, THEN, AS ABSOLUTE FREEDOM.

II.     LIBERTY IS NOT TO BE EQUATED WITH LICENSE.

A.      PETER AND PAUL WARN US( Gal. 5:13;  1 Pet. 2:16 ).

B.      SOME THINK FREEDOM MEANS YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.

C.      BEFORE FREEDOM IS REAL, WE MUST REALIZE THAT THERE ARE

          CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS TO LIBERTY.

          1.       Liberty must be lawful( 1 John 3:4 ).  Really a liberty?

          2.       Is it expedient( 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23 ). Does it enslave?

          3.       Does it edify? or result in any other good?( 10:23 )

          4.       Will it cause others to stumble( 1 Cor. 8:9 ).

III.    LIBERTY AND LAW ARE NOT ANTAGONISTIC.

A.      JAMES 1:25 & 2:12 SPEAK OF A "LAW OF LIBERTY."

          1.       Liberty is the result of law and is had under a certain law.

          2.       That law is the word of God( John 8:32;  John 17:17 ).

B.      ARE THE ISSUANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AN INFRINGEMENT

          UPON LIBERTY?

          1.       No law, no standard.  Anarchy and chaos.

          2.       Without law, we become law unto ourselves, in bondage to lusts and desires

                   ( 2 Pet. 2:18-19 ).

IV.   LIBERTY DOES NOT ALLOW THE REPUDIATION OF GOD

        GIVEN POSITIONS.

A.      IE. WOMEN'S LIB MOVEMENT SAYS A WOMAN'S SUBJECTION TO MAN

          ( Eph. 5:21-33 )IS AN INFRINGEMENT ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

          1.       Subjection does not cancel individual rights, worth or freedom.

          2.       Subjection to God in the Garden did not cancel man's freedom.

          3.       We will be subject to God in heaven, but still free.

          4.       Neither does subjection suggest inferiority.

B.      OUR SUBJECTION TO CIVIL AUTHORITY, ELDERS, PARENTS DOES NOT

          IMPLY INFERIORITY.  HOWEVER, SUBJECTION IS NECESSARY.

V.    THE TRUTH MAKES MEN FREE.

A.      John 8:32;  17:17. FREEDOM FROM SIN(Rom.6:16-18),

          DEATH(Heb.2:14-15).

B.      HENCE, THE "LAW OF LIBERTY."

          1.       Truth must be known before freedom can be had( John 8:32 ).

          2.       It must be believed( 1 Thes. 2:13 ).

          3.       It must be obeyed( 1 Pet. 1:22 ).

C.      BUT FREEDOM INVOLVES VOLUNTARY SERVITUDE( Rom. 6:17-18 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      YOU HAVE THE CHOICE OF WHO TO SERVE.

B.      BUT YOU MUST LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCE.