Connecting The Dots - Week 10 (Freedom)

Connecting The Dots - Week 10

                “Freedom”

Key Verse(s): 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." (John 8:31-32 NASB)

 As believers in Jesus, understanding what “the truth” made us free from is likely the clearest path to understanding Freedom.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2 NASB)

We are free from any law concerning sin, free from spiritual and physical death, and free from condemnation. But more importantly, knowing the truth now bestows upon us the responsibility of choice. Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required” (Luke 12:48), and we who have believed in him have been given everything.

“knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7 NASB) 

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NASB)

Separate from God we are subject to sin, we were held in bondage. A “slave” has no choice, a “bondslave” however is one who has been set free and makes a commitment because he or she loves and respects the one they serve. We get to follow and spend time with Jesus.

“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)

In our key verse Jesus says if we continue in his word we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free. Two final things I want you to take away:

1.

Continue in his word, and know what it says about you, about your life, about your circumstances. Why? Because it is ALL the truth.

2.

We have a choice now to say “Yes” and agree with his word every day, sometimes multiple times in a day. When we choose to trust him that is our reasonable response to Freedom. Our choice to spend time with him and in his word is what enables us to continually walk in that Freedom.

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:23-25 NIV)

“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

Discussion:

1.

Give one example of how you’ve chosen to use your Freedom to serve God.

2.

Think of an area of life where you struggle daily. Now think of how you might gain greater Freedom by applying his word to it, or through spending more intimate time in prayer.  

Ref. Scriptures: (Romans 8 6 & 7 too if you’re feeling ambitious), (2 Corinthians 3:17-18), (John 14:6), (John 17:16-17), (John 8:36), (Romans 6:14), (1 Corinthians 7:22-23)