“Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.” vs17
If we don’t proclaim the freedom of the gospel, then we won’t be free ourselves. We must preach the liberty in Christ or experience bondage. Some bind men to produce good works, but good works come from a heart liberated by grace.
David said, “Restore unto me the joy of salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.” [Ps 51:12]
We must preach forgiveness and liberty, so we can love as freemen. The true gospel sets men free in justification by faith. We cannot earn grace. Everything must be free!
First, the gospel sets men free. It proclaims liberty to captives bound by Satan - that they are FREE FROM CONDEMNATION! This is a blessed condition. Jesus has died, and there is remission!
Free from the law—oh, happy condition!
Jesus hath bled, and there is remission;
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
-Philip Bliss
We must not enslave men to earn what cannot be earned, or else Christ died in vain [Gal 2:21]. The gospel takes the captive - sold under sin - and liberates him by a ransom paid by Someone Else, his Kinsman Redeemer [Lev 25].
He is free, not because he deserves it, but because of grace, which is intrinsically given to the undeserving. If we’ve earned it, deserve it, or have done anything to cause it, then it is not grace: it must come freely while we’re helpless in our sins.
Secondly, the freedom of the gospel produces love, joy, and peace. Christ liberates, so we can experience God’s goodness, and then His power works in us, which is mightier than all the efforts of self.
The power of the gospel is fearful: this is the true power that we’re looking for, and we’ve only faked it; we’ve been the best a man can do, but now God’s working in us by the Spirit, lifting us from the ashes, and when the power is God, then it is more glorious, as the sun excels a candle.
“How fearful is the LORD Most High,
the great King over all the earth!
He subdues nations beneath us,
and peoples under our feet.” [Ps 47:2-3]
Calm, joy, and assurance… rest, comfort, and hope… begin to WORK IN US for Christ’s sake, and this makes us love God (delight to be in His presence,) and love our neighbor. (I could not wait to get into the word today, wondering what He show me, whether rebuke, reproof, instruction, or warning, because I know God is my Savior and has grace, gentleness, and help for me too.) We are not bound by selfishness and self-righteousness, but our debt being canceled frees us to forgive others [Matt 18:35].
Grace keeps men close to God, because we want to enjoy Him. He is a Friend, a Liberator, and full of comforts as promised; it is the only way to make us serve, lest we use His name to serve ourselves, doing for our own promotion, Pharisaically, rather than for others.
Set them free to serve, and watch them walk in love.
“For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.” [Gal 5:13]
Thirdly, we must be taught what love is, so we can guide our steps.
Love works no ill to his neighbor; it gives and forgives.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” [1 Cor 13:4]
Love is bold with the truth and glorifies God. It refuses to compromise, yet instructs in gentleness [2 Tim 2:24-25]!
Let us be loving children, basking in the glow of His gentleness; let us treat others as He treats us, and we’ll be guided sufficiently.
“Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” [Eph 4:32]
Finally, freedom is mandatory: Do you walk in it and preach it?
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