"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

GALATIANS 5:1-13

1. THERE IS THE PRICE OF PERPETUAL VIGILANCE:
1. Freedom is a fragile commodity. What was hard won can be easily lost. What took effort to obtain takes only careless indifference to forfeit.
2. Gibbon said, "The first warning of Rome's ruin was not in the hostile armies mobilizing against her, but in the feasting and boasting and riotous living in her vicious capital." So the things against which we must be vigilant are internal issues:
1. Lack of reverence for God. When Samaria fell to the Assyrians, it was because they forgot God and worshiped idols. 2 Kings 17:7.
2. A low estimation of human life.
3. Disregard of Christian values.
4. Profit ahead of integrity.
5. Self indulgence instead of self-control.
6. Tolerance of evil and perversion in the name of broad-mindedness and sensitivity.
3. Listen to these words of wisdom: Daniel Webster said, "God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it. Elmer Davis said, "With a great price our ancestors obtained this freedom, but we were born free. But that freedom can be retained only the eternal vigilance which has always been its price." So what are some practical and specific things we can do to remain vigilant?
1. Practice the fundamentals of good citizenship: honesty, hard work, obedience to civil law.
2. Exercise your right to vote, and vote by your conscience, not your pocketbook.
3. Express yourself to your representatives.
4. Follow the Biblical admonition to pray for governmental leaders - even if they are not of your party.
5. Refuse to compromise, even a little, in morals, ethics, or matters of godly conscience. Even a little is harmful; a little yeast permeates the whole loaf.
6. Remember: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord," Psalms 33:12 (NASB).
7. Remember: "Rigteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."  Proverbs 14:34 (NASB).
   
4. What applies to national freedom, applies to the freedom Christ gives. Paul warns about falling back into spiritual bondage to legalism. He cautions us against anyone turning us from the truth. Hear what the Bible says about spiritual vigilance:
1. Matthew 26:41 (NLT) "Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!"
2. 1 Peter 5:8, 9 (NLT) "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith."
3. Hebrews 2:1-3 (NLT) "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. The message God delivered through angels has always proved true, and the people were punished for every violation of the law and every act of disobedience. What makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation that was announced by the Lord Jesus Himself?"
5. In a fable, Satan gathered his demons to see what damage they had done to the church. One of them said, "I found a Christian on a ship and caused it to sink!" Satan said, "So what? He went to heaven. What damage did you do?" Another said, "I found a Christian and stripped him of all his worldly goods." Satan sneered, "Big deal! He has treasure in heaven! What damage did you do?" The third demon said, "I found a Christian who had grown apathetic in his faith." Satan said, "Go on, what did you do?" The demon said, "I left him asleep!" He received Satanic approval for destroying the man's vigilance.

Freedom is not free. Eternal vigilance is the price we must pay to keep it.

2. THERE IS THE PRICE OF PERSONAL RESTRAINT:
1. Freedom should not only be guarded vigilantly but should be guided virtuously! Some are not willing to pay that price and want to live to do whatever they want whenever they want.
1. Paul said, "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
2. Peter concurs: "You are not slaves; you are free. But your freedom is not an excuse to do evil." 1 Peter 2:16 (NLT).
2. Liberty is not license! Liberty is "freedom from restraint abridged only so far as necessary for the safety and well-being of society." License is "unbounded, excessive, unrestrained, irresponsible freedom with no regard for the good of others." Freedom has parameters and boundaries:
1. Freedom of speech is limited to preclude slander or libel or perjury or falsely yelling, "Fire!" in a crowded room.
2. Freedom to possess is limited by laws against stealing or fraud or extortion.
3. Freedom to swing your fist ends where another's nose begins.
4. Love puts parameters on our actions and behavior and does nothing out of selfishness or disregard for others.
5. Paul wrote, "But you must be careful with this freedom of yours.  Do not cause a brother or sister with a weaker conscience to stumble."  1 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT).
   
3. Satan tempts us to practice license under the guise of liberty.
1. "Do your own thing! Be your own boss! It's your life, your body. Don't let anyone, even God, dictate to you."
2. "Go ahead! Just this once won't hurt! You can quit anytime you want to."
3. "Nobody will know! You can get away with it!"
4. ""There are no absolute standards of right and wrong! Let the circumstance determine the morals."
4. Be careful of listening to that advice! It leads to slavery!
1. Peter speaks of those who advocate it: "They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With lustful desire as their bait, they lure back into sin those who have just escaped from such wicked living. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you." 2 Peter 2:18-19 (NLT).
2. Paul adds, "Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master?  You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive His approval."  Romans 6:16 (NLT).
   
5. Let me illustrate unrestrained freedom. A group of friends took a skiing trip to Switzerland. An avalanche killed one of the friends and seriously injured another. It seemed sheer chance that they were not all killed or hurt. How did it happen? The group had chosen to ski on slopes that were closed to the public. The avalanche warnings had been posted, but they had chosen to go beyond the fences because, as one of them observed, "That's where the optimum fun and excitement were to be found." But it went beyond the margins of what was wise and the avalanche exacted its price. Like the group who could not stay inside the fences, all of us try at times to edge out to the fences and defy the limits. Some think that is freedom but I must confess that I find license to be a poor substitute for real freedom.

Freedom is not free. We must pay the price of personal restraint. Though we honor those who died to bring us liberty, only Jesus truly sets us free. Free from sin; free from fear; free from condemnation. He calls us to freedom. Responsible, unselfish, virtuous freedom. You can be free if you let His truth be your guide, His Spirit be your enabler, and His promise your hope. You are free this morning to make your own choice about Jesus. Will you believe Him or not? Will you trust Him or not? Will you obey Him or not? Let Him govern your life through His Word and Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Freedom isn't cheap; freedom isn't free. It cost Jesus His life. Having paid the price, He offers salvation as a free gift to all who make Him Lord of life. You will either serve sin or Jesus. The one leads to slavery and death and the other to freedom and life. Choose today which it will be.

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