Liberty and Love – Part III

Introduction

Galatians 5:13 (NASB77) ¹³ 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.

1.  Called to Freedom

This freedom unshackles us from the fear of judgment, the fear of separation, the fear of being forgotten, the fear of being ignored, and the fear of failure. “Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NKJV)

Embracing this freedom will not make you perfect but you are walking on the path of truth, and you are living in the proper house. You are residing in New Covenant Manor.

As we boldly trust in what Christ has accomplished for us this conviction deepens day by day: we are beloved and are being transformed into His image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).

There is only one other option open to us: to live as though we are still residents of Old Covenant Estate, where our deeds determined our status. It was a place of perpetual futility.

In Old Covenant Estates, we were “foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (Titus 3:33). The problem wasn’t the place.  The place revealed the problem – and it was us.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy… (Titus 3:4-5).

So He gave us a new nature, forgave the damages we had done to Old Covenant Estates and made us heirs.

It’s not just about forgiveness for our past failings and our eternal destiny.  He influences our aspirations.  And He directs our aspiration to love.

2.  Liberated to Love

Text: Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV) 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

There is nothing easy about facing or revisiting the pain and trauma associated with forgiveness.

We will always need the Lord’s help to do what the Lord directs.  “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This kind of forgiveness comes from above.  It is not worldly.

• The world says forgive for yourself; the Lord says forgive in reference to the forgiveness in reference to the forgiveness we have received from Him.
• “I won’t forget” versus “I can’t forget” I won’t forget is about holding on to some part of the offense.  “I can’t forget” is just a statement of fact. There is nothing wrong with the fact of remembering. It depends on what we do with that fact.

Here’s what to do:

1. Acknowledge it.

• Remember, God not only cares about what we are doing but also how we are doing. His heart towards us is not just do it regardless of how you feel.  It’s “do it realizing I care about how you feel.”
• It means unwrapping it before the Lord and emoting over it before Him. Seeing Him as a concerned father who cares about our hurts.

2. Surrender it.

• This is not our burden to carry alone. We get to share it with the Lord. The Scripture says, the Lord “daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19).
• Sermon reference: “And Then I Remember, I Have You”(Click Here)” (April 15, 2018). An all-purpose message that reminds us that the challenges we face, whether circumstantial or spiritual, we do not face them alone. (April 15, 2018).
• Matthew 11:29 – We are invited to yoke ourselves with the Lord and receive the “easy burden” of His support.

3. Give thanks for it.

• This is not a directive to give thanks for the hurt and the pain itself but for how God wants to use it for our good.
• Believing God is always orchestrating our good, despite the evil intentions of others removes the toxins from the facts.  We can acknowledge them without the bitterness and resentment.

4. As often as is necessary.

• There is no penalty or demotion for going through the process again.
• We don’t get labeled as poor students or slow learners.

Conclusion

We’ve been called to freedom, let us use that freedom to love.  Let’s make forgiveness our focus and remember the Lord as our helper, not our judge.