Talks

Note: Unfortunately the recording for this talk was lost but we have attached the notes that were followed below. Please do get in touch if you have any questions off the back of these notes, we would love to discuss this topic with you further.

Talk 3: What were we Freed for?

Introduction: The Danger of Freedom

Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 2:16

1) Set Free to Serve

True of Israel in Old Testament

Ex 3:12; 4:3; Deut 10:12; 11:13; Josh 24:14-15; 1 Sam 12:10;  Jer 30:9; Ez 20:40; Luke 1:68–75

True of the Church in the Last Days

Rom 7:6; 1 thes 1:9; Tit 3:8; Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 2:9

True of God’s People in Glory

Rev 7:15

2) Set Free to become Slaves of God

God’s people are God’s Slaves

A Common Description

• Collective Israel:
  Lev 25:47–55; Deut 32:36; 1 King 8:23; Neh 1:10-11; Ps 116:16)
• Individual Israelites:
  Num 12:7 (Moses); 2 Sam 7:5 (David); 1 King 11:32 (David) Ps 19:11, 13; 104:26 (Moses) 42 (Abraham); Is 56:6
• Believers in General:
  Acts 4:29; Rom 6:22; Rev 1:1; 19:2; 22:3
• Individuals Believers:
  Luke 1:38–48 (Mary); 2:29 (Simeon); Tit 1:1 (Paul); Jam 1:1 (James); Rev 1:1 (John)

Less shocking than you think

• Belonging
  
  • He bought us:
    Ps 74:2; 1 cor 6:20; 7:23
  • We are His treasured possession:
    Ex 19:5; Deut 26:18; Acts 20:28; 1 pet 2:9–10
  • We are marked as His:
    Is 44:5; 2 Cor 1:22; Rev 7:3–4;22:4
• Genuine Service
  Rom 6:15–22; 1 Thes 1:9–10
• Personal Submission
  Matt 6:24

Not incompatible with being Free

1 Pet 2:16

Difference between slave and servant

Luke 17:7–10; Rom 4:4            

A complement of other titles and descriptions

John 15:14–15; Gal 4:1–6

Christ the Example

Christ took on the form of a Slave

John 13:1–20; Phil 2:5–11

Genuine Service

John 8:28–29; Phil 2:8

Personal Submission

John 5:30; Heb 10:7

Christ the Master

Christ is Lord (Master)

Rom 14:4; Eph 6:5–9; Col 3:22–4:1; 2 Pet 2:1; Jude 4

Believers are Slaves of Christ

1 Cor 7:22; Gal 1:10; Eph 6:6; Col 1:7; 2 Tim 2:24; Rev 2:20

• Belonging
  
  • We belong to Christ:
    Rom 8:9; 2 Cor 10:7; Gal 5:24; Tit 2:14
  • We are marked as His:
    Gal 6:17; Rev 14:1
• Genuine Service:
  1 Cor 9:21; 2 Cor 5:9; Gal 6:2; Col 1:10
   
• Willing Submission:
  Luke 6:46; Rom 14:7–9
   

The Best of Masters

• Gentle: secures Rest
  Lev 26:13; Jer 27:2; Matt 11:28–30; 2 Cor 10:1; 1 Tim 6:1
• Exalted: brings Privilege
  Matt 28:18; Rom 1:1; Phil 1:1; 2:9–10; Jam 1:1; 2 Pet 1:1; Jud 1
• Strong: guarantees Security
  Ps 123:2; John 17:12, 15; Acts 9:4–5; 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Cor 1:8–10; 2 Thes 3:1–3
• Generous: ensures Provision
  Matt 6:24–33; 2 Cor 9:8–10; Phil 4:12–14, 19; Heb 13:5–6; 2 Pet 1:3

Divine Slavery as Perfect Freedom

Free to be the Lord’s people: We are his treasured possession

Tit 2:14

Free to know the Lord: Forever Belonging to Him

Rom 7:4

Free to Live for the Lord: Seeking his commendation only

Matt 25:21, 23; 1 Cor 4:5; Col 3:22–24

Free to Live for the Lord: No pressure to achieve

Luke 17:7–10

Free to Enjoy the Lord’s Blessings: Rest for our Souls

Matt 11:28–30

3) Set Free to offer ourselves as slaves of all

Not being dragged between many masters

1 Cor 7:23 (1:10–17); 2 Cor 4:5; Col 1:28; 4:12-13

Called to enslave ourselves to others

John 13:1–20; Gal 5:13; 1 Cor 9:19

The way of the Kingdom

Mark 10:44

Conclusion: Identity in Freedom

1 Pet 2:16