Let Freedom Ring! Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ in our back that by doing good things and obeying the right things will be just fine talk almost any American today you asked what your short, you go to a pretty good very good one. Modular sink, not a mass murderer pretty good job. No, that is always the same reason you get from anything is religious. Joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word meets our world, Genesis way back in the beginning. This is the noetic flight verse one then the Lord said to Noah and the ark, you and all your household for you alone. I have seem to be righteous before me in this time God is going to judge the world is going to judge everybody except Noah and his family. That's it.

In order to avoid the judgment they have to go in the ark. Okay, we know that now watch look at 614. He said make for yourself an ark of go forward. You shall make the ark with rooms and you shall cover it inside and out with what pitch now.

Why are they judged pitch.

We meet inside one of the ark leak pitch on the inside and picture on the outside, so never leaked and so they were spared no you so long I got us quite get it night.

No, not yet.

What's the word picture in Hebrew, Kfar, because it inside not you have to have Kfar anything okay pitch right now. Not not most the time Kfar in Hebrew is almost always translated a tone or atonement or appease or forgive.

It's the word for atonement and forgiving. It covers the ark on the inside and the outside is the reason they're not judged is because of atonement in the ark. They are safe from judgment, because the pitch sealed off the judgment of God in Christ we are saved from judgment because of the atoning work of the cross. The reason they were saved in the ark is the same reason you and I are saved now.

The atonement of the ark, and the atonement of Jesus Christ. What a beautiful picture of this how this works in our behalf. Why we have no condemnation at all.

We have to face now back to Romans eight, he then says the next word is for and again just to repeat myself. Whenever you see the word for in the Bible. Always ask yourself the question, what is it therefore for always: explanatory gar in Greek means I'm going to explain what I mean here in verse 14. He said the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death from I've been set free from what the law of sin and death.

Now is really one of the law no but I can only do one thing to me and you can only continue to see if you think keeping the law will save you your mistaken because you can keep the law. No one can keep the law, religion, no matter how conscientiously you follow it will never deliver you from the sin and judgment of God, all the good deeds in the world will never free of the law of sin and death. Not ever. That's the great mistake of religion. You see, it's a great mistake of religion religion. He said no you been set free from that people need that he sees an interesting thought. When you think about it that it says there that for us the law, the spirit of life in Christ as set you free from the spirit of God has set me free. Think about the spirit of God. The moment you become a Christian. What happens I been baptized by the spirit of God I'm indwelt by the Spirit of God, I'm sealed by the spirit of God you see on this works the spirit of God. As always he sets me apart. I regenerated by the spirit of God hold you what the Holy Spirit is in your life the moment become the Christ. It's a birthmark not a birthmark is a birthmark is a mark that means I was born. Once the Holy Spirit is a birthmark that means I been born again. I been born twice. We all got the same birthmark the spirit of God. He said he has set us free. In this basis of what he is done now and the rest of this short chapter he mentions the word spirit 20 times. This is all about the spirit of God indwelling, you and I and everyone of us and he has set us free. He says it's an interesting thought. And we know it's not for perfection. We don't always do the right thing, but we have the power to do the right thing. That's what you see evidence we going. The law came to review our sins as of the book of Galatians teaches us in the Holy Spirit is come to reveal God's righteousness to us and give us the grace and power to live accordingly. So we are free, really free. The reason we are free as the Holy Spirit is Frida's. How did we get to be free verse three for what the law could not do why we guess it was through the flesh, God did it, and then right there what you're going to see is the clearest verse in the Bible on the substitutionary atonement of Christ can be clear that verse.

He says for what the law could not do week as it was through the flesh, God did how sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh as an offering for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. That's the atonement of Christ. That's how we got to be free.

It's an amazing thing. Not when we think about this often. I think this happens to us. We often have in our back line. This whole idea that by doing good things and obeying the right things. Will there be just fine with God. If you talked almost any American today and you asked them quite a few us what your short, you go to heaven. What are they going to tell you I didn't tell me this. I'm pretty good guy. I'm a pretty good guy.

While not Hitler. You see, not a mass murderer. I'm a pretty good guy. No, those that is always the same reason you get from anything it's religious think Islam hi how do I get to get to heaven and Islam. While when I die, all will put on skills. Every good thing I done in every bad thing upon now if the good outweighs the bad men the bad outweighs the good amount. The average American believes that God will grade you on the curve so as long as I'm not terrible I'm to be in good shape so I kinda keep the law you can kind of keep the law Outlook holder. Please look at two verses with me first ones in Galatians chapter 3 Galatians chapter 3 verse 10 for as many are of the works of the law are under a curse. Why would they be under a curse, for it is written curse.

It is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law to perform. So, how many, how much of the law should you be keeping everything written in the law not go with me to James chapter 2 in verse 10 James chapter 2 in verse 10, and this is even clear for whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point your variable one point not think even further. Jesus said if you're angry is just a thought any of you ever been angry is that if you're angry your murder The same as a murder. I never murdered anybody I'm good is that if you've ever had an angry thought your murder ever had a lustful thought. You're an adult or you mean my thoughts yes they make me sinful. Yes, so one sinful thought will put you in the judgment of God.

So how you doing.

You see who's going to stand on this issue. This is the way to work.

She said that doesn't work like that. That's not the way this works in any's in that sense at all. He said it'll condemn us in every case. Only Jesus obeyed the law perfectly. Knee was born without sin, not us. Now back to moment that this point we have been set free. I was thinking this week if you thought. How many great things that Jesus teach pretty impressive how many miracles that he performed what a great example did he provide for us. You know what though, always teaching always miracles, always example, can't say one of us on his death.

That's the only thing that can save us.

That's what his point is only on the basis of the atonement of Christ on the cross. There is no other reason by which we get saved. But he says what's so good about that is it. Also in that sense freezes.

So we are free roll first one really free.

The reason we are free.

The Holy Spirit is Frida's how do we get to be free, the substitutionary atonement of Christ in the last point we are now free to stop living in the prison. We are free to live in the newness of life completely free. Notice verse four so that the requirement of the law.

There's this conclusion so so that so that the requirement of the law. What is the requirement of the law obey the law is in at the requirement of the law obey the law does. If you're out on the highway and it's at 70 miles an hour what you requirement mucus did not know you can tell me what to do.

I'm an individual I can I can do what I want to do.

I'm an American going try to stop at a stop sign. No one can tell me to stop. You can that's what the law does the law requires things the law requires obedience. That's the point of the law, so we said the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us human. It is a requirement that I could be obedient. Yes, he said who do not walk according to the flesh, but I walk according to the spirit of God is the I did meet the obedience thing I can do that. I don't live in the prison. I can live in obedient life. But I have to do it by the spirit of God can do this on my own only the spirit of God can do that for me. Galatians 51 says this it was for freedom that Christ set us free keep standing firm do not subject yourself again to the yoke of slavery were free but now I'm free to be led by the spirit of God. Last verse go with me to Ephesians chapter 5 Ephesians chapter 5 verse 15, Paul says this therefore be careful how you walk as a warning to us walks metaphor for live. Be careful how you live not as unwise men but as wise, you have to apply a little wisdom to this using the sermon material in talking about today. You gotta be wise enough to get out of prison.

Yeah, stop that. You see, you have to walk in the freedom that you have.

He said make the most of your time, because the days are evil. You only have a limited amount of time to get this right in this life.

He said so then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

This is as clear as could be for the will of the Lord. Do not get drunk with wine, because that stupid at this point. Dissipation mean stupid. It's a stupid. In other words, do not live your life based on anything other than God, because you know why it's stupid you live your life in any other way, you're still living in prison. That's the way you're living a life and that stupid you won't have the freedom of all he said do not get drunk with wine that is dissipation be filled with the spirit of God and that means controlled. Now here's what's interesting if you're Christian you been baptized by the spirit of God, indwelt by the Spirit of God, sealed by the spirit of God, set apart by the spirit of God you're empowered by the spirit of God. You're not necessarily feel by the spirit of God.

You see, that's what happens to us. I have the spirit of God in me is pretty inept in my life. I'm still living in prison she am still feeling all this same idea. Turn with me back again to Romans eight in verse four. There's one word another George jumps out at us. He says so that the requirement of the law and there's a word might be fulfilled in us might that word is the subjunctive mood in Greek and what it means it's up to you.

He doesn't say it will be. He doesn't say so that the requirement all will be fulfilled in us know might be is up to us. She is completely up to you. You can either live out your freedom not even choose to stay in prison if you want. And the sad part, especially as a pastor all these years of so many of you choose the stampers to stay there and you can tell it all you want to talk about is your own anxiety or fear your worry is so bad.

My life is so bad it is. Prison is not a good place to be snuffed will go to prison for vacation and all elements of fun I think of myself in solitary can it doesn't work like that. But we choose to live this way we actually choose to live this way because I don't get it, he says, look up you think about this, you're free you really free the spirit of God is given your freedom all based the substitutionary atonement of Christ. Now like a free person by the power of God that we conclude with the story.

I find it a reliable source I can find it anywhere else. But it makes point very well. One day Abraham Lincoln went to visit a slave auction he was appalled at what he saw. His heart was especially drawn to a young slave girl who story seem to be told in the pain on her face. She looked with hatred and contempt on anyone around her. She had been used and abused all of her life, and this was but one more cruel humiliation for as the auction began, Lincoln offered a bid. Other amounts came in his bids. He countered with a larger mom. Finally, Abraham Lincoln won the bid for that girl and he now owned that slave when he paid the auctioneer the money and took title to the young woman. She stared at him with vicious contempt.

She hated him just like she hated all of her other owners. She asked him what he was going to do next with her and he said when a set you free free.

She said free for what just free. Lincoln said completely free, free to do whatever I wanted to free to go wherever I want to go free to say whatever I want to say free to say whatever you want to say free to go wherever you want to go yes free to go wherever you want to go.

She said I'm going with you. Isn't that what have Jesus Christ was and I redeemed off the slave market was in you did me pay in full for me and he suggested a major free remain free, free to go anywhere you want to go free to do anything you want to do free to say anything you want to say. Should our response be single follow you see I think will serve you. That's what's happened to us. That's the freedom we have Kristin sometimes get this thing all mixed up. Sometimes some Christians think that our freedom is. I'm free to sin as much as I want. They know the first one of the few verses that usually know is forever.

Sin abounds. What grace abounds. More so I can send all I want in grace the cover and I still got my card punch the Paul said Megan Neutra, absolutely not. Don't you understand you've been freed your free will and the president said. Then there's another group that often says you know I I know that when it before I became a Christian, Christ died for all my sins, but after I become a Christian responsible now for all my sins. So now they feel a tremendous amount of guilt is a live out their life. Let me ask you something, when Christ died for your sins on the cross. How many sins that he died for all my past sins on my present sins and all my future sins again. I have been said free, you see the whole point of it is this freedom is given to us as a great gift of God to live our lives as free children of God, is the motivation of my life.

You see I don't do what I do in my life because I thought sense of duty. I'm a free man. I don't feel a sense of obligation I feel a deep sense of gratitude and love. The motive of my life as I have so thankful and love so much. The one who bought me there is no condemnation for me and I know I deserve it and there's none.

So my choices. I want to live in the newness of my life. That's what I would prefer you live like free people. When you start when you start thinking about anxiety, worry, fear anything like that. I'm just telling you think of yourself of going back into a prison closing the door and sitting there because that's what you're doing and not living free in the beauty of it is God has given us his Holy Spirit. She not only to convict us of that sin, but he can enable us to do anything.

That's why Paul said I can do all things through him who strengthens me because I'm free respray father.

This is so sad for me as a pastor because for so many of us, these are self-inflicted wounds. We just choose to stay in a prison. We choose to fill all of the pressure all the restrictions all the pain and suffering being locked in our own prison of sin, but we've been set free. Father I pray that we understand that freedom belongs to every child of God. Thank you father for giving us your spirit to prove to us that we are completely yours. I pray that we begin the once again for our good and pastoral giver on the radio ministry of fellowship in lower if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you dislike. Listen to the message one more time. Remember that you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs is no Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. Yes, all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service of fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sermon series you're looking for.

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