WOULD YOU BE FREE 

INTRODUCTION
 Freedom is a much desired and much sought after state by people all over the world.  The world wants freedom from fear, freedom from hunger, freedom from war, etc.  Many great men, in times past and in our present times, have sought ways of obtaining this great goal.  Nevertheless, on the most part, all efforts to obtain this lasting freedom have failed.  While freedom from these things is important and should be sought after, men never seem to think of going to the only real place in which we find the answer, the Word of God. Jesus, when talking to the Jews in John 8:32, said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  These Jews contended that they, being the seed of Abraham, had never been in bondage to any man.  Jesus then explained to them what they needed to be free from.  They needed to be free from sin.  Jesus told them, "Whosoever commiteth sin is the servant of sin." John 8:34.  Paul told the Romans, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.   These two verses conclude that all people, both Jew and Gentile, were sinners.  In this state we are all servants of sin.  Hence, we are not free.  We need to find out, therefore, what it takes to make us free from this thing that the Bible calls sin.  When we have answered this question, the freedom we all seek will come much easier in the other realms of life. 

Step 1.
In the first place, in order to be free, we must know the Truth.  Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."  John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."  "This truth is the only power of God unto salvation, for both Jew and Gentile." Romans 1:16.  In Romans 6:16-18, Paul says "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin.  But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." 

Step 2.
 Secondly, we must believe the truth.  In Acts 16:25-34, we have the account of the conversion of the Philippian jailer.  When this man asked what he must do in order to be saved, verse 30, he was told, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house."  Then they preached unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  Since faith comes by hearing the word of God, Romans 10:17, this man and his household had to hear in order to believe.  Upon hearing the Gospel preached, they became obedient and were baptised.  Jesus said, in John 18:24, "Except ye believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins."  Mark 16:16 says "He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved."  The Bible further states, "That without faith, it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6. 

Step 3.
Thirdly, we must be willing to repent of our sins.  Jesus said, in Luke 24:47, "That repentance and remission of sins would be preached in His name among all nations..."  On the day of Pentecost, Peter, in Acts 12:38, told the people who wanted to know what to do to "repent and be baptised..."  Peter, in another sermon, told the people, "Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out..." Acts 3:9.

Step 4.
In the fourth place, we must confess with the mouth our faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  In Romans 10:9, Paul said, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in the heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."  In Matthew 10:32, Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore will confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven."  The Ethiopian eunuch confessed this very thing, as it is recorded in Acts 8:37.

Step 5.
In the fifth place, you must be baptised for the remission of sins.  In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, "He that believeth and in baptised shall be saved."  Peter told the people on the day of Pentecost, "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins."  Acts 2:38.  Annanias told Paul, in Acts 22:16, "And now why tarriest thou, arise and be baptised, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."  In Romans 6, Paul, in discussing the action of baptism, states that it is the action that destroys the body of sin, verse 6; and that it is at this point that we are made free from sin, verse 8.

Conclusion .
Finally, we must live Godly lives. 11 Tim. 3:12. We must remain steadfast and unmoveable. 1 Cor. 15:58.  We must be faithful unto death. Revelation 2:10; 3:12.21.
If we would be free from the burden of our sins, here is the only way we can do it.  Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing and shelter) would be added unto thee." Matthew 6:33.  I believe the Lord will provide for our physical needs, if we do as He commands us.  This is just as much a promise to us as is His promise to make us free from sin and the penalty of that sin.  Would you be free from the fear and anxiety of death and hunger, friend?  Here is God's plan for you.  He offers you freedom.  Why not accept it now?	

Billy Wardlow,
1600 W. Lake Parker Drive,
Lakeland, 
Florida 33805
USA
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