19th July 2021 will be marked in England as the day when most restrictions due to Covid 19 were lifted, we can debate what it all means. We can look back at previous freedom days such as freedom gained through the end of a war, freedom from slavery, freedom from racism etc. But on reflection we see that all so called freedom never means total freedom. I want to major in on one day in history when all could have a total Freedom Day, freedom not from any of the above but freedom from sin and peace with God.
So how can this freedom become a reality?
A) By looking at why such a Freedom Day is required.
B) What does such a Freedom Day mean?
C) How do I live a life of freedom in God?
To answer the above, we look at John chapter 3 where Nicodemus meets Jesus.
Nicodemus lived in the time of Jesus and was a teacher of the Jewish law, which taught that peace with God was obtained by keeping the laws of God. However, no man or woman can truthfully say they have kept all those laws, so by God’s standards we are guilty and therefore are at enmity with God. to be at peace with God, we need to find a solution, and it was in is searching for this truth that Nicodemus came to Jesus.
JOHN 3 1-2 reads: “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Nicodemus sees that Jesus has come from God and he could not do what He did unless God was with him. Was Nicodemus thinking: “I know the Law of God, but am unable to keep it however hard I try?” Was he sensing that a change needed to take place in his life to find that freedom in God that did not rely on self-effort?
Reading down further, In reply, Jesus declared: “I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3: 3-4.)
Jesus replies: “You must be born again if you are to see the kingdom of God.” Jesus was saying: “You know the law, but unless you have a supernatural change of heart, you will not know forgiveness of sins and peace with God.”
Maybe sarcastically, Nicodemus retorts: “Surely a man cannot re-enter his mother’s womb and be born again.” Was he missing the point – that the law is to show the error of our ways, and that we need to find a new life in God?
Verses 5-6 says: “Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
Jesus unpacks this concept saying: “I am not speaking of human birth but spiritual birth.” Jesus is saying: “Nicodemus, you must be changed supernaturally.” Since the resurrection of Jesus, we would put it this way to someone. If you are unable to keep God’s laws, which clearly by our own admission we have all broken several of them, on Judgement day we would be declared guilty and our punishment would be separation from God. the only way we could be set free would be if someone paid the penalty of our sin. Jesus has done just that by dying in our place, thus paying the price. And in rising from the dead, he opens up the way to eternal life and peace with God.
Finally, in verses 7-10 of our text from John 3, we read: “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?”
Jesus says: “Nicodemus, why are you so surprised at my teaching? If you knew the law and the prophets – indeed the whole of the Old Testament, you would know God would send His son to redeem mankind.” Here is a challenge to us, do we know the Old Testament well enough to preach The Gospel from it?
Jesus goes onto say that a relationship with God is supernatural. “Why do you not understand this?” Once again Nicodemus enquires: “How can this be?” The reality here is for Nicodemus and ourselves, in seeing we are guilty in God’s sight. Are we willing to accept that we will only find forgiveness of sin and peace with God through Jesus.
Jon 3: 11-13 says: “I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still, you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things, and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No-one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
Let us take stock. Jesus it seems expected Nicodemus to know the word of God from his knowledge of The Old Testament, namely that the word of God convicts us of our guilt and that we need to be redeemed from the judgement to come. Let us peep into John 3:14, referring to the Israelites in the desert who had sinned. Poisonous snakes in the sand were biting them and killing them, so they cried out to God: “Save us!” God told Moses to lift a graven snake on a pole and whoever looked on it would live.
Reading further, John 14-18 says: “Just as Moses lifted the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
So here are the crunch verses. when we are convicted of our sin by the word of God, we have a choice. As Jesus draws a comparison that The Israelites that looked on the uplifted snake and cried for mercy were saved, so the sinner who cries out to Jesus for mercy by seeing Him crucified on the cross and looks to Him will be saved and have eternal life. In verses 16 – 18, we have a wonderful promise and a stark warning, God sent His son to be crucified and those who believe on His name will have eternal life, however if we disregard the offer, we are condemned, yes, to hell.
I truly hope as you read or listen to this as a recording, you are assured of your everlasting Freedom Day, having allowed yourself to be convicted by God’s word that you are guilty, and have found your salvation in Christ.
Trusting that is the case, let us seek to offer others their freedom in Christ by showing that they have broken God’s laws and are guilty in His sight, but can accept God’s way out through Christ.