I Am Free

A sermon based upon Galatians 5:1-25 and John 8:31-36                                                                               The Reverend Dr. Wilfredo J. Baez

July 3, 2011

Often times I hear people talk about why they are so happy to be American.  Who here is happy to be an American?  Oh, there are things we can complain about no matter who’s President or Governor or Mayor, or what party is in power, but we’re able to complain and express our concern, and we’re able to vote!  The number one reason I hear people give, for being happy to be an American is “because I am free” . . . “because I am free!”  Will you answer this question for me, “Why are you happy to be an American?”  Because I am free?  Why?  Because I am free!  Alleluia. 

What are some of the freedoms you enjoy as an American?

1.  Freedom of speech.

2.  Freedom of religion

3.  Freedom to assemble.

4.  Freedom of travel within our boundaries.

Are there any other freedoms that you value? What are some of the freedoms you value? ______________________________________________________________________

I appreciate these freedoms and many more!  These are freedoms worth having, worth fighting for, and worth dying for, for ourselves, our children and our children’s children! Do you agree? _____ They are important!  They are essential!

I am grateful for those who have put their lives on the line for my freedom and all of our freedoms, from the first freedom fighters of the Revolutionary War, through WWI, II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.  Aren’t you grateful for what these men and women have done for you?  And for our firemen and policemen and rescue workers, too?  Aren’t you grateful! 

In addition to being happy being an American, I am happy to be a Christian.  The number one reason I’m happy to be a Christian is “because I’m free” . . . because I’m free!”   If you are happy to be a Christian will you say after me, “I am happy to be a Christian?”  Why are you happy to be a Christian? “Because I am free.”  Why?  Because I am free!  Alleluia!

I am grateful for all those saints that have come before me, preserving the gospel, even dying for it.  The Church has made some ghastly mistakes over the centuries, Church splits, the Crusades, the Inquisition, ignoring injustices and human rights, supporting slavery, but overall it has carried forth the Good News of God for all people, that the Kingdom or Reality of God is near, inside of us, and among us.  A glorious future is fast approaching.  Don’t you have reason to be grateful as Christians!  Alleluia!

Not only am I outwardly free, I am inwardly free! Not only am I physically free, I am spiritually free!  If you are grateful for your freedom will you say after me, “I am free?” ________ If you realize that Christ is alive and well inside of you and outside of you, will you say after me, “I am inwardly free” and “I am outwardly free.” ______________ If you realize that your life is in the Holy Spirit, will you say after me “I am spiritually free.” ______________ Alleluia! 

What are some of the freedoms you enjoy as a Christian?

1.  Freedom of conscience.

2.  Freedom from sin.

3.  Freedom from death.

4.  Freedom to love.

Are there other freedoms you enjoy as a Christian?  What are they? ______________

My conscience is free!  I am free to think for myself.  One law binds me; “a law of One”, the one true God, a Spirit of love, truth, righteousness, justice and peace.   I know intrinsically what is right and wrong.  And when you are a Christian, so do you!  Your conscience is free!  You are not controlled by any force outside of heaven, but you are controlled by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  You know the moral truth and you live by it!  The only guilt you feel is the guilt that tells you that you’ve gone the wrong way.   Your conscience is your God-made moral compass. If you accept this freedom, given to you by God, will you say after me, “My conscience is free?”  My conscience is free!  Alleluia!

I am free from sin!  I am free negativity. I am free from greed, hatred and delusion.  I am free from ignorance of the truth.  I am free of those patterns of thinking and behaving that keep me separate from God and the promises God has made to me and from true human community.  My faith has led me to Jesus, to knowledge of God and new life.  I am free from the restrictions, distortions, and generalizations of ego and mortal life.  By the life and death of Jesus I am free from sin!  And when you are a Christian, so are you! You are free from sin!  If you accept this freedom from God will you say after me, “I am free from sin?”  I am free from sin!  Alleluia!

I am free from death!  This body can die!  It certainly will!  This ego can die!  It certainly will!  I am free from worry, fear and depression and from the limitations of time, space and corporeality that have defined me.  I have this body and enjoy and love it.  I have no intention of turning it anytime soon, but I am not restricted by it.   And I am free of this world and its direction, although too I’m not in favor of it ending any time soon.  I am just not controlled by it.  I am a spiritual being who abides with Christ in eternity; who abides with Christ in God.   By the resurrection of Jesus I am free from death!  And as a Christian, so are you!  You are free from death!  You have eternal life!  If you accept this freedom from God will you say after me, “I am free from death?”  I am free from death!  “And I have eternal life.”  I have eternal life! Alleluia!

I am free to love!  I am free to love God, to love myself, to love my wife and children, to love my parents and siblings, to love my in laws, to love my neighbor, to love you, to love and befriend the stranger, and to love my enemy.  And when you are a Christian, so are you!  You are free to love!  No longer are you afraid to love; to engage yourself and others with a fully open heart, mind, and life.  To love is the greatest freedom!  It’s also the greatest commandment!  If you accept this freedom from God to love, will you say after me “I am free to love?”  ___________I am free to love God._________ I am free to love myself. _____________ I am free to love my neighbor as myself.  I am free to love my brothers and sister is Christ. ___________ I am free to love my enemy.  __________

John Lennon once wrote, “Some say that I am a dreamer. But I am not the only one.                                                                     I hope someday you join me and the world will be as one.”  This isn’t idealism.  It’s seeking after and realizing the ideal life, the kingdom or the reign or the reality of God here on earth right now and forever.   “Seek and you will find.  Knock and the door will be opened up to you.”  Will you open your eyes to see the world the God has revealed to you in all its glory?  Will you open your ears to hear that world?  Will you open your minds and hearts to know that world?  Pay attention now.  The Kingdom of God, the realm of God, the reality of God is in and around you now and in the future!

As a Christian I am going on to perfection in love in this lifetime.  I am free.  My conscience is free.  I am free from sin.  I am free from death.  I am free to love.  As a Christian are you ready for that commitment to the freedom only Christ can give?  Will you make that commitment to God to that life of freedom as a disciple of Jesus in the Holy Spirit?  Will you set aside your fear?  Will you set aside your excuses?  Will you use the freedom God has given to you to accomplish anything and everything? If you will make that commitment will you say after me, “I commit myself to the spiritual freedom of a disciple of Jesus?  ____________ Are you willing to live into the promised perfection of human life and community?  We are, you and I are, living in the promises of Christ our Lord, right now! 

As a Christian I am going to experience life in the reign of God in this lifetime.  This is what life in Christ is!  I’m not putting it off until later. I’m going to build a bridge, by my life and love that carries me into forever, into the new heaven and new earth.  This is the promise Christ has made to us; that we will be with Christ, where Christ is!  There will be a new heaven and a new earth.  And we will live in it.  I will live in it.  You will live in it.   God will be our God and we will be God’s people; my God, your God, all people’s God.  And God will abide with us – you, me, and everyone - forever.  God is good!  All the time!  All the time!  God is Good!  Alleluia!  As a Christian, are you ready to receive that promise fulfilled?   If so, will you say so after me, “I am ready!”  I am ready!  Alleluia