GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #476

CHRIST THE LIBERATOR

Pastor Don Fortner

Grace Baptist Church of Danville

2734 Old Stanford Road

Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

(Isaiah 61:1) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;"

By nature we are all captives of and in bondage to sin, Satan, the world, and the lusts of our flesh. We all once walked according to the course of this world. Moreover, we are all by nature prisoners in bondage to and under the curse of God’s holy law (Gal. 3:22-23). Before Christ came to us in saving grace by the power of his Spirit, we all lived under the curse of the law, under the sentence of death, awaiting execution. But, at the appointed time of love, by the blessed, sovereign, effectual operation of his saving grace, the Lord Jesus Christ came as the liberator of our souls and set the captive free. That is exactly what the prophet Isaiah said he would do. Our all glorious Christ is the mighty, saving liberator of our souls.

Our great Savior purchased freedom for us by his precious blood. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13). When our great Redeemer died as our Substitute, under the curse of God’s holy law, he effectually obtained eternal redemption for all his people, for whom he bore the curse of the law.

Then, at the appointed time of mercy, the Son of God comes to chosen, redeemed sinners in the preaching of the gospel and proclaims liberty to captives. Read Isaiah’s prophecy, carefully noticing how the prophet of God describes this great liberating work of our Savior. "The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteous-ness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified"(Isa. 61:1-3).

Whenever God sends a gospel preacher in the power of his Spirit to preach the gospel, it is Christ himself who comes, Christ himself who speaks by his messenger. He proclaims liberty accomplished, obtained and purchased by his blood. He proclaims liberty unconditional and free. He proclaims liberty available to poor captives. To those who are in bondage, Christ proclaims liberty.

However, the Lord Jesus Christ is more than a proclaimer of liberty, he accomplishes liberty, effectually bringing his elect into the glorious liberty of his grace by the power of his Spirit. “He breaks the power of cancelled sin; He sets the prisoner free! His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood avails for me!” The instrument by which the Lord Jesus brings liberty to his people is the Word of God (John 8:32). The preaching of the gospel is like the blowing of the jubilee trumpet. The more clearly the truths of the gospel are preached and understood, the more fully liberty is enjoyed. Bondage comes from error. Liberty is the result of truth.

AMEN.