Why Remain Captive
We can break free from the captivity of sin by returning to God, obeying His voice, and seeking pardon and deliverance at the cross.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that God's people can become captives to sin, leading to a loss of freedom and joy in their relationship with God. He reminds us that despite this bondage, there is hope for redemption through Jesus Christ, who has paid the price for our freedom. The path to liberation involves returning to the Lord, confessing our sins, and obeying His commands wholeheartedly. Spurgeon encourages believers to abandon their idols and seek restoration, assuring them that they need not remain in captivity. Ultimately, he calls for a return to spiritual vitality and citizenship in Zion.
Text
The Lord thy God will turn thy captivity. (Deuteronomy 30:3)
God's own people may sell themselves into captivity by sin. A very bitter fruit is this, of an exceeding bitter root. What a bondage it is when the child of God is sold under sin, held in chains by Satan, deprived of his liberty, robbed of his power in prayer and his delight in the Lord! Let us watch that we come not into such bondage; but if this has already happened to us, let us by no means despair.
But we cannot be held in slavery forever. The Lord Jesus has paid too high a price for our redemption to leave us in the enemy's hand. The way to freedom is, "Return unto the Lord thy God." Where we first found salvation we shall find it again. At the foot of Christ's cross, confessing sin, we shall find pardon and deliverance. Moreover, the Lord will have us obey His voice according to all that He has commanded us, and we must do this with all our heart and all our soul, and then our captivity shall end.
Often depression of spirit and great misery of soul are removed as soon as we quit our idols and bow ourselves in obedience before the living God. We need not be captives. We may return to Zion's citizenship, and that speedily. Lord, turn our captivity!
Sermon Outline
- The bondage of sin
- The way to freedom
- Obedience to God's voice
- Obey with all heart and soul
- End captivity through obedience
Key Quotes
“A very bitter fruit is this, of an exceeding bitter root.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“The way to freedom is, 'Return unto the Lord thy God.'” — C.H. Spurgeon
“We need not be captives. We may return to Zion's citizenship, and that speedily.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We must be careful not to sell ourselves into captivity by sin, but instead return unto the Lord thy God.
- Obedience to God's voice is necessary to end captivity and find true freedom.
- We can find pardon and deliverance at the cross, where we first found salvation.